Dominican Republic

The Taino -- indigenous inhabitants of Hispaniola prior to the arrival of Europeans -- divided the island now known as the Dominican Republic and Haiti 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 the Haitians conquered and ruled it 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. <br><br>A legacy of unsettled and 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, until international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been held. 

Land

48,320 sq km

Total

48,670 sq km

Water

350 sq km

slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey

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

1,288 km

North America

Highest point

Pico Duarte 3,098 m

Lowest point

Lago Enriquillo -46 m

Mean elevation

424 m

19 00 N, 70 40 W

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

2,981 sq km (2018)

Border countries

Haiti 376 km

number of neighbors

1

Total

376 km

Agricultural land

55.4% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 20.2% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 11.3% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 23.8% (2023 est.)

arable land

20.24%

Forest

46.6% (2023 est.)

Other

0% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

11.28%

No

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

Salt water lake(s)

Lago de Enriquillo - 500 sq km

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/soxooTHxEeiAbn3UA

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/307828

Central America and the Caribbean

Contiguous zone

24 nm

Continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Note

<strong>note: </strong>measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

Territorial sea

12 nm

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

nickel, bauxite, gold, silver, arable land

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)

Caribbean

rugged highlands and mountains interspersed with fertile valleys

UTC-04:00

number of time zones

1

0-14 years

25.5% (male 1,402,847/female 1,358,833)

15-64 years

66.9% (male 3,667,584/female 3,563,848)

65 years and over

7.6% (2024 est.) (male 395,345/female 427,400)

Beer

3.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

2.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

5.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

17.4 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Women married by age 15

9.4% (2019)

Women married by age 18

31.5% (2019)

3% (2019 est.)

53.2% (2019 est.)

6.97 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

99 per 1,000

adult male

172 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

11.8 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

8.5 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

49.6 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

37.8 (2025 est.)

improved total

45.33%

Improved: rural

rural: 91.4% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 96.8% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 97.8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 8.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 3.2% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 2.2% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

3.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

20.9% national budget (2025 est.)

4 % of GDP

mixed 70.4% (Mestizo/Indio 58%, Mulatto 12.4%), Black 15.8%, White 13.5%, other 0.3% (2014 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> 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

1.06 (2025 est.)

5 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

4.9% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

14.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.57%

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Female

19 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

24.3 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

22 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

20.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official)

Major-language sample(s)

<br>La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

number of languages

1

Female

74.3 years

Male

71 years

Total population

72.6 years (2024 est.)

Female

94.4% (2024 est.)

Male

93.6% (2024 est.)

Total population

94% (2024 est.)

3.524 million SANTO DOMINGO (capital) (2023)

124 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

29.4 years

Male

29.1 years

Total

29.6 years (2025 est.)

20.9 years (2013 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Adjective

Dominican

Noun

Dominican(s)

-2.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

27.6% (2016)

2.43 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Female

5,392,613

Male

5,506,679

Total

10,899,292 (2025 est.)

0.78% (2025 est.)

Evangelical 50.2%, Roman Catholic 30.1%, none 18.5%, unspecified 1.2% (2023 est.)

improved total

42.97%

Improved: rural

rural: 91.9% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 96.5% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 97.4% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 8.1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 3.5% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 2.6% of population (2022 est.)

Female

15 years (2022 est.)

Male

13 years (2022 est.)

Total

14 years (2022 est.)

0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.93 male(s)/female

At birth

1.04 male(s)/female

Total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

5.9% (2025 est.)

Male

13.5% (2025 est.)

Total

9.7% (2025 est.)

2.17 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

84.4% of total population (2023)

measles

89%

31 provinces (<em>provincias</em>, singular - <em>provincia</em>), 1 district* (<em>distrito</em>); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabón, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elías Piña, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Hermanas Mirabal, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, María Trinidad Sánchez, Monseñor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Samaná, Sánchez Ramírez, San Cristóbal, San José de Ocoa, San Juan, San Pedro de Macorís, Santiago, Santiago Rodríguez, Santo Domingo, Valverde

Etymology

named after Saint Domingo de GUZMAN (1170-1221), founder of the Dominican Order; the city's full name was originally Santo Domingo de Guzman

Geographic coordinates

18 28 N, 69 54 W

Name

Santo Domingo

Time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/do.svg

Amendment process

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

History

many previous (38 total); latest proclaimed 13 June 2015

alternative spellings

DO

Conventional long form

Dominican Republic

Conventional short form

The Dominican

Etymology

the name is a latinized form of the Spanish term <em>Santo Domingo</em>, meaning "holy Sunday;" Spanish explorers originally settled the island on a Sunday in 1496, and the name was first given to the island of Hispaniola as a whole in 1697

FIFA code

DOM

Former

Santo Domingo (the capital city's name formerly applied to the entire country)

Local long form

Rep&uacute;blica Dominicana

local long form (spa)

República Dominicana

Local short form

La Dominicana

Chief of mission

Ambassador Leah F. CAMPOS (since 19 November 2025)

