Haiti vs. Dominican Republic
Introduction
Geography
| Haiti | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic | Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti |
| Geographic coordinates | 19 00 N, 72 25 W | 19 00 N, 70 40 W |
| Map references | Central America and the Caribbean | Central America and the Caribbean |
| Area | total: 27,750 sq km land: 27,560 sq km water: 190 sq km | total: 48,670 sq km land: 48,320 sq km water: 350 sq km |
| Area - comparative | slightly smaller than Maryland | slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey |
| Land boundaries | total: 376 km border countries (1): Dominican Republic 376 km | total: 376 km border countries (1): Haiti 376 km |
| Coastline | 1,771 km | 1,288 km |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: to depth of exploitation | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines |
| Climate | tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds | tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall |
| Terrain | mostly rough and mountainous | rugged highlands and mountains interspersed with fertile valleys |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Pic la Selle 2,674 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m mean elevation: 470 m | highest point: Pico Duarte 3,098 m lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m mean elevation: 424 m |
| Natural resources | bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower, arable land | nickel, bauxite, gold, silver, arable land |
| Land use | agricultural land: 66.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 38.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 10.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 17.7% (2018 est.) forest: 3.6% (2018 est.) other: 30% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 51.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 16.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 10.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 24.8% (2018 est.) forest: 40.8% (2018 est.) other: 7.7% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | 970 sq km (2012) | 3,070 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; periodic droughts | lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts |
| Environment - current issues | extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; overpopulation leads to inadequate supplies of potable water and and a lack of sanitation; natural disasters | water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation |
| Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| Geography - note | shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic); it is the most mountainous nation in the Caribbean | shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds makes up the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti); the second largest country in the Antilles (after Cuba); geographically diverse with the Caribbean's tallest mountain, Pico Duarte, and lowest elevation and largest lake, Lago Enriquillo |
| Total renewable water resources | 14.022 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 23.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | fairly even distribution; largest concentrations located near coastal areas | coastal development is significant, especially in the southern coastal plains and the Cibao Valley, where population density is highest; smaller population clusters exist in the interior mountains (Cordillera Central) |
Demographics
| Haiti | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,198,240 (July 2021 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected | 10,597,348 (July 2021 est.) |
| Age structure | 0-14 years: 31.21% (male 1,719,961/female 1,734,566) 15-24 years: 20.71% (male 1,145,113/female 1,146,741) 25-54 years: 38.45% (male 2,110,294/female 2,145,209) 55-64 years: 5.3% (male 280,630/female 305,584) 65 years and over: 4.33% (male 210,451/female 269,228) (2020 est.) | 0-14 years: 26.85% (male 1,433,166/female 1,385,987) 15-24 years: 18.15% (male 968,391/female 937,227) 25-54 years: 40.54% (male 2,168,122/female 2,088,926) 55-64 years: 8.17% (male 429,042/female 428,508) 65 years and over: 6.29% (male 310,262/female 350,076) (2020 est.) |
| Median age | total: 24.1 years male: 23.8 years female: 24.3 years (2020 est.) | total: 27.9 years male: 27.8 years female: 28.1 years (2020 est.) |
| Population growth rate | 1.22% (2021 est.) | 0.92% (2021 est.) |
| Birth rate | 21.4 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 18.24 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Death rate | 7.29 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 6.29 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Net migration rate | -1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | -2.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Sex ratio | at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2020 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate | total: 41.29 deaths/1,000 live births male: 47.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 35.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | total: 21.68 deaths/1,000 live births male: 24.08 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | total population: 65.61 years male: 62.94 years female: 68.31 years (2021 est.) | total population: 72.28 years male: 70.57 years female: 74.06 years (2021 est.) |
| Total fertility rate | 2.48 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 2.23 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 1.9% (2020 est.) | 0.9% (2020 est.) |
| Nationality | noun: Haitian(s) adjective: Haitian | noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican |
| Ethnic groups | Black 95%, mixed and White 5% | mixed 70.4% (Mestizo/Indio 58%, Mulatto 12.4%), Black 15.8%, White 13.5%, other 0.3% (2014 est.) note: respondents self-identified their race; the term "indio" in the Dominican Republic is not associated with people of indigenous ancestry but people of mixed ancestry or skin color between light and dark |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 150,000 (2020 est.) | 72,000 (2020 est.) |
| Religions | Protestant/Methodist/Adventist/Jehovah's Witness 51.8%, Roman Catholic 35.4%, Vodou 1.7%, none 11% (2016-17 est.) note: many Haitians practice elements of Vodou in addition to another religion, most often Roman Catholicism; Vodou was recognized as an official religion in 2003 | Roman Catholic 44.3%, Evangelical 13%, Protestant 7.9%, Adventist 1.4%, other 1.8%, atheist 0.2%, none 29.4%, unspecified 2% (2018 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | 2,200 (2020 est.) | 1,900 (2020 est.) |
