2008 Edition

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 1930-61. 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.

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, 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 3.39 cu km/yr (32%/2%/66%) per capita: 381 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

19 00 N, 70 40 W

Geography - note

shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti

Irrigated land

2,750 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 360 km border countries: Haiti 360 km

Land use

arable land: 22.49% permanent crops: 10.26% other: 67.25% (2005)

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

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines territorial sea: 6 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

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

Terrain

rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed

Total renewable water resources

21 cu km (2000)

Age structure

0-14 years: 31.8% (male 1,537,981/female 1,482,546) 15-64 years: 62.4% (male 3,029,349/female 2,905,471) 65 years and over: 5.8% (male 255,898/female 295,888) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

22.65 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

5.3 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

3.6% of GDP (2006)

Ethnic groups

mixed 73%, white 16%, black 11%

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.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 26.93 deaths/1,000 live births male: 29.01 deaths/1,000 live births female: 24.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

Spanish

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.39 years male: 71.61 years female: 75.24 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 87% male: 86.8% female: 87.2% (2002 census)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Median age

total: 24.7 years male: 24.6 years female: 24.8 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican

Net migration rate

-2.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population

9,507,133 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

1.495% (2008 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2004)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.78 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Administrative divisions

31 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Bahoruco, 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

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)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador P. Robert FANNIN 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

chief of mission: Ambassador Flavio Dario ESPINAL Jacobo chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280

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

FAX

[1] (202) 265-8057 consulate(s) general: Anchorage, Boston, Chicago, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

[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 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

Government type

democratic republic

Independence

27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

International organization participation

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

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)

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

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) elections: Senate - last held 16 May 2006 (next to be held in May 2010); House of Representatives - last held 16 May 2006 (next to be held in May 2010) 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

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 February (1844)

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)

Suffrage

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

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $7.423 billion expenditures: $7.259 billion (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15.83% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

Dominican peso (DOP)

Currency code

DOP

Current account balance

-$2.231 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$10.21 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

51.6 (2004)

Economic aid - recipient

$76.99 million (2005)

Economy - overview

The Dominican Republic has enjoyed strong GDP growth since 2005, with double digit growth in 2006. In 2007, exports were bolstered by the nearly 50% increase in nickel prices; however, prices are expected to fall in 2008, contributing to a slowdown in GDP growth for the year. 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 economy is highly dependent upon the US, the source of nearly three-fourths of exports, and remittances represent about a tenth of GDP, equivalent to almost half of exports and three-quarters of tourism receipts. With the help of strict fiscal targets agreed to in the 2004 renegotiation of an IMF standby loan, President FERNANDEZ has stabilized the country's financial situation, lowering inflation to less than 6%. A fiscal expansion is expected for 2008 prior to the elections in May and for Tropical Storm Noel reconstruction. Although the economy is growing at a respectable rate, high unemployment and underemployment remains an important challenge. 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 Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) came into force in March 2007, which should boost investment and exports and reduce losses to the Asian garment industry.

Electricity - consumption

11.81 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

13.37 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 92% hydro: 7.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0.4% (2001)

Exchange rates

Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar - 33.113 (2007), 33.406 (2006), 30.409 (2005), 42.12 (2004), 30.831 (2003)

Exports

$7.237 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 66.4%, Belgium 3.7%, Finland 3.2% (2007)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 11.7% industry: 23.8% services: 64.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$6,600 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

8.5% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$36.4 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$61.67 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 41.1% (2004)

Imports

$13.82 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners

US 46%, Venezuela 8.1%, Mexico 5.9%, Colombia 4.7% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

2.4% (2007 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.1% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

18.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

4.027 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 17% industry: 24.3% services: 58.7% (1998 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

250 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

239.8 million cu m (2005)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

117,300 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

116,600 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

12 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

42.2% (2004)

Public debt

41% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.562 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$59 million (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$12.75 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$15.92 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$4.074 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$5.631 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

15.6% (2007 est.)

Internet country code

.do

Internet hosts

105,546 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

24 (2000)

Internet users

1.677 million (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 120, FM 56, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios

1.44 million (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: relatively efficient system based on island-wide microwave radio relay network domestic: fixed telephone line density is about 10 per 100 persons; multiple providers of mobile cellular service with a subscribership of roughly 60 per 100 persons international: country code - 1-809; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

907,000 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular

5.513 million (2007)

Television broadcast stations

25 (2003)

Televisions

770,000 (1997)

Airports

34 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 15 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 11 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 1 by type: cargo 1 registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals

Boca Chica, Caucedo, Puerto Plata, Rio Haina, Santo Domingo

Railways

total: 517 km standard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gauge 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 (2006)

Roadways

total: 19,705 km paved: 9,872 km unpaved: 9,833 km (2002)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 2,440,203 females age 16-49: 2,326,694 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,020,490 females age 16-49: 1,883,875 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 96,971 female: 93,116 (2008 est.)

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Dominicana, FAD) (2007)

Military expenditures

0.8% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)

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; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor the Dominican Republic for illicit financial transactions; significant amphetamine consumption This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

Trafficking in persons

current situation: the Dominican Republic is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; a large number of Dominican women are trafficked into prostitution and sexual exploitation in Western Europe, Australia, Central and South America, and Caribbean destinations; a significant number of women, boys, and girls are trafficked within the country for sexual exploitation and domestic servitude tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for a second consecutive year, the Dominican Republic is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to show evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly in terms of not adequately investigating and prosecuting public officials who may be complicit with trafficking activity, and inadequate government efforts to protect trafficking victims; the government has taken measures to reduce demand for commercial sex acts with children through criminal prosecutions (2008)