

Topic: Introduction
Background: Spain and France colonized and divided the island of Hispaniola.  The western third became Haiti.  The remainder became the Dominican Republic in 1844. Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire, but two years later they launched a war that restored independence in 1865.Spain and France colonized and divided the island of Hispaniola.  The western third became Haiti.  The remainder became the Dominican Republic in 1844. Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire, but two years later they launched a war that restored independence in 1865.

Topic: Geography
Area: total: 48,670 sq km

land: 48,320 sq km

water: 350 sq km
Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall
Natural resources: nickel, bauxite, gold, silver, arable land

Topic: People and Society
Population: 10,694,700 (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups: mixed 70.4% (Mestizo/Indio 58%, Mulatto 12.4%), Black 15.8%, White 13.5%, other 0.3% (2014 est.)
Languages: Spanish (official)
Religions: Roman Catholic 44.3%, Evangelical 13%, Protestant 7.9%, Adventist 1.4%, other 1.8%, atheist 0.2%, none 29.4%, unspecified 2% (2018 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.91% (2022 est.)

Topic: Government
Government type: presidential republic
Capital: name: Santo Domingo
Executive branch: chief of state: President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020); Vice President Raquel PENA de Antuna (since 16 August 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020); Vice President Raquel PENA de Antuna (since 16 August 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Legislative branch: 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 in26 constituencies to direct simple majority 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)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: tourism, construction, mining, and telecommunications OECS economy; COVID-19 disrupted economic growth; major foreign direct investment and free-trade zones; developing local financial markets; improving debt management; declining povertytourism, construction, mining, and telecommunications OECS economy; COVID-19 disrupted economic growth; major foreign direct investment and free-trade zones; developing local financial markets; improving debt management; declining poverty
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $184.45 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $17,000 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products: sugar cane, bananas, papayas, rice, plantains, milk, avocados, fruit, pineapples, coconuts
Industries: tourism, sugar processing, gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco, electrical components, medical devices
Exports: $14.44 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: United States 54%, Switzerland 8%, Canada 5%, India 5%, China 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: gold, medical instruments, cigars, low-voltage protection equipment, bananas (2019)
Imports: $20.19 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: United States 50%, China 13% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, jewelry, natural gas, broadcasting equipment (2019)
Exchange rates: Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar -Page last updated: Wednesday, May 11, 2022