| Languages | French (official), Creole (official) major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. | Spanish (official) major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. |
| Literacy | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 61.7% male: 65.3% female: 58.3% (2016) | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.8% male: 93.8% female: 93.8% (2016) |
| Major infectious diseases | degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria | degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever |
| Education expenditures | 2.8% of GDP (2018) | NA |
| Urbanization | urban population: 58% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) | urban population: 83.2% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) |
| Drinking water source | improved: urban: 91.5% of population rural: 55.4% of population total: 75% of population unimproved: urban: 8.5% of population rural: 44.6% of population total: 25% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 98.3% of population rural: 92% of population total: 96.7% of population unimproved: urban: 1.7% of population rural: 8% of population total: 3.3% of population (2017 est.) |
| Sanitation facility access | improved: urban: 80.6% of population rural: 40% of population total: 62.1% of population unimproved: urban: 19.4% of population rural: 60% of population total: 37.9% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 96.3% of population rural: 89.5% of population total: 95% of population unimproved: urban: 13.8% of population rural: 3.7% of population total: 5% of population (2017 est.) |
| Major cities - population | 2.844 million PORT-AU-PRINCE (capital) (2021) | 3.389 million SANTO DOMINGO (capital) (2021) |
| Maternal mortality rate | 480 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) | 95 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) |
| Children under the age of 5 years underweight | 9.5% (2016/17) | 4% (2013) |
| Health expenditures | 7.7% (2018) | 5.7% (2018) |
| Physicians density | 0.23 physicians/1,000 population (2018) | 1.53 physicians/1,000 population (2011) |
| Hospital bed density | 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2013) | 1.6 beds/1,000 population (2017) |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 22.7% (2016) | 27.6% (2016) |
| Mother's mean age at first birth | 22.4 years (2016/7 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 | 20.9 years (2013 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 |
| Contraceptive prevalence rate | 34.3% (2016/17) | 69.5% (2014) |
| Dependency ratios | total dependency ratio: 60.4 youth dependency ratio: 52.1 elderly dependency ratio: 8.3 potential support ratio: 13.3 (2020 est.) | total dependency ratio: 53.8 youth dependency ratio: 42.2 elderly dependency ratio: 11.6 potential support ratio: 8.6 (2020 est.) |
Government
| Haiti | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Country name | conventional long form: Republic of Haiti conventional short form: Haiti local long form: Republique d'Haiti/Repiblik d Ayiti local short form: Haiti/Ayiti etymology: the native Taino name means "Land of High Mountains" and was originally applied to the entire island of Hispaniola | conventional long form: Dominican Republic conventional short form: The Dominican local long form: Republica Dominicana local short form: La Dominicana etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Santo Domingo (Saint Dominic) |
| Government type | semi-presidential republic | presidential republic |
| Capital | name: Port-au-Prince geographic coordinates: 18 32 N, 72 20 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November etymology: according to tradition, in 1706, a Captain de Saint-Andre named the bay and its surrounding area after his ship Le Prince; the name of the town that grew there means, "the Port of The Prince" | name: Santo Domingo geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 69 54 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named after Saint Dominic de Guzman (1170-1221), founder of the Dominican Order |
| Administrative divisions | 10 departments (departements, singular - departement); Artibonite, Centre, Grand'Anse, Nippes, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est | 10 regions (regiones, singular - region); Cibao Nordeste, Cibao Noroeste, Cibao Norte, Cibao Sur, El Valle, Enriquillo, Higuamo, Ozama, Valdesia, Yuma |
| Independence | 1 January 1804 (from France) | 27 February 1844 (from Haiti) |
| National holiday | Independence Day, 1 January (1804) | Independence Day, 27 February (1844) |
| Constitution | history: many previous; latest adopted 10 March 1987 amendments: proposed by the executive branch or by either the Senate or the Chamber of Deputies; consideration of proposed amendments requires support by at least two-thirds majority of both houses; passage requires at least two-thirds majority of the membership present and at least two-thirds majority of the votes cast; approved amendments enter into force after installation of the next president of the republic; constitutional articles on the democratic and republican form of government cannot be amended; amended many times, last in 2012 | history: many previous (38 total); latest proclaimed 13 June 2015 amendments: 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 |
| Legal system | civil law system strongly influenced by Napoleonic Code | civil law system based on the French civil code; Criminal Procedures Code modified in 2004 to include important elements of an accusatory system |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age can vote; note - members of the armed forces and national police by law cannot vote |
