Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
11 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
1.26 million (2023 est.)
Communications: 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; over 300 state-owned and privately owned radio stations (2019)
Communications: Internet country code
.do
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
91.00% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
10 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
1.15 million (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
94 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
10.7 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
sugarcane, bananas, papayas, plantains, avocados, rice, milk, watermelons, vegetables, pineapples (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
3.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
28.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$24.348 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$20.418 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$2.568 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$2.170 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$1.280 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$814.7 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$133.1 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$1.321 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$1.188 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$1.329 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$2.685 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$6.549 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$4.418 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$4.167 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$48.290 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$35.044 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
59.5651 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
41.7945 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
43.5497 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
45.0455 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
46.0644 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
47.5344 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
49.5100 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
51.2949 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
56.5245 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
57.2211 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
55.1410 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
56.1576 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
59.5651 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
medical instruments, tobacco, gold, garments, power equipment (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$14.097 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$17.026 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$17.058 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$18.279 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$19.119 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$20.393 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$20.794 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$14.765 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$20.420 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$25.169 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$25.79 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$28.563 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
22.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
11.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
67.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-29% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
26.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
4.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
28.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
59.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$27,542 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$124.282 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$314.734 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
45.2 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
45.7 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
42.2 (2017 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
43.7 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
41.9 (2019 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
39.6 (2020 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
38.5 (2021 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
37.0 (2022 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023
38.4 (2023 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2024
39.0 (2024 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
29.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, natural gas, plastic products, crude petroleum (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$17.906 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$20.091 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$20.805 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$21.017 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$24.089 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$24.593 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$20.372 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$28.855 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$36.838 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$34.45 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$36.144 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
0.84% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
1.61% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
3.28% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
3.56% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
1.81% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
3.78% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
8.24% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
8.81% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
4.79% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
3.30% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
5.413 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
17.30% (2025 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
34.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$138.896 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$154.478 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$171.800 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$179.696 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$215.340 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$209.139 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$245.311 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$258.16 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$263.82 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$276.884 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
6.99% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
6.72% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
3.93% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
7.10% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
4.89% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-7.93% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
14.01% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
5.24% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
2.19% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.95% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$13,465 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$14,804 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$16,282 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$16,846 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$19,767 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$18,998 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$22,053 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$24,626 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$25,840 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$4.486 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$4.810 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$5.196 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$8.332 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$10.743 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
9.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
8.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$5.266 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$6.134 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$6.873 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$7.718 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$8.871 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$10.845 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$13.125 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$14.523 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$15.547 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$13.471 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
14.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
6.36% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
6.13% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
7.70% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
5.50% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
5.55% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
5.31% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
15.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
9.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
11.7% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
2.356 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
2.356 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
95%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
98.1% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
98.8%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
82.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
5.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
4.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
22.193 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
6.581 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
2.369 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
39.329 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
2.277 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: exports
1.997 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
2.279 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
146,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
5.374 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
4.467 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
19.872 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
29.713 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall
Environment: Environmental issues
soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation
Environment: International environmental agreements: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
55.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 20.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 11.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 23.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
46.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
0% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
23.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
7.563 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
659.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
855 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
72.41% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
4.064 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
11.6% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey
Geography: Area: land
48,320 sq km
Geography: Area: water
350 sq km
Geography: Coastline
1,288 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Pico Duarte 3,098 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Lago Enriquillo -46 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
424 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
19 00 N, 70 40 W
Geography: Geography - note
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
Geography: Irrigated land
2,981 sq km (2018)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Haiti 376 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
376 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
55.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 20.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 11.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 23.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
46.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
0% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major lakes (area sq km): salt water lake(s)
