Country Guide

Dominican Republic Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti


Geographic coordinates:
19 00 N, 70 40 W


Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean


Area:
total:48,670 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 132
land:48,320 sq km
water:350 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire


Land boundaries:
total:376 km
border countries:Haiti 376 km


Coastline:
1,288 km


Maritime claims:
territorial sea:12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin


Climate:
tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall


    Terrain:
rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed


Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Lago Enriquillo -46 m
highest point:Pico Duarte 3,175 m


Natural resources:
nickel, bauxite, gold, silver


Land use:
arable land:16.44%
permanent crops:9.25%
other:74.32% (2011)


Irrigated land:
3,065 sq km (2009)


Total renewable water resources:
21 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
21 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts


Environment - current issues:
water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:Law of the Sea


Geography - note:
shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Dominican(s)
adjective:Dominican


Ethnic groups:
mixed 73%, white 16%, black 11%


Languages:
Spanish (official)


Religions:
Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%


Population:
10,349,741 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 87


Age structure:
0-14 years:28% (male 1,474,170/female 1,423,573)
15-24 years:18.5% (male 974,688/female 937,103)
25-54 years:39.3% (male 2,078,915/female 1,984,585)
55-64 years:7.2% (male 376,175/female 371,152)
65 years and over:6.9% (male 336,712/female 392,668) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:57.1 %
youth dependency ratio:47 %
elderly dependency ratio:10.1 %
potential support ratio:9.9 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:27.1 years
male:26.9 years
female:27.3 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
1.25% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 93


Birth rate:
18.97 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 92


Death rate:
4.5 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 203


Net migration rate:
-1.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 165


Urbanization:
urban population:69.7% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:2.03% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
SANTO DOMINGO (capital) 2.191 million (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.05 male(s)/female
55-64 years:1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.86 male(s)/female
total population:1.03 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
20.3


Maternal mortality rate:
150 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:19.63 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 92
male:21.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female:17.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:77.8 yearscountry comparison to the world: 62
male:75.6 years
female:80.08 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
2.36 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 88


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
72.9% (2007)


Health expenditures:
5.4% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
1.88 physicians/1,000 population (2000)


Hospital bed density:
1.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 82.5% of population
rural: 77.2% of population
total: 80.9% of population
unimproved:
urban: 17.5% of population
rural: 22.8% of population
total: 19.1% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 85.5% of population
rural: 73.8% of population
total: 82% of population
unimproved:
urban: 14.5% of population
rural: 26.2% of population
total: 18% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.7% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 54


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
45,000 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 63


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,900 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 59


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
21.2% (2008)country comparison to the world: 90


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
3.4% (2007)country comparison to the world: 106


Education expenditures:
2.2% of GDP (2012)country comparison to the world: 163

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:90.1%
male:90%
female:90.2% (2011 est.)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:29.4%country comparison to the world: 26
male:22.6%
female:40.8% (2011)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Dominican Republic
conventional short form:The Dominican
local long form:Republica Dominicana
local short form:La Dominicana


Government type:
democratic republic


Capital:
name:Santo Domingo
geographic coordinates:18 28 N, 69 54 W
time difference:UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
10 regions (regiones, singular - region);Cibao Nordeste, Cibao Noroeste, Cibao Norte, Cibao Sur, El Valle, Enriquillo, Higuamo, Ozama, Valdesia, Yuma


Independence:
27 February 1844 (from Haiti)


National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 February (1844)


Constitution:
many previous (38 total); latest proclaimed 26 January 2010; note - the Dominican Republic Government has a practice of promulgating a 'new' constitution whenever an amendment is ratified (2013)


Legal system:
civil law system based on the French civil code; Criminal Procedures Code modified in 2004 to include important elements of an accusatory system


International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction


Suffrage:
18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age can vote; note - members of the armed forces and national police by law cannot vote


