View Intelligence Dossier Back to 1995 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 120, FM 0, shortwave 6 radios: NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

190,000 telephones; relatively efficient domestic system based on islandwide microwave radio relay network local: NA intercity: islandwide microwave radio relay network international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: 18 televisions: NA

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $116 million, 1.4% of GDP (1994) ECUADOR

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 2,008,597; males fit for military service 1,266,812; males reach military age (18) annually 79,769 (1995 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 15% of GDP and employs 49% of labor force; commercial crops - sugarcane, 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: $1.8 billion expenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Dominican peso (RD$) = 100 centavos

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: 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]

capacity: 1,450,000 kW production: 5.4 billion kWh consumption per capita: 651 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

Dominican pesos (RD$) per US$1 - 13.258 (January 1995), 13.160 (1994), 12.679 (1993), 12.774 (1992), 12.692 (1991), 8.525 (1990)

Exports [time series]

$585 million (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: ferronickel, sugar, gold, coffee, cocoa partners: US 52%, EC 23%, Puerto Rico 9%, Asia 7% (1992)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$4.3 billion (1994 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe

Imports [time series]

$2.5 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals partners: US 60% (1993)

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

growth rate 3.4% (1994); accounts for 14% of GDP

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

14% (1994)

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

GDP - purchasing power parity - $24 billion (1994 est.)

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

$3,070 (1994 est.)

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

2.9% (1994 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

The Dominican economy showed some signs of slippage in 1994, although its overall performance in recent years has been relatively strong. After posting an increase of nearly 8% in 1992, GDP growth fell to 3% in 1993 and 1994 as mining output decreased and erosion of real wages caused private consumption to decline. A pre-election boost in government spending in early 1994 led to the first government deficit in four years and bumped inflation up to 14% for the year. Continued dynamism in construction and the services sector, especially tourism, should keep the economy growing in 1995. Tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing for export remain key sectors of the economy. Domestic industry is based on the processing of agricultural products, oil refining, and chemicals.

Unemployment rate [time series]

30% (1994 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

1,288 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation natural hazards: occasional hurricanes (July to October) international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

2,250 sq km (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]

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

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the 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 (eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)

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, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La 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

Legislative branch (Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)) [time series]

elections last held 16 May 1994 (next to be held May 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120 total) PLD 13, PRSC 50, PRD 57

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: [1] (202) 332-6280

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state and head of government: President Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo (since 16 August 1986, sixth elected term began 16 August 1994); Vice President Jacinto PEYNADO (since 16 August 1994) election last held 16 May 1994 (next to be held May 1996); results - Joaquin BALAGUER (PRSC) 42.6%, Juan BOSCH Gavino (PLD) 13.2%, Jose Francisco PENA Gomez (PRD) 41.9%, Jacobo MAJLUTA (PRI) 2.3% cabinet: Cabinet; nominated by the president

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

[1] (202) 265-8057 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Charlotte Amalie (Virgin Islands), Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Minneapolis, Mobile, and Ponce (Puerto Rico)

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

[1] (809) 686-7437

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)

Legal system [time series]

based on French civil codes

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ACP, CARICOM (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (guest), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, 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), (vacant following retirement of 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; Democratic Union (UD), Fernando ALVAREZ Bogaert note: in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to form the Dominican Leftist Front (FID); however, they still retain individual party structures

Legislative branch (Senate (Senado)) [time series]

elections last held 16 May 1994 (next to be held May 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (30 total) PRSC 15, PLD 1, PRD 14

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 Donna Jean HRINAK embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo mailing address: Unit 5500, Santo Domingo; APO AA 34041 telephone: [1] (809) 541-2171, 8100

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 35% (female 1,288,210; male 1,336,162) 15-64 years: 61% (female 2,246,791; male 2,312,555) 65 years and over: 4% (female 178,388; male 149,157) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

23.92 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.15 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

49.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.3 million to 2.6 million by occupation: agriculture 49%, services 33%, industry 18% (1986)

Languages [time series]

Spanish

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 68.73 years male: 66.57 years female: 70.99 years (1995 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican

Net migration rate [time series]

-6.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

7,511,263 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.17% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 95%

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.72 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 36 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5 with paved runways under 914 m: 16 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 12,000 km paved: 5,800 km unpaved: gravel or improved earth 5,600 km; unimproved earth 600 km

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 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]

Barahona, La Romana, Puerto Plata, San Pedro de Macoris, Santo Domingo

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

total: 1,655 km (in numerous segments; includes 4 different gauges from 0.558-m narrow gauge to 1.435-m standard gauge)