Overview of Dominican Republic

Profile

Home to Santo Domingo, Spain's oldest colonial city, it features diverse natural landscapes including mountains, waterfalls, and coral reefs. Sugar, cocoa, and other agriculture, along with resort tourism and mining, form the economic pillars. While Spanish-speaking, it is strongly influenced by U.S. culture, with a rich blend of multi-ethnic cuisine, music, and festivals.

Official name: República Dominicana
Common name: Dominican Republic
Numeric code: 214
Alpha-3 code: DOM
Alpha-2 code: DO
Population: Approximately 11.2 million (2024)
Population density: Approximately 230
Primary languages: Spanish
Major religions: Catholic, Protestant, Other Christian
National anthem: Himno Nacional Dominicano
Calling code: +1-809 / +1-829 / +1-849
Internet TLD: .do

History

Gained independence from Haiti in 1844, followed by periods of Spanish re-annexation and U.S. occupation, eventually leading to the current democratic republican system.

From the Taíno indigenous period, it became a Spanish colony with Columbus's landing, then escaped Haitian rule to establish a republic in the 19th century. The 20th century saw U.S. military administration and Trujillo's dictatorship, but after 1960s civil war and U.S. intervention, it transitioned to civilian governance and now follows a tourism-driven growth path.

Geography & climate

Features three major mountain ranges including the Central Cordillera, the fertile Cibao Valley, mangrove wetlands, limestone karst plateaus, and turquoise coastlines.

Tropical savanna climate (temperate in highlands)

Area: North America (Caribbean) / 48671 km²
Capital: Santo Domingo
Largest city: Santo Domingo
Coastal status: Yes
Major lakes: Lake Enriquillo
Bordering countries: Haiti

Natural resources

Nickel, Gold, Silver, Copper, Amber, Larimar, Fertile volcanic soil, Hydropower, Tourism resources (beaches and mountains), Fishery resources, Tropical timber, Limestone

Politics

Government: Presidential republic

Economy

Currency: Dominican Peso (DOP)

GDP (nominal): 114 billion USD (2023)

GDP (PPP): 264 billion USD (2023)

Language & timezone

Primary languages: Spanish

Time zone: Atlantic Standard Time

Culture & customs

Ethnic groups

Mulatto, European descent, African descent, Taíno descent, Haitian descent, Middle Eastern immigrants

Life expectancy

73.1

Literacy rate

93.8

National sports

Baseball, Basketball, Boxing, Volleyball, Athletics, Softball