PROFILE

OFFICIAL NAME:
Dominican Republic

Geography
Area: 48,442 sq. km. (18,704 sq. mi.), about the size of Vermont and New Hampshire combined.
Cities: Capital--Santo Domingo (pop. 2.25 million). Other city--Santiago de los Caballeros (908,230).
Terrain: Mountainous.
Climate: Maritime tropical.

People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Dominican(s).
Population (2005): 9.033 million.
Annual growth rate (2005): 1.8%.
Ethnic groups: Mixed 73%, European 16%, African origin 11%.
Religion: Roman Catholic 95%.
Language: Spanish.
Education: Years compulsory--6 Attendance--70%. Literacy--84.7%.
Health: Infant mortality rate: 28.3/1,000. Life expectancy--70.2 years for men, 73.3 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 House of Representatives). Judicial--Supreme Court of Justice.
Subdivisions: 31 provinces and the National District of Santo Domingo.
Political parties: Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC), and several others.
Suffrage: Universal and compulsory, over 18 or married.

Economy (2005)
GDP: $29.33 billion.
Growth rate: 9.3%; (2006 est.: 11%).
Per capita GDP: $3,247.
Non-fuel minerals (1.4% of GDP): Nickel, gold, silver.
Agriculture (11% of GDP): Products--sugarcane, coffee, cocoa, bananas, tobacco, rice, plantains, beef.
Industry (25% of GDP): Types--sugar refining, pharmaceuticals, cement, light manufacturing, construction.
Services, including tourism and transportation: 62% of GDP.
Trade: Exports ($6.146 billion (FOB), including processing zones: textiles, sugar, coffee, ferronickel, cacao, tobacco, meats and medical supplies. Markets--U.S. (75%), Canada, Western Europe, South Korea. Imports--$9.876 billion: food stuffs, petroleum, industrial raw materials, capital goods. Suppliers--U.S. (48%), Japan, Germany, Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia.