Dominican Republic

Republica Dominicana

republicIndependence 27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

Dominican Republic as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 83 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalSanto Domingo

Area48,730 sq km

LocationCaribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola,

1995

Every edition of Dominican Republic

Populationas each edition published it

7.51 million July 1995 est. · 7.24m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.17% 1995 est. · 1.86% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 23.5 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

68.73 years 1995 est. · 67.98 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.72 children per woman 1995 est. · 3.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

49.5 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 62 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$3,070 1994 est. · $1,120 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2.9% 1994 est. · 5% in 1993

Geography

Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, | between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti

14 fields

Land useshare of 48,730 sq km

arable land 23%permanent crops 7%meadows and pastures 43%forest and woodland 13%other 14%irrigated 2,250 sq km (1989)

Area

48,730sq km

land area: 48,380 sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire

Coastline

1,288km

contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 6 nm

Land boundaries

275km

total · Haiti 275 km

Location

Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti

Climate

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

Terrain

rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed

Environment

current issues:: water shortages;
soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs;
deforestation
natural hazards:: occasional hurricanes (July to October)
international agreements:: party to - Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection;
signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Note

shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)

People

15 fields

Population

7,511,263

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 1.17% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

23.92Death

6.15Net migration

-6.04

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years68.73

66.57 · 70.99

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy83%

85% · 82%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Ethnic divisions

white 16%black 11%mixed 73%

Labor force

2.3million to 2.6 million

by occupation: agriculture 49%, services 33%, industry 18% (1986)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 35% (female 1,288,210; male 1,336,162)
15-64 years:: 61% (female 2,246,791; male 2,312,555)
65 years and over:: 4% (female 178,388; male 149,157) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

49.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Dominican(s)
adjective:: Dominican

Government

Republic

23 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

42.6%

Joaquin BALAGUER (PRSC) 42.6%Juan BOSCH Gavino (PLD) 13.2%Jose Francisco PENA Gomez (PRD) 41.9%Jacobo MAJLUTA (PRI) 2.3%

Legislature, 30 seatsone dot, one seat

PRSC 15PLD 1PRD 14

Legislature, 120 seatsone dot, one seat

PLD 13PRSC 50PRD 57

Names

conventional long form:: Dominican Republic
conventional short form:: none
local long form:: Republica Dominicana
local short form:: none

Administrative divisions

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory or married persons regardless of age note: members of the armed forces and police cannot vote

Executive branch

chief of state and head of government:: President Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo (since 16 August 1986, sixth elected term began 16 August 1994);
Vice President Jacinto PEYNADO (since 16 August 1994) election last held 16 May 1994 (next to be held May 1996);
results - Joaquin BALAGUER (PRSC) 42.6%, Juan BOSCH Gavino (PLD) 13.2%, Jose Francisco PENA Gomez (PRD) 41.9%, Jacobo MAJLUTA (PRI) 2.3%
cabinet:: Cabinet; nominated by the president

Legislative branch

bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)

Senate (Senado)

elections last held 16 May 1994 (next to be held May 1998);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (30 total) PRSC 15, PLD 1, PRD 14

Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)

elections last held 16 May 1994 (next to be held May 1998);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (120 total) PLD 13, PRSC 50, PRD 57

Political parties and leaders

major parties:: Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC), Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo;
Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), (vacant following retirement of Juan BOSCH Gavino);
Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Jose Franciso PENA Gomez;
Independent Revolutionary Party (PRI), Jacobo MAJLUTA
minor parties:: National Veterans and Civilian Party (PNVC), Juan Rene BEAUCHAMPS Javier;
Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic (PLRD), Andres Van Der HORST;
Democratic Quisqueyan Party (PQD), Elias WESSIN Chavez;
National Progressive Force (FNP), Marino VINICIO Castillo;
Popular Christian Party (PPC), Rogelio DELGADO Bogaert;
Dominican Communist Party (PCD), Narciso ISA Conde;
Dominican Workers' Party (PTD), Ivan RODRIGUEZ;
Anti-Imperialist Patriotic Union (UPA), Ignacio RODRIGUEZ Chiappini;
Alliance for Democracy Party (APD), Maximilano Rabelais PUIG Miller, Nelsida MARMOLEJOS, Vicente BENGOA;
Democratic Union (UD), Fernando ALVAREZ Bogaert

note: in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to form the Dominican Leftist Front (FID); however, they still retain individual party structures

