Factbook dossier
Background
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.
Location
Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti
Area
total : 48,670 sq km land: 48,320 sq km water: 350 sq km
Natural resources
nickel, bauxite, gold, silver, arable land
Natural hazards
lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts
Population
total: 10,899,292 (2025 est.) male: 5,506,679 female: 5,392,613
Ethnic groups
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
Languages
Spanish (official) major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de informaci n b sica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Evangelical 50.2%, Roman Catholic 30.1%, none 18.5%, unspecified 1.2% (2023 est.)
Environmental issues
soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation
Government type
presidential republic
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) etymology: named after Saint Domingo de GUZMAN (1170-1221), founder of the Dominican Order; the city's full name was originally Santo Domingo de Guzman
Executive branch
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 election/appointment process: 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) most recent election date: 19 May 2024 election results: 2024: Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona reelected president; percent of vote - Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (PRM) 57.5%, Leonel Antonio FERN NDEZ Reyna (FP) 28.8%, Abel MART NEZ (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 FERN NDEZ Reyna (FP) 8.9%, other 1.1% expected date of next election: 21 May 2028 note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
Legislative branch
legislature name: National Congress of the Republic (Congreso Nacional de la República) legislative structure: bicameral
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$276.884 billion (2024 est.) $263.82 billion (2023 est.) $258.16 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita
$24,200 (2024 est.) $23,300 (2023 est.) $23,000 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.3% (2024 est.) 4.8% (2023 est.) 8.8% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Exports - partners
USA 52%, Switzerland 7%, Haiti 6%, China 5%, India 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports - partners
USA 40%, China 18%, Brazil 4%, Spain 4%, Mexico 3% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Military and security forces
Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic: Army of the Dominican Republic (Ejercito de la Rep blica Dominicana, ERD), Navy (Armada de Rep blica Dominicana or ARD; includes naval infantry), Dominican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de la Rep blica Dominicana, FARD) (2025) note 1: in addition to the three main branches of the military, the Ministry of Defense directs the Specialized Border Security Corps (CESFRONT), the Specialized Corps in Port Security (CESEP), and the Specialized Corps in Airport and Civil Aviation Safety (CESAC); these specialized corps are joint forces, made up of civilians and personnel from all the military branches; they may also assist in overall citizen security working together with the National Police, which is under the Ministry of Interior
Military expenditures
0.8% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)