Geography
Area: 48,442 sq. km. (18,704 sq. mi.), about the size of Vermont
and New Hampshire combined.
Cities: Capital--Santo Domingo (pop. 2.4 million). Other
city--Santiago de los Caballeros (690,548).
Terrain: Mountainous.
Climate: Maritime tropical.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Dominican(s).
Population (2001): 8.6 million.
Annual growth rate: negative 0.4 % (2003).
Ethnic groups: European 16%, African origin 11%, mixed 73%.
Christian singles note-Religion: Roman Catholic 95%.
Language: Spanish.
Education: Years compulsory--6. Attendance--70%. Literacy--83%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--54/1,000. Life expectancy—71.34
years for men, 75.64 years for women.
Work force: 60.2% services (tourism, transportation, communications,
finances, others), 15.5% industry (manufacturing), 11.5% construction,
11.3% agriculture, 1.5% mining.
Government
Type: Representative democracy.
Independence: February 27, 1844. Restoration of independence, August
16, 1863.
Constitution: November 28, 1966: amended July 25, 2002
Branches: Executive--president (chief of state and head of
government), vice president, cabinet. Legislative--bicameral
Congress (Senate and Chamber of Deputies). Judicial--Supreme
Court of Justice.
Subdivisions: 31 provinces and the National District of Santo Domingo.
Political parties: Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC), Dominican
Revolutionary Party (PRD), Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), and
several others.
Suffrage: Universal and compulsory, over 18 or married.
Economy (2003)
GDP: $16.12 billion.
Growth rate (2002): -0.4%.
Per capita GDP: $1,896.
Nonfuel minerals (1% of GDP): Nickel, gold, silver.
Agriculture (12% of GDP): Products--sugar, coffee, cocoa,
bananas, tobacco, rice, plantains, beef, flowers.
Industry (31% of GDP): Types--sugar refining, pharmaceuticals,
cement, light manufacturing, construction. Services, including tourism
and transportation: 47% of GDP.
Trade: Exports ($5.2 billion (FOB), including processing zones:
textiles, sugar, coffee, ferronickel, cacao, tobacco, meats and
medical supplies. Markets--U.S. (80%), Canada, western Europe. Imports--$8.9
billion: food stuffs, petroleum, industrial raw materials, capital
goods. Suppliers--U.S. (48%), Japan, Germany, Venezuela,
Mexico.
PEOPLE
Christian singles note-About half of Dominicans live in rural areas;
many are small landholders. Haitians form the largest foreign minority
group. All religions are tolerated; the state religion is Roman
Catholicism.
