About the Dominican Republic

Total Area: 48,730 sq km
Terrain: Rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys
Highest point: Pico Duarte at 3,175m or 9,850ft.
Population: 8,950,034 (July 2005 estimated)
Ethnic groups: white 16%; black 11%; mixed 73%
Religion: 95% Roman Catholic

History

Explored and claimed by Columbus on his first voyage in 1492, the island of Hispaniola became a springboard for Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the Western third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti.

The remainder of the island, by then known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821, but was conquered and ruled by the Haitians for 22 years; it finally attained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844.

A legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative, rule for much of its subsequent history was brought to an end in 1966 when Joaquin Balaguer became President. He maintained a tight grip on power for most of the next 30 years when international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been held in which opposition candidates have won the presidency.

Today

After an increasingly difficult four years economically, Leonel Fernandez was re-elected as President in 2004. One of the major reasons for his victory was that while he was President previously, the country prospered. President Fernandez promises to tidy up government finances. The economy looks like it will recover - although it is still struggling with political and economic issues. Protests still take place at times - most often in Santo Domingo, the capital, but in tourist areas, including the tranquil Caribbean-kissed shores of La Romana and Punta Cana, and along the northern shore from Puerto Plata to Sosúa and Cabarete, all is peaceful. No one wants to jeopardize tourism, the country’s top source of revenue.

Language

The main language of the Dominican Republic is Spanish. Most hotels, restaurants, bars, shops etc will have some employees that speak English. However if you intend to live on the island permanently it is a good idea to learn some key words and phrases. There are a number of Spanish speakers who are able to help. Refer to our relocation section