The Dominican Republic is situated in Hispaniola in the Caribbean region. Dominican Republic is located in the west of Puerto Rico and east of Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica. The region was the earliest settlement in the ‘New World’. The capital Santo Domingo (18 28 N, 69 54 W) is the first colonial capital of the new world by Europeans. Army, Navy and Air Force constitute the defense force of the nation.
HISTORY:- Christopher Columbus explored Hispaniola in 1492. The nation became one of the earliest colonies of Spain and the first European settlement in the new world. Columbus renamed the nation as La Espanola. Columbus’s son Diego became the viceroy. Columbus’s brother Bartolomeo Columbus build Santo Domingo in 1496. A part of Hispaniola was ceded to France by Spain through the Treaty of Ryswick in 1697. By 1795, the nation was completely occupied by the French. A slave revolt broke our led by Toussaint Louverture which prompted the downfall of France in the island. France again gained control over the land in 1814, which was ended in 1821. Haitians reigned from 1822 to 1844. In the same year, Dominican Republic was formed. Haitian invasions in 1844, 1845-49, 1849-55, and 1855-56 pressurized the country to join in the territory of Spain from 1861 to 1865. Political chaos continued until 1916 when US imposed military government in the country. The US Marines left the land in 1924 and Horacio Vásquez Lajara became the President. Rafaél Leonides Trujillo Molina overthrew Lajara in 1930 and imposed a dictatorship until his assassination in 1961. In 1962 elections, Juan Bosch became the first elected President. Borsch was overthrown in the same year and a Leftists revolt started. US sent in marines again and governed the country until the 1966 elections. Joaquin Balaguer was the successor of Bosch in 1966.
GEOGRAPHY:- In the world’s globe, Dominical Republic is located at 19 00 N, 70 40 W. The Caribbean country spans through total 48,730 sq km area (land- 48,380 sq km; water- 350 sq km). The nation is situated in Hispaniola, the 2nd largest island in the Greater Antilles. Bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, the coastline of the country is 1,288 km long. The lowest point is Lago Enriquillo (-46 m) and the highest point is Pico Duarte (3,175 m). The nation has rugged highlands. The mainland is consisted of four mountain ranges.
CLIMATE:- The climate of the country is tropical maritime with little seasonal temperature variation as well as little seasonal rainfall variation.
GOVERNMENT:- Dominican Republic is a democratic republic. The constitution was adopted on 28th November 1966 and was amended on 25th July 2002. The legal system is based on the French civil codes. The three branches of the government are:
Executive branch comprises the President (chief of state, head of government), Vice President and cabinet. Cabinet ministers are nominated by the President.
Legislative branch comprises the bicameral National Congress, consisting the Senate (32 seats), and the House of Representatives (178 seats).
Judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court.
Major political parties are Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC). Suffrage is universal at 18 but for married persons suffrage is regardless any age limit.
Executive branch comprises the President (chief of state, head of government), Vice President and cabinet. Cabinet ministers are nominated by the President.
Legislative branch comprises the bicameral National Congress, consisting the Senate (32 seats), and the House of Representatives (178 seats).
Judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court.
Major political parties are Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC). Suffrage is universal at 18 but for married persons suffrage is regardless any age limit.
President Leonel Fernández
Vice President Rafael Alburquerque
Vice President Rafael Alburquerque
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Dominican Republic is divided into 31 provinces.
CULTURE:- The culture of Dominican Republic is a fusion of European and Taínos and African cultures. These influences are also seen in the cuisine. The country is known for Merengue music, and the globally famous singers in the genre are Juan Luis Guerra, Fernando Villalona, Eddy Herrera, Sergio Vargas, Toño Rosario, Johnny Ventura, and Milly Quezada. Bachata is another form of music and dance. Baseball is the most popular sport of the nation.
ECONOMY:- The country has a lower middle income and is a developing country. The economy of the country is based on the natural resources and government services.
GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $85.4 billion; per capita $9,200.
GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $85.4 billion; per capita $9,200.
Real growth rate: 7.2%.
Inflation: 5.8%.
Unemployment: 15.5%.
Arable land: 23%.
Agriculture: sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs.
Labor force: 3.9 million (2007 est); services and government 58.7%, industry 24.3%, agriculture 17% (1998 est.).
Industries: tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco.
Natural resources: nickel, bauxite, gold, silver.
Budget:
Revenues: $7.942 billion
Expenditures: $7.766 billion (2007 est.)
Revenues: $7.942 billion
Expenditures: $7.766 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt: 40.6% of GDP (2007 est.)
Debt - external: $10.21 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exports: $6.881 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats, consumer goods.
Imports: $12.89 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
Major trading partners: U.S., UK, Belgium, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico (2006).
Monetary unit: Dominican Peso
LANGUAGE:- Spanish is the official language. Other languages include Haitian Creole, English, French, German, and Italian.
CITIES:- Capital Santo Domingo is the largest city. Another large city is Santiago de los Caballeros.
POPULATION:- The estimated population of Dominical Republic is 9,365,818 with a growth rate of 1.5%.
Density per sq mi: 501
Literacy rate: 85% (2003 est.)
Density per sq mi: 501
Literacy rate: 85% (2003 est.)
RACE:- mixed 73%, white 16%, black 11%
RELIGION:- Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%
HEALTH:-
Birth rate: 22.65 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 5.3 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 26.93 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.39 years
Total fertility rate: 2.78 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 7,900 (2003 est.)
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 356
Birth rate: 22.65 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 5.3 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 26.93 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.39 years
Total fertility rate: 2.78 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 7,900 (2003 est.)
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 356
UNICEF:- Protection of children rights is promoted by 20/20 Initiative and new government policies, and by establishing monitoring systems, research and studies, and social mobilization. UNICEF tries to improve development in childhood and adolescence. UNICEF supports decentralization to strengthen the local authorities to protect the rights of children and adolescents. Reduction of maternal and child mortality, early childhood development, basic education, abolition of child labour, elimination of sexual and commercial abuse are the other main priorities of UNICEF.
TRANSPORTATION:-
Railways: total: 517 km (2006).
Highways: total: 12,600 km; paved: 6,224 km; unpaved: 6,376 km (1999).
Ports and harbors: Boca Chica, Puerto Plata, Rio Haina, Santo Domingo.
Airports: 34 (2007).
Railways: total: 517 km (2006).
Highways: total: 12,600 km; paved: 6,224 km; unpaved: 6,376 km (1999).
Ports and harbors: Boca Chica, Puerto Plata, Rio Haina, Santo Domingo.
Airports: 34 (2007).
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