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Dominican Republic – Facts and Statistics
Dominican Republic (DR), often referred to as the Republic of Colors for its astounding diversity
and beauty, is located just 650 miles (1,046 km) south of Miami. Surrounded by the Atlantic
Ocean to its north and the Caribbean Sea on its south, the lush tropical island paradise boasts
nearly 1,000 miles (1,609 km) of coastline including sandy-white beaches and sophisticated
tourism offerings that attract international visitors, sports champions and celebrities alike.
Location/Geography: The country occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola.
The western third is the Republic of Haiti. The size of Maine and Vermont combined, the DR is
the second largest country in the Caribbean, comprising an area of approximately 30,000 m2
(48,198 km2).
Population: The country has a population of more than 10.4 million people.
Capital City: The capital city is Santo Domingo, with a population of approximately 2.9 million.
Santo Domingo’s Colonial City is the oldest city of the New World and was named the Cultural
Capital of the Americas in 2010.
Government: The country’s political structure is based on the principles of democracy
(representative democracy). Every four years, the country elects its president, vice president
and legislators.
Political Parties: The country has three major political parties including the Dominican
Liberation Party (PLD), Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) and Social Christian Reformist
Party (PRSC).
Language: Spanish is the official language. However, the majority of employees in hotels and
tourist destinations speak relatively good English, as well as French, German and Italian. If
visitors intend to venture out beyond the tourist hubs it will be helpful to learn a few basic
Spanish phrases.
Currency: The Dominican peso (RD$) is the official currency of the DR. For the past several
years, the exchange rate has been very favorable to the U.S. dollar so vacation budgets stretch
further in the DR. For an up-to-date exchange rate between the Dominican peso and other
currencies, visit: www.xe.com/currencyconverter. Major credit cards and traveler checks are
accepted at many tourist areas in the country. Visitors can bring Dominican pesos with them,
but U.S. dollars are just as easily accepted throughout the country (U.S. coins are not used or
accepted). ATMs can be found in the majority of cities and at most resorts.
Climate: The country enjoys warm, tropical weather year-round. Depending on the location, an
average day may see full sun or a sun/cloud mix. The average year-round temperatures are 78˚
to 88˚ F (25˚ to 31˚ C). The cooler season is November through April, while the temperature is
at its warmest from May through October. The sun always shines quickly after a rain. The
chance for more prolonged rain showers is generally from June to November and the dry
season from December to May.
Time: The local time zone is Eastern Caribbean Time (GMT-0400). In the winter this is one hour
ahead of Eastern Time. Daylight Savings Time is not observed.
Religion: The religious population consists mostly of Roman Catholic, but also includes
Protestant, Seventh Day Adventist, Baptist and Mormon.
Phone Code: The international access codes are 809, 829 and 849.
Independence: The country gained independence from Haiti on Feb. 27, 1844.
Topography: The country is mostly mountainous, with deserts in the extreme western regions.
The principal mountain range is the Cordillera Central. The country contains both the highest
mountain in the West Indies – Pico Duarte, at 10,417 feet (3,175 meters) and the lowest-lying
lake, Lake Enriquillo at 151 feet (46 meters) below sea level. The Yaque del Norte, the Yaque
del Sur and the Yuna are the principal rivers.
Ethnic Groups: The country consists of three main ethnic groups including European at 16
percent of the population, African origin at 11 percent and a mixed population at 73 percent.
Economy: Traditionally, the economy has been based primarily on agriculture, with sugar,
coffee and tobacco as the main export crops. Over the last few years, the services sector has
become the largest employer (about 60 percent of the labor force), led by tourism, which
creates approximately 196,000 jobs annually.
Tourism: In 2014, tourist arrivals increased again with more than 5.6 million guests choosing
the country as their vacation destination.
The most popular destination continues to be Punta Cana on the East Coast, as its international
airport received over 2.0 million resident and nonresident arrivals in 2014. The second most
visited airport is Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo with over 1 million arrivals
followed by El Cibao International Airport (407,529) in the Central region, Puerto Plata
International Airport (276,267) on the North Coast, La Romana International Airport (87,312),
also on the East Coast, El Catey International Airport (43,979) on the Northeast Coast and La
Isabela International Airport (13,704), also in Santo Domingo.
In 2014, tourist arrivals from around the world included 1,352,137 million visitors from the U.S.;
530,542 from Canada; 346,042 from South America, 159,064 from France, 120,149 from
Russia; 79,794 from England; and 52,992 from Italy (www.bancentral.gov.do).
News releases, images and the press kit also can be accessed from the official DR
Ministry of Tourism website: www.GoDominicanRepublic.com. For additional photos, broll and more specific needs, please contact Annie Holschuh ([email protected])
or AJ Trela ([email protected]), BVK Word for the Dominican Republic Ministry of
Tourism.
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