World Factbook
Dominican Republic
República Dominicana
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: a centered white cross extends to the edges and divides the flag into four rectangles; the top ones are ultramarine blue (left side) and vermilion red, and the bottom ones are vermilion red (left side) and ultramarine blue; a small coat of arms with a shield supported by a laurel branch and a palm branch is at the center of the cross; above the shield, a blue ribbon displays the motto DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty); below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA is on a red ribbon; on the shield, a Bible is opened to a verse that reads "Y la verdad nos hara libre" (And the truth shall set you free) meaning: blue stands for liberty, white for salvation, and red for the blood of heroes
Capital
name
Santo Domingo
etymology
named after Saint Domingo de GUZMAN (1170-1221), founder of the Dominican Order; the city's full name was originally Santo Domingo de Guzman
time difference
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
18 28 N, 69 54 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory; married persons can vote, regardless of age
note: members of the armed forces and national police by law cannot vote
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of the Dominican Republic
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
2 years
Constitution
history
many previous (38 total); latest proclaimed 13 June 2015
amendment process
proposed by a special session of the National Congress called the National Revisory Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority approval by at least one half of those present in both houses of the Assembly; passage of amendments to constitutional articles, such as fundamental rights and guarantees, territorial composition, nationality, or the procedures for constitutional reform, also requires approval in a referendum
Country name
former
Santo Domingo (the capital city's name formerly applied to the entire country)
etymology
the name is a latinized form of the Spanish term Santo Domingo , meaning "holy Sunday;" Spanish explorers originally settled the island on a Sunday in 1496, and the name was first given to the island of Hispaniola as a whole in 1697
local long form
República Dominicana
local short form
La Dominicana
conventional long form
Dominican Republic
conventional short form
The Dominican
Independence
27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
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
Government type
presidential republic
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)
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
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary composed 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
Executive branch
note
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet
Cabinet nominated by the president
chief of state
President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020)
election results
2024: Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona reelected president; percent of vote - Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (PRM) 57.5%, Leonel Antonio FERNÁNDEZ Reyna (FP) 28.8%, Abel MARTÍNEZ (PLD) 10.4%, other 3.3% 2020: Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona elected president in first round; percent of vote - Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (PRM) 52.5%, Gonzalo CASTILLO Terrero (PLD) 37.5%, Leonel Antonio FERNÁNDEZ Reyna (FP) 8.9%, other 1.1%
head of government
President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020)
most recent election date
19 May 2024
election/appointment process
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 a maximum of two consecutive terms)
expected date of next election
21 May 2028
National holiday
Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
National color(s)
red, white, blue
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Colonial City of Santo Domingo
Political parties
Alliance for Democracy or APD Broad Front (Frente Amplio) Country Alliance or AP Dominican Liberation Party or PLD Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD Dominicans For Change or DXC Independent Revolutionary Party or PRI Institutional Social Democratic Bloc or BIS Liberal Reformist Party or PRL (formerly the Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic or PLRD) Modern Revolutionary Party or PRM National Progressive Front or FNP People's First Party or PPG People's Force or FP Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC
Legislative branch
legislature name
National Congress of the Republic (Congreso Nacional de la República)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Himno Nacional" (National Anthem)
history
adopted 1934; also known as "Quisqueyanos valientes" (Valiant Sons of Quisqueye); the anthem refers to the Dominican people as Quisqueyanos, which comes from the ethnic name for the island
lyrics/music
Emilio PRUD'HOMME/Jose REYES
National symbol(s)
palmchat (bird)
Administrative divisions
31 provinces ( provincias , singular - provincia ), 1 district* ( distrito ); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabón, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elías Piña, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Hermanas Mirabal, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, María Trinidad Sánchez, Monseñor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Samaná, Sánchez Ramírez, San Cristóbal, San José de Ocoa, San Juan, San Pedro de Macorís, Santiago, Santiago Rodríguez, Santo Domingo, Valverde
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)
term in office
4 years
number of seats
190 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
5/19/2024
expected date of next election
May 2028
percentage of women in chamber
37.4%
parties elected and seats per party
Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) and its allies (146); People’s Force (FP) and its allies (28); Other (16)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate (Senado)
term in office
4 years
number of seats
32 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
5/19/2024
expected date of next election
May 2028
percentage of women in chamber
12.5%
parties elected and seats per party
Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) and its allies (24); People’s Force (FP) and its allies (3); Other (5)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 265-8057
chancery
1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 332-6280
chief of mission
Ambassador María Isabel CASTILLO BÁEZ (since 11 June 2025)
consulate(s) general
Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angelos, Miami, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia
email address and website
embassy@drembassyusa.org http://drembassyusa.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
Av. Republica de Colombia #57, Santo Domingo
telephone
(809) 567-7775
mailing address
3470 Santo Domingo Place, Washington DC 20521-3470
chief of mission
Ambassador Leah F. CAMPOS (since 19 November 2025)
email address and website
SDOAmericans@state.gov https://do.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, ACS, 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, UNHRC, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction