Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic Country Facts At-a-Glance

Here are the updated country facts about the Dominican Republic:

Country Facts

Geography: The Dominican Republic is located on the island of Hispaniola between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island, which it shares with Haiti. In addition to beautiful beaches, the terrain features rugged mountains and lush valleys.

Capital City: Santo Domingo

Population: 11 million (2023 est.)

Language: Spanish

Religions: Roman Catholic 48.8%, Evangelical 21.3%, other 2.2%, none 28% (2020 est.)

Ethnic Groups: Mixed 70.4%, white 13.5%, black 15.8%, other 0.3% (2021 est.)

Life Expectancy: 74 years

Literacy Rate: 93.8% (2021 est.)

Source: CIA World Factbook

Government: Democratic republic

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory. However, regardless of age, all married people can vote.

Current Head of State: President Luis Abinader (since August 16, 2020) and Vice President Raquel Peña de Antuña (since August 16, 2020). The president and vice president are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms.

Independence: February 27, 1844 (from Haiti)

Currency: Dominican peso (DOP)

GDP per Capita: $18,800 USD (2023 est.)

Unemployment Rate: 8.0% (2023 est.)

GDP – Composition by Sector:

• Agriculture 5.1% – sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas, cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs
• Industry 32.8% – tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco
• Services 62.2%

Source: CIA World Factbook

Dominican Republic Country Basics

The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti. The island was once called Ayiti, which was the indigenous Taino name before the arrival of Christopher Columbus.

The DR has a population of 11.2 million people and is about the size of the states of Vermont and New Hampshire combined. The nation is between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean and includes about 100 small islands.

Brief History

Prior to the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, the Taino indigenous people inhabited the island of Hispaniola.

The Spanish set up a colony on the eastern side of the island. The western side became a haven for French buccaneers. Eventually the French took over the western third of the island, which became Haiti in 1804.

The Dominican side of the island was conquered and ruled by the Haitians for 22 years. Then, in 1844, it was officially declared independent as the Dominican Republic.

In 1861, the Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire, but two years later they launched a war that restored independence in 1865.

A period of unsettled rule followed, capped by the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo from 1930 to 1961. Trujillo ruled with a heavy hand and was assassinated in 1961.

Juan Bosch was elected president in 1962 at which point he presented a new constitution giving many new freedoms and tightening control on the military. Due to his new control over the army and what was seen as overly liberal politics he was deposed in a military coup in 1963.

In 1965, the United States led an intervention to restore order to the Dominican Republic and prevent a communist government from taking over.

In 1966 elections were held in which Juan Bosch was defeated by Joaquin Balaguer. Balaguer maintained a tight, often deadly, grip on power for most of the next 30 years. Democratic elections were held every four years, but their validity were questionable and allegations of corruption were widespread.

In 1994 after another successful electoral win, the corruption was so bad that general strikes took place, and in 1996 Balaguer agreed to hold a special election during which he would not be a candidate marking the beginning of a new electoral age.

Language in the Dominican Republic

Spanish is the official language that’s spoken by about 85% of the population. English is not widely spoken outside the tourist areas. Therefore, it’s helpful to have some Spanish phrases ready to go.

Greetings:

• Hello / Hola
• How are you? / ¿Cómo estás?
• Good / Bien
• Good morning / Buenos días
• Good afternoon / Buenas tardes
• Good night / Buenas noches
• Welcome / Bienvenido
• Goodbye / Adiós

Etiquette:

• Please / Por favor
• Thank you / Gracias
• Excuse me / Perdón
• Sorry / Lo siento (perdón)

Pronouns:

• I / Yo
• You / Tú
• He/she / Él/ella
• We / Nosotros
• You (plural) / Ustedes
• They / Ellos/ellas

Conversational:

• What is your name? / ¿Cómo te llamas?
  • My name is ___. / Me llamo ___.
• Where are you from? / ¿De dónde eres?
  • I am from ___. / Yo soy de ___.
• How old are you? / ¿Cuántos años tienes?
  • I am ___ years old. / Tengo ___ años.
• Do you speak English? / ¿Hablas inglés?
  • I speak a little Spanish. / Hablo un poco de español.
• Could you repeat that please? / Repite por favor.
• How do you say ___ in Spanish? / ¿Cómo se dice ___ en español?
• I don’t understand. / No entiendo.
• I want to go to ___. / Yo quiero ir a ___.
• Where is ___? / ¿Dónde está ___?
• I would like ___. / Yo quisiera ___.
• How much is it? / ¿Cuánto vale ___?