| Executive branch | chief of state: Acting President Ariel HENRY (since 20 July 2021); note - Prime Minister Ariel HENRY has assumed the responsibilities of president following the assassination of President Jovenel MOISE on 7 July 2021; an election is expected to be held on 7 November 2021; MOISE had been president since 7 February 2017 head of government: Prime Minister Ariel HENRY (since 20 July 2021) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president; parliament must ratify the Cabinet and Prime Minister's governing policy elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a single non-consecutive term); last election originally scheduled for 9 October 2016 but postponed until 20 November 2016 due to Hurricane Matthew election results: 2016: Jovenel MOISE elected president in first round; percent of vote - Jovenel MOISE (PHTK) 55.6%, Jude CELESTIN (LAPEH) 19.6%, Jean-Charles MOISE (PPD) 11%, Maryse NARCISSE (FL) 9%; other 4.8% 2011: Michel MARTELLY elected president in runoff; percent of vote - Michel MARTELLY (Peasant's Response) 68%, Mirlande MANIGAT (RDNP) 32% | chief of state: President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020); Vice President Raquel PENA de Antuna (since 16 August 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020); Vice President Raquel PENA de Antuna (since 16 August 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president elections/appointments: 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); election last held on 5 July 2020 (next to be held in 2024); note - the 2020 election was rescheduled from 17 May to 5 July 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic election results: 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 FERNANDEZ Reyna (FP) 8.9% other 1.1% 2016: Danilo MEDINA Sanchez reelected president; percent of vote - Danilo MEDINA Sanchez (PLD) 61.7%, Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (PRM) 35%, other 3.3%; Margarita CEDENO DE FERNANDEZ (PLD) reelected vice president |
| Legislative branch | description: bicameral legislature or le Corps l'egislatif ou le Parlement consists of: le S'enat or Senate (30 seats; 10 filled as of July 2021; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 6-year terms (2-term limit) with one-third of the membership renewed every 2 years) la Chambre de deput'es or Chamber of Deputies (119 seats; 116 filled as of June 2019; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 4-year terms; no term limits); note - when the 2 chambers meet collectively it is known as L'Assembl'ee nationale or the National Assembly and is convened for specific purposes spelled out in the constitution elections: Senate - last held on 20 November 2016 with runoff on 29 January 2017 (next originally scheduled for 27 October 2019, but postponed to 26 September 2021) Chamber of Deputies - last held on 9 August 2015 with runoff on 25 October 2015 and 20 November 2016 (next originally scheduled for 27 October 2019, but postponed to 26 September 2021) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 27, women 1, percent of women 3.6% Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 115, women 3, percent of women 2.5%; note - total legislature percent of women 2.7% | description: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of: Senate or Senado (32 seats; 26 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, and 6 members indirectly elected based upon province-wide party plurality votes for its candidates to the Chamber of Deputies; all members serve 4-year terms; note - in 2019, the Central Election Commission changed the electoral system for seats in26 constituencies to direct simple majority but retained indirect election for the remaining 6 constituencies; previously all 32 members were indirectly elected; the change had been challenged by the ruling and opposition parties) House of Representatives or Camara de Diputados (190 seats; 178 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote using the D'Hondt method, 5 members in a nationwide constituency and 7 diaspora members directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 5 July 2020 (next to be held 2024) House of Representatives - last held on 5 July 2020 (next to be held in 2024); note - the 2020 election was rescheduled from 17 May to 5 July 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRM 17, PLD 6, PRSC 6, BIS 1, DXC 1, FP 1 House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRM 86, PLD 75, PRSC 6, PRD 4, Broad Front 3, FP 3, AP 2, APD 2, BIS 2, DXC 2, other 5 |
| Judicial branch | highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour de cassation (consists of a chief judge and other judges); note - Haiti is a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president from candidate lists submitted by the Senate of the National Assembly; note - Article 174 of Haiti's constitution states that judges of the Supreme Court are appointed for 10 years, whereas Article 177 states that judges of the Supreme Court are appointed for life subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; magistrate's courts; land, labor, and children's courts note: the Superior Council of the Judiciary or Conseil Superieur du Pouvoir Judiciaire is a 9-member body charged with the administration and oversight of the judicial branch of government | highest courts: 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); note - the Constitutional Court was established in 2010 by constitutional amendment judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary comprised 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 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 |
| Political parties and leaders | Alternative League for Haitian Progress and Empowerment or LAPEH [Jude CELESTIN] Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MCNH [Luc MESADIEU] Christian National Movement for the Reconstruction of Haiti or UNCRH [Chavannes JEUNE] Convention for Democratic Unity or KID [Evans PAUL] Cooperative Action to Rebuild Haiti or KONBA [Jean William JEANTY] December 16 Platform or Platfom 16 Desanm [Dr. Gerard BLOT] Democratic Alliance Party or ALYANS [Evans PAUL] (coalition includes KID and PPRH) Democratic Centers' National Council or CONACED [Osner FEVRY] Dessalinian Patriotic and Popular Movement or MOPOD [Jean Andre VICTOR] Effort and Solidarity to Create an Alternative for the People or ESKAMP [Joseph JASME] Fanmi Lavalas or FL [Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE] For Us All or PONT [Jean-Marie CHERESTAL] Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats or FHSD [Edmonde Supplice BEAUZILE] Grouping of Citizens for Hope or RESPE [Charles-Henri BAKER] Haitians for Haiti [Yvon NEPTUNE] Haitian Tet Kale Party or PHTK [Ann Valerie Timothee MILFORT] Haiti in Action or AAA [Youri LATORTUE] Independent Movement for