North America
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"Dominican Republic." Geography, North America, Q-files Encyclopedia, 1 Apr. 2026.
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Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.
Dominican Republic 2026. Geography, North America. Retrieved 27 July 2026, from
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Geography, North America, s.v. "Dominican Republic," accessed July 27, 2026.
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Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two thirds of the island of Hispaniola (which it shares with Haiti), in the Greater Antilles. Much of the country is mountainous. In the north is the fertile Cibao Valley, where farmers grow rice, coffee and cacao. In the southwest is a large saltwater lake, Lago Enriquillo. White sandy beaches and swampy mangrove lagoons line the coast. Regularly struck by hurricanes, the country has a tropical climate.
People and economy
The Dominican Republic is a much wealthier country than its neighbour, Haiti. Hundreds of thousands of Haitians have moved here in search of jobs, health care and better living conditions. The Dominican Republic’s strong economy has also attracted migrants from Jamaica, Puerto Rico and other Caribbean countries.
For a long time, the country’s economy was based on farming and mining—the central mountains are rich in minerals such as gold, silver and nickel. Sugar cane has been an important crop in the Dominican Republic since the 1870s, when large, foreign-owned plantations and mills produced sugar for the USA. Today, sugar is still a major export. Many Haitians work on the plantations as sugar cane cutters, often for very low wages.
Tourism
Today, the tourist industry has become much more important, providing a high proportion of the country’s foreign income. The white, tropical beaches, clear waters and old, colonial-era villages make the Dominican Republic one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean.
Consultant: Nicholas Harris
Facts about the Dominican Republic
Population 11,532,151 (2025 estimate)
Area 48,320 sq km
Highest Point Pico Duarte 3175 m (10,417ft)
Capital Santo Domingo, population 1,029,110 (metro area pop. 4,274,651)
Other major cities Santiago (pop. 771,748), La Vega (282,055), La Romana (270,686)
Language Spanish
Religions Christian (Roman Catholic) 95%, others 5%
Ethnicity mixed European / black 73%, white 16%, black 11%
Currency Dominican peso (DOP)
Chief exports ferronickel (used to make stainless steel), sugar, gold, silver, cocoa, coffee, tobacco
History of the Dominican Republic
7th–15th centuries
The Taíno, an Arawak people, live on the island
1492
Christopher Columbus lands on the island, claiming it for Spain and naming it Hispaniola: “Little Spain”
1496
Spanish set up first Spanish colony at Santo Domingo—it becomes the capital of all Spain’s American colonies
16th–18th centuries
Thousands of African slaves are brought to the island as slaves by Spanish and French colonists
1697
Spain and France divide Hispaniola between them: Spain rules the larger eastern part, called Santo Domingo
1795–1808
France takes control of the whole island; Santo Domingo’s people protest against French rule and it is returned to Spain
1822
Haiti invades Santo Domingo
1844
Santo Domingo overthrows Haitian rule and declares independence as the Dominican Republic. Haitian forces invade but are defeated within weeks.
1861
Dominican Republic comes under Spanish rule once again.
1865
Following defeat in the War of Restoration (1863–65), the Spanish abandon the Dominican Republic and it becomes independent again.
1916–24
Conflict within the country leads to US troops occupying the Dominican Republic
1930
Rafael Trujillo becomes president
1937
Trujillo orders the army to kill over 30,000 Haitians living on the Dominican side of the border
1961
Trujillo is assassinated
1965
US troops invade the Dominican Republic to keep peace after an uprising against president Juan Bosch
1966–96
Joaquin Balaguer is president; he steps down in 1996 after corrupt practices during the elections
1979
200,000 people are left homeless after two major hurricanes sweep across the island
1992
Completion of the Columbus Lighthouse, a cross-shaped monument located in Santo Domingo Este, containing what are said to be the remains of Columbus. Shining out from the structure are 157 light beams, which are so powerful they can be seen from neighbouring Puerto Rico
2004
Severe floods in the southwest and in Haiti leave more than 2000 people dead or missing
2020
Mass protests across the country in response to the suspension of municipal elections. Luis Abinader becomes president weeks later.
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