Dominican Republic

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

• coastal development is significant, especially in the southern coastal plains and the Cibao Valley, where population density is highest;
• smaller population clusters exist in the interior mountains (Cordillera Central)

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

• shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds makes up the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti);
• the second largest country in the Antilles (after Cuba);
• geographically diverse with the Caribbean's tallest mountain, Pico Duarte, and lowest elevation and largest lake, Lago Enriquillo

noun:

Dominican(s)

adjective:

Dominican

total:

29.6 years (2025 est.)

male:

29.1 years

female:

29.4 years

• coastal development is significant, especially in the southern coastal plains and the Cibao Valley, where population density is highest;
• smaller population clusters exist in the interior mountains (Cordillera Central)

at birth:

1.04 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.03 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.93 male(s)/female

total population:

1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total:

20.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male:

24.3 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

19 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

72.6 years (2024 est.)

male:

71 years

female:

74.3 years

total:

5.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer:

3.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine:

0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits:

2.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols:

0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total:

9.7% (2025 est.)

male:

13.5% (2025 est.)

female:

5.9% (2025 est.)

women married by age 15:

9.4% (2019)

women married by age 18:

31.5% (2019)

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

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

urban population:

84.4% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually:

4.064 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

11.6% (2022 est.)

municipal:

855 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial:

659.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural:

7.563 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

name:

Santo Domingo

geographic coordinates:

18 28 N, 69 54 W

time difference:

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

etymology:

named after Saint Domingo de GUZMAN (1170-1221), founder of the Dominican Order; the city's full name was originally Santo Domingo de Guzman

history:

many previous (38 total); latest proclaimed 13 June 2015

amendment process:

• proposed by a special session of the National Congress called the National Revisory Assembly;
• passage requires at least two-thirds majority approval by at least one half of those present in both houses of the Assembly;
• passage of amendments to constitutional articles, such as fundamental rights and guarantees, territorial composition, nationality, or the procedures for constitutional reform, also requires approval in a referendum

citizenship by birth:

no

citizenship by descent only:

at least one parent must be a citizen of the Dominican Republic

dual citizenship recognized:

yes

residency requirement for naturalization:

2 years

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

note: members of the armed forces and national police by law cannot vote

legislature name:

National Congress of the Republic (Congreso Nacional de la República)

legislative structure:

bicameral

chamber name:

Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)

number of seats:

190 (all directly elected)

electoral system:

proportional representation

scope of elections:

full renewal

term in office:

4 years

most recent election date:

5/19/2024

parties elected and seats per party:

• Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) and its allies (146);
• People’s Force (FP) and its allies (28);
• Other (16)

percentage of women in chamber:

37.4%

expected date of next election:

May 2028

chamber name:

Senate (Senado)

number of seats:

32 (all directly elected)

electoral system:

proportional representation

scope of elections:

full renewal

term in office:

4 years

most recent election date:

5/19/2024

parties elected and seats per party:

• Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) and its allies (24);
• People’s Force (FP) and its allies (3);
• Other (5)

percentage of women in chamber:

12.5%

expected date of next election:

May 2028

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)

judge selection and term of office:

• Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary composed 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

• Alliance for Democracy or APD
• Broad Front (Frente Amplio)
• Country Alliance or AP
• Dominican Liberation Party or PLD
• Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD
• Dominicans For Change or DXC
• Independent Revolutionary Party or PRI
• Institutional Social Democratic Bloc or BIS
• Liberal Reformist Party or PRL (formerly the Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic or PLRD)
• Modern Revolutionary Party or PRM
• National Progressive Front or FNP
• People's First Party or PPG
• People's Force or FP
• Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC

chief of mission:

Ambassador María Isabel CASTILLO BÁEZ (since 11 June 2025)

chancery:

1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 332-6280

FAX:

[1] (202) 265-8057

email address and website:

[email protected]; http://drembassyusa.org/

consulate(s) general:

Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angelos, Miami, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia

chief of mission:

Ambassador Leah F. CAMPOS (since 19 November 2025)

embassy:

Av. Republica de Colombia #57, Santo Domingo

mailing address:

3470 Santo Domingo Place, Washington DC 20521-3470

telephone:

(809) 567-7775

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://do.usembassy.gov/

description:

• a centered white cross extends to the edges and divides the flag into four rectangles;
• the top ones are ultramarine blue (left side) and vermilion red, and the bottom ones are vermilion red (left side) and ultramarine blue;
• a small coat of arms with a shield supported by a laurel branch and a palm branch is at the center of the cross;
• above the shield, a blue ribbon displays the motto DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty);
• below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA is on a red ribbon;
• on the shield, a Bible is opened to a verse that reads "Y la verdad nos hara libre" (And the truth shall set you free)

meaning:

blue stands for liberty, white for salvation, and red for the blood of heroes

title:

"Himno Nacional" (National Anthem)

lyrics/music:

Emilio PRUD'HOMME/Jose REYES

history:

• adopted 1934;
• also known as "Quisqueyanos valientes" (Valiant Sons of Quisqueye);
• the anthem refers to the Dominican people as Quisqueyanos, which comes from the ethnic name for the island

total World Heritage Sites:

1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales:

Colonial City of Santo Domingo

• surging middle-income tourism, construction, mining, and telecommunications OECS economy;
• major foreign US direct investment and free-trade zones;
• developing local financial markets;
• improving debt management;
• declining poverty

agriculture:

4.5% (2024 est.)

industry:

28.7% (2024 est.)

services:

59.8% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

total:

11.7% (2024 est.)

male:

9.2% (2024 est.)

female:

15.5% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

on food:

28.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco:

3.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

lowest 10%:

2.3% (2023 est.)

highest 10%:

29.1% (2023 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

consumption:

2.356 million metric tons (2023 est.)

imports:

2.356 million metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption:

2.277 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports:

1.997 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports:

2.279 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

• 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;
• over 300 state-owned and privately owned radio stations (2019)

total:

496 km (2014)

standard gauge:

354 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge:

142 km (2014) 0.762-m gauge

total ports:

17 (2024)

large:

0

medium:

2

small:

7

very small:

6

size unknown:

2

ports with oil terminals:

7

key ports:

Andres (Andres Lng Terminal), Las Calderas, Puerto de Haina, Puerto Plata, Punta Nizao Oil Terminal, San Pedro de Macoris, Santa Barbara de Samana, Santa Cruz de Barahona, Santo Domingo

• the military is responsible for defending the independence, integrity, and sovereignty of the Dominican Republic;
• it also has an internal security role, which includes assisting with airport, border, port, tourism, and urban security, supporting the police in maintaining or restoring public order, countering transnational crime, and providing disaster or emergency relief/management;
• a key area of focus is securing the country’s 217-mile (350-kilometer) long border with Haiti, where the Army in recent years has assigned thousands of troops to assist with security;
• these forces complement the personnel of the Border Security Corps permanently deployed along the border;
• the Air Force and Navy also provide support to the Haitian border mission;
• the Army has a brigade dedicated to managing and providing relief during natural disasters;
• the military also contributes personnel to the National Drug Control Directorate, and both the Air Force and Navy devote assets to detecting and interdicting narcotics trafficking;
• the Navy conducts regular bilateral maritime interdiction exercises with the US Navy (2025)

refugees:

1,004 (2024 est.)

IDPs:

390 (2023 est.)