factbook.json/central-america-n-caribbean/dr.json

{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "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. "
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "19 00 N, 70 40 W"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Central America and the Caribbean"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total ": {
        "text": "48,670 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "48,320 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "350 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "376 km"
      },
      "border countries": {
        "text": "Haiti 376 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "1,288 km"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "contiguous zone": {
        "text": "24 nm"
      },
      "exclusive economic zone": {
        "text": "200 nm"
      },
      "continental shelf": {
        "text": "200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin"
      },
      "note": "measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines"
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "rugged highlands and mountains interspersed with fertile valleys"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Pico Duarte 3,098 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Lago Enriquillo -46 m"
      },
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "424 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "nickel, bauxite, gold, silver, arable land"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "51.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 16.6% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 10.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 24.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "40.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "7.7% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "2,980 sq km (2018)"
    },
    "Major lakes (area sq km)": {
      "salt water lake(s)": {
        "text": "Lago de Enriquillo - 500 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "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": {
      "text": "lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "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"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "total": {
        "text": "10,815,857"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "5,465,776"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "5,350,081 (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Dominican(s)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Dominican"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "Languages": {
        "text": "Spanish (official)"
      },
      "major-language sample(s)": {
        "text": "<br>La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information."
      }
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "Evangelical 50.2%, Roman Catholic 30.1%, none 18.5%, unspecified 1.2% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "25.5% (male 1,402,847/female 1,358,833)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "66.9% (male 3,667,584/female 3,563,848)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "7.6% (2024 est.) (male 395,345/female 427,400)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "53.8"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "42.2"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "11.6"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "8.6 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "29.2 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "29.1 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "29.4 years"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "0.76% (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "17.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "-2.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "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": {
        "text": "84.4% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "3.524 million SANTO DOMINGO (capital) (2023)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.04 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.03 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "1.03 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.93 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Mother's mean age at first birth": {
      "text": "20.9 years (2013 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49"
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "107 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "21.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "24.3 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "19 deaths/1,000 live births"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "72.6 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "71 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "74.3 years"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "2.15 children born/woman (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "1.06 (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "62.8% (2019)"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 98.3% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 91.7% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 97.2% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 1.7% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 8.3% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 2.8% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current health expenditure": {
      "text": "4.9% of GDP (2020)"
    },
    "Physician density": {
      "text": "1.45 physicians/1,000 population (2019)"
    },
    "Hospital bed density": {
      "text": "1.6 beds/1,000 population (2017)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 97.4% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 91.3% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 96.3% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 2.6% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 8.7% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 3.7% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "27.6% (2016)"
    },
    "Alcohol consumption per capita": {
      "total": {
        "text": "5.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "beer": {
        "text": "3.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "wine": {
        "text": "0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "spirits": {
        "text": "2.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "other alcohols": {
        "text": "0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Tobacco use": {
      "total": {
        "text": "10.6% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "14.6% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "6.5% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "3% (2019)"
    },
    "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": {
      "text": "52.1% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Child marriage": {
      "women married by age 15": {
        "text": "9.4%"
      },
      "women married by age 18": {
        "text": "31.5% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "4.6% of GDP (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "definition": {
        "text": "age 15 and over can read and write"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "95.5%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "95.4%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "95.6% (2022)"
      }
    },
    "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "14 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "13 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "15 years (2017)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "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": {
        "text": "none of the selected agreements"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "51.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 16.6% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 10.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 24.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "40.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "7.7% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "84.4% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from forest resources": {
      "text": "0.03% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Revenue from coal": {
      "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "7.59 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "25.26 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "8.1 megatons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "4,063,910 tons (2015 est.)"
      },
      "municipal solid waste recycled annually": {
        "text": "333,241 tons (2015 est.)"