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Danilo MEDINA Sanchez (since 16 August 2012); Vice President Margarita CEDENO DE FERNANDEZ (since 16 August 2012); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:President Danilo MEDINA Sanchez (since 16 August 2012); Vice President Margarita CEDENO DE FERNANDEZ (since 16 August 2012)
cabinet:Cabinet nominated by the president
elections:president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held on 20 May 2012 (next to be held in 2016)
election results:Danilo MEDINA Sanchez elected president; percent of vote - Danilo MEDINA Sanchez 51.2%, Hipolito MEJIA 47%, other 1.8%; Margarita CEDENO DE FERNANDEZ elected vice president


Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (32 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de Diputados (183 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections:Senate - last held on 16 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2016); House of Representatives - last held on 16 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2016); in order to synchronize presidential, legislative, and local elections for 2016, those members elected in 2010 will actually serve six-year terms
election results:Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 31, PRSC 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 105, PRD 75, PRSC 3


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court of Justice or Suprema Corte de Justicia (consists of a minimum of 16 magistrates); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 13 judges)
note - the Constitutional Court was established in 2010 by constitutional amendment
judge selection and term of office:Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary comprised of the president, the leaders of both chambers of congress, the president of the Supreme Court, and a non-governing party congressional representative; Supreme Court judges appointed for 7- year terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed for 9-year terms
subordinate courts:courts of appeal; courts of first instance; justices of the peace; special courts for juvenile, labor, and land cases; Contentious Administrative Court for cases filed against the government


    Political parties and leaders:
Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna]
Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Miguel VARGAS Maldonado]
National Progressive Front [Vinicio CASTILLO, Pelegrin CASTILLO]
Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Carlos MORALES Troncoso]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
Citizen Participation Group (Participacion Ciudadania)


International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, BCIE, Caricom (observer), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OAS, OIF (observer), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA (associated member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Anibal de Jesus de CASTRO Rodriguez (since 5 July 2011)
chancery:1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 332-6280
FAX:[1] (202) 265-8057
consulate(s) general:Boston, Chicago, Glendale (CA), Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico)


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador James BREWSTER
embassy:corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo
mailing address:Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500
telephone:[1] (809) 221-2171
FAX:[1] (809) 686-7437


Flag description:
a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by a laurel branch (left) and a palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shield a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA appears on a red ribbon; in the shield a bible is opened to a verse that reads 'Y la verdad nos hara libre' (And the truth shall set you free); blue stands for liberty, white for salvation, and red for the blood of heroes


National symbol(s):
palmchat (bird)


National anthem:
name:'Himno Nacional' (National Anthem)

lyrics/music:Emilio PRUD'HOMME/Jose REYES
note:adopted 1934; also known as 'Quisqueyanos valientes' (Valient Sons of Quisqueye); the anthem never refers to the people as Dominican but rather calls them 'Quisqueyanos,' a reference to the indigenous name of the island

Economy

Economy - overview:
The Dominican Republic has long been viewed primarily as an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, but in recent years the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest employer, due to growth in telecommunications, tourism, and free trade zones. The economy is highly dependent upon the US, the destination for approximately half of exports. Remittances from the US amount to about 5% of GDP, equivalent to about a third of exports and two-thirds of tourism receipts. The country suffers from marked income inequality; the poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of GDP, while the richest 10% enjoys nearly 40% of GDP. High unemployment and underemployment remains an important long-term challenge. The Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) came into force in March 2007, boosting investment and exports and reducing losses to the Asian garment industry. The Dominican Republic's economy rebounded from the global recession in 2010-13, and the fiscal situation is improving. A tax reform package passed in November 2012 and a reduction in government spending helped to narrow the central government budget deficit from 6.6% of GDP in 2012 to below 3% in 2013. A successful government bond placement in 2013 helped finance the deficit.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$101 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$99.02 billion (2012 est.)
$95.32 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$59.27 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
3.9% (2012 est.)
4.5% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,700 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
$9,700 (2012 est.)
$9,500 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:83.3%
government consumption:7.7%
investment in fixed capital:15.6%
investment in inventories:0.1%
exports of goods and services:26.4%
imports of goods and services:-33.2%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:6%
industry:29.1%
services:64.9% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs


Industries:
tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco


Industrial production growth rate:
2.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118

Labor force:
4.912 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:14.6%
industry:22.3%
services:63.1% (2005)


Unemployment rate:
15% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
14.3% (2012 est.)


