|
Location |
Occupies the eastern two-thirds of the Island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean, located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean.(Haiti occupies the western third of the Hispaniola). |
|
Population |
8.9 million (UN estimate 2005) |
|
Ethnicity |
mixed 73%, white 16%, black 11% |
| Religion |
Roman Catholic 95%, other 5% |
|
Languages |
Spanish, French creole, English |
|
National Holiday |
Independence Day, 27 February 1844 (from Haiti) |
|
Government |
Republic, representative democracy.Presidential election every four years. Next election 2008. |
|
Head of State |
Dr Leonel Fernandez Reyna |
|
Legal System |
based on French civil codes; Criminal Procedures Code modified in 2004 to include important elements of an accusatory system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
|
GDP |
US$21.7 billion (2002 estimate) |
|
Major industries |
Sugar refining, pharmaceuticals, cement, ferronickel and gold mining |
|
Major export partners |
US, Holland, Belgium, France and Haiti |
|
Major import partners |
US, Venezuela, Mexico, Japan and Spain |
