Dominican Republic

World Book Index

Introduction

Background
Spain and France colonized and divided the island of Hispaniola. The western third became Haiti, and 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.

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

People and Society

Population
total: 10,815,857 (2024 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
Evangelical 50.2%, Roman Catholic 30.1%, none 18.5%, unspecified 1.2% (2023 est.)

Population growth rate
0.76% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
presidential republic

Capital
name: Santo Domingo

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)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador María Isabel CASTILLO BÁEZ (since 11 June 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Patricia AGUILERA (since 1 October 2023)

Economy

Economic overview
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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$276.884 billion (2024 est.)
$263.82 billion (2023 est.)
$258.16 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$24,200 (2024 est.)
$23,300 (2023 est.)
$23,000 (2022 est.)

Exports
$28.563 billion (2024 est.)
$25.79 billion (2023 est.)
$25.169 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners
USA 52%, Switzerland 7%, Haiti 6%, China 5%, India 3% (2023)

Exports - commodities
medical instruments, tobacco, gold, garments, power equipment (2023)

Imports
$36.144 billion (2024 est.)
$34.45 billion (2023 est.)
$36.838 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners
USA 40%, China 18%, Brazil 4%, Spain 4%, Mexico 3% (2023)

Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, natural gas, plastic products, crude petroleum (2023)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.776, ranking it 89th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 63rd out of 158 countries tested with a score of 5.973. (more information)