Dominican Republic

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 (2007)

Internet country code

.do

Internet hosts

404,500 (2012) country comparison to the world: 55

Internet users

2.701 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 68

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 90 per 100 persons international: country code - 1-809; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), Antillas 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) (2011)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.065 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 73

Telephones - mobile cellular

9.038 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 86

Agriculture - products

sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs

Budget

revenues: $9.012 billion expenditures: $10.79 billion (2013 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Commercial bank prime lending rate

13.6% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 15.48% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance

-$2.33 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 146 -$4.037 billion (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$18.01 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 $16.33 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

47.2 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 28 52 (2000 est.)

Economy - 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 telecommunications, tourism, and free trade zones. The economy is highly dependent upon the US, the destination for approximately half of exports. Remittances from the US amount to about 5% of GDP, equivalent to about a third of exports and two-thirds of tourism receipts. 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 and underemployment remains an important long-term challenge. 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 2010-13, and the fiscal situation is improving. A tax reform package passed in November 2012 and a reduction in government spending helped to narrow the central government budget deficit from 6.6% of GDP in 2012 to below 3% in 2013. A successful government bond placement in 2013 helped finance the deficit.

Exchange rates

Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar - 41.8 (2013 est.) 39.336 (2012 est.) 37.307 (2010 est.) 36.03 (2009) 34.775 (2008)

Exports

$9.825 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 $9.079 billion (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities

ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats, consumer goods

Exports - partners

US 47%, Haiti 16.1%, China 4.3% (2012)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$59.27 billion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$101 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 $99.02 billion (2012 est.) $95.32 billion (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 83.3% government consumption: 7.7% investment in fixed capital: 15.6% investment in inventories: 0.1% exports of goods and services: 26.4% imports of goods and services: -33.2% (2013 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 6% industry: 29.1% services: 64.9% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$9,700 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 123 $9,700 (2012 est.) $9,500 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 140 3.9% (2012 est.) 4.5% (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 36.4% (2010 est.)

Imports

$16.8 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 83 $17.76 billion (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners

US 43.3%, Venezuela 7.7%, China 6.3%, Mexico 5.3%, Colombia 4.1% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate

2.5% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Industries

tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 3.7% (2012 est.)

Labor force

4.912 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 14.6% industry: 22.3% services: 63.1% (2005)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

34.4% (2010 est.)

Public debt

47% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 41.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.379 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 $3.579 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$15.54 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 $14.83 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$59 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 $59 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$26.76 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 $24.86 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$25.09 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 $23.71 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$4.943 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 $4.738 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

15.2% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Unemployment rate

15% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 137 14.3% (2012 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

20.64 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Crude oil - imports

27,260 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 65

Crude oil - production

61.1 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Electricity - consumption

13.11 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Electricity - from fossil fuels

90.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

9.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Electricity - installed generating capacity

5.701 million kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Electricity - production

13.09 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Natural gas - consumption

820 million cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Natural gas - imports

930 million cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Refined petroleum products - consumption

122,300 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Refined petroleum products - imports

85,490 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Refined petroleum products - production

28,050 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Area

total: 48,670 sq km country comparison to the world: 132 land: 48,320 sq km water: 350 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire

Climate

tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall

Coastline

1,288 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m

Environment - current issues

water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation

Environment - 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 signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 5.47 cu km/yr (26%/1%/72%) per capita: 574.2 cu m/yr (2005)

Geographic coordinates

19 00 N, 70 40 W

Geography - note

shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti

Irrigated land

3,065 sq km (2009)

Land boundaries

total: 376 km border countries: Haiti 376 km

Land use

arable land: 16.44% permanent crops: 9.25% other: 74.32% (2011)

Location

Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

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

Natural hazards

lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts

Natural resources

nickel, bauxite, gold, silver

Terrain

rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed

Total renewable water resources

21 cu km (2011)

Administrative divisions

10 regions (regiones, singular - region);Cibao Nordeste, Cibao Noroeste, Cibao Norte, Cibao Sur, El Valle, Enriquillo, Higuamo, Ozama, Valdesia, Yuma

Capital

name: Santo Domingo geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 69 54 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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 (2013)

Country name

conventional long form: Dominican Republic conventional short form: The Dominican local long form: Republica Dominicana local short form: La Dominicana

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador James BREWSTER embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500 telephone: [1] (809) 221-2171 FAX: [1] (809) 686-7437

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Anibal de Jesus de CASTRO Rodriguez (since 5 July 2011) chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280 FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Glendale (CA), Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

