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Central America and the Caribbean
Page last updated: July 24, 2024
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.
Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti
19 00 N, 70 40 W
Central America and the Caribbean
Total : 48,670 km²
Land: 48,320 km²
Water: 350 km²
Slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey
Area comparison map:
Total: 376 km
Border countries (1): Haiti 376 km
1,288 km
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
Measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
Tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall
Rugged highlands and mountains interspersed with fertile valleys
Highest point: Pico Duarte 3,098 m
Lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m
Mean elevation: 424 m
Nickel, bauxite, gold, silver, arable land
Agricultural land: 51.5% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 16.6% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 10.1% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 24.8% (2018 est.)
Forest: 40.8% (2018 est.)
Other: 7.7% (2018 est.)
2,980 km² (2018)
Salt water lake(s): Lago de Enriquillo - 500 km²
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
Total: 10,815,857
Male: 5,465,776
Female: 5,350,081 (2024 est.)
Comparison rankings: female 87; male 86; total 87
Noun: Dominican(s)
Adjective: Dominican
Mixed 70.4% (Mestizo/Indio 58%, Mulatto 12.4%), Black 15.8%, White 13.5%, other 0.3% (2014 est.)
Note: respondents self-identified their race; the term "indio" in the Dominican Republic is not associated with people of indigenous ancestry but people of mixed ancestry or skin color between light and dark
Spanish (official)
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.
Evangelical 50.2%, Roman Catholic 30.1%, none 18.5%, unspecified 1.2% (2023 est.)
0-14 years: 25.5% (male 1,402,847/female 1,358,833)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 3,667,584/female 3,563,848)
65 years and over: 7.6% (2024 est.) (male 395,345/female 427,400)
2023 population pyramid:
Total dependency ratio: 53.8
Youth dependency ratio: 42.2
Elderly dependency ratio: 11.6
Potential support ratio: 8.6 (2021 est.)
Total: 29.2 years (2024 est.)
Male: 29.1 years
Female: 29.4 years
0.76% (2024 est.)
17.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
-2.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
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)
Urban population: 84.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
3.524 million SANTO DOMINGO (capital) (2023)
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.)
20.9 years (2013 est.)
Note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49
107 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 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
2.15 children born/woman (2024 est.)
1.06 (2024 est.)
62.8% (2019)
Improved: urban: 98.3% of population
Rural: 91.7% of population
Total: 97.2% of population
Unimproved: urban: 1.7% of population
Rural: 8.3% of population
Total: 2.8% of population (2020 est.)
4.9% of GDP (2020)
1.45 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
1.6 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Improved: urban: 97.4% of population
Rural: 91.3% of population
Total: 96.3% of population
Unimproved: urban: 2.6% of population
Rural: 8.7% of population
Total: 3.7% of population (2020 est.)
Degree of risk: high (2023)
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases: dengue fever
27.6% (2016)
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.)
3% (2019)
52.1% (2023 est.)
Women married by age 15: 9.4%
Women married by age 18: 31.5% (2019 est.)
4.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 95.5%
Male: 95.4%
Female: 95.6% (2022)
Total: 14 years
Male: 13 years
Female: 15 years (2017)
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
Agricultural land: 51.5% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 16.6% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 10.1% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 24.8% (2018 est.)
Forest: 40.8% (2018 est.)
Other: 7.7% (2018 est.)
Urban population: 84.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
0.03% of GDP (2018 est.)
0% of GDP (2018 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.)
Salt water lake(s): Lago de Enriquillo - 500 km²
Municipal: 860 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 660 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 7.56 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
23.5 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)
Presidential republic
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
10 regions (regiones, singular - region); Cibao Nordeste, Cibao Noroeste, Cibao Norte, Cibao Sur, El Valle, Enriquillo, Higuamo, Ozama, Valdesia, Yuma
27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
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
Civil law system based on the French civil code; Criminal Procedures Code modified in 2004 to include important elements of an accusatory system
Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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
Description: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of:
Senate or Senado (32 seats; 26 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, and 6 members indirectly elected based upon province-wide party plurality votes for its candidates to the Chamber of Deputies; all members serve 4-year terms; note - in 2019, the Central Election Commission changed the electoral system for seats in 26 constituencies to simple majority vote but retained indirect election for the remaining 6 constituencies; previously, all 32 members were indirectly elected; the change had been challenged by the ruling and opposition parties)
House of Representatives or Camara de Diputados (190 seats; 178 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote using the D'Hondt method, 5 members in a nationwide constituency, and 7 diaspora members directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections: Senate - last held on 19 May 2024 (next to be held on 21 May 2028)
House of Representatives - 19 May 2024 (next to be held on 21 May 2028)
Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRM 24, FP 3, APD 1, PPG 1, PRI 1, PRL 1, PRSC 1; composition - men NA, women NA, percentage women NA%
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRM 142, FP 28, PLD 13, PRSC 2, other 5; composition - men NA, women NA, percentage women NA%; total National Congress percent of women NA%
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) [Fidel SANTANA]
Country Alliance or AP [Guillermo Antonio MORENO Garcia]
Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Danilo MEDINA Sánchez]
Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Miguel VARGAS Maldonado]
Dominicans For Change or DXC [Manuel OVIEDO Estrada]
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 [Luis ABINADER]
National Progressive Front or FNP [Vinicio CASTILLO, Pelegrin CASTILLO]
People's First Party or PPG
People's Force or FP [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna]
Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Federico Augusto "Quique" ANTUN Batile]
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
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
Palmchat (bird); national colors: red, white, blue
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
$261.616 billion (2023 est.)
