THE WORLD FACTBOOK — Reference Edition 2026

Background: 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. 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.

Location: Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti
Geographic coordinates: 19 00 N, 70 40 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 48,670 sq km
land: 48,320 sq km
water: 350 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 376 km
border countries: Haiti 376 km
Coastline: 1,288 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall
Terrain: rugged highlands and mountains interspersed with fertile valleys
Elevation: highest point: Pico Duarte 3,098 m
lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m
mean elevation: 424 m
Natural resources: nickel, bauxite, gold, silver, arable land
Land use: 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.)
forest: 46.6% (2023 est.)
other: 0% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,981 sq km (2018)
Major lakes (area sq km): salt water lake(s): Lago de Enriquillo - 500 sq km
Population distribution: 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)
Natural hazards: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts
Geography - note: 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

Population: total: 10,899,292 (2025 est.)
male: 5,506,679
female: 5,392,613
Nationality: noun: Dominican(s)
adjective: Dominican
Ethnic groups: mixed 70.4% (Mestizo/Indio 58%, Mulatto 12.4%), Black 15.8%, White 13.5%, other 0.3% (2014 est.)
Languages: Languages: Spanish (official)
major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Evangelical 50.2%, Roman Catholic 30.1%, none 18.5%, unspecified 1.2% (2023 est.)
Age structure: 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)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 49.6 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 37.8 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 11.8 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 8.5 (2025 est.)
Median age: total: 29.6 years (2025 est.)
male: 29.1 years
female: 29.4 years
Population growth rate: 0.78% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 17.4 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.97 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: 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)
Urbanization: urban population: 84.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.524 million SANTO DOMINGO (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
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
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.9 years (2013 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 124 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 20.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 24.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.6 years (2024 est.)
male: 71 years
female: 74.3 years
Total fertility rate: 2.17 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.06 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: urban: 97.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 91.4% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 96.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 2.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 8.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 3.2% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 14.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.43 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 1.4 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: urban: 97.4% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 91.9% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 96.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 2.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 8.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 3.5% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 27.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita: total: 5.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 3.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 2.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use: total: 9.7% (2025 est.)
male: 13.5% (2025 est.)
female: 5.9% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 53.2% (2019 est.)
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 9.4% (2019)
women married by age 18: 31.5% (2019)
Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 20.9% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy: total population: 94% (2024 est.)
male: 93.6% (2024 est.)
female: 94.4% (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years (2022 est.)
male: 13 years (2022 est.)
female: 15 years (2022 est.)

Environmental issues: soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation
International environmental agreements: 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
Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall
Land use: 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.)
forest: 46.6% (2023 est.)
other: 0% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 84.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 29.713 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 5.374 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 19.872 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 4.467 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.064 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 11.6% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 855 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 659.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 7.563 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 23.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: Dominican Republic
conventional short form: The Dominican
local long form: República Dominicana
local short form: La Dominicana
former: Santo Domingo (the capital city's name formerly applied to the entire country)
etymology: the name is a latinized form of the Spanish term Santo Domingo, 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
Government type: presidential republic
Capital: name: Santo Domingo
geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 69 54 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
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
Administrative divisions: 31 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 district* (distrito); 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
Legal system: civil law system based on the French civil code; Criminal Procedures Code modified in 2004 to include important elements of an accusatory system
Constitution: history: many previous (38 total); latest proclaimed 13 June 2015
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
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: 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
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory; married persons can vote, regardless of age
Executive branch: chief of state: President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020)
head of government: President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president
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)
most recent election date: 19 May 2024
election results: 2024: 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%2020: 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%
expected date of next election: 21 May 2028
Legislative branch: legislature name: National Congress of the Republic (Congreso Nacional de la República)
legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)
number of seats: 190 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 5/19/2024
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%
expected date of next election: May 2028
Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name: Senate (Senado)
number of seats: 32 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 5/19/2024
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%
expected date of next election: May 2028
Judicial branch: 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
Political parties: Alliance for Democracy or APDBroad Front (Frente Amplio)Country Alliance or APDominican Liberation Party or PLDDominican Revolutionary Party or PRDDominicans For Change or DXCIndependent Revolutionary Party or PRIInstitutional Social Democratic Bloc or BISLiberal Reformist Party or PRL (formerly the Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic or PLRD)Modern Revolutionary Party or PRMNational Progressive Front or FNPPeople's First Party or PPGPeople's Force or FPSocial Christian Reformist Party or PRSC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador María Isabel CASTILLO BÁEZ (since 11 June 2025)
chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280
FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057
email address and website: embassy@drembassyusa.orghttp://drembassyusa.org/
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angelos, Miami, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Leah F. CAMPOS (since 19 November 2025)
embassy: Av. Republica de Colombia #57, Santo Domingo
mailing address: 3470 Santo Domingo Place, Washington DC 20521-3470
telephone: (809) 567-7775
email address and website: SDOAmericans@state.govhttps://do.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: 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
Independence: 27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
Flag: description: 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)meaning: blue stands for liberty, white for salvation, and red for the blood of heroes
National symbol(s): palmchat (bird)
National color(s): red, white, blue
National anthem(s): title: "Himno Nacional" (National Anthem)
lyrics/music: Emilio PRUD'HOMME/Jose REYES
history: adopted 1934; also known as "Quisqueyanos valientes" (Valiant Sons of Quisqueye); the anthem refers to the Dominican people as Quisqueyanos, which comes from the ethnic name for the island
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Colonial City of Santo Domingo

