2015 Edition

Background

The Taino - indigenous inhabitants of Hispaniola prior to the arrival of the Europeans - divided the island into five chiefdoms and territories. Christopher COLUMBUS explored and claimed the island on his first voyage in 1492; it 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 to 1961. Juan BOSCH was elected president in 1962 but was deposed in a military coup in 1963. In 1965, the US led an intervention in the midst of a civil war sparked by an uprising to restore BOSCH. In 1966, Joaquin BALAGUER defeated BOSCH in the presidential election. 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 Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (first term 1996-2000) won election to a new term in 2004 following a constitutional amendment allowing presidents to serve more than one term, and was later reelected to a second consecutive term. In 2012, Danilo MEDINA Sanchez was elected president.

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

574.2 cu m/yr (2005)

total

5.47 cu km/yr (26%/1%/72%)

Geographic coordinates

19 00 N, 70 40 W

Geography - note

shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti

Irrigated land

3,065 sq km (2009)

Land boundaries

border countries (1)

Haiti 376 km

total

376 km

Land use

arable land 16.6%; permanent crops 10.1%; permanent pasture 24.8%

agricultural land

51.5%

forest

40.8%

other

7.7% (2011 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

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

12 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, arable land

Terrain

rugged highlands and mountains interspersed with fertile valleys

Total renewable water resources

21 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

27.53% (male 1,467,374/female 1,416,998)

15-24 years

18.39% (male 982,191/female 945,087)

25-54 years

39.41% (male 2,113,028/female 2,016,733)

55-64 years

7.44% (male 392,230/female 387,052)

65 years and over

7.23% (male 349,983/female 408,080) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

18.73 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

10% (2000 est.)

total number

180,423

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

4% (2013)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

73% (2009/10)

Death rate

4.55 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

10.5%

potential support ratio

9.5% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

57.8%

youth dependency ratio

47.3%

Drinking water source

urban: 85.4% of population

rural: 81.9% of population

total: 84.7% of population

urban: 14.6% of population

rural: 18.1% of population

total: 15.3% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

3.8% of GDP (2013)

Ethnic groups

mixed 73%, white 16%, black 11%

Health expenditures

5.4% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.04% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

3,100 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

69,300 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

16.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

20.75 deaths/1,000 live births

total

18.84 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Spanish (official)

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.28 years (2015 est.)

male

75.76 years

total population

77.97 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

92.3% (2015 est.)

male

91.2%

total population

91.8%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

dengue fever (2013)

Major urban areas - population

SANTO DOMINGO (capital) 2.945 million (2015)

Median age

female

27.6 years (2015 est.)

male

27.2 years

total

27.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Dominican

noun

Dominican(s)

Net migration rate

-1.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

23% (2014)

Physicians density

1.49 physicians/1,000 population (2011)

Population

10,478,756 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1.23% (2015 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%

Sanitation facility access

urban: 86.2% of population

rural: 75.7% of population

total: 84% of population

urban: 13.8% of population

rural: 24.3% of population

total: 16% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2012)

male

13 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.05 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.86 male(s)/female

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female

total population

1.03 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.33 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

40.8% (2011 est.)

male

22.6%

total

29.4%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

79% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

10 regions (regiones, singular - region); Cibao Nordeste, Cibao Noroeste, Cibao Norte, Cibao Sur, El Valle, Enriquillo, Higuamo, Ozama, Valdesia, Yuma

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

many previous (38 total); latest proclaimed 26 January 2010; note - the Dominican Republic Government has a practice of promulgating a "new" constitution whenever an amendment is ratified (2013)

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 James Walter BREWSTER, Jr. (since 9 December 2013)

embassy

Av. Republica de Colombia

FAX

[1] (809) 686-7437

mailing address

Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500

telephone

[1] (809) 567-7775

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Jose Tomas PEREZ (since 23 February 2015)

consulate(s) general

Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

FAX

[1] (202) 265-8057

telephone

[1] (202) 332-6280

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet nominated by the president

chief of state

President Danilo MEDINA Sanchez (since 16 August 2012); Vice President Margarita CEDENO DE FERNANDEZ (since 16 August 2012); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

Danilo MEDINA Sanchez elected president; percent of vote - Danilo MEDINA Sanchez (PLD) 51.2%, Hipolito MEJIA (PRD) 47%, other 1.8%; Margarita CEDENO DE FERNANDEZ (PLD) elected vice president

elections/appointments

president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for consecutive terms); election last held on 20 May 2012 (next to be held in 2016)

head of government

President Danilo MEDINA Sanchez (since 16 August 2012); Vice President Margarita CEDENO DE FERNANDEZ (since 16 August 2012)

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 law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AOSIS, BCIE, Caricom (observer), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OAS, OIF (observer), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA (associated member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Justice or Suprema Corte de Justicia (consists of a minimum of 16 magistrates); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 13 judges); note - the Constitutional Court was established in 2010 by constitutional amendment

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary comprised of the president, the leaders of both chambers of congress, the president of the Supreme Court, and a non-governing party congressional representative; Supreme Court judges appointed for 7-year terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed for 9-year terms

subordinate courts

courts of appeal; courts of first instance; justices of the peace; special courts for juvenile, labor, and land cases; Contentious Administrative Court for cases filed against the government

Legal system

civil law system based on the French civil code; Criminal Procedures Code modified in 2004 to include important elements of an accusatory system

Legislative branch

description

bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (32 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de Diputados (195 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 31, PRSC 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 2016); House of Representatives - last held on 16 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2016); note - in order to synchronize presidential, legislative, and local elections for 2016, members elected in 2010 will actually serve six-year terms

National anthem

lyrics/music

Emilio PRUD'HOMME/Jose REYES

name

"Himno Nacional" (National Anthem)

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 February (1844)

National symbol(s)

palmchat (bird); national colors: red, white, blue

Political parties and leaders

Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna]

Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Miguel VARGAS Maldonado]

National Progressive Front [Vinicio CASTILLO, Pelegrin CASTILLO]

Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Carlos MORALES Troncoso]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Citizen Participation Group (Participacion Ciudadania)

Collective of Popular Organizations or COP

Foundation for Institution-Building and Justice or FINJUS

Suffrage

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

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$11.77 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$10.11 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

13.7% (31 December 2014 est.)

13.59% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$2.002 billion (2014 est.)

-$2.467 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$19.72 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$18.78 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

45.7 (2012 est.)

52 (2000 est.)

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 telecommunications, tourism, and free trade zones. The mining sector has also played a greater role in the export market since late 2012 with the commencement of the extraction phase of the Pueblo Viejo Gold and Silver mine. The economy is highly dependent upon the US, the destination for approximately half of exports. Remittances from the US amount to about 7% of GDP, equivalent to about a third of exports and two-thirds 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 Dominican Republic's economy rebounded from the global recession in 2010-14, and the fiscal situation is improving. A tax reform package passed in November 2012 and a reduction in government spending helped to narrow the central government budget deficit from 6.6% of GDP in 2012 to 2.7% in 2014. A successful government bond placement in 2013 and 2014 helped finance the deficit. A liability management operation in January 2015, in which the government paid down over $4 billion of the country’s Petrocaribe debt, at a discount of 52% with proceeds from the sale of $2.5 billion in global bonds, reduced the country’s debt load by approximately by 3.3% of GDP.

Exchange rates

Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar -

43.5 (2014 est.)

41.808 (2013 est.)

39.34 (2012 est.)

38.232 (2011 est.)

37.307 (2010 est.)

Exports

$10.11 billion (2014 est.)

$9.504 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 40.1%, Haiti 15.3%, Canada 14.5% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

26.1%

government consumption

10.2%

household consumption

72%

imports of goods and services

-30.6%

investment in fixed capital

21.4%

investment in inventories

0.8%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

6.3%

industry

32.1%

services

61.6% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$13,000 (2014 est.)

$12,100 (2013 est.)

$11,600 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

7.3% (2014 est.)

4.8% (2013 est.)

2.6% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$64.08 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$138 billion (2014 est.)

$128.6 billion (2013 est.)

$122.7 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

35.8% (2012 est.)

lowest 10%

1.9%

Imports

$16.97 billion (2014 est.)

$16.81 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners

US 45.8%, China 7.3%, Venezuela 6.3%, Mexico 5.1%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.2% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

6% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (2014 est.)

4.8% (2013 est.)

Labor force

4.996 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

14.4%

industry

20.8%

services

64.7% (2014 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

41.1% (2013 est.)

Public debt

48.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

45.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.503 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$4.703 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$17.42 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$15.97 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$72.8 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$72.8 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$28.52 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$26.42 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$26.87 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$24.87 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$5.621 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$5.203 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

15.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.4% (2014 est.)

15% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

20.8 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2013)

Crude oil - imports

26,500 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

9.176 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

85.2% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

13.2% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

1.6% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

3.364 million kW (2013 est.)

Electricity - production

14.1 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

1.28 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.28 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

123,500 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

85,490 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

28,050 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.do

Internet users

percent of population

48.2% (2014 est.)

total

5 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 120, FM 56, shortwave 4 (1998)

Telephone system

domestic

fixed-line teledensity is about 10 per 100 persons; multiple providers of mobile-cellular service with a subscribership of nearly 90 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) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

12 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

1.23 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

80 (2014 est.)

total

8.3 million

Television broadcast stations

25 (2003)

Airports

36 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

4

2,438 to 3,047 m

4

914 to 1,523 m

4

over 3,047 m

3

total

16

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

18 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

1

total

20

Heliports

1 (2013)

Pipelines

gas 27 km; oil 103 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

LNG terminal(s) (import)

Andres LNG terminal (Boca Chica)

major seaport(s)

Puerto Haina, Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo

oil terminal(s)

Punta Nizao oil terminal

Railways

narrow gauge

142 km 0.762-m gauge (2014)

standard gauge

354 km 1.435-m gauge

total

496 km

Roadways

paved

9,872 km

total

19,705 km

unpaved

9,833 km (2002)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

2,464,698 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,580,083

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

2,090,180 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,188,358

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

96,302 (2010 est.)

male

100,047

Military branches

Army (Ejercito Nacional, EN), Navy (Marina de Guerra, MdG; includes naval infantry), Dominican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Dominicana, FAD) (2013)

Military expenditures

0.61% of GDP (2012)

0.63% of GDP (2011)

0.61% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

17-21 years of age for voluntary military service; recruits must have completed primary school and be Dominican Republic citizens; women may volunteer (2012)

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)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons

210,000 (2014); note - a September 2013 Constitutional Court ruling revoked the citizenship of those born after 1929 to immigrants without proper documentation, even though the constitution at the time automatically granted citizenship to children born in the Dominican Republic and the 2010 constitution provides that constitutional provisions cannot be applied retroactively; the decision overwhelmingly affected people of Haitian descent whose relatives had come to the Dominican Republic since the 1940s as a cheap source of labor for sugar plantations; a May 2014 law passed by the Dominican Congress will regularize the status of those who have birth certificates but will require those without them to prove they were born in the Dominican Republic and to apply for naturalization