
Dominican Republic Guide
Dominican Republic – country information
Country name | Dominican republic |
Official name | Dominican republic |
Capital | Santo Domingo |
Continent | North America |
Area | 48,671 km2 |
Population | 9,445,281 (2010) |
Foundation of a state | 27/02/1844 |
The highest mountains | Pico Duarte 3175 m |
Longest rivers | Yague del Norte 200 km |
State system | pluralistic presidential republic |
The biggest cities | Santo Domingo (capital) 2,600,000 (conurbation), Santiago de los Caballeros 525,000, La Vega 210,000 |
Official language | Spanish |
Ethnicity/National Composition | mulattoes and other mixed races 70%, whites 15%, blacks 15% |
Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic 91%, other 9% |
Currency | 1 Dominican peso (RD$) = 100 centavos |
gross domestic product (GDP) | US$9,547 (2012) |
Average life expectancy of the population | 71.73 years (2006) |
Structure of GDP | agriculture, forestry and fishing 14.5%, mining 2.5%, industry 19%, construction 8%, services 56% |
Dominican Republic – Neighboring States
State | Capital | Area | Population |
Haiti | Port-au-Prince | 27,750 km2 | 10,413,211 |
Country overview
According to Abbreviationfinder, the Dominican Republic occupies the larger, eastern part of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea. Compared to neighboring Haiti, it is twice as large.
Country data
Location: Caribbean
Time zone: CET – 5 (during summer time: CET – 6)
Total area: 48,670 km²
Land area: 48,320 km²
Water area: 350 km²
Length of the state border: 376 km
Bordering countries: Haiti: 376 km
Coastline: 1,288 km
Capital: Santo Domingo
Provinces: 10
Cibao Nordeste, Cibao Noroeste, Cibao Norte, Cibao Sur, El Valle, Enriquillo, Higuamo, Ozama, Valdesia, Yuma
Electric current: 110 V / 60 Hz
Telephone code: 00 1809 and 00 1829 and 00 1849 (Source: Allcitycodes)
Highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m
Population
Population: approx. 10.4 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)
Population growth: 1.2% per year
Population density (residents per km²): 214
Life expectancy: 76 (male), 80 (female)
Official language: Spanish
Religions:
- 95% Roman Catholic
- 5% other
Climate
There is a tropical, humid and hot climate all year round with no distinct seasons.
The humidity is particularly high in the period from May to September. The temperature is then often above 30 ° C.
At around 25 ° C, the temperature is still very high, but this is mitigated by the winds from the sea and the heavier precipitation.
Currency / finance
Currency unit: Dominican Peso (DOP)
Classification: 1 Peso = 100 Centavos
ATMs: Available in many major cities.
International credit cards: These are accepted by many hotels and shops.
Regulations: There is no limit to the amount of foreign currencies that can be imported. The export is permitted in the amount of the declared import. There is an obligation to declare.
There is no limit to the amount of local currency that can be imported. The export is limited to the equivalent of a maximum of 10,000 US dollars, but no more than the amount of the import declaration.
You should only exchange the amount of money you actually need, as you are only allowed to exchange about a third of the money back.
Therefore, all bill of exchange should be kept until departure.
Customs regulations
The following may be carried duty-free:
- 200 cigarettes
- 1 liter of alcoholic beverages
- small amounts of perfume (opened bottle)
(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)
Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.
There is an import ban for all agricultural and animal products.
Travel advice
An increase in Zika virus infections is currently being observed in the region. The Zika virus is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes.
The Federal Foreign Office recommends that pregnant women refrain from avoidable trips to ZIKA virus outbreak areas, as the risk of early childhood malformations if the woman is infected cannot currently be ruled out.
The crime rate is much higher than in other European countries. Greater caution is advised.
Behavioral advice
The trafficking and possession of all kinds of drugs is severely punished. High fines and imprisonment are common, even with foreigners.
Tap water should only be filtered and boiled to drink.
Economy
Located on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti, the country has become one of the most popular holiday destinations.
Almost every year there are new records for visitor numbers.
Industries: tobacco production, textiles, tourism, sugar production
Natural resources: bauxite, gold, nickel, silver
Land use:
- Usable land: 21%
- Grain cultivation: 9%
- Pasture area: 43%
- Forests: 12%
- other: 15%
Plants
The hilly island of Hispaniola becomes a mountain range towards the center. The higher elevations are home to a tropical rainforest. There are desert areas in the south.
There are more plant species in this tropical flora than in all of Europe. The ideal climate is very beneficial for growth.
Animals
Most of the wild animals originally living here have been completely wiped out. There are only a few small insect species and very many bird species in the Dominican Republic.
The marine life around the island of Hispanola is particularly diverse. Large schools of fish, corals, whales and turtles can still be observed here.