Statistics Dominican Republic 
Dominican Republic in the World
Dominican Republic - Introduction 2016
top of pageBackground: The Taino - indigenous inhabitants of Hispaniola prior to the arrival of the Europeans - divided the island 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 was conquered and ruled by the Haitians 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 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 when international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then regular competitive elections have been held in which opposition candidates have won the presidency. Former President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (first term 1996-2000) won election to a new term in 2004 following a constitutional amendment allowing presidents to serve more than one term and was later reelected to a second consecutive term. In 2012 Danilo MEDINA Sanchez became president; he was reelected in 2016.
Area
Total: 48,670 km²
Land: 48,320 km²
Water: 350 km²
Rank: 132
Comparative: slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Elevation
Mean elevation: 424 m
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m: highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m
Land use
Agricultural land: 51.5%
arable land: 16.6%
permanent crops: 10.1%
permanent pasture: 24.8%
permanent crops: 10.1%
permanent pasture: 24.8%
Forest: 40.8%
Other: 7.7%
Natural hazards: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts
Geography
Note: shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds makes up the Dominican Republic western one-third is Haiti)
Dominican Republic - People 2016
top of pagePopulation
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): 10,606,865 (July 2016 est.)
Rank: 88
Growth rate: 1.21% (2016 est.)
Growth rate rank: 94
Below poverty line: 41.1% (2013 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 27.06%
15-24 years: 18.3%
25-54 years: 39.54%
55-64 years: 7.67%
65 years and over: 7.43% (2016 est.)
Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 57.8%
Youth dependency ratio: 47.3%
Elderly dependency ratio: 10.5%
Potential support ratio: 9.5%
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)
Urbanization
Urban population: 79% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 2.6% annual rate of change
Environment
Current issues: water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation
International agreements party to: Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Endangered Species Hazardous Wastes Marine Dumping Marine Life Conservation Ozone Layer Protection Ship Pollution Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Sex ratio
At birth: 1.04 male/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male/female
25-54 years: 1.05 male/female
55-64 years: 1.01 male/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male/female
Total population: 1.03 male/female
Infant mortality rate
Total: 18.1 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 20 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 16.2 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 93
Drinking water source:
urban: 85.4% of population
rural: 81.9% of population
total: 84.7% of population
urban: 14.6% of population
rural: 18.1% of population
total: 15.3% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 81.9% of population
total: 84.7% of population
urban: 14.6% of population
rural: 18.1% of population
total: 15.3% of population (2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
urban: 86.2% of population
rural: 75.7% of population
total: 84% of population
urban: 13.8% of population
rural: 24.3% of population
total: 16% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 75.7% of population
total: 84% of population
urban: 13.8% of population
rural: 24.3% of population
total: 16% of population (2015 est.)
Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 1.03% (2015 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 45
People living with hivaids: 67,900 (2015 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 52
Deaths: 3,100 (2015 est.)
Deaths rank: 44
Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: high
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea hepatitis A and typhoid fever
Vectorborne disease: dengue fever
Note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country ; it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex via blood transfusion or during pregnancy in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)
Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 91.8%
Male: 91.2%
Female: 92.3%
Dominican Republic - Government 2016
top of pageCountry name
Conventional long form: Dominican Republic
Conventional short form: The Dominican
Local long form: Republica Dominicana
Local short form: La Dominicana
Etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Santo Domingo
Administrative divisions: 10 regions (regiones singular - region); Cibao Nordeste Cibao Noroeste Cibao Norte Cibao Sur El Valle Enriquillo Higuamo Ozama Valdesia Yuma
Constitution: many previous (38 total); latest proclaimed 26 January 2010; note - the Dominican Republic Government has a practice of promulgating a 'new' constitution whenever an amendment is ratified (2016)
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
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
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
Suffrage: 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
Executive branch
Chief of state: President Danilo MEDINA Sanchez ; Vice President Margarita CEDENO DE FERNANDEZ (since 16 August 2012); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Danilo MEDINA Sanchez ; Vice President Margarita CEDENO DE FERNANDEZ (since 16 August 2012)
Cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president
Electionsappointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term ; election last held on 15 May 2016 (next to be held in 2020)
Election results: Danilo MEDINA Sanchez reelected president; percent of vote - Danilo MEDINA Sanchez 61.7% Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (PRM) 35% other 3.3%; Margarita CEDENO DE FERNANDEZ (PLD) reelected vice president
Legislative branch
Description: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado and the House of Representatives or Camara de Diputados (190 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections: Senate - last held on 15 May 2016 ; House of Representatives - last held on 15 May 2016 (next to be held in May 2020)
Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 26 2PRM 1 BIS 1 PLRD 1 PRD PRSC 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 106 PRM 42 PRSC 18 PRD 16 PLRD 3 other 5
Judicial branch
Highest court: Supreme Court of Justice or Suprema Corte de Justicia ; 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
Political parties and leaders:
Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna]
Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Miguel VARGAS Maldonado]
Institutional Social Democratic Bloc or BIS
Liberal Reformist Party or PLRD
Modern Revolutionary Party or PRM [Andres BAUTISTA Garcia]
National Progressive Front [Vinicio CASTILLO Pelegrin CASTILLO]
Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Carlos MORALES Troncoso]
Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Miguel VARGAS Maldonado]
Institutional Social Democratic Bloc or BIS
Liberal Reformist Party or PLRD
Modern Revolutionary Party or PRM [Andres BAUTISTA Garcia]
National Progressive Front [Vinicio CASTILLO Pelegrin CASTILLO]
Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Carlos MORALES Troncoso]
International organization participation: ACP 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 UNIDO Union Latina UNWTO UPU WCO WFTU (NGOs) WHO WIPO WMO WTO
Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Tomas PEREZ
In the us chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] 332-6,280
In the us FAX: [1] 265-8,057
In the us consulate general: Boston Chicago Los Angeles Mayaguez Miami New Orleans New York San Juan (Puerto Rico)
In the us consulate: San Francisco
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador James Walter BREWSTER Jr.
