Official Name: Republica Dominicana (Dominican Republic)
Currency: Dominican peso
Current Exchange Rate: |
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Hemisphere: Northern
Continent: North America
Location: In W Indies sharing Isl. of Hispaniola with Haiti. Neighbors: Haiti on W, Puerto Rico (U.S) to E
Area: 18,792 sq mi, 48,671 sq km
Form of Government: Multiparty republic with a two legislative houses (Senate 32), (Chamber of deputies 178)
Population: (2007) 9,366,000
Population Density: (2007) persons per sq mi 498.4, persons per sq km 192.4
Principal Language(s): Spanish (official)
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Capital: Santo Domingo
Capital Population: 1,877,586
Capital Average Temperature: Maximum: 26.6 degrees Celsius, 79.9 degrees Fahrenheit
Major Cities: Santiago 507,418, San Pedro de Macoris 193,713, La Romana 191,303, San Cristobal 137,422,
Topography: The Cordillera Central range crosses center of the country, rising to over 10,000 ft highest in the Caribbean. The Cibao valley to N is major agricultural area.
Economy: G.D.P. $ 61.8 billion
G.D.P. per Capita: $7,000
Vital Statistics: Birth rate per 1,000 population (2006): 123.2 (world avg. 20.3). Death rate per 1,000 population (2006); 5.4 (world avg. 8.6) Total fertility rate (avg. births per childbearing woman 2006) 2.83. Life expectancy at birth (2006) male 71.0 years; female 74.5 years
Government Website: www.presedencia.gov.do
Reference Sources: The World Almanac 2009, The New York Times Almanac 2009, Time Almanac 2009, World Climate website.
