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Central America and Caribbean :: Dominican Republic

- ## Introduction :: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

- Background:
  The Taino - indigenous inhabitants of Hispaniola prior to the arrival of the Europeans - divided the island into five chiefdoms and territories. Christopher COLUMBUS explored and claimed the island on his first voyage in 1492; it became a springboard for Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821 but was conquered and ruled by the Haitians for 22 years; it finally attained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844. In 1861, the Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire, but two years later they launched a war that restored independence in 1865. A legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative rule followed, capped by the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas TRUJILLO from 1930 to 1961. Juan BOSCH was elected president in 1962 but was deposed in a military coup in 1963. In 1965, the US led an intervention in the midst of a civil war sparked by an uprising to restore BOSCH. In 1966, Joaquin BALAGUER defeated BOSCH in the presidential election. BALAGUER maintained a tight grip on power for most of the next 30 years when international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been held in which opposition candidates have won the presidency. Former President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (first term 1996-2000) won election to a new term in 2004 following a constitutional amendment allowing presidents to serve more than one term, and was later reelected to a second consecutive term. In 2012, Danilo MEDINA Sanchez was elected president.

- ## Geography :: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

- Location:
  Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti
  Geographic coordinates:
  19 00 N, 70 40 W
  Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
  Area:
  total: 48,670 sq km
  land: 48,320 sq km
  water: 350 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 132
  Area - comparative:
  slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire
  Land boundaries:
  total: 376 km
  border countries (1): Haiti 376 km
  Coastline:
  1,288 km
  Maritime claims:
  measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
  Climate:
  tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall
  Terrain:
  rugged highlands and mountains interspersed with fertile valleys
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m
  highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m
  Natural resources:
  nickel, bauxite, gold, silver, arable land
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 51.5%
  arable land 16.6%; permanent crops 10.1%; permanent pasture 24.8%
  forest: 40.8%
  other: 7.7% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  3,065 sq km (2009)
  Total renewable water resources:
  21 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 5.47 cu km/yr (26%/1%/72%)
  per capita: 574.2 cu m/yr (2005)
  Natural hazards:
  lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts
  Environment - current issues:
  water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation
  Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
  Geography - note:
  shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti

- ## People and Society :: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

- Nationality:
  noun: Dominican(s)
  adjective: Dominican
  Ethnic groups:
  mixed 73%, white 16%, black 11%
  Languages:
  Spanish (official)
  Religions:
  Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%
  Population:
  10,478,756 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 27.53% (male 1,467,374/female 1,416,998)
  15-24 years: 18.39% (male 982,191/female 945,087)
  25-54 years: 39.41% (male 2,113,028/female 2,016,733)
  55-64 years: 7.44% (male 392,230/female 387,052)
  65 years and over: 7.23% (male 349,983/female 408,080) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 57.8%
  youth dependency ratio: 47.3%
  elderly dependency ratio: 10.5%
  potential support ratio: 9.5% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 27.4 years
  male: 27.2 years
  female: 27.6 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  1.23% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Birth rate:
  18.73 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Death rate:
  4.55 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 201
  Net migration rate:
  -1.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 164
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 79% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 2.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  SANTO DOMINGO (capital) 2.945 million (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 18.84 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 20.75 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 16.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 77.97 years
  male: 75.76 years
  female: 80.28 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 63
  Total fertility rate:
  2.33 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  73% (2009/10)
  Health expenditures:
  5.4% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Physicians density:
  1.49 physicians/1,000 population (2011)
  Hospital bed density:
  1.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 85.4% of population
  rural: 81.9% of population
  total: 84.7% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 14.6% of population
  rural: 18.1% of population
  total: 15.3% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 86.2% of population
  rural: 75.7% of population
  total: 84% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 13.8% of population
  rural: 24.3% of population
  total: 16% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  1.04% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  69,300 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  3,100 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: high
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
  vectorborne disease: dengue fever (2013)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  23% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  4% (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  Education expenditures:
  3.8% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 163
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 91.8%
  male: 91.2%
  female: 92.3% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 13 years
  male: 13 years
  female: 14 years (2012)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 180,423
  percentage: 10% (2000 est.)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 29.4%
  male: 22.6%
  female: 40.8% (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 26

- ## Government :: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Dominican Republic
  conventional short form: The Dominican
  local long form: Republica Dominicana
  local short form: La Dominicana
  Government type:
  democratic republic
  Capital:
  name: Santo Domingo
  geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 69 54 W
  time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  Administrative divisions:
  10 regions (regiones, singular - region); Cibao Nordeste, Cibao Noroeste, Cibao Norte, Cibao Sur, El Valle, Enriquillo, Higuamo, Ozama, Valdesia, Yuma
  Independence:
  27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
  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/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for consecutive 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 (PLD) 51.2%, Hipolito MEJIA (PRD) 47%, other 1.8%; Margarita CEDENO DE FERNANDEZ (PLD) elected vice president
  Legislative branch:
  description: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (32 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de Diputados (195 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-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); note - in order to synchronize presidential, legislative, and local elections for 2016, 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)
  Collective of Popular Organizations or COP
  Foundation for Institution-Building and Justice or FINJUS
  International organization participation:
  ACP, AOSIS, BCIE, Caricom (observer), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OAS, OIF (observer), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA (associated member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Tomas PEREZ (since 23 February 2015)
  chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280
  FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057
  consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador James Walter BREWSTER, Jr. (since 9 December 2013)
  embassy: Av. Republica de Colombia
  mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500
  telephone: [1] (809) 567-7775
  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 colors: red, white, blue
  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 :: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

