International Dominican Republic relations

Country profile & diplomacy overview · 19 relations tracked

The Dominican Republic is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean region. It shares the island with Haiti and is the second-largest Caribbean nation by area after Cuba. The country has a population of approximately 10 million people and its capital and largest city is Santo Domingo.

Population

10.8M#86 of 203

Land area

48.3K km²#127 of 203

GDP

$127.4B#65 of 197

Military expenditure

$981.0M#86 of 167

Global influence

#121Very Low

Map legend

Closest relations Strained relations Dominican Republic No data

The Dominican Republic has a diverse economy, with major industries including tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, and mining. The country is a major exporter of sugar, coffee, tobacco, and other agricultural products. Tourism is an important contributor to the economy, with millions of visitors coming to the country each year to enjoy its natural beauty, beaches, and cultural attractions.

The Dominican Republic has a democratic government and is a member of a number of international organizations, including the United Nations, the Organization of American States, and the Caribbean Community. The country has a history of political instability and has experienced several military coups and authoritarian regimes, but it has made significant progress in recent years towards establishing a more stable and democratic political system.

Geopolitically, the Dominican Republic is located in the Caribbean region and is therefore influenced by the politics and events of the surrounding countries. It has traditionally had strong economic and political ties to the United States, but it has also sought to strengthen its relationships with other countries in the region and around the world.

Geography & terrain

Shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti and is the most mountainous country in the Caribbean, crossed by the Cordillera Central (home to the region's highest peak) alongside fertile valleys and coastal lowlands. Tropical climate, wetter in the north and east. Extensive coastline on both the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. The interior mountains offer a natural defensive backbone, but the long, resort-lined coastline is highly exposed to seaborne approach.

Key facts

Diverse sources: UN, World Bank, Dominican Republic Statistics Office/Department. Most recent available data
Capital	Santo Domingo (1.1M people, 10.2% of total population)
Population	10.8M (#86 of 203 countries)
Land area	48.3K km² (#127 of 203 countries)
Main religion	Christianity
Life expectancy	75 years

Source: World Bank Open Data. Most recent available data (2025)
Currency	Dominican Peso
Main language(s)	Spanish
Government type	Presidential republic
Time zone	UTC-4.0
GDP	$127.4B (#65 of 197 countries)
GDP per capita	$11.1K (#83 of 198 countries)
International calling code	+1809
Driving side	Right
UNESCO World Heritage Sites	1
Military expenditure	$981.0M
Land military expenditure (estimation)	$539.5M
Air military expenditure (estimation)	$196.2M
Naval military expenditure (estimation)	$245.2M
Military expenditure (% of GDP)	0.8%
Military expenditure per capita	$90
Nuclear power	No
European Union	Not a member
NATO	Not a member

Shares a land border with 1 country — here is how those relations stand

Dominican Republic's relations with its neighbors

1 Haiti 0.1/10 See relation →

Most similar countries, by language, currency, GDP per capita, borders & international groups

Rank #121 Very Low International Influence

Dominican Republic's actions have no significant effect on the world, and a very limited impact on other countries.

See the full world influence ranking →

Most intense relations

Top 5 relations of Dominican Republic by overall intensity. Intensity reflects the level and significance of interaction—not whether the relationship is positive or negative.