National Reconstruction or MIRN [Luc FLEURINORD] Konbit Pou refe Ayiti or KONBIT Lavni Organization or LAVNI [Yves CRISTALIN] Liberal Party of Haiti or PLH [Jean Andre VICTOR] Love Haiti or Renmen Ayiti [Jean-Henry CEANT, Camille LEBLANC] Mobilization for National Development or MDN [Hubert de RONCERAY] New Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MOCHRENA [Luc MESADIEU] Organization for the Advancement of Haiti and Haitians or OLAHH Party for the Integral Advancement of the Haitian People or PAIPH Patriotic Unity or IP [Marie Denise CLAUDE] Peasant's Response or Repons Peyizan [Michel MARTELLY] Platform Alternative for Progress and Democracy or ALTENATIV [Victor BENOIT and Evans PAUL] Platform of Haitian Patriots or PLAPH [Dejean BELISAIRE, Himmler REBU] Platform Pitit Desaline or PPD [Jean-Charles MOISE] Pont Popular Party for the Renewal of Haiti or PPRH [Claude ROMAIN] PPG18 Rally of Progressive National Democrats or RDNP [Mirlande MANIGAT] Renmen Ayiti or RA [Jean-Henry CEANT] Reseau National Bouclier or Bouclier Respect or RESPE Strength in Unity or Ansanm Nou Fo [Leslie VOLTAIRE] Struggling People's Organization or OPL [Jacques-Edouard ALEXIS] Truth (Verite) Union [Chavannes JEUNE] Unity or Inite [Levaillant LOUIS-JEUNE] Vigilance or Veye Yo [Lavarice GAUDIN] | Alliance for Democracy or APD Broad Front (Frente Amplio) [Fidel SANTANA] Country Alliance or AP [Guillermo Antonio MORENO Garcia] Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Danilo MEDINA Sánchez] Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Miguel VARGAS Maldonado] Dominicans For Change or DXC [Manuel OVIEDO Estrada] 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 [Jose Ignacio PALIZA] National Progressive Front or FNP [Vinicio CASTILLO, Pelegrin CASTILLO] People's Force or FP [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna] Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Federico ANTUN] |
| International organization participation | ACP, AOSIS, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO | ACP, 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, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Bocchit EDMOND (since 23 December 2020) chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4090 FAX: [1] (202) 745-7215 email address and website: amb.washington@diplomatie.ht https://www.haiti.org/ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Orlando (FL), New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico) | chief of mission: Ambassador Sonia GUZMAN (since 18 January 2021) chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280 FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057 email address and website: embassy@drembassyusa.org http://drembassyusa.org/ consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Glendale (CA), Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): San Francisco |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Michele SISON (since 21 February 2018) embassy: Tabarre 41, Route de Tabarre, Port-au-Prince mailing address: 3400 Port-au-Prince Place, Washington, DC 20521-3400 telephone: [011] (509) 2229-8000 FAX: [011] (529) 2229-8027 email address and website: acspap@state.gov https://ht.usembassy.gov/ | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert W. THOMAS (since 20 January 2021) embassy: Av. Republica de Colombia #57, Santo Domingo mailing address: 3470 Santo Domingo Place, Washington DC 20521-3470 telephone: (809) 567-7775 email address and website: SDOAmericans@state.gov https://do.usembassy.gov/ |
| Flag description | two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength); the colors are taken from the French Tricolor and represent the union of blacks and mulattoes | a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are ultramarine blue (hoist side) and vermilion red, and the bottom ones are vermilion red (hoist side) and ultramarine blue; a small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by a laurel branch (left) and a palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shield a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA appears on a red ribbon; in the shield a bible is opened to a verse that reads "Y la verdad nos hara libre" (And the truth shall set you free); blue stands for liberty, white for salvation, and red for the blood of heroes |
| National anthem | name: "La Dessalinienne" (The Dessalines Song) lyrics/music: Justin LHERISSON/Nicolas GEFFRARD note: adopted 1904; named for Jean-Jacques DESSALINES, a leader in the Haitian Revolution and first ruler of an independent Haiti | name: "Himno Nacional" (National Anthem) lyrics/music: Emilio PRUD'HOMME/Jose REYES note: adopted 1934; also known as "Quisqueyanos valientes" (Valient Sons of Quisqueye); the anthem never refers to the people as Dominican but rather calls them "Quisqueyanos," a reference to the indigenous name of the island |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| National symbol(s) | Hispaniolan trogon (bird), hibiscus flower; national colors: blue, red | palmchat (bird); national colors: red, white, blue |
| Citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Haiti dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years | 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 |
Economy
| Haiti | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Economy - overview | Haiti is a free market economy with low labor costs and tariff-free access to the US for many of its exports. Two-fifths of all Haitians depend on the agricultural sector, mainly small-scale subsistence farming, which remains vulnerable to damage from frequent natural disasters. Poverty, corruption, vulnerability to natural disasters, and low levels of education for much of the population represent some of the most serious impediments to Haiti's economic growth. Remittances are the primary source of foreign exchange, equivalent to more than a quarter of GDP, and nearly double the combined value of Haitian exports and foreign direct investment. Currently the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with close to 60% of the population living under the national poverty line, Haiti's GDP growth rose to 5.5% in 2011 as the Haitian economy began recovering from the devastating January 2010 earthquake that destroyed much of its capital city, Port-au-Prince, and neighboring areas. However, growth slowed to below 2% in 2015 and 2016 as political