Email address and website

<br>SDOAmericans@state.gov<br><br>https://do.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

Av. Republica de Colombia #57, Santo Domingo

Mailing address

3470 Santo Domingo Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-3470

Telephone

(809) 567-7775

Chancery

1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Chief of mission

Ambassador Mar&iacute;a Isabel CASTILLO B&Aacute;EZ (since 11 June 2025)

Consulate(s) general

Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angelos, Miami, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia

Email address and website

<br>embassy@drembassyusa.org<br><br>http://drembassyusa.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 265-8057

Telephone

[1] (202) 332-6280

Cabinet

Cabinet nominated by the president

Chief of state

President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020)

Election results

<em><br>2024:</em> Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona reelected president; percent of vote - Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (PRM) 57.5%, Leonel Antonio FERNÁNDEZ Reyna (FP) 28.8%, Abel MARTÍNEZ (PLD) 10.4%, other 3.3%<br><br><em>2020:</em> Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona elected president in first round; percent of vote - Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (PRM) 52.5%, Gonzalo CASTILLO Terrero (PLD) 37.5%, Leonel Antonio FERNÁNDEZ Reyna (FP) 8.9%, other 1.1%

Election/appointment process

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 a maximum of two consecutive terms)

Expected date of next election

21 May 2028

Head of government

President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020)

Most recent election date

19 May 2024

Note

<strong>note:</strong> the president is both chief of state and head of government

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

The flag of the Dominican Republic is divided into four rectangles by a centered white cross that extends to the edges of the field and bears the national coat of arms in its center. The upper hoist-side and lower fly-side rectangles are blue and the lower hoist-side and upper fly-side rectangles are red.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/do.svg

presidential republic

27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

ACP, ACS, 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, UNHRC, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Highest court(s)

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)

Judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary composed 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

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

Legislative structure

bicameral

Legislature name

National Congress of the Republic (Congreso Nacional de la República)

Chamber name

Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)

Electoral system

proportional representation

Expected date of next election

May 2028

Most recent election date

5/19/2024

Number of seats

190 (all directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) and its allies (146); People’s Force (FP) and its allies (28); Other (16)

Percentage of women in chamber

37.4%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

Chamber name

Senate (Senado)

Electoral system

proportional representation

Expected date of next election

May 2028

Most recent election date

5/19/2024

Number of seats

32 (all directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) and its allies (24); People’s Force (FP) and its allies (3); Other (5)

Percentage of women in chamber

12.5%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

red, white, blue

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Colonial City of Santo Domingo

Total World Heritage Sites

1 (cultural)

Independence Day, 27 February (1844)

palmchat (bird)

Alliance for Democracy or APD<br>Broad Front (Frente Amplio)<br>Country Alliance or AP<br>Dominican Liberation Party or PLD<br>Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD<br>Dominicans For Change or DXC<br>Independent Revolutionary Party or PRI<br>Institutional Social Democratic Bloc or BIS<br>Liberal Reformist Party or PRL (formerly the Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic or PLRD)<br>Modern Revolutionary Party or PRM<br>National Progressive Front or FNP<br>People's First Party or PPG<br>People's Force or FP<br>Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC

Monday

18 years of age; universal and compulsory; married persons can vote, regardless of age 

note

<strong>note:</strong> members of the armed forces and national police by law cannot vote

Yes

sugarcane, bananas, papayas, plantains, avocados, rice, milk, watermelons, vegetables, pineapples (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

On alcohol and tobacco

3.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On food

28.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Expenditures

$24.348 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$20.418 billion (2023 est.)

code

DOP

name

Dominican peso (DOP) [$]

$-4,167,200,000

Current account balance 2022

-$6.549 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$4.418 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

-$4.167 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$53.29 billion

Debt - external 2023

$35.044 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> present value of external debt in current US dollars

surging middle-income tourism, construction, mining, and telecommunications OECS economy; major foreign US direct investment and free-trade zones; developing local financial markets; improving debt management; declining poverty

Currency

Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

56.525 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

57.221 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

55.141 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

56.158 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

59.565 (2024 est.)

$28.3 billion

Exports 2022

$25.169 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$25.79 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$28.563 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

medical instruments, tobacco, gold, garments, power equipment (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

USA 52%, Switzerland 7%, Haiti 6%, China 5%, India 3% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$4.48 billion

Exports of goods and services

22.8% (2024 est.)

Government consumption

11.5% (2024 est.)

Household consumption

67.7% (2024 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-29% (2024 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

26.1% (2024 est.)

Investment in inventories

0.9% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

4.5% (2024 est.)

Industry

28.7% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

59.8% (2024 est.)

$124.282 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$10,876

41.9 (2019)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023

38.4 (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$117.56 billion

$10,280

27 % of GDP

Highest 10%

29.1% (2023 est.)

