Country Profile: Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean, sharing a border with Haiti to the west. With a population of approximately 10.9 million, the country is characterized by its vibrant culture, driven by a mixed ethnic composition of predominantly Dominican nationals. The economy is primarily service-oriented, supported by robust tourism, construction, and mining sectors, while governance has evolved into a presidential republic following a history of upheaval and dictatorship.

Geography

The Dominican Republic is situated in the Caribbean, bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the south and the North Atlantic Ocean to the north. The nation's diverse terrain includes rugged highlands and fertile valleys, with Pico Duarte being the highest peak at 3,098 meters. The climate is tropical maritime, featuring minimal seasonal temperature variation but notable seasonal rainfall.

Area: 48,670 sq km, making it slightly larger than New Jersey.
Coastline: 1,288 km.
Natural hazards: Prone to hurricanes from June to October.

People and Society

The population of the Dominican Republic is approximately 10.9 million, with a median age of 29.6 years. The country exhibits a diverse ethnic mix, with the majority identifying as mixed (70.4%). Spanish is the official language, and the predominant religions are evangelical (50.2%) and Roman Catholic (30.1%).

Urbanization: 84.4% live in urban areas as of 2023.
Literacy rate: 94% (2024 est.).
Life expectancy: 72.6 years (2024 est.).

Economy

The Dominican Republic's economy is classified as upper middle-income, with a GDP of approximately $276.9 billion (2024 est.). Key sectors include tourism, construction, and mining, with the service sector contributing almost 60% to GDP. The country has seen improvements in debt management and a decline in poverty rates.

GDP per capita: $24,200 (2024 est.).
Unemployment rate: 5.5% (2024 est.).
Poverty rate: 23% of the population below the national poverty line (2023 est.).

Government

The Dominican Republic is a presidential republic, with the capital city being Santo Domingo. The governance structure includes a bicameral National Congress, comprising the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The president and vice president are directly elected for four-year terms.

Current President: Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona (since August 2020).
Last election: May 19, 2024.
Independence: Achieved on February 27, 1844.

Military and Security

The Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic include the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with approximately 55,000 to 60,000 personnel. The military's primary role is to safeguard national sovereignty and assist in internal security.

Military expenditures: Approximately 0.8% of GDP (2024 est.).
Key security focus: Managing border security with Haiti.
National Police strength: Up to 35,000 personnel.

Energy

The Dominican Republic has significant electricity access, with 98.1% of the total population electrified by 2022. The majority of electricity is generated from fossil fuels, although there is a growing share from renewable sources.

Installed capacity: 6.581 million kW (2023 est.).
Electricity consumption: 22.193 billion kWh (2023 est.).
Renewable energy share: 6% from hydroelectricity (2023 est.).

Environment

Environmental challenges in the Dominican Republic include soil erosion and deforestation. The nation is actively participating in several international environmental agreements aimed at addressing climate change and biodiversity.

Forest cover: 46.6% of the land area as of 2023.
Urban population: 84.4% (2023).
Annual waste generation: 4.064 million tons (2024 est.).

Transportation

The transportation infrastructure includes 32 airports and a merchant marine fleet of 40 vessels. The railway network spans 496 km, predominantly used for freight.

Ports: 17 total (2024).
Airports: 32 (2025).
Road network: Well-developed for urban and rural access.

Communications

The Dominican Republic has a growing telecommunication sector, with high mobile cellular subscriptions.

Mobile subscriptions: 10.7 million (2024).
Internet users: 85% of the population (2023).
Fixed-line subscriptions: 1.15 million (2024).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	10,899,292	(2025 est.)
Area	48,670 sq km
GDP	$276.884 billion	(2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate	5.5%	(2024 est.)
Life Expectancy	72.6 years	(2024 est.)
Literacy Rate	94%	(2024 est.)
Urban Population	84.4%	(2023)
Military Expenditure	0.8% of GDP	(2024 est.)
Electricity Access	98.1%	(2022 est.)
Poverty Rate	23%	below the national poverty line (2023 est.)