uncertainty, drought conditions, decreasing foreign aid, and the depreciation of the national currency took a toll on investment and economic growth. Hurricane Matthew, the fiercest Caribbean storm in nearly a decade, made landfall in Haiti on 4 October 2016, with 140 mile-per-hour winds, creating a new humanitarian emergency. An estimated 2.1 million people were affected by the category 4 storm, which caused extensive damage to crops, houses, livestock, and infrastructure across Haiti's southern peninsula. US economic engagement under the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) and the 2008 Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act (HOPE II) have contributed to an increase in apparel exports and investment by providing duty-free access to the US. The Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Act of 2010 extended the CBTPA and HOPE II until 2020, while the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 extended trade benefits provided to Haiti in the HOPE and HELP Acts through September 2025. Apparel sector exports in 2016 reached approximately $850 million and account for over 90% of Haitian exports and more than 10% of the GDP. Investment in Haiti is hampered by the difficulty of doing business and weak infrastructure, including access to electricity. Haiti's outstanding external debt was cancelled by donor countries following the 2010 earthquake, but has since risen to $2.6 billion as of December 2017, the majority of which is owed to Venezuela under the PetroCaribe program. Although the government has increased its revenue collection, it continues to rely on formal international economic assistance for fiscal sustainability, with over 20% of its annual budget coming from foreign aid or direct budget support. | The Dominican Republic was for most of its history primarily an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, but over the last three decades the economy has become more diversified as the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest employer, due to growth in construction, tourism, and free trade zones. The mining sector has also played a greater role in the export market since late 2012 with the commencement of the extraction phase of the Pueblo Viejo Gold and Silver mine, one of the largest gold mines in the world. For the last 20 years, the Dominican Republic has been one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America. The economy rebounded from the global recession in 2010-16, and the fiscal situation is improving. A tax reform package passed in November 2012, a reduction in government spending, and lower energy costs helped to narrow the central government budget deficit from 6.6% of GDP in 2012 to 2.6% in 2016, and public debt is declining. Marked income inequality, high unemployment, and underemployment remain important long-term challenges; the poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of GDP, while the richest 10% enjoys nearly 40% of GDP. The economy is highly dependent upon the US, the destination for approximately half of exports and the source of 40% of imports. Remittances from the US amount to about 7% of GDP, equivalent to about a third of exports and two-thirds of tourism receipts. The Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement came into force in March 2007, boosting investment and manufacturing exports. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | $32.724 billion (2019 est.) $33.284 billion (2018 est.) $32.738 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars | $197.735 billion (2019 est.) $188.225 billion (2018 est.) $175.94 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars |
| GDP - real growth rate | 1.2% (2017 est.) 1.5% (2016 est.) 1.2% (2015 est.) | 4.6% (2017 est.) 6.6% (2016 est.) 7% (2015 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | $2,905 (2019 est.) $2,992 (2018 est.) $2,981 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars | $18,413 (2019 est.) $17,712 (2018 est.) $16,735 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 22.1% (2017 est.) industry: 20.3% (2017 est.) services: 57.6% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 5.6% (2017 est.) industry: 33% (2017 est.) services: 61.4% (2017 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | 58.5% (2012 est.) | 21% (2019 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 47.7% (2001) | lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 37.4% (2013 est.) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 14.7% (2017 est.) 13.4% (2016 est.) | 1.8% (2019 est.) 3.5% (2018 est.) 3.2% (2017 est.) |
| Labor force | 4.594 million (2014 est.) note: shortage of skilled labor; unskilled labor abundant | 4.732 million (2017 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 38.1% industry: 11.5% services: 50.4% (2010) | agriculture: 14.4% industry: 20.8% (2014) services: 64.7% (2014 est.) |
| Unemployment rate | 40.6% (2010 est.) note: widespread unemployment and underemployment; more than two-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs | 5.1% (2017 est.) 5.5% (2016 est.) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 41.1 (2012 est.) 59.2 (2001) | 43.7 (2018 est.) 45.7 (2012 est.) |
| Budget | revenues: 1.567 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 1.65 billion (2017 est.) | revenues: 11.33 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 13.62 billion (2017 est.) |
| Industries | textiles, sugar refining, flour milling, cement, light assembly using imported parts | tourism, sugar processing, gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco, electrical components, medical devices |
| Industrial production growth rate | 0.9% (2017 est.) | 3.1% (2017 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | sugar cane, cassava, mangoes/guavas, plantains, bananas, yams, avocados, maize, rice, vegetables | sugar cane, bananas, papayas, rice, plantains, milk, avocados, fruit, pineapples, coconuts |
| Exports | $980.2 million (2017 est.) $995 million (2016 est.) | $10.12 billion (2017 est.) $9.86 billion (2016 est.) |
| Exports - commodities | clothing and apparel, eels, essential oils, perfumes, mangoes, cocoa beans (2019) | gold, medical instruments, cigars, low-voltage protection equipment, bananas (2019) |
| Exports - partners | United States 81%, Canada 7% (2019) | United States 54%, Switzerland 8%, Canada 5%, India 5%, China 5% (2019) |
