2005 Edition

Administrative divisions

31 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 Jose de Ocoa, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Santo Domingo, Valverde

Age structure

0-14 years: 32.9% (male 1,505,964/female 1,438,809) 15-64 years: 61.7% (male 2,815,544/female 2,703,012) 65 years and over: 5.4% (male 226,372/female 260,333) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

31 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

13 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.) Military Dominican Republic

Area

land

48,380 sq km

total

48,730 sq km

water

350 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire

Background

Explored and claimed by Columbus on his first voyage in 1492, the island of Hispaniola became a springboard for Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821, but was conquered and ruled by the Haitians for 22 years; it finally attained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844. In 1861, the Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire, but two years later they launched a war that restored independence in 1865. A legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative, rule for much of its subsequent history was brought to an end in 1966 when Joaquin BALAGUER became president. He maintained a tight grip on power for most of the next 30 years when international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been held in which opposition candidates have won the presidency. The Dominican economy has had one of the fastest growth rates in the hemisphere over the past decade. Geography Dominican Republic

Birth rate

23.28 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$3.382 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.1 billion (2004 est.)

revenues

$2.625 billion

Capital

Santo Domingo

Climate

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

Coastline

1,288 km

Constitution

28 November 1966; amended 25 July 2002

Country name

conventional long form

Dominican Republic

conventional short form

The Dominican

local long form

Republica Dominicana

local short form

La Dominicana

Currency (code)

Dominican peso (DOP)

Currency code

DOP

Current account balance

$762.2 million (2004 est.)

Death rate

7.35 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$7.745 billion (2004 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Hans H. HERTELL

embassy

corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo

FAX

[1] (809) 686-7437

mailing address

Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500

telephone

[1] (809) 221-2171

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador-designate Flavio Dario Espinal JACOBO

consulate(s) general

Boston, Chicago, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

FAX

[1] (202) 265-8057

telephone

[1] (202) 332-6280

Disputes - international

increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage each year to Puerto Rico to find work

Distribution of family income - Gini index

47.4 (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

$239.6 million (1995)

Economy - overview

The Dominican Republic is a Caribbean representative democracy which enjoyed GDP growth of more than 7% in 1998-2000. Growth subsequently plummeted as part of the global economic slowdown. Although the country has long been viewed primarily as an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, in recent years the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest employer, due to growth in tourism and free trade zones. The country suffers from marked income inequality; the poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of GNP, while the richest 10% enjoys nearly 40% of national income. Growth turned negative in 2003 with reduced tourism, a major bank fraud, and limited growth in the US economy (the source of about 85% of export revenues), but recovered slightly in 2004. Resumption of a badly needed IMF loan, slowed due to government repurchase of electrical power plants, is basic to the restoration of social and economic stability. Newly elected President FERNANDEZ in mid-2004 promised belt-tightening reform. His administration has passed tax reform and is working to meet preconditions for a $600 IMF standby arrangement to ease the country's fiscal situation.

Electricity - consumption

8.912 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

9.583 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

92%

hydro

7.6%

nuclear

0%

other

0.4% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Pico Duarte 3,175 m

lowest point

Lago Enriquillo -46 m

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 signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Ethnic groups

white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%

Exchange rates

Dominican pesos per US dollar - 42.12 (2004), 30.831 (2003), 18.61 (2002), 16.952 (2001), 16.415 (2000)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet nominated by the president

chief of state

President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 2004); Vice President Rafael ALBURQUERQUE de Castro (since 16 August 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Leonel FERNANDEZ elected president; percent of vote - Leonel FERNANDEZ (PLD) 57.1%, Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (PRD) 33.7%, Eduardo ESTRELLA (PRSC) 8.7%

elections

president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 16 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2008)

head of government

President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 2004); Vice President Rafael ALBURQUERQUE de Castro (since 16 August 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Exports

$5.446 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats, consumer goods

Exports - partners

US 80%, South Korea 2.1%, Canada 1.9% (2004)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Dominican Republic

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 an olive 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 Economy Dominican Republic

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

10.7%

industry

31.5%

services

57.8% (2003)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $6,300 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.7% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$55.68 billion (2004 est.)

Geographic coordinates

19 00 N, 70 40 W

Geography - note

shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti People Dominican Republic

Government type

representative democracy

Highways

paved

6,224 km

total

12,600 km

unpaved

6,376 km (1999)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

7,900 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

88,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 37.9% (1998)

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; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor the Dominican Republic for illicit financial transactions This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Imports

$8.093 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners

US 48.1%, Venezuela 13.5%, Colombia 4.8%, Mexico 4.8% (2004)

Independence

27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

Industrial production growth rate

2% (2001 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

29.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

34.81 deaths/1,000 live births

total

32.38 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

55% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Internet country code

.do

Internet hosts

64,197 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

24 (2000)

Internet users

500,000 (2003) Transportation Dominican Republic

Investment (gross fixed)

18.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Irrigated land

2,590 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are appointed by a the National Judicial Council comprised of the President, the leaders of both chambers of congress, the President of the Supreme Court, and an opposition or non-governing party member)

Labor force

2.3 million - 2.6 million (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 17%, industry 24.3%, services and government 58.7% (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Haiti 360 km

total

360 km

Land use

arable land

22.65%

other

67.02% (2001)

permanent crops

10.33%

Languages

Spanish

Legal system

based on French civil codes; undergoing modification in 2004 towards an accusatory system

Legislative branch

bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (32 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (150 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRD 29, PLD 2, PRSC 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRD 73, PLD 41, PRSC 36

elections

Senate - last held 16 May 2002 (next to be held May 2006); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 May 2002 (next to be held May 2006)

Life expectancy at birth

female

73.03 years (2005 est.)

male

69.94 years

total population

71.44 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

84.8% (2003 est.) Government Dominican Republic

male

84.6%

total population

84.7%

Location

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

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 2,108,197 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 1,420,693 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males

91,597 (2005 est.)

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

Median age

female

24.09 years (2005 est.)

male

23.68 years

total

23.88 years

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 3 (2005)

total

3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 11,230 GRT/17,011 DWT

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$180 million (1998)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.1% (1998) Transnational Issues Dominican Republic

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 February (1844)

Nationality

adjective

Dominican

noun

Dominican(s)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

nickel, bauxite, gold, silver

Net migration rate

-3.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

129,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

129,900 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna]; Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Vicente Sanchez BARET]; Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Enrique ATUN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Collective of Popular Organizations or COP; Citizen Participation Group (Participacion Ciudadania); Foundation for Institution-Building (FINJUS)

Population

8,950,034 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

25%

Population growth rate

1.29% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Boca Chica, Puerto Plata, Rio Haina, Santo Domingo

Public debt

61.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 120, FM 56, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios

1.44 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

142 km 0.762-m gauge note: additional 1,226 km operated by sugar companies in 1.076-m, 0.889-m, and 0.762-m gauges (2004)

standard gauge

375 km 1.435-m gauge

total

1,743 km

Religions

Roman Catholic 95%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$426 million (2004 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female

total population

1.03 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Suffrage

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

Telephone system

domestic

relatively efficient system based on island-wide microwave radio relay network

general assessment

NA

international

country code - 1-809; 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

901,800 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2,120,400 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

25 (2003)

Televisions

770,000 (1997)

Terrain

rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed

Total fertility rate

2.86 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

17% (2004 est.)