      },
      "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": {
        "text": "8.2% (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major lakes (area sq km)": {
      "salt water lake(s)": {
        "text": "Lago de Enriquillo - 500 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Total water withdrawal": {
      "municipal": {
        "text": "860 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "660 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "7.56 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "23.5 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "Dominican Republic"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "The Dominican"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "Rep&uacute;blica Dominicana"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "La Dominicana"
      },
      "former": {
        "text": "Santo Domingo (the capital city's name formerly applied to the entire country)"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the country name derives from the capital city of Santo Domingo (Saint Dominic)"
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "presidential republic"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Santo Domingo"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "18 28 N, 69 54 W"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "named after Saint Dominic de GUZMAN (1170-1221), founder of the Dominican Order"
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "10 regions (regiones, singular - region); Cibao Nordeste, Cibao Noroeste, Cibao Norte, Cibao Sur, El Valle, Enriquillo, Higuamo, Ozama, Valdesia, Yuma"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "27 February 1844 (from Haiti)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Independence Day, 27 February (1844)"
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "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": {
        "text": "many previous (38 total); latest proclaimed 13 June 2015"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "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": {
      "text": "accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "citizenship by descent only": {
        "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of the Dominican Republic"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "yes"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "2 years"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age can vote; note - members of the armed forces and national police by law cannot vote"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Cabinet nominated by the president"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "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); election last held on 19 May 2024 (next to be held on 21 May 2028)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "<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%"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the president is both chief of state and head of government"
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "legislature name": {
        "text": "National Congress of the Republic (Congreso Nacional de la República)"
      },
      "legislative structure": {
        "text": "bicameral"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch - lower chamber": {
      "chamber name": {
        "text": "Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)"
      },
      "number of seats": {
        "text": "190 (all directly elected)"
      },
      "electoral system": {
        "text": "proportional representation"
      },
      "scope of elections": {
        "text": "full renewal"
      },
      "term in office": {
        "text": "4 years"
      },
      "most recent election date": {
        "text": "5/19/2024"
      },
      "parties elected and seats per party": {
        "text": "Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) and its allies (146); People’s Force (FP) and its allies (28); Other (16)"
      },
      "percentage of women in chamber": {
        "text": "36.8%"
      },
      "expected date of next election": {
        "text": "May 2028"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch - upper chamber": {
      "chamber name": {
        "text": "Senate (Senado)"
      },
      "number of seats": {
        "text": "32 (all directly elected)"
      },
      "electoral system": {
        "text": "proportional representation"
      },
      "scope of elections": {
        "text": "full renewal"
      },
      "term in office": {
        "text": "4 years"
      },
      "most recent election date": {
        "text": "5/19/2024"
      },
      "parties elected and seats per party": {
        "text": "Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) and its allies (24); People’s Force (FP) and its allies (3); Other (5)"
      },
      "percentage of women in chamber": {
        "text": "12.5%"
      },
      "expected date of next election": {
        "text": "May 2028"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest court(s)": {
        "text": "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); note - the Constitutional Court was established in 2010 by constitutional amendment"
      },
      "judge selection and term of office": {
        "text": "Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary comprised 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": {
        "text": "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": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Sonia GUZM&Aacute;N DE HERN&Aacute;NDEZ (since 18 January 2021)"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 332-6280"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 265-8057"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>embassy@drembassyusa.org<br><br>http://drembassyusa.org/"
      },
      "consulate(s) general": {
        "text": "Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angelos, Miami, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Patricia AGUILERA (since 1 October 2023)"
      },
      "embassy": {
        "text": "Av. Republica de Colombia #57, Santo Domingo"
      },
      "mailing address": {
        "text": "3470 Santo Domingo Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-3470"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "(809) 567-7775"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>SDOAmericans@state.gov<br><br>https://do.usembassy.gov/"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are ultramarine blue (hoist side) and vermilion red, and the bottom ones are vermilion red (hoist side) and ultramarine blue; a small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by a laurel branch (left) and a palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shield a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA appears on a red ribbon; in the shield a bible is opened to a verse that reads \"Y la verdad nos hara libre\" (And the truth shall set you free); blue stands for liberty, white for salvation, and red for the blood of heroes"
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "palmchat (bird); national colors: red, white, blue"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"Himno Nacional\" (National Anthem)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Emilio PRUD'HOMME/Jose REYES"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> adopted 1934; also known as \"Quisqueyanos valientes\" (Valient Sons of Quisqueye); the anthem never refers to the people as Dominican but rather calls them \"Quisqueyanos,\" a reference to the indigenous name of the island"
    },
    "National heritage": {
      "total World Heritage Sites": {
        "text": "1 (cultural)"
      },
      "selected World Heritage Site locales": {
        "text": "Colonial City of Santo Domingo"
      }
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "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) 2023": {
        "text": "$261.616 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": {
        "text": "$255.582 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": {
        "text": "$243.74 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2023": {
        "text": "2.36% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2022": {
        "text": "4.86% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2021": {
        "text": "12.27% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2023": {
        "text": "$23,100 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2022": {
        "text": "$22,800 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2021": {
        "text": "$21,900 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$121.444 billion (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": {
        "text": "4.79% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": {
        "text": "8.81% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": {
        "text": "8.24% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices"
    },
    "Credit ratings": {
      "Fitch rating": {
        "text": "BB- (2016)"
      },
      "Moody's rating": {
        "text": "Ba3 (2017)"
      },
      "Standard & Poors rating": {
        "text": "BB- (2015)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained."
