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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 36 usable: 30 with permanent-surface runways: 12 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 8

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

12,000 km total; 5,800 km paved, 5,600 km gravel and improved earth, 600 km unimproved

Merchant marine [time series]

1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km

Ports [time series]

Santo Domingo, Haina, San Pedro de Macoris, Puerto Plata

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

1,655 km total in numerous segments; 4 different gauges from 0.558 m to 1.435 m

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

relatively efficient domestic system based on islandwide microwave relay network; 190,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 120 AM, no FM, 18 TV, 6 shortwave; 1 coaxial submarine cable; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $110 million, 0.7% of GDP (1993 est.)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 2,064,244; fit for military service 1,302,644; reach military age (18) annually 80,991 (1993 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 15% of GDP and employs 49% of labor force; sugarcane is the most important commercial crop, followed by coffee, cotton, cocoa, and tobacco; food crops - rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; animal output - cattle, hogs, dairy products, meat, eggs; not self-sufficient in food

Budget [time series]

revenues $1.4 billion; expenditures $1.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Dominican peso (RD$) = 100 centavos

Economic aid [time series]

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-89), $575 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $655 million

Electricity [time series]

2,283,000 kW capacity; 5,000 million kWh produced, 660 kWh per capita (1992)

Exchange rates [time series]

Dominican pesos (RD$) per US$1 - 12.7 (1992), 12.692 (1991), 8.525 (1990), 6.340 (1989), 6.113 (1988)

Exports [time series]

$600 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: ferronickel, sugar, gold, coffee, cocoa partners: US 60%, EC 19%, Puerto Rico 8% (1990)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$4.7 billion (1992 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US

Imports [time series]

$2 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals partners: US 50%

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate -1.5% (1991); accounts for 20% of GDP

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6% (1992 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $8.4 billion (1992 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$1,120 (1992 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

5% (1992 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

The economy is largely dependent on trade; imported components average 60% of the value of goods consumed in the domestic market. Rapid growth of free trade zones has established a significant expansion of manufacturing for export, especially wearing apparel. Over the past decade, tourism has also increased in importance and is a major earner of foreign exchange and a source of new jobs. Agriculture remains a key sector of the economy. The principal commercial crop is sugarcane, followed by coffee, cotton, cocoa, and tobacco. Domestic industry is based on the processing of agricultural products, oil refining, minerals, and chemicals. Unemployment is officially reported at about 30%, but there is considerable underemployment.

Unemployment rate [time series]

30% (1992 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 48,730 km2 land area: 48,380 km2 comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire

Climate [time series]

tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline [time series]

1,288 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

subject to occasional hurricanes (July to October); deforestation

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

2,250 km2 (1989)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 275 km, Haiti 275 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 23% permanent crops: 7% meadows and pastures: 43% forest and woodland: 13% other: 14%

Location [time series]

in the northern Caribbean Sea, about halfway between Cuba and Puerto Rico

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or the outer edge of continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 6 nm

Natural resources [time series]

nickel, bauxite, gold, silver

Note [time series]

shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (western one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)

Terrain [time series]

rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

29 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district* (distrito);, Azua, Baoruco, Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro De Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde

Capital [time series]

Santo Domingo

Constitution [time series]

28 November 1966

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Jose del Carmen ARIZA Gomez chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-6280 consulates general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulates: Charlotte Amalie (Virgin Islands), Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Minneapolis, Mobile, Ponce (Puerto Rico), and San Francisco

Executive branch (Elections) [time series]

Chamber of Deputies: last held 16 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120 total) PLD 44, PRSC 41, PRD 33, PRI 2 President: last held 16 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994); results - Joaquin BALAGUER (PRSC) 35.7%, Juan BOSCH Gavino (PLD) 34.4% Senate: last held 16 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (30 total) PRSC 16, PLD 12, PRD 2

Executive branch [time series]

president, vice president, Cabinet

Flag [time series]

a centered white cross that extends to the edges, divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms is at the center of the cross

Independence [time series]

27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)

Executive branch (Leaders) [time series]

Chief of State and Head of Government: President Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo (since 16 August 1986, fifth elected term began 16 August 1990); Vice President Carlos A. MORALES Troncoso (since 16 August 1986)

Legal system [time series]

based on French civil codes

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional) consists of an upper chamber or Senate (Senado) and lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ACP, CARICOM (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM (guest), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: Dominican Republic conventional short form: none local long form: Republica Dominicana local short form: none

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 27 February (1844)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

Collective of Popular Organzations (COP), leader NA

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Major parties: Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC), Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo; Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Juan BOSCH Gavino; Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Jose Franciso PENA Gomez; Independent Revolutionary Party (PRI), Jacobo MAJLUTA Minor parties: National Veterans and Civilian Party (PNVC), Juan Rene BEAUCHAMPS Javier; Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic (PLRD), Andres Van Der HORST; Democratic Quisqueyan Party (PQD), Elias WESSIN Chavez; National Progressive Force (FNP), Marino VINICIO Castillo; Popular Christian Party (PPC), Rogelio DELGADO Bogaert; Dominican Communist Party (PCD), Narciso ISA Conde; Dominican Workers' Party (PTD), Ivan RODRIGUEZ; Anti-Imperialist Patriotic Union (UPA), Ignacio RODRIGUEZ Chiappini; Alliance for Democracy Party (APD), Maximilano Rabelais PUIG Miller, Nelsida MARMOLEJOS, Vicente BENGOA note: in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to form the Dominican Leftist Front (FID); however, they still retain individual party structures

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory or married persons regardless of age note: members of the armed forces and police cannot vote

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert S. PASTORINO embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo mailing address: APO AA 34041-0008 telephone: (809) 541-2171 and 541-8100 FAX: (809) 686-7437

People

Birth rate [time series]

25.68 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.38 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

mixed 73%, white 16%, black 11%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

53.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2,300,000 to 2,600,000 by occupation: agriculture 49%, services 33%, industry 18% (1986)

Languages [time series]

Spanish

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 67.98 years male: 65.87 years female: 70.21 years (1993 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 83% male: 85% female: 82%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Population [time series]

7,683,940 (July 1993 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.86% (1993 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 95%

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.89 children born/woman (1993 est.)