2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

31 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, El Seibo, Elias Pina, 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, San Cristobal, San Jose de Ocoa, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Sanchez Ramirez, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Santo Domingo, Valverde

Age structure

0-14 years: 32.6% (male 1,531,145/female 1,464,076) 15-64 years: 61.9% (male 2,902,098/female 2,782,608) 65 years and over: 5.5% (male 235,016/female 269,041) (2006 est.)

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 Christopher 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 followed, capped by the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas TRUJILLO from 1930-1961. Juan BOSCH was elected president in 1962, but was deposed in a military coup in 1963. In 1965, the United States led an intervention in the midst of a civil war sparked by an uprising to restore BOSCH. In 1966, Joaquin BALAGUER defeated BOSCH in an election to become president. BALAGUER 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. Former President (1996-2000) Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna won election to a second term in 2004 following a constitutional amendment allowing presidents to serve more than one term. Geography Dominican Republic

Birth rate

23.22 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Capital

geographic coordinates

18 28 N, 69 54 W

name

Santo Domingo

time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Death rate

5.73 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

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, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Law of the Sea

Ethnic groups

mixed 73%, white 16%, black 11%

Executive branch

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

Geographic coordinates

19 00 N, 70 40 W

Geography - note

shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti People Dominican Republic

Government type

representative democracy

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.)

Independence

27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

Infant mortality rate

female

25.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

30.58 deaths/1,000 live births

total

28.25 deaths/1,000 live births

Irrigated land

2,750 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries

Haiti 360 km

total

360 km

Land use

arable land

22.49%

other

67.25% (2005)

permanent crops

10.26%

Languages

Spanish

Legal system

based on French civil codes; Criminal Procedures Code modified in 2004 to include important elements of an accusatory system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Life expectancy at birth

female

73.33 years (2006 est.)

male

70.21 years

total population

71.73 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

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

24.3 years (2006 est.)

male

24 years

total

24.1 years

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

-2.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population

9,183,984 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate

1.47% (2006 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 95%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.03 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age

note

members of the armed forces and national police cannot vote

Terrain

rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed

Total fertility rate

2.83 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

33 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3

total

14

under 914 m

1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m

10 (2006)

Budget

expenditures

$5.947 billion; including capital expenditures of $1.1 billion (2006 est.)

revenues

$5.852 billion

Currency (code)

Dominican peso (DOP)

Currency code

DOP

Current account balance

$-1.124 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$8.634 billion (2006 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

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 Flavio Dario ESPINAL Jacobo

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

$571.6 million (2004)

Economy - overview

The Dominican Republic is a Caribbean representative democracy that enjoyed strong GDP growth until 2003. 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. Growth turned negative in 2003 with reduced tourism, a major bank fraud, and limited growth in the US economy (the source of about 80% of export revenues), but recovered in 2004-06. With the help of strict fiscal targets agreed in the 2004 renegotiation of an IMF standby loan, President FERNANDEZ has stabilized the country's financial situation. Although the economy continues to grow at a respectable rate, high unemployment and inflation remain important challenges. 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. The Dominican Republic's development prospects improved with the ratification of the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) in September 2005.

Electricity - consumption

13.96 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

15.02 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

92%

hydro

7.6%

nuclear

0%

other

0.4% (2001)

Exchange rates

Dominican pesos per US dollar - 33.6046 (2006), 30.409 (2005), 42.12 (2004), 30.831 (2003), 18.61 (2002)

Exports

$6.495 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 78.9%, Netherlands 2.4%, Mexico 1.9% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 265-8057

[1] (809) 686-7437

consulate(s) general

Anchorage, Boston, Chicago, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

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

11.2%

industry

30.6%

services

58.2% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$8,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7.2% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$19.91 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$73.74 billion (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

37.9% (1998)

lowest 10%

2.1%

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 8 February, 2007

Imports

$11.39 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners

US 50%, Colombia 6.2%, Mexico 5.8% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate

2% (2001 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8.2% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.do

Internet hosts

91,895 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

24 (2000)

Internet users

938,300 (2005) Transportation Dominican Republic

Investment (gross fixed)

15.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are appointed by the National Judicial Council comprised of the president, the leaders of both chambers of congress, the president of the Supreme Court, and an additional non-governing party congressional representative)

Labor force

3.896 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

17%

industry

24.3%

services

58.7% (1998 est.)

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 House of Representatives or Camara de Diputados (178 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 22, PRD 6, PRSC 4; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 96, PRD 60, PRSC 22

elections

Senate - last held 16 May 2006 (next to be held in May 2008); House of Representatives - last held 16 May 2006 (next to be held in May 2008)

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

2,032,840 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

2,133,142

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

1,536,257 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

1,671,493

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

87,550 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

91,699

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 1 (2006)

total

1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$0 (2002 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0% (2002 est.) Transnational Issues Dominican Republic

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Natural gas - consumption

130 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

130 million cu m

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption

127,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

129,900 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - production

11.95 bbl/day (2004)

Political parties and leaders

Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna]; Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Ramon ALBURQUERQUE]; National Progressive Front [Vincent CASTILLO, Pelegrin CASTILLO]; Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Enrique ANTUN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Population below poverty line

25%

Ports and terminals

Boca Chica, Puerto Plata, Rio Haina, Santo Domingo Military Dominican Republic

Public debt

45.6% of GDP (2006 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 (2005)

standard gauge

375 km 1.435-m gauge

total

517 km

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.106 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

6,224 km

total

12,600 km

unpaved

6,376 km (1999)

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

894,500 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

3.623 million (2005)

Television broadcast stations

25 (2003)

Televisions

770,000 (1997)

Unemployment rate

16% (2006 est.)