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:

29.2 years (2024 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:

21.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 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:

10.6% (2020 est.)

male:

14.6% (2020 est.)

female:

6.5% (2020 est.)

women married by age 15:

9.4%

women married by age 18:

31.5% (2019 est.)

• water shortages;
• soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs;
• deforestation

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.)

particulate matter emissions:

7.59 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions:

25.26 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions:

8.1 megatons (2020 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually:

4,063,910 tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually:

333,241 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

8.2% (2015 est.)

municipal:

860 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial:

660 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural:

7.56 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

conventional long form:

Dominican Republic

conventional short form:

The Dominican

local long form:

República Dominicana

local short form:

La Dominicana

former:

Santo Domingo (the capital city's name formerly applied to the entire country)

etymology:

the country name derives from the capital city of Santo Domingo (Saint Dominic)

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 Dominic de GUZMAN (1170-1221), founder of the Dominican Order

history:

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

amendments:

• 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 regardless of age can vote;
• note - members of the armed forces and national police by law cannot vote

chief of state:

President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020)

head of government:

President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020)

cabinet:

Cabinet nominated by the 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 a maximum of two consecutive terms);
• election last held on 19 May 2024 (next to be held on 21 May 2028)

election results:

• 2024: Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona reelected president;
• percent of vote - Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (PRM) 57.5%, Leonel Antonio FERNÁNDEZ Reyna (FP) 28.8%, Abel MARTÍNEZ (PLD) 10.4%, other 3.3%

;

• 2020: Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona elected president in first round;
• percent of vote - Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (PRM) 52.5%, Gonzalo CASTILLO Terrero (PLD) 37.5%, Leonel Antonio FERNÁNDEZ Reyna (FP) 8.9%, other 1.1%

note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

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

• 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 Sonia GUZMÁN DE HERNÁNDEZ (since 18 January 2021)

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 (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Patricia AGUILERA (since 1 October 2023)

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/

• a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are ultramarine blue (hoist side) and vermilion red, and the bottom ones are vermilion red (hoist side) and ultramarine 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

name:

"Himno Nacional" (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

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

Fitch rating:

BB- (2016)

Moody's rating:

Ba3 (2017)

Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2015)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

agriculture:

6.4% (2023 est.)

industry:

31.1% (2023 est.)

services:

56% (2023 est.)

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

total:

11.8% (2023 est.)

male:

9.5% (2023 est.)

female:

15.4% (2023 est.)

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

on food:

26.6% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco:

3.8% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

lowest 10%:

2.6% (2022 est.)

highest 10%:

28.3% (2022 est.)

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

consumption:

2.188 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports:

5.9 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports:

2.188 million metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption:

2.44 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

exports:

96.479 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports:

2.537 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

general assessment:

• the Dominican Republic’s telecom sector continued its solid form throughout 2020 and into 2021, shrugging off the economic turmoil unleashed by the Covid-19 pandemic to maintain a decade-long run of low but positive growth across all areas of the market;
• the Dominican Republic remains behind most of its counterparts in the Latin American region, especially in terms of fixed-line network coverage;
• mobile subscriptions are on par with the regional average, but at subscription levels of around 88% there is still ample opportunity for growth;
• in terms of growth, the standout winner was once again the mobile broadband segment;
• the market is expected to see close to 8% growth in 2021, building further on the gains it already made in 2020 when lock downs and work-from-home rules encouraged many people to find ways to upgrade their internet access and performance;
• the limited coverage of fixed-line broadband networks makes mobile the first, if not only, choice for most people in the country (2021)

domestic:

fixed-line teledensity is about 10 per 100 persons; mobile cellular subscriptions 88 per 100 persons (2021)

international:

• country code - 1-809;
• 1-829;
• 1-849;
• landing point for the ARCOS-1, Antillas 1, AMX-1, SAm-1, East-West, Deep Blue Cable 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) (2019)

• 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 (2019)

total:

496 km (2014)

standard gauge:

354 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge:

142 km (2014) 0.762-m gauge

total:

19,705 km

paved:

9,872 km

unpaved:

9,833 km (2002)

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

• 16-23 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (ages vary slightly according to the military service; under 18 admitted with permission of parents);
• recruits must have completed primary school and be Dominican Republic citizens (2024)

note: as of 2023, women made up approximately 18% of the active duty military

• 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;
• the Army in recent years, for example, has assigned three of its six infantry brigades and some 10-12,000 troops to assist with security along the Haitian border;
• 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 (2024)

refugees (country of origin):

121,141 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2023)

stateless persons:

• 133,770 (2016);
• 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 1890s as a cheap source of labor for sugar plantations;
• a May 2014 law passed by the Dominican Congress regularizes the status of those with birth certificates but will require those without them to prove they were born in the Dominican Republic and to apply for naturalization;
• the government has issued documents to thousands of individuals who may claim citizenship under this law, but no official estimate has been released

tier rating:

• Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore the Dominican Republic remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year;
• for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/dominican-republic/