Economic overview: 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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $276.884 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $263.82 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $258.16 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $24,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $23,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $23,000 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $124.282 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.3% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 4.5% (2024 est.)
industry: 28.7% (2024 est.)
services: 59.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 67.7% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 11.5% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 26.1% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.9% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 22.8% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -29% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, bananas, papayas, plantains, avocados, rice, milk, watermelons, vegetables, pineapples (2023)
Industries: tourism, sugar processing, gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco, electrical components, medical devices
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 5.413 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 5.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 11.7% (2024 est.)
male: 9.2% (2024 est.)
female: 15.5% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 23% (2023 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 38.4 (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures: on food: 28.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 3.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% (2023 est.)
highest 10%: 29.1% (2023 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2024: 9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 8.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 9.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget: revenues: $20.418 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $24.348 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2016: 34.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 14.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2024: -$4.167 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$4.418 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$6.549 billion (2022 est.)
Exports: Exports 2024: $28.563 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $25.79 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $25.169 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 52%, Switzerland 7%, Haiti 6%, China 5%, India 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: medical instruments, tobacco, gold, garments, power equipment (2023)
Imports: Imports 2024: $36.144 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $34.45 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $36.838 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 40%, China 18%, Brazil 4%, Spain 4%, Mexico 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, natural gas, plastic products, crude petroleum (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $13.471 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $15.547 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $14.523 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external: Debt - external 2023: $35.044 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates: Currency: Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 59.565 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 56.158 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 55.141 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 57.221 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 56.525 (2020 est.)

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 98.1% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 98.8%
electrification - rural areas: 95%
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 6.581 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 22.193 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 2.369 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 82.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 5.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 4.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal: consumption: 2.356 million metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 2.356 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption: 146,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas: consumption: 2.277 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 1.997 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 2.279 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 39.329 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 1.15 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 10.7 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 94 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 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 (2019)
Internet country code: .do
Internet users: percent of population: 85% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 1.26 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2023 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HI
Airports: 32 (2025)
Heliports: 8 (2025)
Railways: total: 496 km (2014)
standard gauge: 354 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 142 km (2014) 0.762-m gauge
Merchant marine: total: 40 (2023)
by type: container ship 1, general cargo 2, oil tanker 1, other 36
Ports: total ports: 17 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 2
small: 7
very small: 6
size unknown: 2
ports with oil terminals: 7
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

Military and security forces: 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)
Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024: 0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 55-60,000 Armed Forces; up to 35,000 National Police (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's equipment inventory comes largely from the US, with smaller quantities from such suppliers as Brazil and Spain (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 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)
Military - note: 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’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)

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 1,004 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 390 (2023 est.)
Illicit drugs: USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)

Dominican Republic