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 government head of government: President Danilo MEDINA Sanchez (since 16 August 2012); Vice President Margarita CEDENO DE FERNANDEZ (since 16 August 2012) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held on 20 May 2012 (next to be held in 2016) election results: Danilo MEDINA Sanchez elected president; percent of vote - Danilo MEDINA Sanchez 51.2%, Hipolito MEJIA 47%, other 1.8%; Margarita CEDENO DE FERNANDEZ elected vice president

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

Government type

democratic republic

Independence

27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AOSIS, BCIE, Caricom (observer), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), 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

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) 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

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

Legislative branch

bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (32 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de Diputados (183 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 16 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2016); House of Representatives - last held on 16 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2016); in order to synchronize presidential, legislative, and local elections for 2016, those members elected in 2010 will actually serve six-year terms election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 31, PRSC 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 105, PRD 75, PRSC 3

National anthem

name: "Himno Nacional" (National Anthem)

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 February (1844)

National symbol(s)

palmchat (bird)

Political parties and leaders

Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna] Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Miguel VARGAS Maldonado] National Progressive Front [Vinicio CASTILLO, Pelegrin CASTILLO] Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Carlos MORALES Troncoso]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Citizen Participation Group (Participacion Ciudadania) Collective of Popular Organizations or COP Foundation for Institution-Building and Justice or FINJUS

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

Background

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 United States led an intervention in the midst of a civil war sparked by an uprising to restore BOSCH. In 1966, Joaquin BALAGUER defeated BOSCH in an election to become president. 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 was elected president.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 2,580,083 females age 16-49: 2,464,698 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,188,358 females age 16-49: 2,090,180 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 100,047 female: 96,302 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Army (Ejercito Nacional, EN), Navy (Marina de Guerra, MdG; includes naval infantry), Dominican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Dominicana, FAD) (2013)

Military expenditures

0.61% of GDP (2012) country comparison to the world: 121 0.63% of GDP (2011) 0.61% of GDP (2010)

Military 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)

Age structure

0-14 years: 28% (male 1,474,170/female 1,423,573) 15-24 years: 18.5% (male 974,688/female 937,103) 25-54 years: 39.3% (male 2,078,915/female 1,984,585) 55-64 years: 7.2% (male 376,175/female 371,152) 65 years and over: 6.9% (male 336,712/female 392,668) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

18.97 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number: 180,423 percentage: 10 % (2000 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.4% (2007) country comparison to the world: 106

Contraceptive prevalence rate

72.9% (2007)

Death rate

4.5 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 57.1 % youth dependency ratio: 47 % elderly dependency ratio: 10.1 % potential support ratio: 9.9 (2014 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 82.5% of population rural: 77.2% of population total: 80.9% of population unimproved: urban: 17.5% of population rural: 22.8% of population total: 19.1% of population (2012 est.)

Education expenditures

2.2% of GDP (2012) country comparison to the world: 163

Ethnic groups

mixed 73%, white 16%, black 11%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.7% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,900 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

45,000 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Health expenditures

5.4% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 124

Hospital bed density

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

total: 19.63 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 92 male: 21.56 deaths/1,000 live births female: 17.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.8 years country comparison to the world: 62 male: 75.6 years female: 80.08 years (2014 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90.1% male: 90% female: 90.2% (2011 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: dengue fever (2013)

Major urban areas - population

SANTO DOMINGO (capital) 2.191 million (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

150 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 62

Median age

total: 27.1 years male: 26.9 years female: 27.3 years (2014 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.3 note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2007 est.)

Nationality

noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican

Net migration rate

-1.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21.2% (2008) country comparison to the world: 90

Physicians density

1.88 physicians/1,000 population (2000)

Population

10,349,741 (July 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Population growth rate

1.25% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Religions

Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 85.5% of population rural: 73.8% of population total: 82% of population unimproved: urban: 14.5% of population rural: 26.2% of population total: 18% of population (2012 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.36 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 29.4% country comparison to the world: 26 male: 22.6% female: 40.8% (2011)

Urbanization

urban population: 69.7% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 2.03% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - 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

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)

Airports

36 (2013) country comparison to the world: 109

Airports - with paved runways

total: 16 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 18 (2013)

Heliports

1 (2013)

Pipelines

gas 27 km; oil 103 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Puerto Haina, Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo oil/gas terminal(s): Andres LNG terminal (Boca Chica), Punta Nizao oil terminal

Railways

total: 142 km country comparison to the world: 125 standard gauge: 142 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total: 19,705 km country comparison to the world: 110 paved: 9,872 km unpaved: 9,833 km (2002)