$255.582 billion (2022 est.)
$243.74 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars
2.36% (2023 est.)
4.86% (2022 est.)
12.27% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
$23,100 (2023 est.)
$22,800 (2022 est.)
$21,900 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars
$121.444 billion (2023 est.)
Note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
4.79% (2023 est.)
8.81% (2022 est.)
8.24% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices
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: 5.6% (2017 est.)
Industry: 33% (2017 est.)
Services: 61.4% (2017 est.)
Comparison rankings: services 111; industry 57; agriculture 124
Household consumption: 69.3% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 12.2% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 21.9% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 24.8% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -28.1% (2017 est.)
Sugarcane, bananas, papayas, plantains, rice, milk, avocados, watermelons, vegetables, pineapples (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Tourism, sugar processing, gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco, electrical components, medical devices
-0.07% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
5.302 million (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
5.56% (2023 est.)
5.5% (2022 est.)
7.7% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment
Total: 20.6% (2021 est.)
Male: 16.6%
Female: 27.9%
23.9% (2021 est.)
Note: % of population with income below national poverty line
37 (2022 est.)
Note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
On food: 26.8% of household expenditures (2021 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 3.8% of household expenditures (2021 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
8.65% of GDP (2023 est.)
9.05% of GDP (2022 est.)
11.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Revenues: $12.804 billion (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $14.511 billion (2019 est.)
-3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
37.2% of GDP (2017 est.)
34.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
13.82% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
-$4.376 billion (2023 est.)
-$6.549 billion (2022 est.)
-$2.685 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
$25.843 billion (2023 est.)
$25.169 billion (2022 est.)
$20.601 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
US 50%, Switzerland 8%, Haiti 7%, China 3%, India 3% (2022)
Note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Medical instruments, gold, tobacco, power equipment, garments (2022)
Note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
$34.455 billion (2023 est.)
$36.838 billion (2022 est.)
$28.69 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
US 44%, China 15%, Brazil 4%, Colombia 3%, Spain 3% (2022)
Note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Refined petroleum, natural gas, cars, plastic products, crude petroleum (2022)
Note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
$15.547 billion (2023 est.)
$14.523 billion (2022 est.)
$13.125 billion (2021 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
$23.094 billion (2019 est.)
$21.198 billion (2018 est.)
Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
56.158 (2023 est.)
55.141 (2022 est.)
57.221 (2021 est.)
56.525 (2020 est.)
51.295 (2019 est.)
Electrification - total population: 98.1% (2022 est.)
Electrification - urban areas: 98.8%
Electrification - rural areas: 95%
Installed generating capacity: 5.573 million kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 19.087 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 2.448 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 130; consumption 75; installed generating capacity 84
Fossil fuels: 85.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Solar: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Wind: 6.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 4.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Biomass and waste: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Consumption: 2.188 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Exports: 5.9 metric tons (2022 est.)
Imports: 2.188 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 134,000 bbl/day (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.)
27.132 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 4.941 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 17.403 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 4.788 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
36.656 million Btu/person (2022 est.)
Total subscriptions: 1.144 million (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2022 est.)
Total subscriptions: 10.15 million (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 90 (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)
.do
Total: 9.35 million (2021 est.)
Percent of population: 85% (2021 est.)
Total: 1,031,858 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2020 est.)
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6
HI
32 (2024)
4 (2024)
27 km gas, 103 km oil (2013)
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: 40 (2023)
By type: container ship 1, general cargo 2, oil tanker 1, other 36
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
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) (2024)
Note 1: in addition to the three main branches of the military, the Ministry of Defense directs the Airport Security Authority and Civil Aviation (CESAC), Port Security Authority (CESEP), the Tourist Security Corps (CESTUR), and Border Security Corps (CESFRONT); these specialized corps are joint forces, made up of personnel from all military branches in addition to civilian personnel; these forces may also assist in overall citizen security working together with the National Police, which is under the Ministry of Interior
0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2019 est.)
Information varies; approximately 60,000 active personnel (30,000 Army; 13,000 Navy; 17,000 Air Force); approximately 35,000 National Police (2023)
The military is lightly armed with an inventory consisting mostly of older US equipment (2023)
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 approximately 700 troops 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 (2023)
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 Dominican Republic does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; more traffickers were convicted, two police officers were investigated for trafficking crimes, and cooperation with international law enforcement increased; officials identified more victims and implemented new protections for vulnerable domestic workers; however, the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts, compared with the previous reporting period, to expand its anti-trafficking capacity; the government systemically and persistently failed to screen vulnerable migrant or undocumented populations, failed to refer victims to services, and did not provide these groups with justice in trafficking crimes; officials investigated and prosecuted fewer traffickers, did not adequately investigate labor trafficking cases involving migrants and children, and did not identify victims; the government did not adopt draft amendments to improve anti-trafficking laws, did not adequately fund or provide resources to anti-trafficking efforts, and did not complete a new National Action Plan; therefore, the Dominican Republic was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List (2023)
Major transshipment point for cocaine shipments to the United States and Europe in the Caribbean; some drugs are consumed locally.