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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

combination of state-owned and privately owned broadcast media; 1 state-owned TV network and a number of private TV networks; networks operate repeaters to extend signals throughout country; combination of state-owned and privately owned radio stations with more than 300 radio stations operating (2015)

Internet country code [time series]

.do

Internet users [time series]

total: 6,504,998 (July 2016 est.) | percent of population: 61.3% (July 2016 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: relatively efficient system based on island-wide microwave radio relay network; there are multiple operators licensed to provide services, most of them are small and localised; the telecom sector across the Caribbean region remains one of the key growth areas (2017) | domestic: fixed-line teledensity is about 12 per 100 persons; multiple providers of mobile-cellular service with a subscribership of over 80 per 100 persons (2017) | international: country code - 1-809; 1-829; 1-849; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), Antillas 1, AMX-1, and the Fibralink submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 1,329,852 (2017 est.) | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2017 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 8,769,127 (2017 est.) | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 82 (2017 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: 11.33 billion (2017 est.) | expenditures: 13.62 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

13.91% (31 December 2017 est.) | 15.08% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$165 million (2017 est.) | -$815 million (2016 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$29.16 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $27.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

47.1 (2013 est.) | 45.7 (2012 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The Dominican Republic was for most of its history primarily an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, but over the last three decades the economy has become more diversified as the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest employer, due to growth in construction, tourism, and free trade zones. The mining sector has also played a greater role in the export market since late 2012 with the commencement of the extraction phase of the Pueblo Viejo Gold and Silver mine, one of the largest gold mines in the world. For the last 20 years, the Dominican Republic has been one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America. The economy rebounded from the global recession in 2010-16, and the fiscal situation is improving. A tax reform package passed in November 2012, a reduction in government spending, and lower energy costs helped to narrow the central government budget deficit from 6.6% of GDP in 2012 to 2.6% in 2016, and public debt is declining. Marked income inequality, high unemployment, and underemployment remain important long-term challenges; the poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of GDP, while the richest 10% enjoys nearly 40% of GDP. The economy is highly dependent upon the US, the destination for approximately half of exports and the source of 40% of imports. Remittances from the US amount to about 7% of GDP, equivalent to about a third of exports and two-thirds of tourism receipts. The Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement came into force in March 2007, boosting investment and manufacturing exports.

Exchange rates [time series]

Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar - | 47.42 (2017 est.) | 46.078 (2016 est.) | 46.078 (2015 est.) | 45.052 (2014 est.) | 43.556 (2013 est.)

Exports [time series]

$10.12 billion (2017 est.) | $9.86 billion (2016 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

gold, silver, cocoa, sugar, coffee, tobacco, meats, consumer goods

Exports - partners [time series]

US 50.3%, Haiti 9.1%, Canada 8.2%, India 5.6% (2017)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$76.09 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

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

$173 billion (2017 est.) | $165.4 billion (2016 est.) | $155.2 billion (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 69.3% (2017 est.) | government consumption: 12.2% (2017 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 21.9% (2017 est.) | investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.) | exports of goods and services: 24.8% (2017 est.) | imports of goods and services: -28.1% (2017 est.)

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

agriculture: 5.6% (2017 est.) | industry: 33% (2017 est.) | services: 61.4% (2017 est.)

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

$17,000 (2017 est.) | $16,400 (2016 est.) | $15,500 (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

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

4.6% (2017 est.) | 6.6% (2016 est.) | 7% (2015 est.)

Gross national saving [time series]

21.6% of GDP (2017 est.) | 20.8% of GDP (2016 est.) | 20.7% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 37.4% (2013 est.) | highest 10%: 37.4% (2013 est.)

Imports [time series]

$17.7 billion (2017 est.) | $17.4 billion (2016 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners [time series]

US 41.4%, China 13.9%, Mexico 4.5%, Brazil 4.3% (2017)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.1% (2017 est.)

Industries [time series]

tourism, sugar processing, gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco, electrical components, medical devices

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.3% (2017 est.) | 1.6% (2016 est.)