Population below poverty line:
34.4% (2010 est.)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:1.8%
highest 10%:36.4% (2010 est.)


    Distribution of family income - Gini index:
47.2 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
52 (2000 est.)


Budget:
revenues:$9.012 billion
expenditures:$10.79 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
15.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-3% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123


Public debt:
47% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
41.5% of GDP (2012 est.)


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
3.7% (2012 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13.6% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
15.48% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$4.943 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
$4.738 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$15.54 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
$14.83 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$25.09 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$23.71 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA


Current account balance:
-$2.33 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
-$4.037 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$9.825 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
$9.079 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats, consumer goods


Exports - partners:
US 47%, Haiti 16.1%, China 4.3% (2012)


Imports:
$16.8 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
$17.76 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals


Imports - partners:
US 43.3%, Venezuela 7.7%, China 6.3%, Mexico 5.3%, Colombia 4.1% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$4.379 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
$3.579 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$18.01 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$16.33 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$26.76 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$24.86 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$59 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
$59 million (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar -
41.8 (2013 est.)
39.336 (2012 est.)
37.307 (2010 est.)
36.03 (2009)
34.775 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
13.09 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88


Electricity - consumption:
13.11 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
5.701 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
90.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
9.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97


Crude oil - production:
61.1 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106


Crude oil - imports:
27,260 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125


Refined petroleum products - production:
28,050 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
122,300 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72


Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172


Refined petroleum products - imports:
85,490 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53


Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124


Natural gas - consumption:
820 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91


Natural gas - imports:
930 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57


Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
20.64 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
1.065 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 73


Telephones - mobile cellular:
9.038 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 86


Telephone system:
general assessment:relatively efficient system based on island-wide microwave radio relay network
domestic:fixed-line teledensity is about 10 per 100 persons; multiple providers of mobile-cellular service with a subscribership of nearly 90 per 100 persons
international:country code - 1-809; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), Antillas 1, and the Fibralink submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)



    Broadcast media:
combination of state-owned and privately owned broadcast media; 1 state-owned TV network and a number of private TV networks; networks operate repeaters to extend signals throughout country; combination of state-owned and privately owned radio stations with more than 300 radio stations operating (2007)


Internet country code:
.do


Internet hosts:
404,500 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 55


Internet users:
2.701 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 68

Transportation

Airports
36 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 109


Airports - with paved runways
total:16
over 3,047 m:3
2,438 to 3,047 m:4
1,524 to 2,437 m:4
914 to 1,523 m:4
under 914 m:1 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:20
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:1
under 914 m:
18 (2013)


    Heliports
1 (2013)


Pipelines
gas 27 km; oil 103 km (2013)


Railways
total:142 kmcountry comparison to the world: 125
standard gauge:142 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)


Roadways
total:19,705 kmcountry comparison to the world: 110
paved:9,872 km
unpaved:9,833 km (2002)


Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Puerto Haina, Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
oil/gas terminal(s):Andres LNG terminal (Boca Chica), Punta Nizao oil terminal

Military

Military branches
Army (Ejercito Nacional, EN), Navy (Marina de Guerra, MdG; includes naval infantry), Dominican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Dominicana, FAD) (2013)


Military service age and obligation
17-21 years of age for voluntary military service; recruits must have completed primary school and be Dominican Republic citizens; women may volunteer (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:2,580,083
females age 16-49:2,464,698 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:2,188,358
females age 16-49:2,090,180 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:100,047
female:96,302 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
0.61% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 121
0.63% of GDP (2011)
0.61% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
Haitian migrants cross the porous border into the Dominican Republic to find work; illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage each year to Puerto Rico to find better work


    Illicit drugs
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from the Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada; substantial money laundering activity in particular by Colombian narcotics traffickers; significant amphetamine consumption (2008)
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook