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Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture-products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2 billion expenditures: $2 billion, including capital expenditures of $994 million (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Dominican peso (RD$) = 100 centavos

Debt - external (Debt-external) [time series]

$3.6 billion (1997)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $21 million (1993)

Economic overview (Economy-overview) [time series]

Economic reforms launched in late 1994 contributed to exchange rate stabilization, reduced inflation, and strong GDP growth in 1995-96. In 1996, there was increased mineral and petroleum exploration, and a new investment law that allows for repatriation of capital dividends has drawn more investment to the island. Upon coming to power in August 1996, President FERNANDEZ nevertheless inherited a trouble-ridden economy hampered by a pressured peso, a large external debt, nearly bankrupt state-owned enterprises, and a manufacturing sector hindered by daily power outages. In December, FERNANDEZ presented a bold economic reform package-including such reforms as the devaluation of the peso, income tax cuts, a 50% increase in sales taxes, reduced import tariffs, and increased gasoline prices-in an attempt to create a market-oriented economy that can compete internationally. Even though reforms are moving ahead at a slow pace, the economy grew vigorously in 1997, with tourism and telecommunications leading the advance. The government is working to increase electric generating capacity, a key to continued economic growth.

Electricity - capacity (Electricity-capacity) [time series]

1.447 million kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]

865 kWh (1995)

Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]

6.5 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates [time series]

Dominican pesos (RD$) per US$1-14.332 (December 1997), 14.265 (1997), 13.775 (1996), 13.597 (1995), 13.160 (1994), 12.676 (1993)

Exports [time series]

total value: $815 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: ferronickel, sugar, gold, coffee, cocoa partners: US 45%, EU 34%, Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico (1995)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year Communications

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

purchasing power parity-$38.3 billion (1997 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP-composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 15% industry: 22% services: 63% (1995)

Real GDP per capita (GDP-per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$4,700 (1997 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP-real growth rate) [time series]

7% (1997 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $3.7 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals partners: US 44%, EU 16%, Venezuela 11%, Netherlands Antilles, Mexico, Japan (1995)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

6.3% (1995 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate-consumer price index) [time series]

10.9% (1997 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.3 million to 2.6 million by occupation: agriculture 50%, services and government 32%, industry 18% (1991 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 120, FM 0, shortwave 6

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: relatively efficient system based on islandwide microwave radio relay network international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

190,000 (1987 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

18 (1987 est.)

Televisions [time series]

728,000 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

30% (1996 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 48,730 sq km land: 48,380 sq km water: 350 sq km

Area - comparative (Area-comparative) [time series]

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues (Environment-current issues) [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment-international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

19 00 N, 70 40 W

Geography - note (Geography-note) [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

2,300 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 275 km border countries: Haiti 275 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 21% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures: 43% forests and woodland: 12% other: 15% (1993 est.)

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 hazards [time series]

occasional hurricanes (July to October)

Natural resources [time series]

nickel, bauxite, gold, silver

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

Constitution [time series]

28 November 1966

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041 telephone: [1] (809) 221-2171, 221-8100

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Bernardo VEGA Boyrie chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280, 6281

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 1996); Vice President Jaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since 16 August 1996); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 1996); Vice President Jaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since 16 August 1996); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term; election last held 16 May 1996; runoff election held 30 June 1996 (next to be held 16 May 2000) election results: President FERNANDEZ elected to his first term; percent of vote-Leonel FERNANDEZ (PLD) 51.25%, Jose Francisco PENA Gomez (PRD) 48.75%

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, Mobile, and Ponce (Puerto Rico)

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

[1] (809) 686-7437

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, Caricom (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (guest), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are elected by a Council made up of legislative and executive members with the president presiding

Legal system [time series]

based on French civil codes

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (30 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate-last held 30 May 1994 (next to be held NA May 1998); Chamber of Deputies-last held 16 May 1994 (next to be held NA May 1998) election results: Senate-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PRSC 15, PLD 1, PRD 14; Chamber of Deputies-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party - PLD 13, PRSC 50, PRD 57

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Santo Domingo

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 27 February (1844)

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

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

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

Collective of Popular Organizations or COP

Suffrage [time series]

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

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures-dollar figure) [time series]

$116 million (1994)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures-percent of GDP) [time series]

1.4% (1994)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower-availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,119,278 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower-fit for military service) [time series]

males: 1,332,971 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower-military age) [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower-reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 80,784 (1998 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 35% (male 1,435,698; female 1,382,377) 15-64 years: 60% (male 2,452,310; female 2,379,991) 65 years and over: 5% (male 165,602; female 182,788) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

26.42 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.73 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

44.26 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 69.73 years male: 67.53 years female: 72.04 years (1998 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82.1% male: 82% female: 82.2% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican

Net migration rate [time series]

-4.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population [time series]

7,998,766 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.63% (1998 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 95%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.06 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US through Puerto Rico ECUADOR

Transportation

Airports [time series]

36 (1997 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports-with paved runways) [time series]

total: 14 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports-with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 22 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 15 (1997 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 12,600 km paved: 6,224 km unpaved: 6,376 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT (1997 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

total: 757 km standard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gauge (Central Romana Railroad) narrow gauge: 142 km 0.762-m gauge (Dominica Government Railway); 240 km operated by sugar companies in various gauges (0.558-m, 0.762-m, 1.067-m gauges) (1995)