Society in Dominican Republic
An overview of key social indicators. Select a category for detailed trends, charts, and insights.
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Demographics
Public Health
Education & Human Capital
Living Standards & Connectivity
Current Snapshot Overview
A summary of key social and demographic indicators for Dominican Republic
- Dominican Republic has an estimated population of 11.3M2023, with a modest annual growth rate of 0.9%2023, suggesting a mature demographic transition with stable, but limitated, population increase. The fertility rate of 2.2 births per woman2023is above replacement level, ensuring sustainable long-term population stability without significant external migration. Net emigration of approximately 35K individuals annually (or 3.1 per 1,000 inhabitants)2024adds pressure to demographic transitions and workforce sustainability.
- Regarding public health, the country maintains a reasonable health standard with a life expectancy of 73.7 years2023, though there is scope for further improvements to achieve higher global benchmarks. Concurrently, Healthcare delivery faces significant systemic challenges, as evidenced by elevated child mortality (under 5 years) (31.4 per 1,000 live births2023and maternal mortality (124 per 100,000 live births2023) rates, suggesting areas for critical intervention and resource allocation. These outcomes are supported by limited healthcare spending, at 4.6% of GDP2022, which may constrain comprehensive health system improvements and the attainment of higher health outcomes.
- Strong educational foundations are evident in the high adult literacy rate of 96%2022, which significantly contributes to human capital development. Complementing this, educational access shows solid progress through 93% primary enrollment2018and 72% secondary participation rates2023. This educational framework is supported by limited educational investment, at 3.9% of GDP2022, which may constrain the scale and quality of future human capital development initiatives.
- In terms of infrastructure and connectivity, as a highly urbanized society with 84% of the population residing in urban areas2023, the country benefits from concentrated economic activity, efficient service delivery, and innovation potential. Furthermore, infrastructure development shows strong progress with 100% electricity access2023and 85% internet penetration2023, supporting ongoing modernization efforts and enhancing quality of life.
Key Development Insights
Population Dynamics
Managing demographic trends is crucial for long-term economic planning and workforce stability.
Public Health System
Public health outcomes are a core indicator of national development and quality of life. Access to healthcare is essential for sustainable growth.
Human Capital Formation
Educational attainment is a direct driver of economic innovation and global competitiveness. Investment in education is key to unlocking human potential.
Infrastructure & Connectivity
A highly urbanized, digitally connected society creates a strong foundation for service-based industries and global market access.
More About This Country
Neighbors & Regional Peers
Note: The information on this page has been compiled from authoritative sources. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, please note that some figures may not be current or entirely precise.