National holiday: Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
Constitution: many previous (38 total); latest proclaimed 26 January 2010; note - the Dominican Republic Government has a practice of promulgating a 'new' constitution whenever an amendment is ratified (2013)
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
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage: 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:President Danilo MEDINA Sanchez (since 16 August 2012); Vice President Margarita CEDENO DE FERNANDEZ (since 16 August 2012); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:President Danilo MEDINA Sanchez (since 16 August 2012); Vice President Margarita CEDENO DE FERNANDEZ (since 16 August 2012)
cabinet:Cabinet nominated by the president
elections:president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held on 20 May 2012 (next to be held in 2016)
election results:Danilo MEDINA Sanchez elected president; percent of vote - Danilo MEDINA Sanchez 51.2%, Hipolito MEJIA 47%, other 1.8%; Margarita CEDENO DE FERNANDEZ elected vice president
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (32 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de Diputados (183 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections:Senate - last held on 16 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2016); House of Representatives - last held on 16 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2016); in order to synchronize presidential, legislative, and local elections for 2016, those members elected in 2010 will actually serve six-year terms
election results:Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 31, PRSC 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 105, PRD 75, PRSC 3
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)
note - the Constitutional Court was established in 2010 by constitutional amendment
judge selection and term of office: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: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 and leaders: Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna]
Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Miguel VARGAS Maldonado]
National Progressive Front [Vinicio CASTILLO, Pelegrin CASTILLO]
Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Carlos MORALES Troncoso]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Citizen Participation Group (Participacion Ciudadania)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission:Ambassador Anibal de Jesus de CASTRO Rodriguez (since 5 July 2011)
chancery:1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 332-6280
FAX:[1] (202) 265-8057
consulate(s) general:Boston, Chicago, Glendale (CA), Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission:Ambassador James BREWSTER
embassy:corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo
mailing address:Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500
telephone:[1] (809) 221-2171
FAX:[1] (809) 686-7437
Flag description: a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and 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): palmchat (bird)
National anthem: name:'Himno Nacional' (National Anthem)
lyrics/music:Emilio PRUD'HOMME/Jose REYES
note: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
Economy
Economy - overview:
The Dominican Republic has long been viewed primarily as an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, but in recent years the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest employer, due to growth in telecommunications, tourism, and free trade zones. The economy is highly dependent upon the US, the destination for approximately half of exports. Remittances from the US amount to about 5% of GDP, equivalent to about a third of exports and two-thirds of tourism receipts. The country suffers from marked income inequality; the poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of GDP, while the richest 10% enjoys nearly 40% of GDP. High unemployment and underemployment remains an important long-term challenge. The Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) came into force in March 2007, boosting investment and exports and reducing losses to the Asian garment industry. The Dominican Republic's economy rebounded from the global recession in 2010-13, and the fiscal situation is improving. A tax reform package passed in November 2012 and a reduction in government spending helped to narrow the central government budget deficit from 6.6% of GDP in 2012 to below 3% in 2013. A successful government bond placement in 2013 helped finance the deficit.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$101 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$99.02 billion (2012 est.)
$95.32 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$59.27 billion (2013 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
3.9% (2012 est.)
4.5% (2011 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,700 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
$9,700 (2012 est.)
$9,500 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption:83.3%
government consumption:7.7%
investment in fixed capital:15.6%
investment in inventories:0.1%
exports of goods and services:26.4%
imports of goods and services:-33.2%
(2013 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture:6%
foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners:
US 43.3%, Venezuela 7.7%, China 6.3%, Mexico 5.3%, Colombia 4.1% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$4.379 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
$3.579 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Debt - external:
$18.01 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$16.33 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$26.76 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$24.86 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$59 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
$59 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Exchange rates:
Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar -
41.8 (2013 est.)
39.336 (2012 est.)
37.307 (2010 est.)
36.03 (2009)
34.775 (2008)
Energy
Electricity - production:
13.09 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world:88
Electricity - consumption:
13.11 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
5.701 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
90.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
9.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Crude oil - production:
61.1 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Crude oil - imports:
27,260 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Refined petroleum products - production:
28,050 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
122,300 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Refined petroleum products - imports:
85,490 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Natural gas - consumption:
820 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Natural gas - imports:
930 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
20.64 million Mt (2011 est.)
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.065 million (2012)
country comparison to the world:73
Telephones - mobile cellular:
9.038 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 86
Telephone system:
general assessment:relatively efficient system based on island-wide microwave radio relay network
domestic:fixed-line teledensity is about 10 per 100 persons; multiple providers of mobile-cellular service with a subscribership of nearly 90 per 100 persons
international:country code - 1-809; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), Antillas 1, 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) (2011)
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; combination of state-owned and privately owned radio stations with more than 300 radio stations operating (2007)
Internet country code:
.do
Internet hosts:
404,500 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 55
Internet users:
2.701 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 68
Transportation
Airports
36 (2013)
country comparison to the world:109
Airports - with paved runways total:16
over 3,047 m:3
2,438 to 3,047 m:4
1,524 to 2,437 m:4
914 to 1,523 m:4
under 914 m:1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:20
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:1
under 914 m:
18 (2013)
Heliports 1 (2013)
Pipelines gas 27 km; oil 103 km (2013)
Railways total:142 kmcountry comparison to the world: 125
standard gauge:142 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways total:19,705 kmcountry comparison to the world: 110
paved:9,872 km
unpaved:9,833 km (2002)
Ports and terminals major seaport(s):Puerto Haina, Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
Military branches Army (Ejercito Nacional, EN), Navy (Marina de Guerra, MdG; includes naval infantry), Dominican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Dominicana, FAD) (2013)
Military service age and obligation 17-21 years of age for voluntary military service; recruits must have completed primary school and be Dominican Republic citizens; women may volunteer (2012)
Manpower available for military service males age 16-49:2,580,083
females age 16-49:2,464,698 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service males age 16-49:2,188,358
females age 16-49:2,090,180 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually male:100,047
female:96,302 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures
0.61% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 121
0.63% of GDP (2011)
0.61% of GDP (2010)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international Haitian migrants cross the porous border into the Dominican Republic to find work; illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage each year to Puerto Rico to find better work
Illicit drugs transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from the Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada; substantial money laundering activity in particular by Colombian narcotics traffickers; significant amphetamine consumption (2008)