Present Tense:

• To want / Querer
  • I want / Yo quiero
  • You want / Tú quieres
  • He/she wants / Él/ella quiere
  • You (plural) want / Ustedes quieren
  • They want / Ellos/ellas quieren
  • We want / Nosotros queremos

Feelings:

• I am ___. / Estoy ___.
  • angry / Estoy enojado.
  • happy / Estoy feliz.
  • sad / Estoy triste.
  • cold / Tengo frío.
  • hot / Tengo calor.
  • sleepy / Tengo sueño.
  • hungry / Tengo hambre.
  • thirsty / Tengo sed.

*Use the verb tener (to have) instead of estar (to be)

A few words and phrases you may encounter in the DR but not as much elsewhere include:

• Bacano – something cool or someone who is really good at something difficult
• Nítido – another word for great/cool
• Chercha – a party or good time
• Colmado – small corner store
• Hevi nais – very nice
• ¿Dime a ver? – what’s up

While in your accommodations, keep in mind that a “c” on a faucet may stand for “caliente,” which is hot not cold. You don’t want to burn yourself!

If you speak some Spanish, keep in mind Dominicans have their own dialect that changes some sounds. For example, they often drop the letter “s” and change the letter “r” to “l”. They also use some old Spanish words borrowed from the Arawak language that are no longer used in other countries.

Aside from Spanish, about two-percent of the population speaks Haitian Creole that is a combination of French and African languages. Both French and English are considered mandatory foreign languages in Dominican schools, but that does not mean residents have a useful command of these languages.

Social Norms in the Dominican Republic

While in the Dominican Republic, you can expect people to be very friendly and often hug or kiss you on the cheek when they first meet you. Dominicans are expressive and speak loudly and quickly while often using body language. They also tend to stand close to one another when speaking and use a lot of eye contact.

Here are a few social expectations to keep in mind:

• Showing your joy is welcome, but avoid expressing anger in public.
• Wear shorts that are knee length like basketball shorts to respect local culture.
• Wait until the host says “buen provecho” (“enjoy” or “have a good meal”) to start eating.
• Throw toilet paper in the wastebasket rather than flushing.
• Show respect for elders. The family unit is strong in the DR, and teens generally are expected to get permission from older adults before embarking on various activities.

Food

The Dominican Republic is known for its food, so it’s one of the best parts of traveling to the country. Some of the many delectable dishes you may try include:

• Sancocho – a typical stew containing multiple types of meat, plantains, tubers, and squash
• Empanadas – a flour shell with a meat or vegetable filling
• Quipes – crispy pockets filled with meat and olives
• Mangu – boiled plantains mashed with butter often served for breakfast with eggs or cheese
• Tostones – fried plantains
• Chicharron- crunchy friend pork skins)
• Pollo guisado – stewed chicken
• Concon – burned rice)
• Pernil – pork roast, often made during Christmas
• Flan – milk custard dessert
• Los tres golpes – fried cheese, fried salami, and fried eggs often served with plantains and an onion sauce.
• La bandera – a rice, beans, and chicken dish. Its name refers to the Dominican flag and its red, white and blue colors. The red is represented by the beans. The white is the rice, and meat or poultry is the third color even if it isn’t really blue.
• Arroz, habichuela, y carne – rice, beans, and meat
• Coffee – DR coffee is frequently offered to visitors, and that can certainly be a highlight for coffee lovers!
• Habichuelas con dulce – pinto beans, cooked and sweetened often containing different tubers such as sweet potatoes, traditionally served during Holy Week

Religion

About 95% of the people in the Dominican Republic are Roman Catholic, and it’s the official religion for the country. The Catholic church receives some support from the government and Catholicism is taught in public schools.

Currency

The DR currency is the Dominican Peso, which was introduced when the nation became independent from Haiti in the 1800s. Some places also accept U.S. dollars. 55 RD$ is equal to about one U.S. dollar, though it may be easier to think of 100 pesos as being almost equal to two dollars.

Like the U.S. dollar, one Dominican peso includes 100 centavos. The peso comes in bills of 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 2000. There also are coins worth 1, 5, 10, and 25 pesos. This is one currency that you generally need to get while in the country rather than beforehand if you want to use it.

With many purchases in the Dominican Republic, haggling is common. Exceptions include supermarkets. To haggle it’s best to have pesos and to be friendly while negotiating a price that is a happy medium between what the vendor wants and what you will pay.

Weather

It’s generally sunny and warm in the Dominican Republic from June – August. You’ll want to bring lightweight clothes to stay comfortable. Here is an overview of expected average conditions in the country:

Environmental Challenges

The Dominican Republic has struggled with environmental issues caused by pollution, overfishing, deforestation and natural disasters. This has affected the country in many ways. Among the challenges are reduced access to clean water and large declines in various animal species.