| Imports | $3.618 billion (2017 est.) $3.183 billion (2016 est.) | $17.7 billion (2017 est.) $17.4 billion (2016 est.) |
| Imports - commodities | refined petroleum, rice, clothing and apparel, palm oil, poultry meats (2019) | refined petroleum, cars, jewelry, natural gas, broadcasting equipment (2019) |
| Imports - partners | United States 39%, China 22%, Turkey 5% (2019) | United States 50%, China 13% (2019) |
| Debt - external | $2.762 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $2.17 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $23.094 billion (2019 est.) $21.198 billion (2018 est.) |
| Exchange rates | gourdes (HTG) per US dollar - 65.21 (2017 est.) 63.34 (2016 est.) 63.34 (2015 est.) 50.71 (2014 est.) 45.22 (2013 est.) | Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar - 47.42 (2017 est.) 46.078 (2016 est.) 46.078 (2015 est.) 45.052 (2014 est.) 43.556 (2013 est.) |
| Fiscal year | 1 October - 30 September | calendar year |
| Public debt | 31.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 33.9% of GDP (2016 est.) | 37.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 34.6% of GDP (2016 est.) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $2.361 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $2.11 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $6.873 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $6.134 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Current Account Balance | -$348 million (2017 est.) -$83 million (2016 est.) | -$165 million (2017 est.) -$815 million (2016 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate) | $8.608 billion (2017 est.) | $88.956 billion (2019 est.) |
| Ease of Doing Business Index scores | Overall score: 40.7 (2020) Starting a Business score: 36.4 (2020) Trading score: 76.9 (2020) Enforcement score: 51.6 (2020) | Overall score: 60 (2020) Starting a Business score: 85.4 (2020) Trading score: 83.5 (2020) Enforcement score: 50.6 (2020) |
| Taxes and other revenues | 18.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 14.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | -3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| GDP - composition, by end use | household consumption: 99.1% (2017 est.) government consumption: 10% (2016 est.) investment in fixed capital: 32.6% (2016 est.) investment in inventories: -1.4% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 20% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -60.3% (2017 est.) note: figure for household consumption also includes government consumption | household consumption: 69.3% (2017 est.) government consumption: 12.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.9% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 24.8% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -28.1% (2017 est.) |
| Gross national saving | 12% of GDP (2018 est.) 10.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 29.3% of GDP (2015 est.) | 23.8% of GDP (2019 est.) 23.5% of GDP (2018 est.) 22% of GDP (2017 est.) |
Energy
| Haiti | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 1.023 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 18.03 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption | 406.2 million kWh (2016 est.) | 15.64 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - exports | 0 kWh (2016 est.) | 0 kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - imports | 0 kWh (2016 est.) | 0 kWh (2016 est.) |
| Oil - production | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) |
| Oil - imports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 16,980 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - exports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves | 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) | 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves | 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) |
| Natural gas - production | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 1.161 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 1.161 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 332,000 kW (2016 est.) | 3.839 million kW (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 82% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | 77% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 18% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 16% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from other renewable sources | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 7% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - production | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 16,060 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 21,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) | 134,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - exports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 20,030 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 108,500 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Electricity access | electrification - total population: 39% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 60% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 12% (2019) | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) |
Telecommunications
| Haiti | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 5,952 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 1,211,081 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11.65 (2019 est.) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | total subscriptions: 6,843,380 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 62.65 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 8,948,107 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 86.05 (2019 est.) |
| Internet country code | .ht | .do |
| Internet users | total: 3,503,006 percent of population: 32.47% (July 2018 est.) | total: 7,705,529 percent of population: 74.82% (July 2018 est.) |
