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Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
Population
11.4M
Rank #84Source: World Bank
Capital
Santo Domingo
Source: REST Countries
Region
Americas
Latin America & Caribbean
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$124.28B
Rank #64Source: World Bank
Land Area
48.7K km²
Rank #129Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
73.72 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 48,671 km²
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall
Terrain: rugged highlands and mountains interspersed with fertile valleys
Elevation: mean elevation: 424 m lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m highest point: Pico Duarte 3,098 m
Natural Hazards: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts
Environmental Issues: water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation
Land Use: agricultural land: 51.5% (2011 est.) forest: 40.8% (2011 est.) other: 7.7% (2011 est.)
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...
Natural Resources
nickelbauxitegoldsilverarable land
People & Society
Fertility Rate
2.24
Population
11.4M
Ethnic Groups
mixed 70.4% (Mestizo/Indio (58%)Mulatto (12.4%)Black (15.8%)White (13.5%)other (0.3%)
Religions
Roman Catholic (47.8%)Protestant (21.3%)other (2.2%)none (28%)don't know/no response (0.7%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$10,875.662
GDP per Capita PPP
27,541.663
(2024)
(2024)
GNI per Capita
10,280
(2024)
(2024)
Gini Index
39
(2024)
(2024)
Unemployment
5.312%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
3.302%
(2024)
(2024)
Public Debt
Not Available
Energy
Electricity Access
99.6%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
14.8%
(2021)
(2021)
CO₂ Emissions
34.223 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
2.11 MJ/$
(2021)
(2021)
Renewable Electricity
18.517%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
44.989% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
91.002%
(2024)
(2024)
Mobile Penetration
91.868%
(2023)
(2023)
Broadband Subscribers
11.135%
(2023)
(2023)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
Not Available
Container Port Traffic
2,043,326 TEU
(2022)
(2022)
Airports
18,437
Rail Lines
N/A
Roads Total
5,766 km(©IRF)
Military
Military Forces
Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic: Army (Ejercito Nacional, EN), Navy (Marina de Guerra, MdG, includes naval infantry), Dominican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Dominicana, FAD) note: in addition to...
Personnel Strength
the Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic have approximately 62,000 active personnel (33,000 Army; 12,000 Navy; 17,000 Air Force)
Military Expenditure (USD)
$0.98B
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)
0.78%
Military Expenditure History
0.7% of GDP (2019) 0.7% of GDP (2018) 0.7% of GDP (2017) 0.7% of GDP (2016) 0.7% of GDP (2015)
Equipment & Inventories
the military's inventory consists mostly of older US equipment with limited quantities of Brazilian, European, and Israeli material; since 2010, Brazil and Israel are the leading suppliers of...
Service Age & Obligation
17-21 years of age for voluntary military service; recruits must have completed primary school and be Dominican Republic citizens; women may volunteer
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
33.358%
(2021)
(2021)
Primary Enrollment
101.939%
(2024)
(2024)
Secondary Enrollment
76.365%
(2024)
(2024)
Tertiary Enrollment
57.651%
(2024)
(2024)
Education Spending
3.761% of GDP
(2023)
(2023)
Adult Literacy Rate
94.03%
(2024)
(2024)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
18.923:1
(2018)
(2018)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
2.426
(2023)
(2023)
Safe Water Access
97.457%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
45.332%
(2024)
(2024)
Under-5 Mortality
31.4 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
21.213 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
76.755
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
73
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
87%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
0.8%
(2024)
(2024)
Food Insecurity
3.6%
(2023)
(2023)
Youth NEET Rate
13.231%
(2024)
(2024)
Governance
Women in Government
36.842%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
0.33
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Political Stability
0.24
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
0.13
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
0.17
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Rule of Law
-0.13
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
-0.45
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
presidential republic
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
Executive Branch
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...
Legislative Branch
description: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of:Senate or Senado (32 seats; note - electoral system changes by the Central Election Commission are being challenged by the...
Judicial Branch
highest courts: 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...
National Symbols
Flag Description
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...
National Symbols
palmchat (bird); national colors: red, white, blue
National Anthem
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...
Safety
Homicide Rate
10.917 per 100,000
(2023)
(2023)
Travel Information
Language(s): Spanish
Currency: DOP ($)
Timezone(s): UTC-04:00
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Right
Calling Code: +1
Car Sign: DOM
Week Starts: Monday
Photos
Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic. Founded in 1496 by Christopher Columbus, it is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas, with the America's first cathedral, hospital, customs house, and university. The town was laid out in a grid pattern that became the model for almost all town planners in the New World. This Terra satellite image, acquired on 18 May 2011, covers an area 24 x 30 km (15 x 18 mi). Photo courtesy of NASA.
Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic. Founded in 1496 by Christopher Columbus, it is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas, with the America's first cathedral, hospital, customs house, and university. The town was laid out in a grid pattern that became the model for almost all town planners in the New World. This Terra satellite image, acquired on 18 May 2011, covers an area 24 x 30 km (15 x 18 mi). Photo courtesy of NASA. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Area comparison map
Area comparison map • CIA World Factbook • 2020
The Caribbean island of Hispaniola, jointly occupied by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, dominates this space station view of the earth. Haiti, with its northern and southern pincer-like peninsulas, takes up the western third of the island, while the Dominican Republic occupies the triangular eastern two-thirds. Photo courtesy of NASA.
The Caribbean island of Hispaniola, jointly occupied by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, dominates this space station view of the earth. Haiti, with its northern and southern pincer-like peninsulas, takes up the western third of the island, while the Dominican Republic occupies the triangular eastern two-thirds. Photo courtesy of NASA. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Smoke pours from fires burning in the Dominican Republic in this Aqua satellite image, taken on 18 March 2005. Numerous fires, marked with red squares, dot the island, but the most intense are burning in the center of the island. The majority of the fires are probably agricultural fires, set to prepare land for planting. The largest fires, however, may be uncontrolled. These fires appear to be burning in the Cordillera Central, the mountains that arc across the center of the island of Hispaniola, near Pico Duarte, the highest point in the West Indies. Pico Duarte is covered with pine forests at its higher elevations and savannah grasslands at lower elevations. Because the smoke in the heights is thicker than other fires on the island, the large fires may be burning in the high pine forests. The dry season usually runs from December to May for most of the island; March is typically the driest month in the Dominican Republic. Photo courtesy of NASA.
Smoke pours from fires burning in the Dominican Republic in this Aqua satellite image, taken on 18 March 2005. Numerous fires, marked with red squares, dot the island, but the most intense are burning in the center of the island. The majority of the fires are probably agricultural fires, set to prepare land for planting. The largest fires, however, may be uncontrolled. These fires appear to be burning in the Cordillera Central, the mountains that arc across the center of the island of Hispaniola, near Pico Duarte, the highest point in the West Indies. Pico Duarte is covered with pine forests at its higher elevations and savannah grasslands at lower elevations. Because the smoke in the heights is thicker than other fires on the island, the large fires may be burning in the high pine forests. The dry season usually runs from December to May for most of the island; March is typically the driest month in the Dominican Republic. Photo courtesy of NASA. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
4 photos available
Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data