From the us embassy: Av. Republica de Colombia
From the us mailing address: Unit 5,500 APO AA 34,041-5,500
From the us telephone: [1] 567-7,775
From the us FAX: [1] 686-7,437
Flag description: a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and 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
National anthem
Name: 'Himno Nacional'
Lyrics and music: Emilio PRUD'HOMME/Jose REYES
Note: adopted 1934; also known as 'Quisqueyanos valientes' ; the anthem never refers to the people as Dominican but rather calls them 'Quisqueyanos' a reference to the indigenous name of the island
Dominican Republic - Economy 2016
top of pageEconomy overview:
The Dominican Republic has long been viewed primarily as an exporter of sugar coffee and tobacco but in recent years the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest employer due to growth in construction tourism and free trade zones. The mining sector has also played a greater role in the export market since late 2012 with the commencement of the extraction phase of the Pueblo Viejo Gold and Silver mine. The country suffers from marked income inequality; the poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of GDP while the richest 10% enjoys nearly 40% of GDP. High unemployment a large informal sector and underemployment remain important long-term challenges.
The economy is highly dependent upon the US the destination for approximately half of exports. Remittances from the US amount to about 7% of GDP equivalent to about a third of exports and two-thirds of tourism receipts. The Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) came into force in March 2007 boosting investment and exports and reducing losses to the Asian garment industry.
The Dominican Republic's economy rebounded from the global recession in 2010-15 and the fiscal situation is improving. A tax reform package passed in November 2012 a reduction in government spending and lower energy costs helped to narrow the central government budget deficit from 6.6% of GDP in 2012 to 2.6% in 2015. A liability management operation in January 2015 in which the government paid down over $4 billion of the country’s Petrocaribe debt at a discount of 52% with proceeds from the sale of $2.5 billion in global bonds reduced the country’s debt load by approximately by 4% of GDP. Analysts project 6% GDP growth in 2016 and inflation within the Central Bank’s target of 4.0% � 1.0% due to low oil prices increased remittances and continued expansion in the services sector based on growth in construction.
The economy is highly dependent upon the US the destination for approximately half of exports. Remittances from the US amount to about 7% of GDP equivalent to about a third of exports and two-thirds of tourism receipts. The Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) came into force in March 2007 boosting investment and exports and reducing losses to the Asian garment industry.
The Dominican Republic's economy rebounded from the global recession in 2010-15 and the fiscal situation is improving. A tax reform package passed in November 2012 a reduction in government spending and lower energy costs helped to narrow the central government budget deficit from 6.6% of GDP in 2012 to 2.6% in 2015. A liability management operation in January 2015 in which the government paid down over $4 billion of the country’s Petrocaribe debt at a discount of 52% with proceeds from the sale of $2.5 billion in global bonds reduced the country’s debt load by approximately by 4% of GDP. Analysts project 6% GDP growth in 2016 and inflation within the Central Bank’s target of 4.0% � 1.0% due to low oil prices increased remittances and continued expansion in the services sector based on growth in construction.
Real gdp purchasing power parity:
$149.7 billion (2015 est.)
$139.9 billion (2014 est.)
$130.3 billion (2013 est.)
$139.9 billion (2014 est.)
$130.3 billion (2013 est.)
Note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Rank: 74
Real gdp per capita:
$15,000 (2015 est.)
$14,200 (2014 est.)
$13,300 (2013 est.)
$14,200 (2014 est.)
$13,300 (2013 est.)
Note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Rank: 108
Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 70.2%
Government consumption: 10.9%
Investment in fixed capital: 23.6%
Investment in inventories: -0.1%
Exports of goods and services: 24.7%
Imports of goods and services: -29.3%
Agriculture products: cocoa tobacco sugarcane coffee cotton rice beans potatoes corn bananas; cattle pigs dairy products beef eggs
Industries: tourism sugar processing gold mining textiles cement tobacco electrical components medical devices
Labor force: 5.012 million (2015 est.)