| Telecommunication systems | general assessment: plagued by political and economic turmoil complicated by natural disasters, Haiti's telecommunications infrastructure is among the least-developed in the world; reliance on satellite and wireless mobile technology due to poor fixed-line infrastructure; investment boosted broadband availability though customer base is poor and theft of equipment remains problematic; promotion of LTE will enable access to remote areas and e-money services; World Bank grant to provide digital preparation and response for any future crises (2021) (2020)domestic: fixed-line is less than 1 per 100; mobile-cellular telephone services have expanded greatly in the last decade due to low-cost GSM (Global Systems for Mobile) phones and pay-as-you-go plans; mobile-cellular teledensity is 58 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 509; landing points for the BDSNi and Fibralink submarine cables to 14 points in the Bahamas and Dominican Republic; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments | general assessment: the Dominican Republic's fixed-line tele-density is well below the Latin American average due to lack of infrastructure; distribution of telephony services is proportionate to income inequalities; small, localized operators provide services; telecom and mobile broadband growing with LTE available to most of the population; government program aims for universal access to broadband services, and development of a national backbone; 5G launch anticipated in 2021 (2021) (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity is about 11 per 100 persons; multiple providers of mobile-cellular service with a subscribership of 83 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 1-809; 1-829; 1-849; landing point for the ARCOS-1, Antillas 1, AMX-1, SAm-1, East-West, Deep Blue Cable and the Fibralink submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments |
| Broadband - fixed subscriptions | total: 31,100 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2018 est.) | total: 951,970 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9.15 (2019 est.) |
| Broadcast media | 98 television stations throughout the country, including 1 government-owned; cable TV subscription service available; 850 radio stations (of them, only 346 are licensed), including 1 government-owned; more than 100 community radio stations; over 64 FM stations in Port-au-Prince alone; VOA Creole Service broadcasts daily on 30 affiliate stations (2016) | combination of state-owned and privately owned broadcast media; 1 state-owned TV network and a number of private TV networks; networks operate repeaters to extend signals throughout country; combination of state-owned and privately owned radio stations with more than 300 radio stations operating (2019) |
Transportation
| Haiti | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Roadways | total: 4,266 km (2009) paved: 768 km (2009) unpaved: 3,498 km (2009) | total: 19,705 km (2002) paved: 9,872 km (2002) unpaved: 9,833 km (2002) |
| Ports and terminals | major seaport(s): Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Port-au-Prince | major seaport(s): Puerto Haina, Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo oil terminal(s): Punta Nizao oil terminal LNG terminal(s) (import): Andres LNG terminal (Boca Chica) |
| Merchant marine | total: 4 by type: general cargo 3, other 1 (2020) | total: 38 by type: container ship 1, general cargo 2, oil tanker 1, other 34 (2020) |
| Airports | total: 14 (2013) | total: 36 (2013) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total: 4 (2019) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 | total: 16 (2017) over 3,047 m: 3 (2017) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2017) 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2017) under 914 m: 1 (2017) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 10 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013) under 914 m: 8 (2013) | total: 20 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013) under 914 m: 18 (2013) |
| National air transport system | number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 | number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6 |
| Civil aircraft registration country code prefix | HH | HI |
Military
| Haiti | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Military branches | the Haitian Armed Forces (FAdH), disbanded in 1995, began to be reconstituted in 2017 to assist with natural disaster relief, border security, and combating transnational crime; it established an Army command in 2018; the small Coast Guard is not part of the military, but rather the Haitian National Police (2020) | Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic: Army (Ejercito Nacional, EN), Navy (Marina de Guerra, MdG, includes naval infantry), Dominican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Dominicana, FAD); National Police (Policia Nacional) (2021) note: in addition to the military, the Ministry of Armed Forces directs the Airport Security Authority and Civil Aviation, Port Security Authority, and Border Security Corps |
| Military and security service personnel strengths | the FAdH has approximately 500 troops (the force is planned to eventually have around 5,000 personnel); approximately 16,000 National Police (2021) | information varies; approximately 60,000 active personnel (30,000 Army; 13,000 Navy; 17,000 Air Force); approximately 30,000 National Police (2021) |
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | not available | the military is lightly armed with an inventory consisting mostly of older US equipment with limited quantities of material from other countries; since 2010, Brazil and Israel are the leading suppliers of armaments to the Dominican Republic (2020) |
Transnational Issues
| Haiti | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Disputes - international | since 2004, peacekeepers from the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti have assisted in maintaining civil order in Haiti; the mission currently includes 6,685 military, 2,607 police, and 443 civilian personnel; despite efforts to control illegal migration, Haitians cross into the Dominican Republic and sail to neighboring countries; Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Island | Haitian migrants cross the porous border into the Dominican Republic to find work; illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage each year to Puerto Rico to find better work |
| Illicit drugs | Caribbean transshipment point for cocaine en route to the US and Europe; substantial bulk cash smuggling activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor Haiti for illicit financial transactions; pervasive corruption; significant consumer of cannabis | transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from the Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada; substantial money laundering activity in particular by Colombian narcotics traffickers; significant amphetamine consumption |