Other political or pressure groups

Collective of Popular Organzations (COP), leader NA

ACP, CARICOM (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (guest), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Jose del Carmen ARIZA Gomez
chancery:: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 332-6280

FAX

[1] (202) 265-8057

consulate(s) general:: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
consulate(s):: Charlotte Amalie (Virgin Islands), Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Minneapolis, Mobile, and Ponce (Puerto Rico)

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Donna Jean HRINAK
embassy:: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo
mailing address:: Unit 5500, Santo Domingo; APO AA 34041
telephone:: [1] (809) 541-2171, 8100

FAX

[1] (809) 686-7437

Flag

a centered white cross that extends to the edges, divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue;
a small coat of arms is at the center of the cross

Economy

The Dominican economy showed some signs of slippage in 1994, | although its overall performance in recent years has been relatively | strong.

19 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$3,070

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

2.9%

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 3.4% (1994); accounts for 14% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

14%

(1994)

Unemployment rate

30%

(1994 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$1.8 billionExpenditures

$2.2 billion (1994 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 1,450,000 kW

Electricity production

5.4 billionElectricity consumption per capita

651 (1993)

Overview

The Dominican economy showed some signs of slippage in 1994, although its overall performance in recent years has been relatively strong. After posting an increase of nearly 8% in 1992, GDP growth fell to 3% in 1993 and 1994 as mining output decreased and erosion of real wages caused private consumption to decline.

A pre-election boost in government spending in early 1994 led to the first government deficit in four years and bumped inflation up to 14% for the year. Continued dynamism in construction and the services sector, especially tourism, should keep the economy growing in 1995. Tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing for export remain key sectors of the economy. Domestic industry is based on the processing of agricultural products, oil refining, and chemicals.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $24 billion (1994 est.)

Exports

$585 million (f.o.b., 1994)

commodities:: ferronickel, sugar, gold, coffee, cocoa
partners:: US 52%, EC 23%, Puerto Rico 9%, Asia 7% (1992)

Imports

$2.5 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)

commodities:: foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals
partners:: US 60% (1993)

External debt

$4.3 billion (1994 est.)

Industries

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

Agriculture

accounts for 15% of GDP and employs 49% of labor force;
commercial crops - sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, and tobacco;
food crops - rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas;
animal output - cattle, hogs, dairy products, meat, eggs;
not self-sufficient in food

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe

Economic aid

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-89), $575 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $655 million

Currency

1 Dominican peso (RD$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates

Dominican pesos (RD$) per US$1 - 13.258 (January 1995), 13.160 (1994), 12.679 (1993), 12.774 (1992), 12.692 (1991), 8.525 (1990)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

6 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 36 in all

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

1,524 to 2,438 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

12,000Railroads

1,655

Highways: paved: 5,800 km · unpaved: gravel or improved earth 5,600 km; unimproved earth 600 km · Railroads: (in numerous segments; includes 4 different gauges from 0.558-m narrow gauge to 1.435-m standard gauge)

Railroads

total: 1,655 km (in numerous segments; includes 4 different gauges from 0.558-m narrow gauge to 1.435-m standard gauge)

Highways

total:: 12,000 km
paved:: 5,800 km
unpaved:: gravel or improved earth 5,600 km; unimproved earth 600 km

Pipelines

crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km

Ports

Barahona, La Romana, Puerto Plata, San Pedro de Macoris, Santo Domingo

Merchant marine

total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

190,000 telephones; relatively efficient domestic system based on islandwide microwave radio relay network

local:: NA
intercity:: islandwide microwave radio relay network
international:: 1 coaxial submarine cable; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station