Lowest 10%

2.3% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$36.06 billion

Imports 2022

$36.838 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$34.45 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$36.144 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, cars, natural gas, plastic products, crude petroleum (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

USA 40%, China 18%, Brazil 4%, Spain 4%, Mexico 3% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

3% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

3.3%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

8.8% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

4.8% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

3.3% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

5.413 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

5.51 million persons

agriculture

7.01%

industry

18.97%

services

74.02%

23% (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt 2016

34.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

$314.73 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$258.16 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$263.82 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$276.884 billion (2024 est.)

4.95%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

2.2% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

5% (2024 est.)

$27,542

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$23,000 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$23,300 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$24,200 (2024 est.)

$11.25 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2022

9.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

8.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

9% of GDP (2024 est.)

$13.47 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$14.523 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$15.547 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$13.471 billion (2024 est.)

17 % of GDP

15 % of GDP

14.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

5.09%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

5.6% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

5.5% (2024 est.)

Female

15.5% (2024 est.)

Male

9.2% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

11.7% (2024 est.)

Consumption

2.356 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

2.356 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

22.193 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

1,717 kWh

Installed generating capacity

6.581 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

2.369 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - rural areas

95%

Electrification - total population

98.1% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas

98.8%

Biomass and waste

0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

82.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

6.06%

Hydroelectricity

6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

18.52%

Solar

5.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind

4.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

950 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

39.329 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Consumption

2.277 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Exports

1.997 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Imports

2.279 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

146,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

14.8%

per 100 inhabitants

11 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

11 (2023 est.)

Total

1.26 million (2023 est.)

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; over 300 state-owned and privately owned radio stations&nbsp; (2019)

.do

Percent of population

85% (2023 est.)

#####

+1

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

10 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

1.15 million (2024 est.)

subscriptions per 100

92 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

94 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

10.7 million (2024 est.)

passengers carried

996,238 passengers

registered carrier departures

18,437 departures

32 (2025)

HI

Right

8 (2025)

By type

container ship 1, general cargo 2, oil tanker 1, other 36

Total

40 (2023)

Key ports

Andres (Andres Lng Terminal), Las Calderas, Puerto de Haina, Puerto Plata, Punta Nizao Oil Terminal, San Pedro de Macoris, Santa Barbara de Samana, Santa Cruz de Barahona, Santo Domingo

Large

0

Medium

2

Ports with oil terminals

7

Size unknown

2

Small

7

Total ports

17 (2024)

Very small

6

Narrow gauge

142 km (2014) 0.762-m gauge

Standard gauge

354 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Total

496 km (2014)

DOM

armored vehicles

tanks

the military is responsible for defending the independence, integrity, and sovereignty of the Dominican Republic; it also has an internal security role, which includes assisting with airport, border, port, tourism, and urban security, supporting the police in maintaining or restoring public order, countering transnational crime, and providing disaster or emergency relief/management; a key area of focus is securing the country&rsquo;s 217-mile (350-kilometer) long border with Haiti, where the Army in recent years has assigned thousands of troops to assist with security; these forces complement the personnel of the Border Security Corps permanently deployed along the border; the Air Force and Navy also provide support to the Haitian border mission; the Army has a brigade dedicated to managing and providing relief during natural disasters; the military also contributes personnel to the National Drug Control Directorate, and both the Air Force and Navy devote assets to detecting and interdicting narcotics trafficking; the Navy conducts regular bilateral maritime interdiction exercises with the US Navy (2025)

Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic: Army of the Dominican Republic (Ejercito de la República Dominicana, ERD), Navy (Armada de República Dominicana or ARD; includes naval infantry), Dominican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de la República Dominicana, FARD) (2025)

active duty personnel

71,000

note

<strong>note 1:</strong> in addition to the three main branches of the military, the Ministry of Defense directs the Specialized Border Security Corps (CESFRONT), the Specialized Corps in Port Security (CESEP), and the Specialized Corps in Airport and Civil Aviation Safety (CESAC); these specialized corps are joint forces, made up of civilians and personnel from all the military branches; they may also assist in overall citizen security working together with the National Police, which is under the Ministry of Interior

percent of total labor force

1.48 %

approximately 55-60,000 Armed Forces; up to 35,000 National Police (2025)

the military's equipment inventory comes largely from the US, with smaller quantities from such suppliers as Brazil and Spain (2025)

1 % of GDP

current USD

$980,991,971

Military Expenditures 2020

0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

4.04 %

percent of GDP

0.78 % of GDP

17-early 20s for voluntary military service for men and women (ages vary depending on military service and position; under 18 admitted with permission of parents) (2025)

note

<strong>note:</strong> as of 2024, women made up approximately 17% of the active-duty military

PowerIndex score

2.5853

USG identification

<br>major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)

IDPs

390 (2023 est.)

Refugees

1,004 (2024 est.)

From coal and metallurgical coke

5.374 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas

4.467 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

19.872 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

29.713 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation

Party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

15 % of total land area

10 % of total

23.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

30 % of internal resources

Agricultural

7.563 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

659.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

855 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

4.064 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

11.6% (2022 est.)