2010 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 new term in 2004 following a constitutional amendment allowing presidents to serve more than one term, and was since reelected to a second consecutive term.

Area

land

48,320 sq km

total

48,670 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

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

381 cu m/yr (2000)

total

3.39 cu km/yr (32%/2%/66%)

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

border countries

Haiti 360 km

total

360 km

Land use

arable land

22.49%

other

67.25% (2005)

permanent crops

10.26%

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

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

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: 31.4% (male 1,543,141/female 1,488,016) 15-64 years: 62.7% (male 3,087,351/female 2,960,319) 65 years and over: 5.9% (male 264,476/female 306,751) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

19.9 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

4.3 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

2.2% of GDP (2007)

Ethnic groups

mixed 73%, white 16%, black 11%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.1% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

4,100 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

62,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

21 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

25.11 deaths/1,000 live births

total

23.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Spanish (official)

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.38 years (2010 est.)

male

75.01 years

total population

77.15 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

87.2% (2002 census)

male

86.8%

total population

87%

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 (2009)

Median age

female

26 years (2010 est.)

male

25.6 years

total

25.8 years

Nationality

adjective

Dominican

noun

Dominican(s)

Net migration rate

-2.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

9,823,821 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

1.357% (2010 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

13 years (2004)

male

11 years

total

12 years

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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.47 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

69% of total population (2008)

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

geographic coordinates

18 28 N, 69 54 W

name

Santo Domingo

time difference

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

Constitution

28 November 1966; amended 25 July 2002 and January 2010

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 Raul H. YZAGUIRRE

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 Roberto B. SALADIN Selin

consulate(s) general

Anchorage, Boston, Chicago, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Sun Valley (California)

FAX

[1] (202) 265-8057

telephone

[1] (202) 332-6280

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet nominated by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

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 reelected president; percent of vote - Leonel FERNANDEZ 53.6%, Miguel VARGAS 41%, Amable ARISTY less than 5%

elections

president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held on 16 May 2008 (next to be held in May 2012)

head of government

President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 2004); Vice President Rafael ALBURQUERQUE de Castro (since 16 August 2004)

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

Government type

democratic republic

Independence

27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

International organization participation

ACP, AOSIS, BCIE, Caricom (observer), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, PetroCaribe, RG, SICA (associated member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, 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 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 31, PRD 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 105, PRD 75, PRSC 3

elections

Senate - last held on 16 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2014); House of Representatives - last held on 16 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2014)

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

name

"Himno Nacional" (National Anthem)

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate

18.14% (31 December 2009 est.) 19.95% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$3.862 billion (2010 est.) -$2.328 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$13.09 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $11.04 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

49.9 (2005) 47.4 (1998)

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 tourism and free trade zones. The economy is highly dependent upon the US, the destination for nearly 60% of exports. Remittances from the US amount to about a tenth of GDP, equivalent to almost half of exports and three-quarters 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 growth of the Dominican Republic's economy slowed in 2008-09 because of the global recession, but still remained one of the fastest growing in the region.

Electricity - consumption

12.7 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

14.02 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar - 36.92 (2010), 36.027 (2009), 34.775 (2008), 33.113 (2007), 33.406 (2006)

Exports

$6.161 billion (2010 est.) $5.462 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 54.08%, Haiti 9.78% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

11.5%

industry

21%

services

67.5% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$8,600 (2010 est.) $8,400 (2009 est.) $8,200 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.2% (2010 est.) 3.5% (2009 est.) 5.3% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$50.87 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$84.94 billion (2010 est.) $81.52 billion (2009 est.) $78.76 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.5% highest 10%: 38.7% (2005)

Imports

$14.53 billion (2010 est.) $12.28 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners

US 42.79%, Venezuela 7.04%, Mexico 6.17%, Colombia 5.59% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

1.5% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.3% (2010 est.) 1.4% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

15.4% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

4.498 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

14.6%

industry

22.3%

services

63.1% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

470 million cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

470 million cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

118,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

116,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

42.2% (2004)

Public debt

41.7% of GDP (2010 est.) 40.8% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.705 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $2.905 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$15.71 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $14 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA (31 December 2010 est.) $59 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$19.45 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $17.95 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$21.63 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $18.91 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$4.734 billion (31 December 2010 est) $4.079 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

14.2% (2010 est.) 14.9% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

combination of state-owned and privately-owned broadcast media; 1 state-owned television 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; more than 300 radio stations operating (2007)

Internet country code

.do

Internet hosts

283,298 (2010)

Internet users

2.701 million (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

fixed-line teledensity is about 10 per 100 persons; multiple providers of mobile-cellular service with a subscribership of roughly 75 per 100 persons

general assessment

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

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) (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

965,400 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

8.63 million (2009)

Airports

35 (2010)

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 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 17 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 1

registered in other countries

1 (Panama 1) (2008)

total

1

Ports and terminals

Andres (Boca Chica), Puerto Haina, Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo

Railways

narrow gauge

1,409 km 1.076-m, 0.889-m, and 0.762-m gauges note: 1,226 km operated by sugar companies in 1.076 m, 0.889 m, and 0.762-m gauges (2008)

standard gauge

375 km 1.435-m gauge

total

1,784 km

Roadways

paved

9,872 km

total

19,705 km

unpaved

9,833 km (2002)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 2,514,160 females age 16-49: 2,395,804 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,090,785 females age 16-49: 1,957,233 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

94,576 (2010 est.)

male

98,394

Military branches

Army, Navy (Marina de Guerra), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Dominicana, FAD) (2010)

Military expenditures

0.7% of GDP (2009)

Military service age and obligation

16-21 years of age for compulsory military service; recruits must be Dominican Republic citizens; women may volunteer (2010)

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) page last updated on January 12, 2011 ======================================================================

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 3 - 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)