Lago de Enriquillo - 500 sq km
Geography: Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts
Geography: Population distribution
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)
Geography: Terrain
rugged highlands and mountains interspersed with fertile valleys
Government: Administrative divisions
31 provinces ( provincias , singular - provincia ), 1 district* ( distrito ); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabón, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elías Piña, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Hermanas Mirabal, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, María Trinidad Sánchez, Monseñor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Samaná, Sánchez Ramírez, San Cristóbal, San José de Ocoa, San Juan, San Pedro de Macorís, Santiago, Santiago Rodríguez, Santo Domingo, Valverde
Government: Capital: 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
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
18 28 N, 69 54 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of the Dominican Republic
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
2 years
Government: Constitution: 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
Government: Constitution: history
many previous (38 total); latest proclaimed 13 June 2015
Government: Country name: conventional short form
The Dominican
Government: Country name: etymology
the name is a latinized form of the Spanish term Santo Domingo , meaning "holy Sunday;" Spanish explorers originally settled the island on a Sunday in 1496, and the name was first given to the island of Hispaniola as a whole in 1697
Government: Country name: former
Santo Domingo (the capital city's name formerly applied to the entire country)
Government: Country name: local long form
República Dominicana
Government: Country name: local short form
La Dominicana
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Leah F. CAMPOS (since 19 November 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
SDOAmericans@state.gov https://do.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Av. Republica de Colombia #57, Santo Domingo
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
3470 Santo Domingo Place, Washington DC 20521-3470
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
(809) 567-7775
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador María Isabel CASTILLO BÁEZ (since 11 June 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angelos, Miami, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
embassy@drembassyusa.org http://drembassyusa.org/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 265-8057
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 332-6280
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet nominated by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020)
Government: Executive branch: 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%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
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)
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
21 May 2028
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
19 May 2024
Government: Flag
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
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
ACP, ACS, 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, UNHRC, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: 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)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: 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
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
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
May 2028
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
5/19/2024
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
190 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) and its allies (146); People’s Force (FP) and its allies (28); Other (16)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
37.4%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
4 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Senate (Senado)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
May 2028
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
5/19/2024
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
32 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: parties elected and seats per party
Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) and its allies (24); People’s Force (FP) and its allies (3); Other (5)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
12.5%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
4 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
National Congress of the Republic (Congreso Nacional de la República)
Government: National anthem(s): 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
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Emilio PRUD'HOMME/Jose REYES
Government: National color(s)
red, white, blue
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Colonial City of Santo Domingo
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
Government: National symbol(s)
palmchat (bird)
Government: Political parties
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
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory; married persons can vote, regardless of age
Introduction: Background
The Taino -- indigenous inhabitants of Hispaniola prior to the arrival of Europeans -- divided the island now known as the Dominican Republic and Haiti 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 the Haitians conquered and ruled it 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 and 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, until international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been held.
Military and Security: Military - note
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)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic: Army of the Dominican Republic (Ejercito de la República Dominicana, ERD), Navy (Armada de República Dominicana or ARD; includes naval infantry), Dominican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de la República Dominicana, FARD) (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 55-60,000 Armed Forces; up to 35,000 National Police (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's equipment inventory comes largely from the US, with smaller quantities from such suppliers as Brazil and Spain (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
0.64% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
0.63% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
0.67% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
0.69% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
0.69% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
0.75% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.65% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.68% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.78% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.78% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
17-early 20s for voluntary military service for men and women (ages vary depending on military service and position; under 18 admitted with permission of parents) (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
25.5% (male 1,402,847/female 1,358,833)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
66.9% (male 3,667,584/female 3,563,848)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
7.6% (2024 est.) (male 395,345/female 427,400)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
3.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
2.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
5.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
17.4 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
9.4% (2019)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
31.5% (2019)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
3% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
4.60% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
53.2% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
6.97 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
11.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
8.5 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
49.6 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
37.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 91.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 96.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 97.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 8.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 3.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 2.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
3.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
20.9% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
3.76% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
mixed 70.4% (Mestizo/Indio 58%, Mulatto 12.4%), Black 15.8%, White 13.5%, other 0.3% (2014 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.06 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
4.9% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
14.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
1.00% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
1.4 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
19 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
24.3 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
20.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Spanish (official)
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
77.1 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
70.7 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
94.4% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
93.6% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
94.03% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
3.524 million SANTO DOMINGO (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
124 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
29.4 years
People and Society: Median age: male
29.1 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
20.9 years (2013 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Dominican
People and Society: Net migration rate
-2.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
27.6% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
2.43 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
People and Society: Population
11,427,557 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
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)
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.85% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
5,392,613
People and Society: Population: male
5,506,679
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 91.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 96.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 97.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 8.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 3.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 2.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
15 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
13 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
14 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.93 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.04 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
5.9% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
13.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
9.7% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
2.22 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
72.41% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Illicit drugs: USG identification
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
390 (2023 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
1,004 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
32 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
HI
Transportation: Heliports
8 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
container ship 1, general cargo 2, oil tanker 1, other 36
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
40 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: 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
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
2
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
7
Transportation: Ports: size unknown
2
Transportation: Ports: small
7
Transportation: Ports: total ports
17 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
6
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
142 km (2014) 0.762-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: standard gauge
354 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
496 km (2014)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.