Dominican Republic

Official Name:

Dominican Republic (The Dominican)

Area:

48.730 km ²

Population (2007):

9.365.818 inhabitants

Coastline:

1.288 km

Capital:

Santo Domingo

Maritime Ports and terminals:

Barahona, la Romana, Puerto Plata, San Pedro de Macorís, Santo Domingo

Maritime claims:

• Territorial sea: 6 nm
• Contiguous zone: 24 nm
• Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
• Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Political divisions:

7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose

Language(s):

Spanish (official), English

National holiday:

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Nationality:

Costa Rican(s)

Official time:

UTC-6.

Member of:

31 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional, Duarte, El Seibo, Elias Pina, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, San Cristobal, San Jose de Ocoa, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Sanchez Ramirez, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Santo Domingo, Valverde

Internet country code:

.do

Economic Profile

Currency:

Dominican peso (DOP)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

USD8.400 (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

(2006 est.) USD 20.550.000.000

PIB (Real growth rate:

10,7% (2006 est.)

GDP (Composition by sector): (2005 est.)

• Agriculture: 11,2%
• Industry: 30,6%
• Services: 58,2%

Labor force:

3.896.000 (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation (1998):

• Agriculture 17%
• Industry: 24,3%
• Services 58,7%

Unemployment rate:

16% (2006 est.)

Inflation rate (Consumer prices):

8,2% (2006 est)

Investment (Gross Fixed):

15,5% del PIB (2006 est.)

Budget:

• Revenues: USD5.852.000.000
• Expenditures: USD5.947.000.000

Public debt:

45,6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Current account balance:

USD -1.124.000.000 (2006 est.)

Exports:

USD 6.495.000.000 FOB (2006 est.)

Exports - Commodities:

Ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats, consumer goods

Exports - Partners:

US 78,9%, Netherlands 2,4%, Mexico 1,9% (2005)

Imports:

USD 11.390.000.000 FOB (2006 est.)

Imports - Commodities:

Foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners:

US 50%, Colombia 6,2%, Mexico 5,8% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

USD 2.106.000.000 (2006 est.)

Debt - external:

USD8.634.000.000 (2006)