Dominican Republic facts

* Capital: Santo Domingo de Guzman(pop. approx. 3 million)

* Population: 8,895,000 (2005 UN est.)

* People:Mixed 73%, European 16%, African origin 11%

* Area: 48,730 sq. km.

* Currency: Dominican peso (RD$)

* Independence: February 27, 1844 (from Haiti)ses

* Government: Representative Democracy

* Official Language: Spanish

* Official Religion: Roman Catholic-95%

* National Bird: Palmchat [see above right]

Communications

The country has one of the most sophisticated telecommunications systems in Latin America that is provided by Verizon, Tricom, France Telecom (Orange) and Centennial Corporation. Services include direct dialing, faxing, teleconferencing, electronic mail and videoconferencing.

Shop opening hours

Shops open on weekdays at 9am and usually stay open until 7pm on weeknights and until 2pm on Saturdays. Major stores remain open until 10pm and on Sundays will close at around 8pm. Resorts will have their own opening hours.

* National Flower: The Mahogany flower

* Founding Father: Juan Pablo Duarte

* President: Dr Leonel Fernandez Reyna (since August 2004)

* Life expectancy:65.98 years men, 69.35 women (2004

* Phone Code: International access code-809

* Drinking Age:The drinking age in the Dominican Republic is 18 years old.

* The sea:The Dom Rep is bordered on the north by the Atlantic Ocean and on the south by the Caribbean Sea.

Dominican Republic facts [cont]

Dominican Republic national holidays

  * Jan 1st-New Year`s Day
  * Jan 6th-Epiphany
  * Jan 21st-Virgin Altagracia
  * Jan 22th-Birthday of Juan Pablo Duarte (Founding Father of the Nation)
  * Feb 27th-Independence: Independence Day
  * Variable-Good Friday
  * May 1st-Labour Day
  * Variable-Day of Corpus Christi
  * Aug 16th-Restoration of Independence
  * Sept 24th-Virgin Mercedes
  * Nov 6th-Constitution Day
  * Dec 25th-Christmas Day

Dominican Republic facts [cont]

Workforce, military and education

About half of Dominicans live in rural areas; many are small landholders. Haitians form the largest foreign minority group. All religions are tolerated; the state religion is Roman Catholicism.

Education- the compulsory years are between 6-18 and literacy is at 83%.

Work Force- Services and Government - 31% (includes paraestatal corporations); Agriculture - 28%; Industry - 12%; Unemployment - 16%

The Military-The military consists of about 24,000 active duty personnel, commanded by the President. Its principal mission is to defend the nation, but it serves more as an internal security force.

The army, twice as large as the other services combined, consists of 4 infantry brigades and a combat support brigade; the airforce operates 3 flying squadrons; and the navy maintains 30 ageing vessels. The Dominican Republic's military is second in size to Cuba's in the Caribbean. The armed forces participate fully in counter-narcotics efforts. They are also active in efforts to control contraband and illegal immigration from Haiti to the Dominican Republic and from the Dominican Republic to the United States.

Dominican Republic facts