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "6.4% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "31.1% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "56% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data"
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "64.7% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "11.3% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "32.2% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "-0.9% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "21.1% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-28.5% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection"
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "sugarcane, bananas, papayas, plantains, rice, milk, avocados, watermelons, vegetables, pineapples (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "tourism, sugar processing, gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco, electrical components, medical devices"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "-0.07% (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "5.295 million (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work"
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2023": {
        "text": "5.56% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2022": {
        "text": "5.5% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2021": {
        "text": "7.7% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment"
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "11.8% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "9.5% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "15.4% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment"
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "23.9% (2021 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line"
    },
    "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": {
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022": {
        "text": "37 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality"
    },
    "Average household expenditures": {
      "on food": {
        "text": "28.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)"
      },
      "on alcohol and tobacco": {
        "text": "3.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "2.6% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "28.3% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population"
    },
    "Remittances": {
      "Remittances 2023": {
        "text": "8.74% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2022": {
        "text": "9.05% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2021": {
        "text": "11.4% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities"
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$18.303 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$20.072 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2017": {
        "text": "37.2% of GDP (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "13.82% (of GDP) (2022 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2023": {
        "text": "-$4.376 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2022": {
        "text": "-$6.549 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2021": {
        "text": "-$2.685 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2023": {
        "text": "$25.843 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2022": {
        "text": "$25.169 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2021": {
        "text": "$20.601 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "US 50%, Switzerland 8%, Haiti 7%, China 3%, India 3% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "medical instruments, gold, tobacco, power equipment, garments (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2023": {
        "text": "$34.455 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2022": {
        "text": "$36.838 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2021": {
        "text": "$28.69 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "US 44%, China 15%, Brazil 4%, Colombia 3%, Spain 3% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "refined petroleum, natural gas, cars, plastic products, crude petroleum (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": {
        "text": "$15.547 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": {
        "text": "$14.523 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021": {
        "text": "$13.125 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars"
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 2023": {
        "text": "$33.791 billion (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "Currency": {
        "text": "Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2023": {
        "text": "56.158 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2022": {
        "text": "55.141 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2021": {
        "text": "57.221 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "56.525 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2019": {
        "text": "51.295 (2019 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "98.1% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "electrification - urban areas": {
        "text": "98.8%"
      },
      "electrification - rural areas": {
        "text": "95%"
      }
    },
    "Electricity": {
      "installed generating capacity": {
        "text": "5.573 million kW (2022 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "19.087 billion kWh (2022 est.)"
      },
      "transmission/distribution losses": {
        "text": "2.448 billion kWh (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity generation sources": {
      "fossil fuels": {
        "text": "85.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "solar": {
        "text": "2.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "wind": {
        "text": "6.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "hydroelectricity": {
        "text": "4.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "biomass and waste": {
        "text": "0.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Coal": {
      "consumption": {
        "text": "2.188 million metric tons (2022 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "5.9 metric tons (2022 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "2.188 million metric tons (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Petroleum": {
      "refined petroleum consumption": {
        "text": "134,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Natural gas": {
      "consumption": {
        "text": "2.44 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "96.479 million cubic meters (2022 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "2.537 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions": {
      "total emissions": {
        "text": "27.132 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "from coal and metallurgical coke": {
        "text": "4.941 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "from petroleum and other liquids": {
        "text": "17.403 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "from consumed natural gas": {
        "text": "4.788 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Energy consumption per capita": {
      "Total energy consumption per capita 2022": {
        "text": "36.656 million Btu/person (2022 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "1.144 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "10 (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "10.4 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "90 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "the Dominican Republic&rsquo;s telecom sector continued its solid form throughout 2020 and into 2021, shrugging off the economic turmoil unleashed by the Covid-19 pandemic to maintain a decade-long run of low but positive growth across all areas of the market; the Dominican Republic remains behind most of its counterparts in the Latin American region, especially in terms of fixed-line network coverage; mobile subscriptions are on par with the regional average, but at subscription levels of around 88% there is still ample opportunity for growth; in terms of growth, the standout winner was once again the mobile broadband segment; the market is expected to see close to 8% growth in 2021, building further on the gains it already made in 2020 when lock downs and work-from-home rules encouraged many people to find ways to upgrade their internet access and performance; the limited coverage of fixed-line broadband networks makes mobile the first, if not only, choice for most people in the country (2021)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "fixed-line teledensity is about 10 per 100 persons; mobile cellular subscriptions 88 per 100 persons (2021)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 1-809; 1-829; 1-849; landing point for the&nbsp;ARCOS-1, Antillas 1, AMX-1, SAm-1,&nbsp;East-West, Deep Blue Cable and the Fibralink submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)"
      }
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "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; combination of state-owned and privately owned radio stations with more than 300 radio stations operating (2019)"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".do"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "84% (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1.26 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "11 (2023 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "National air transport system": {
      "number of registered air carriers": {
        "text": "1 (2020)"
      },
      "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": {
        "text": "6"
      }
    },
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "HI"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "text": "32 (2024)"
    },
    "Heliports": {
      "text": "4 (2024)"
    },
    "Pipelines": {
      "text": "27 km gas, 103 km oil (2013)"
    },
    "Railways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "496 km (2014)"
      },
      "standard gauge": {
        "text": "354 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge"
      },
      "narrow gauge": {
        "text": "142 km (2014) 0.762-m gauge"
      }
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "19,705 km"
      },
      "paved": {
        "text": "9,872 km"
      },
      "unpaved": {
        "text": "9,833 km (2002)"
      }
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "40 (2023)"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "container ship 1, general cargo 2, oil tanker 1, other 36"
      }
    },
    "Ports": {
      "total ports": {
        "text": "17 (2024)"
      },
      "large": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "medium": {
        "text": "2"
      },
      "small": {
        "text": "7"
      },
      "very small": {
        "text": "6"
      },
      "size unknown": {
        "text": "2"
      },
      "ports with oil terminals": {
        "text": "7"
      },
      "key ports": {
        "text": "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": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "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)",
      "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 personnel from all military branches in addition to civilian personnel; they may also assist in overall citizen security working together with the National Police, which is under the Ministry of Interior"
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "Military Expenditures 2023": {
        "text": "0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2022": {
        "text": "0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2021": {
        "text": "0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2020": {
        "text": "0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2019": {
        "text": "0.7% of GDP (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "approximately 55-60,000 Armed Forces personnel; up to 35,000 National Police (2024)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the military's equipment inventory comes largely from the US, with smaller quantities from such suppliers as Brazil and Spain (2024)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "16-23 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (ages vary slightly according to the military service; under 18 admitted with permission of parents); recruits must have completed primary school and be Dominican Republic citizens (2024)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> as of 2023, women made up approximately 18% of the active duty military"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "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; the Army in recent years, for example, has assigned three of its six infantry brigades and some 10-12,000 troops to assist with security along the Haitian border; 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 (2024)"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
      "refugees (country of origin)": {
        "text": "121,141 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2023)"
      },
      "stateless persons": {
        "text": "133,770 (2016); note - a September 2013 Constitutional Court ruling revoked the citizenship of those born after 1929 to immigrants without proper documentation, even though the constitution at the time automatically granted citizenship to children born in the Dominican Republic and the 2010 constitution provides that constitutional provisions cannot be applied retroactively; the decision overwhelmingly affected people of Haitian descent whose relatives had come to the Dominican Republic since the 1890s as a cheap source of labor for sugar plantations; a May 2014 law passed by the Dominican Congress regularizes the status of those with birth certificates but will require those without them to prove they were born in the Dominican Republic and to apply for naturalization; the government has issued documents to thousands of individuals who may claim citizenship under this law, but no official estimate has been released"
      }
    },
    "Trafficking in persons": {
      "tier rating": {
        "text": "Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore the Dominican Republic remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to:  https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/dominican-republic/"
      }
    },
    "Illicit drugs": {
      "text": "<p>major transshipment point for cocaine shipments to the United States and Europe in the Caribbean; some drugs are consumed locally.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p>"
    }
  }
}