Rank: 82
By occupation agriculture: 14.4%
By occupation industry: 20.8%
By occupation services: 64.7%
Budget
Revenues: $11.94 billion
Expenditures: $11.5 billion
Surplus or deficit: 0.7% of GDP (2015 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 24
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
14.88% (31 December 2015 est.)
13.9% (31 December 2014 est.)
13.9% (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 41
Stock of narrow money:
$5.986 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$5.488 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$5.488 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 93
Stock of broad money:
$18.74 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$16.99 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$16.99 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 90
Stock of domestic credit:
$30.9 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$27.16 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$27.16 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 73
Exports:
$9.523 billion (2015 est.)
$9.899 billion (2014 est.)
$9.899 billion (2014 est.)
Rank: 91
Commodities: gold silver cocoa sugar coffee tobacco meats consumer goods
Partners: US 42.5% Haiti 16.5% Canada 8.1% India 4.8% (2015)
Imports:
$16.86 billion (2015 est.)
$17.27 billion (2014 est.)
$17.27 billion (2014 est.)
Rank: 79
Commodities: petroleum foodstuffs cotton and fabrics chemicals and pharmaceuticals
Partners: US 42% China 9.2% Venezuela 5.6% Trinidad and Tobago 4.5% Mexico 4.4% (2015)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$5.266 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$4.862 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$4.862 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 91
Stock of direct foreign investment at home:
$31.05 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$28.81 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$28.81 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 67
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad:
$272 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$249.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$249.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 90
Exchange rates:
Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar -
45.052 (2015 est.)
43.556 (2014 est.)
43.556 (2013 est.)
39.34 (2012 est.)
38.232 (2011 est.)
45.052 (2015 est.)
43.556 (2014 est.)
43.556 (2013 est.)
39.34 (2012 est.)
38.232 (2011 est.)
Dominican Republic - Energy 2016
top of pageElectricity
Access population without electricity: 300,000
Access electrification total population: 98%
Access electrification urban areas: 99%
Access electrification rural areas: 97%
Production: 14 billion kWh (2014 est.)
Production rank: 78
Consumption: 15.14 billion kWh (2014 est.)
Consumption rank: 78
Exports: 0 kWh (2014 est.)
Exports rank: 133
Imports: 0 kWh (2014 est.)
Imports rank: 143
Installed generating capacity: 3.8 million kW (2014 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 87
Generation sources fossil fuels: 85.2% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 88
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 81
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 13.2% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 106
Generation sources other renewable sources: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 85
Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 127
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 118
Crude oil imports: 27,660 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 64
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 126
Refined petroleum
Products production: 25,390 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products production rank: 90
Products consumption: 116,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products consumption rank: 83
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products exports rank: 176
Products imports: 54,920 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products imports rank: 75
Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Production rank: 180
Consumption: 1.069 billion m³ (2014 est.)
Consumption rank: 85
Exports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 90
Imports: 1.069 billion m³ (2014 est.)
Imports rank: 54
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 es)
Proven reserves rank: 132
Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 22 million Mt (2013 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 82
Dominican Republic - Communication 2016
top of pageTelephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 1,304,968
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12
Fixed lines rank: 68
Mobile cellular total: 8.797 million
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 84
Mobile cellular rank: 94
Telephone system
General assessment: relatively efficient system based on island-wide microwave radio relay network
Domestic: fixed-line teledensity is about 10 per 100 persons; multiple providers of mobile-cellular service with a subscribership of nearly 85 per 100 persons
International: country code - 1-809; 1-829; 1-849; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System Antillas 1 AMX-1 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) (2015)
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; combination of state-owned and privately owned radio stations with more than 300 radio stations operating (2015)
Dominican Republic - Military 2016
top of pageMilitary service age and obligation: 17-21 years of age for voluntary military service; recruits must have completed primary school and be Dominican Republic citizens; women may volunteer (2012)
Dominican Republic - Transportation 2016
top of pageNational air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 14,463
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 mt-km
Airports: 36 (2013)
Rank: 110
With paved runways total: 16
With paved runways over 3047 m: 3
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 4
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 4
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 4
With paved runways under 914 m: 1
With unpaved runways total: 20
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 18
Railways
Total: 496 km
Standard gauge: 354 km 1.435-m gauge
Narrow gauge: 142 km 0.762-m gauge
Rank: 115
Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Puerto Haina Puerto Plata Santo Domingo
Oil terminal: Punta Nizao oil terminal
LNG terminal: Andres LNG terminal (Boca Chica)
Dominican Republic - Transnational issues 2016
top of pageDisputes international: Haitian migrants cross the porous border into the Dominican Republic to find work; illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage each year to Puerto Rico to find better work
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Stateless persons: 133,770 ; 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 1940s as a cheap source of labor for sugar plantations; a May 2014 law passed by the Dominican Congress will regularize 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
Note: revised estimate includes only individuals born to parents who were both born abroad; it does not include individuals born in the country to one Dominican-born and one foreign-born parent or subsequent generations of individuals of foreign descent; the estimate as such does not include all stateless persons
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from the Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada; substantial money laundering activity in particular by Colombian narcotics traffickers; significant amphetamine consumption (2008)
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