In the water, marine life ranging from large manatees to tiny coral have been impacted. West Indian manatees were abundant in the region for centuries until hunting and pollution took a major toll. By 2008 the Dominican Republic estimated there were less than 70 manatees left in its waters.

On the tiny size, several species of coral that form crucial coral reefs have faced major threats. In the Caribbean it’s estimated that half of the coral reefs have died off in the last 30 years.

In addition, the country is home to a number of endangered species, including the tundra peregrine falcon and three species of sea turtles – the green sea, hawksbill, and leatherback turtles.

In response the nation has launched marine conservation efforts and created more than 29 national parks to protect the land.

Education

The Dominican Republic provides free public education for children up to the age of 14. However, many families struggle to pay for school supplies. Plus, problems such as school overcrowding, dilapidated facilities, and poorly trained teachers make learning difficult in the country. As a result, the DR has low test scores and a high dropout rate.

Ethnic Groups in the Dominican Republic

Most Dominicans are mixed race. Their culture has been influenced by former Spanish colonists, enslaved Africans and the indigenous Taíno people.

Locals of Haitian descent have faced much discrimination in the country. Even those born in the DR have been denied certain rights guaranteed to Dominican citizens.

Cultural Expectations

While in the Dominican Republic, you can expect…
people to be very friendly and often hug or kiss you on the cheek when they first meet you. Also, expect baseball to be everywhere! It is the national pastime and many local kids dream of making it to the major leagues in the U.S.

While in the Dominican Republic, locals will expect you…
to step out of your comfort zone and try the local food, pick up some dance moves, and be open to learning about Caribbean culture and local ways of life.

Cultural Icon:
Juan Pablo Duarte is one of the founding fathers of the Dominican Republic and a symbol of the country’s independence from Haiti. The most notable site in the Dominican Republic is the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to the first permanent European settlement in the Americas.

Hot Topics in the Dominican Republic

• The Dominican Republic suffers from significant income inequality. The poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of GDP, while the richest 10 percent enjoys nearly 40 percent of GDP. High unemployment and underemployment also remain a challenge. As of recent reports, the unemployment rate is around 6.2%, but underemployment and informal employment are still significant issues.
• People born in the Dominican Republic but of Haitian descent continue to face challenges in obtaining Dominican birth certificates and the rights guaranteed to Dominican citizens. The turbulent history between the two countries, the influx of immigration from Haiti, and racial differences have led to ongoing discrimination against Haitians in the Dominican Republic. This issue, commonly referred to by scholars as antihatianismo or anti-Hatianism, remains a contentious topic. In 2013, a controversial court ruling (TC 168-13) retroactively stripped citizenship from tens of thousands of Dominicans of Haitian descent, exacerbating the situation.
• The Dominican Republic has historically had low investment in education. However, there have been recent efforts to increase this investment. As of 2023, the government has raised its education spending to about 4% of GDP, which is a significant improvement. Despite this, challenges remain. According to World Bank data, the Dominican Republic’s primary school enrollment rates still fall below the average enrollment rate for Latin America and the Caribbean. The country continues to work towards improving educational outcomes and access.

Other Facts About The Dominican Republic

• Professional American baseball currently has more than 170 players from the Dominican Republic.
• Rhythmic, fast-paced merengue and the slower bachata dance both began in the Dominican Republic.
• The military, armed forces, and police are not permitted to vote.
• Christopher Columbus is said to be buried in the Dominican Republic.
• The island of Hispaniola (currently the Dominican Republic and Haiti) is the site of the first European settlement in the Americas. The colonial zone of Santo Domingo contains the oldest cathedral, university, and hospital in the Americas.
• Eighty percent of the world’s humpback whale population returns to the Dominican Republic to mate and give birth every year.
• The water in Lake Enriquillo is three times saltier than ocean water.
• The Dominican Republic has both the highest and lowest points in the Caribbean. Pico Duarte is the highest point in the Caribbean at 3,098 meters above sea level; and Lago Enriquillo is the lowest at 27 meters below sea level.
• There are currently more Dominicans living in New York than in Santiago, the second largest city in the Dominican Republic.
• The capital Santo Domingo once was home to the first permanent European settlement in the Americas. Its Colonial Zone area includes the oldest cathedral, university, and hospital in the Americas. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• The country is a large producer of bananas, mangos, sugar, coffee, cocoa, and tobacco.
• The Dominican Republic is the only country in the world with a Bible on the flag.
• An opening scene of the 1993 Jurassic Park movie was filmed at the Amber Museum in Puerta Plata. It shows a mosquito frozen in amber.
• Baseball is the most popular sport, and many local kids dream of following in the footsteps of other major league players, like Albert Pujols, Pedro Martínez and dozens of other Dominican athletes.