1998 Edition

Area

total: 48,730 sq km land: 48,380 sq km water: 350 sq km

Area-comparative

slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire

Climate

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

Coastline

1,288 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment-current issues

water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation

Environment-international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates

19 00 N, 70 40 W

Geography-note

shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)

Irrigated land

2,300 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 275 km border countries: Haiti 275 km

Land use

arable land: 21% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures: 43% forests and woodland: 12% other: 15% (1993 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 6 nm

Natural hazards

occasional hurricanes (July to October)

Natural resources

nickel, bauxite, gold, silver

Terrain

rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed

Age structure

0-14 years: 35% (male 1,435,698; female 1,382,377) 15-64 years: 60% (male 2,452,310; female 2,379,991) 65 years and over: 5% (male 165,602; female 182,788) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

26.42 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

5.73 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%

Infant mortality rate

44.26 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

Spanish

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 69.73 years male: 67.53 years female: 72.04 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82.1% male: 82% female: 82.2% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican

Net migration rate

-4.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

7,998,766 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

1.63% (1998 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 95%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.06 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Administrative divisions

29 provinces (provincias, singular-provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde

Constitution

28 November 1966

Country name

conventional long form: Dominican Republic conventional short form: none local long form: Republica Dominicana local short form: none

Data code

DR

Executive branch

chief of state: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 1996); Vice President Jaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since 16 August 1996); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 1996); Vice President Jaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since 16 August 1996); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term; election last held 16 May 1996; runoff election held 30 June 1996 (next to be held 16 May 2000) election results: President FERNANDEZ elected to his first term; percent of vote-Leonel FERNANDEZ (PLD) 51.25%, Jose Francisco PENA Gomez (PRD) 48.75%

FAX

[1] (202) 265-8057 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Charlotte Amalie (Virgin Islands), Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Mobile, and Ponce (Puerto Rico) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041 telephone: [1] (809) 221-2171, 221-8100

[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, the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms is at the center of the cross

Government type

republic

Independence

27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

International organization participation

ACP, Caricom (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (guest), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bernardo VEGA Boyrie chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280, 6281

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are elected by a Council made up of legislative and executive members with the president presiding Political parties and leaders: major parties: Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo]; Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Lidio CADET]; Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Jose Franciso PENA Gomez]; Independent Revolutionary Party or PRI minor parties: National Veterans and Civilian Party or PNVC [Juan Rene BEAUCHAMPS Javier]; Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic or PLRD [Andres Van Der HORST]; Democratic Quisqueyan Party or PQD [Elias WESSIN Chavez]; National Progressive Force or FNP [Pelegrin CASTILLO]; Popular Christian Party or PPC [Rogelio DELGADO Bogaert]; Dominican Communist Party or PCD [Narciso ISA Conde]; Dominican Workers' Party or PTD [Ivan RODRIGUEZ]; Anti-Imperialist Patriotic Union or UPA [Ignacio RODRIGUEZ Chiappini]; Alliance for Democracy Party or APD [Maximilano Rabelais PUIG Miller, Nelsida MARMOLEJOS, Vicente BENGOA]; Democratic Union or UD [Fernando ALVAREZ Bogaert] note: in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to form the Dominican Leftist Front or FID; however, they still retain individual party structures Political pressure groups and leaders: Collective of Popular Organizations or COP

Legal system

based on French civil codes

Legislative branch

bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (30 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate-last held 30 May 1994 (next to be held NA May 1998); Chamber of Deputies-last held 16 May 1994 (next to be held NA May 1998) election results: Senate-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PRSC 15, PLD 1, PRD 14; Chamber of Deputies-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party - PLD 13, PRSC 50, PRD 57

National capital

Santo Domingo

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 February (1844)

Suffrage

18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age note: members of the armed forces and police cannot vote

Agriculture-products

sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, meat, eggs

Budget

revenues: $2 billion expenditures: $2 billion, including capital expenditures of $994 million (1996 est.)

Currency

1 Dominican peso (RD$) = 100 centavos

Debt-external

$3.6 billion (1997)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $21 million (1993)

Economy-overview

Economic reforms launched in late 1994 contributed to exchange rate stabilization, reduced inflation, and strong GDP growth in 1995-96. In 1996, there was increased mineral and petroleum exploration, and a new investment law that allows for repatriation of capital dividends has drawn more investment to the island. Upon coming to power in August 1996, President FERNANDEZ nevertheless inherited a trouble-ridden economy hampered by a pressured peso, a large external debt, nearly bankrupt state-owned enterprises, and a manufacturing sector hindered by daily power outages. In December, FERNANDEZ presented a bold economic reform package-including such reforms as the devaluation of the peso, income tax cuts, a 50% increase in sales taxes, reduced import tariffs, and increased gasoline prices-in an attempt to create a market-oriented economy that can compete internationally. Even though reforms are moving ahead at a slow pace, the economy grew vigorously in 1997, with tourism and telecommunications leading the advance. The government is working to increase electric generating capacity, a key to continued economic growth.

Electricity-capacity

1.447 million kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

865 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

6.5 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

Dominican pesos (RD$) per US$1-14.332 (December 1997), 14.265 (1997), 13.775 (1996), 13.597 (1995), 13.160 (1994), 12.676 (1993)

Exports

total value: $815 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: ferronickel, sugar, gold, coffee, cocoa partners: US 45%, EU 34%, Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico (1995)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$38.3 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 15% industry: 22% services: 63% (1995)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$4,700 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

7% (1997 est.)

Imports

total value: $3.7 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals partners: US 44%, EU 16%, Venezuela 11%, Netherlands Antilles, Mexico, Japan (1995)

Industrial production growth rate

6.3% (1995 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate-consumer price index

10.9% (1997 est.)

Labor force

2.3 million to 2.6 million by occupation: agriculture 50%, services and government 32%, industry 18% (1991 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 120, FM 0, shortwave 6

Radios

NA

Telephone system

domestic: relatively efficient system based on islandwide microwave radio relay network international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones

190,000 (1987 est.)

Television broadcast stations

18 (1987 est.)

Televisions

728,000 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

30% (1996 est.)

Airports

36 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 22 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 15 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 12,600 km paved: 6,224 km unpaved: 6,376 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT (1997 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km Ports and harbors: Barahona, La Romana, Puerto Plata, San Pedro de Macoris, Santo Domingo

Railways

total: 757 km standard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gauge (Central Romana Railroad) narrow gauge: 142 km 0.762-m gauge (Dominica Government Railway); 240 km operated by sugar companies in various gauges (0.558-m, 0.762-m, 1.067-m gauges) (1995)

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$116 million (1994)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

1.4% (1994)

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 2,119,278 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 1,332,971 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-military age

18 years of age

Military manpower-reaching military age annually

males: 80,784 (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

none

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US through Puerto Rico