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Dominican Republic

 Flag of Dominican Republic

Last reviewed: 12 August 2009

Country information

Map of Dominican Republic

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TODAY

Country Facts

Area: 48,730 sq km (18,704 sq miles)
Population: 9,650,000 (2009 July est.)
Capital City: Santo Domingo (pop. approx. 2.7 million). Second largest city: Santiago de los Caballeros (pop. 908,000)
People: Mixed 73%, European 16%, African origin 11%
Language(s): Spanish
Religion(s): Christian (Mostly Roman Catholic) 95% Other 5%
Major political parties: Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC), Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), and several other minor parties.
Government: Representative Democracy
Head of State: Dr Leonel Fernandez Reyna
Prime Minister/Premier: Not applicable
Foreign Minister: Carlos Morales Troncoso

People

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.

Nationality: Noun and adjective - Dominican(s)
Annual Population Growth Rate: 1.489% (2009 est.)
Education: Compulsory years - 6-18. Attendance - 70%. Literacy - 83%.
Work Force: Services and Government - 31% (includes paraestatal corporations); Agriculture - 28%; Industry - 12%; Unemployment - 16%

The Military

The military consists of about 44,000 active duty personnel, commanded by the President. Its principal mission is to defend the nation, but it serves more as an internal security force. The army, twice as large as the other services combined, consists of six infantry brigades and a combat support brigade; the airforce operates three flying squadrons; and the navy maintains seven ageing vessels and four new ones. The Dominican Republic's military is second in size to Cuba's in the Caribbean. The armed forces participate fully in counter-narcotics efforts. They are also active in efforts to control contraband and illegal immigration from Haiti to the Dominican Republic and from the Dominican Republic to the United States.

HEALTH

Infant Mortality rate: 25.96/1000
Life expectancy: 71.88 years men, 75.60 women (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS

Adult Prevalence Rate: 1.1% (2007 est.)
People living with HIV/AIDS: 62,000 (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS deaths: 4,100 (2007 est.)

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Contacts

Dominican Republic

Address:

Embassy of the Dominican Republic
139 Inverness Terrace
Bayswater
London W2 6JF

Telephone:

(020) 7727 7091
(020) 7727 6285 - Consular

Fax:

(020) 7727 3693

Email: embassy@dominicanembassy.org.uk

Office hours:

Mon-Fri: 1000-1400

Website: http://www.dominicanembassy.org.uk