Labor force [time series]

4.732 million (2017 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 14.4% | industry: 20.8% (2014) | services: 64.7% (2014 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

Population below poverty line [time series]

30.5% (2016 est.)

Public debt [time series]

37.2% of GDP (2017 est.) | 34.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$6.873 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $6.134 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$7.011 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $6.491 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$408.6 million (31 December 2017 est.) | $387.8 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$37.15 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $33.56 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$35.42 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $33.6 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$7.011 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $6.491 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

14.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

5.1% (2017 est.) | 5.5% (2016 est.)

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

23.79 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports [time series]

16,980 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption [time series]

15.64 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

77% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

16% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

7% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

3.839 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

18.03 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access [time series]

population without electricity: 300,000 (2013) | electrification - total population: 98% (2013) | electrification - urban areas: 99% (2013) | electrification - rural areas: 97% (2013)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

1.161 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

1.161 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

134,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

108,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

16,060 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 48,670 sq km | land: 48,320 sq km | water: 350 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

1,288 km

Elevation [time series]

mean elevation: 424 m | elevation extremes: -46 m lowest point: Lago Enriquillo | 3098 highest point: Pico Duarte

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, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands | signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

19 00 N, 70 40 W

Geography - note [time series]

shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds makes up the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti); the second largest country in the Antilles (after Cuba); geographically diverse with the Caribbean's tallest mountain, Pico Duarte, and lowest elevation and largest lake, Lago Enriquillo

Irrigated land [time series]

3,070 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 376 km | border countries (1): Haiti 376 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 51.5% (2011 est.) | arable land: 16.6% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 10.1% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 24.8% (2011 est.) | forest: 40.8% (2011 est.) | other: 7.7% (2011 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]

territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | contiguous zone: 24 nm | continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin | measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

Natural hazards [time series]

lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts

Natural resources [time series]

nickel, bauxite, gold, silver, arable land

Population distribution [time series]

coastal development is significant, especially in the southern coastal plains and the Cibao Valley, where population density is highest; smaller population clusters exist in the interior mountains (Cordillera Central)

Terrain [time series]

rugged highlands and mountains interspersed with fertile valleys

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

10 regions (regiones, singular - region); Cibao Nordeste, Cibao Noroeste, Cibao Norte, Cibao Sur, El Valle, Enriquillo, Higuamo, Ozama, Valdesia, Yuma

Capital [time series]

name: Santo Domingo | geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 69 54 W | time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship [time series]

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Dominican Republic | dual citizenship recognized: yes | residency requirement for naturalization: 2 years

Constitution [time series]

history: many previous (38 total); latest proclaimed 13 June 2015 (2018) | amendments: proposed by a special session of the National Congress called the National Revisory Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority approval by at least one-half of those present in both houses of the Assembly; passage of amendments to constitutional articles such as fundamental rights and guarantees, territorial composition, nationality, or the procedures for constitutional reform also requires approval in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2017 (2018)

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Dominican Republic | conventional short form: The Dominican | local long form: Republica Dominicana | local short form: La Dominicana | etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Santo Domingo (Saint Dominic)

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert COPLEY (since 21 July 2017) | embassy: Av. Republica de Colombia # 57, Santo Domingo | mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500 | telephone: [1] (809) 567-7775 | FAX: [1] (809) 686-7437

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Tomas PEREZ Vazquez(since 23 February 2015) | chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280 | FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057 | consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico) | consulate(s): San Francisco

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Danilo MEDINA Sanchez (since 16 August 2012); Vice President Margarita CEDENO DE FERNANDEZ (since 16 August 2012); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government | head of government: President Danilo MEDINA Sanchez (since 16 August 2012); Vice President Margarita CEDENO DE FERNANDEZ (since 16 August 2012) | cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president | elections/appointments: 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 consecutive terms); election last held on 15 May 2016 (next to be held in 2020) | election results: Danilo MEDINA Sanchez reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Danilo MEDINA Sanchez (PLD) 61.7%, Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (PRM) 35%, other 3.3%; Margarita CEDENO DE FERNANDEZ (PLD) reelected vice president

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are ultramarine blue (hoist side) and vermilion red, and the bottom ones are vermilion red (hoist side) and ultramarine blue; a small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by a laurel branch (left) and a palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shield a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA appears on a red ribbon; in the shield a bible is opened to a verse that reads "Y la verdad nos hara libre" (And the truth shall set you free); blue stands for liberty, white for salvation, and red for the blood of heroes

Government type [time series]

presidential republic

Independence [time series]

27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

International law organization participation [time series]

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AOSIS, BCIE, Caricom (observer), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OAS, OIF (observer), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA (associated member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

highest courts: Supreme Court of Justice or Suprema Corte de Justicia (consists of a minimum of 16 magistrates); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 13 judges); note - the Constitutional Court was established in 2010 by constitutional amendment | judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary comprised of the president, the leaders of both chambers of congress, the president of the Supreme Court, and a non-governing party congressional representative; Supreme Court judges appointed for 7-year terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed for 9-year terms | subordinate courts: courts of appeal; courts of first instance; justices of the peace; special courts for juvenile, labor, and land cases; Contentious Administrative Court for cases filed against the government

Legal system [time series]

civil law system based on the French civil code; Criminal Procedures Code modified in 2004 to include important elements of an accusatory system

Legislative branch [time series]

description: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of: Senate or Senado (32 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) House of Representatives or Camara de Diputados (190 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) | elections: Senate - last held on 15 May 2016 (next to be held in May 2020) House of Representatives - last held on 15 May 2016 (next to be held in May 2020) | election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 26, PRM 2, BIS 1, PLRD 1, PRD 1, PRSC 1 House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 106, PRM 42, PRSC 18, PRD 16, PLRD 3, other 5

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Himno Nacional" (National Anthem) | lyrics/music: Emilio PRUD'HOMME/Jose REYES | note: adopted 1934; also known as "Quisqueyanos valientes" (Valient Sons of Quisqueye); the anthem never refers to the people as Dominican but rather calls them "Quisqueyanos," a reference to the indigenous name of the island

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 27 February (1844)

National symbol(s) [time series]

palmchat (bird); national colors: red, white, blue

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

Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna] Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Miguel VARGAS Maldonado] Institutional Social Democratic Bloc or BIS Liberal Reformist Party or PRL (formerly the Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic or PLRD) Modern Revolutionary Party or PRM [Andres BAUTISTA Garcia] National Progressive Front or FNP [Vinicio CASTILLO, Pelegrin CASTILLO] Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Federico ANTUN]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age can vote; note - members of the armed forces and national police by law cannot vote

Introduction

Background [time series]

The Taino - indigenous inhabitants of Hispaniola prior to the arrival of the Europeans - divided the island 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 was conquered and ruled by the Haitians 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, 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 when international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been held in which opposition candidates have won the presidency. Former President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (first term 1996-2000) won elected to a new term in 2004 following a constitutional amendment allowing presidents to serve more than one term, and was later reelected to a second consecutive term. In 2012, Danilo MEDINA Sanchez became president; he was reelected in 2016. | DOMINICAN REPUBLIC SUMMARY: PDF

Military and Security

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

Army (Ejercito Nacional, EN), Navy (Marina de Guerra, MdG, includes naval infantry), Dominican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Dominicana, FAD) (2017)

Military expenditures [time series]

0.64% of GDP (2016) | 0.67% of GDP (2015) | 0.67% of GDP (2014) | 0.62% of GDP (2013) | 0.65% of GDP (2012)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

17-21 years of age for voluntary military service; recruits must have completed primary school and be Dominican Republic citizens; women may volunteer (2012)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 27.56% (male 1,442,926 /female 1,395,809) | 15-24 years: 18.52% (male 969,467 /female 937,765) | 25-54 years: 40.28% (male 2,112,813 /female 2,035,902) | 55-64 years: 7.71% (male 397,821 /female 396,172) | 65 years and over: 5.92% (male 286,300 /female 323,781) (2018 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Central America :: Dominican Republic Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Dominican Republic. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Birth rate [time series]

18.9 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

4% (2013)

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

69.5% (2014)

Death rate [time series]

6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 57.8 (2015 est.) | youth dependency ratio: 47.3 (2015 est.) | elderly dependency ratio: 10.5 (2015 est.) | potential support ratio: 9.5 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.9% (2017 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

2,600 (2017 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

67,000 (2017 est.)

