29 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde.
Population:
8,581,477 (July 2001 est.)
Currency:
Dominican peso (DOP)
Languages:
Spanish
Elevation:
highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m
lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m
Natural hazards:
lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts
Climate:
tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall
The Dominican economy experienced dramatic growth over the last decade, even though the economy was hit hard by Hurricane Georges in 1998. Although the country has long been viewed primarily as an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, in recent years the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest employer, due to growth in tourism and free trade zones. The country suffers from marked income inequality; the poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of GNP, while the richest ten percent enjoy 40% of national income. In December 2000, the new MEJIA administration passed broad new tax legislation which it hopes will provide enough revenue to offset rising oil prices and to service foreign debt.
Industry:
tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco
Ethnicgroups:
white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%
Vaccination requirements:
No vaccination requirements for any international traveller.
Malaria:
Low malaria risk—exclusively due to P. falciparum—exists throughout the year, especially in rural areas of the western provinces such as Castañuelas, Hondo Valle and Pepillo Salcedo. There is no evidence of P. falciparum resistance to any antimalarial drug.