| Refugees and internally displaced persons | IDPs: 17,105 (violence among armed gangs in the metropolitan area os Port-au-Prince) (2021) stateless persons: 2,992 (2018); note - individuals without a nationality who were born in the Dominican Republic prior to January 2010 | refugees (country of origin): 114,050 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2020) stateless persons: 133,770 (2016); note - a September 2013 Constitutional Court ruling revoked the citizenship of those born after 1929 to immigrants without proper documentation, even though the constitution at the time automatically granted citizenship to children born in the Dominican Republic and the 2010 constitution provides that constitutional provisions cannot be applied retroactively; the decision overwhelmingly affected people of Haitian descent whose relatives had come to the Dominican Republic since the 1890s as a cheap source of labor for sugar plantations; a May 2014 law passed by the Dominican Congress regularizes the status of those with birth certificates but will require those without them to prove they were born in the Dominican Republic and to apply for naturalization; the government has issued documents to thousands of individuals who may claim citizenship under this law, but no official estimate has been released note: revised estimate includes only individuals born to parents who were both born abroad; it does not include individuals born in the country to one Dominican-born and one foreign-born parent or subsequent generations of individuals of foreign descent; the estimate, as such, does not include all stateless persons (2015) |
| Trafficking in persons | current situation: Haiti is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; most of Haiti's trafficking cases involve children in domestic servitude vulnerable to physical and sexual abuse; dismissed and runaway child domestic servants often end up in prostitution, begging, or street crime; other exploited populations included low-income Haitians, child laborers, and women and children living in IDP camps dating to the 2010 earthquake; Haitian adults are vulnerable to fraudulent labor recruitment abroad and, along with children, may be subjected to forced labor in the Dominican Republic, elsewhere in the Caribbean, South America, and the US; Dominicans are exploited in sex trafficking and forced labor in Haiti tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Haiti does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, Haiti was granted a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because its government has a written plan that, if implemented would constitute making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; in 2014, Haiti developed a national anti-trafficking action plan and enacted a law prohibiting all forms of human trafficking, although judicial corruption hampered its implementation; progress was made in investigating and prosecuting suspected traffickers, but no convictions were made; the government sustained limited efforts to identify and refer victims to protective services, which were provided mostly by NGOs without government support; campaigns to raise awareness about child labor and child trafficking continued (2015) | current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in the Dominican Republic and Dominicans abroad; Dominican women and children are sex trafficked throughout the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean, South and Central America, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States; victims from Haiti and elsewhere in the Caribbean, Asia, and Latin America are trafficked in the Dominican Republic; Dominican women are lured to the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America to work in nightclubs but are then sex trafficked; domestically, children are forced into domestic servitude, street vending, begging, agricultural work, construction, and moving illicit narcotics, while adults are forced to work in construction, agriculture, and the services sector tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the Dominican Republic does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; the government has drafted a revised trafficking law that would be consistent with international law by removing the requirement for force, fraud, or coercion of sex trafficking of victims younger than 18; authorities increased investigations and prosecutions but convicted fewer traffickers and issued inadequate sentences; the country lacks a dedicated victim assistance budget and a full-time victim shelter; authorities did not effectively screen for trafficking indicators or refer all vulnerable individuals to care; the government has not allocated specific funds to implement its national anti-trafficking plan beyond the standard operating budget for the 14 institutions that are part of its Inter-Institutional Commission against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (2020) |
Environment
| Haiti | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Air pollutants | particulate matter emissions: 14.63 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 2.98 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 6.12 megatons (2020 est.) | particulate matter emissions: 12.95 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 25.26 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 8.1 megatons (2020 est.) |
| Total water withdrawal | municipal: 190 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 51 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 1.209 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | municipal: 855 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 659.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 7.563 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Revenue from forest resources | forest revenues: 0.68% of GDP (2018 est.) | forest revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Revenue from coal | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,309,852 tons (2015 est.) | municipal solid waste generated annually: 4,063,910 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 333,241 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8.2% (2015 est.) |
Source: CIA Factbook