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

4.4% of GDP (2014)

Hospital bed density [time series]

1.6 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 22.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) | male: 25 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) | female: 20.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 71.3 years (2018 est.) | male: 69.7 years (2018 est.) | female: 73.1 years (2018 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.) | total population: 91.8% (2015 est.) | male: 91.2% (2015 est.) | female: 92.3% (2015 est.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: high (2016) | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016) | vectorborne diseases: dengue fever (2016) | note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus

Major urban areas - population [time series]

3.172 million SANTO DOMINGO (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

92 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 27.3 years | male: 27.1 years | female: 27.4 years (2018 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]

21.3 years (2013 est.) | note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Nationality [time series]

noun: Dominican(s) | adjective: Dominican

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

27.6% (2016)

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

1.49 physicians/1,000 population (2011)

Population [time series]

10,298,756 (July 2018 est.)

Population distribution [time series]

Population growth rate [time series]

0.99% (2018 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 86.2% of population (2015 est.) | rural: 75.7% of population (2015 est.) | total: 84% of population (2015 est.) | unimproved: urban: 13.8% of population (2015 est.) | rural: 24.3% of population (2015 est.) | total: 16% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 13 years (2014) | male: 13 years (2014) | female: 14 years (2014)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.28 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 13.4% (2016 est.) | male: 8.5% (2016 est.) | female: 21.7% (2016 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 81.1% of total population (2018) | rate of urbanization: 2.06% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Haitian migrants cross the porous border into the Dominican Republic to find workillegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage each year to Puerto Rico to find better work

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from the Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada; substantial money laundering activity in particular by Colombian narcotics traffickers; significant amphetamine consumption

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

stateless persons: 133,770 (2016); note - a September 2013 Constitutional Court ruling revoked the citizenship of those born after 1929 to immigrants without proper documentation, even though the constitution at the time automatically granted citizenship to children born in the Dominican Republic and the 2010 constitution provides that constitutional provisions cannot be applied retroactively; the decision overwhelmingly affected people of Haitian descent whose relatives had come to the Dominican Republic since the 1890s as a cheap source of labor for sugar plantations; a May 2014 law passed by the Dominican Congress regularizes the status of those with birth certificates but will require those without them to prove they were born in the Dominican Republic and to apply for naturalization; the government has issued documents to thousands of individuals who may claim citizenship under this law, but no official estimate has been released | note: revised estimate includes only individuals born to parents who were both born abroad; it does not include individuals born in the country to one Dominican-born and one foreign-born parent or subsequent generations of individuals of foreign descent; the estimate, as such, does not include all stateless persons (2015)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

36 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 16 (2017) | over 3,047 m: 3 (2017) | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 (2017) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2017) | 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2017) | under 914 m: 1 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 20 (2013) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013) | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013) | under 914 m: 18 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

HI (2016)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 23 (2017) | by type: general cargo 2, other 21 (2017)

National air transport system [time series]

number of registered air carriers: 1 (2015) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6 (2015) | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 14,463 (2015) | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 mt-km (2015)

Pipelines [time series]

27 km gas, 103 km oil (2013)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Puerto Haina, Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo | oil terminal(s): Punta Nizao oil terminal | LNG terminal(s) (import): Andres LNG terminal (Boca Chica)

Railways [time series]

total: 496 km (2014) | standard gauge: 354 km 1.435-m gauge (2014) | narrow gauge: 142 km 0.762-m gauge (2014)

Roadways [time series]

total: 19,705 km (2002) | paved: 9,872 km (2002) | unpaved: 9,833 km (2002)