- 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 mining sector has also played a greater role in the export market since late 2012 with the commencement of the extraction phase of the Pueblo Viejo Gold and Silver mine. The economy is highly dependent upon the US, the destination for approximately half of exports. Remittances from the US amount to about 7% 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 2010-14, 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 2.7% in 2014. A successful government bond placement in 2013 and 2014 helped finance the deficit. A liability management operation in January 2015, in which the government paid down over $4 billion of the country’s Petrocaribe debt, at a discount of 52% with proceeds from the sale of $2.5 billion in global bonds, reduced the country’s debt load by approximately by 3.3% of GDP.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $138 billion (2014 est.)
  $128.6 billion (2013 est.)
  $122.7 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 74
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $64.08 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  7.3% (2014 est.)
  4.8% (2013 est.)
  2.6% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $13,000 (2014 est.)
  $12,100 (2013 est.)
  $11,600 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 114
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 72%
  government consumption: 10.2%
  investment in fixed capital: 21.4%
  investment in inventories: 0.8%
  exports of goods and services: 26.1%
  imports of goods and services: -30.6%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 6.3%
  industry: 32.1%
  services: 61.6% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  cocoa, tobacco, sugarcane, coffee, cotton, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs
  Industries:
  tourism, sugar processing, gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco
  Industrial production growth rate:
  6% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 40
  Labor force:
  4.996 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 81
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 14.4%
  industry: 20.8%
  services: 64.7% (2014 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  6.4% (2014 est.)
  15% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Population below poverty line:
  41.1% (2013 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 1.9%
  highest 10%: 35.8% (2012 est.)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  45.7 (2012 est.)
  52 (2000 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Budget:
  revenues: $10.11 billion
  expenditures: $11.77 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  15.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -2.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 101
  Public debt:
  48.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
  45.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3% (2014 est.)
  4.8% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 131
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  13.7% (31 December 2014 est.)
  13.59% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Stock of narrow money:
  $5.621 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $5.203 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Stock of broad money:
  $17.42 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $15.97 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $26.87 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $24.87 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $NA
  Current account balance:
  -$2.002 billion (2014 est.)
  -$2.467 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 145
  Exports:
  $10.11 billion (2014 est.)
  $9.504 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Exports - commodities:
  gold, silver, cocoa, sugar, coffee, tobacco, meats, consumer goods
  Exports - partners:
  US 40.1%, Haiti 15.3%, Canada 14.5% (2014)
  Imports:
  $16.97 billion (2014 est.)
  $16.81 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Imports - commodities:
  petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals
  Imports - partners:
  US 45.8%, China 7.3%, Venezuela 6.3%, Mexico 5.1%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.2% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $4.503 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $4.703 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Debt - external:
  $19.72 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $18.78 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 84
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $28.52 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $26.42 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $72.8 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $72.8 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Exchange rates:
  Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar -
  43.5 (2014 est.)
  41.808 (2013 est.)
  39.34 (2012 est.)
  38.232 (2011 est.)
  37.307 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

- Electricity - production:
  14.1 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  Electricity - consumption:
  9.176 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 91
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 140
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  3.364 million kW (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  85.2% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  13.2% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  1.6% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 84
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 104
  Crude oil - imports:
  26,500 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 66
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 126
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  28,050 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  123,500 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  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: 54
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 125
  Natural gas - consumption:
  1.28 billion cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 85
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 88
  Natural gas - imports:
  1.28 billion cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 57
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 132
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  20.8 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82

- ## Communications :: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 1.23 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 8.3 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 80 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  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)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 120, FM 56, shortwave 4 (1998)
  Television broadcast stations:
  25 (2003)
  Internet country code:
  .do
  Internet users:
  total: 5 million
  percent of population: 48.2% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 69

- ## Transportation :: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

- Airports:
  36 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 110
  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: 496 km
  standard gauge: 354 km 1.435-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 142 km 0.762-m gauge (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 127
  Roadways:
  total: 19,705 km
  paved: 9,872 km
  unpaved: 9,833 km (2002)
  country comparison to the world: 110
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Puerto Haina, Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
  oil terminal(s): Punta Nizao oil terminal
  LNG terminal(s) (import): Andres LNG terminal (Boca Chica)

- ## Military :: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

- 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)
  0.63% of GDP (2011)
  0.61% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 121

- ## Transnational Issues :: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

- 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
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  stateless persons: 210,000 (2014); note - a September 2013 Constitutional Court ruling revoked the citizenship of those born after 1929 to immigrants without proper documentation, even though the constitution at the time automatically granted citizenship to children born in the Dominican Republic and the 2010 constitution provides that constitutional provisions cannot be applied retroactively; the decision overwhelmingly affected people of Haitian descent whose relatives had come to the Dominican Republic since the 1940s as a cheap source of labor for sugar plantations; a May 2014 law passed by the Dominican Congress will regularize the status of those who have birth certificates but will require those without them to prove they were born in the Dominican Republic and to apply for naturalization
  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)

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