01
Physical geography
Rugged highlands and mountains interspersed with fertile valleys.
Local timeSanto Domingo ·
North America / Caribbean · Card 015
Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic is a country in Caribbean. Its capital is Santo Domingo.
Find Dominican Republic
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Santo Domingo
- Languages
- Spanish
- Currency
- Dominican peso (DOP)
- Population
- 11.5 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 48,671 km²18,791.97 square miles
- Independence
- 1844from Haiti
Dominican Republic in context
North America and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Santo Domingo; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Languages used in public life include Spanish.
03
Location
Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti.
Flag
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)
History & independence
The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern part of Hispaniola, historically home to Taíno communities. Independence from Haitian rule was declared in 1844. Spain reannexed the country in 1861, but the Restoration War restored independence in 1865. The twentieth century included US occupation and the Trujillo dictatorship.
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Independence from Haiti is declared
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The Restoration War ends Spanish rule
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The Trujillo dictatorship ends
Economy
Main activities
Tourism, manufacturing in free-trade zones, mining, construction and services are major activities. Agriculture remains important, and remittances support many households. Gold and manufactured goods contribute to exports.
Industry and production
tourism, sugar processing, gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco, electrical components, medical devices
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people11.52025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4,399,290 | 4.399 |
| 1980 | 5,729,037 | 5.729 |
| 1990 | 7,151,166 | 7.151 |
| 2000 | 8,584,190 | 8.584 |
| 2010 | 9,820,175 | 9.820 |
| 2020 | 11,008,300 | 11.008 |
| 2025 | 11,520,487 | 11.520 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars107.02025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 19,828,543,242 | 19.829 |
| 1991 | 20,015,752,229 | 20.016 |
| 1992 | 22,265,015,207 | 22.265 |
| 1993 | 23,905,211,029 | 23.905 |
| 1994 | 24,525,260,343 | 24.525 |
| 1995 | 25,923,197,384 | 25.923 |
| 1996 | 27,468,529,262 | 27.469 |
| 1997 | 29,913,105,390 | 29.913 |
| 1998 | 31,919,035,076 | 31.919 |
| 1999 | 33,820,295,671 | 33.820 |
| 2000 | 35,393,522,990 | 35.394 |
| 2001 | 36,267,520,113 | 36.268 |
| 2002 | 37,894,663,734 | 37.895 |
| 2003 | 37,383,329,267 | 37.383 |
| 2004 | 38,349,900,170 | 38.350 |
| 2005 | 41,966,981,959 | 41.967 |
| 2006 | 45,815,860,540 | 45.816 |
| 2007 | 49,214,666,985 | 49.215 |
| 2008 | 50,823,044,978 | 50.823 |
| 2009 | 51,333,030,312 | 51.333 |
| 2010 | 55,645,592,833 | 55.646 |
| 2011 | 57,421,779,163 | 57.422 |
| 2012 | 59,015,618,840 | 59.016 |
| 2013 | 61,927,882,063 | 61.928 |
| 2014 | 66,331,713,897 | 66.332 |
| 2015 | 70,966,782,572 | 70.967 |
| 2016 | 75,735,566,406 | 75.736 |
| 2017 | 78,714,898,895 | 78.715 |
| 2018 | 84,301,701,755 | 84.302 |
| 2019 | 88,427,452,426 | 88.427 |
| 2020 | 81,415,993,438 | 81.416 |
| 2021 | 92,824,351,637 | 92.824 |
| 2022 | 97,686,450,824 | 97.686 |
| 2023 | 99,828,029,403 | 99.828 |
| 2024 | 104,773,032,846 | 104.773 |
| 2025 | 106,991,487,756 | 106.991 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.776High human developmentRank 89 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.589
20000.658
20100.715
20200.767
20230.776
73.7 yearsLife expectancy at birth
9.4 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
A presidential republic. An elected President heads the executive, and the National Congress has a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies.
Knowledge check
Three questions about Dominican Republic.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
In which year did this event occur in the Dominican Republic: Independence from Haiti is declared?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.