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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
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Motto:
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[Dios,
Patria, Libertad]
" God, Fatherland, Liberty."
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History
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Explored and
claimed by Christopher Columbus on his first voyage in 1492, the
island of Hispaniola became a springboard for Spanish conquest
of the Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain
recognized French dominion over the western third of the island,
which in 1804 became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then
known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in
1821 but was conquered and ruled by the Haitians for 22 years;
it finally attained independence as the Dominican Republic in
1844. In 1861, the Dominicans voluntarily returned to the
Spanish Empire, but two years later they launched a war that
restored independence in 1865. A legacy of unsettled,
mostly non-representative rule followed, capped by the
dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas TRUJILLO from 1930-61. Juan
BOSCH was elected president in 1962 but was deposed in a
military coup in 1963. In 1965 the United States led an
intervention in the midst of a civil war sparked by an uprising
to restore BOSCH. In 1966, Joaquin BALAGUER defeated BOSCH in an
election to become president. BALAGUER maintained a tight grip
on power for most of the next 30 years when international
reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in
1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been
held in which opposition candidates have won the presidency.
Former President (1996-2000) Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna won election
to a second term in 2004 following a constitutional amendment
allowing presidents to serve more than one term.
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Geography |
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Location:
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Caribbean,
eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the
Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti
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Geographic coordinates:
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19 00
N, 70 40 W
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Area:
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total:
48,670 sq km
land: 48,320 sq km
water: 350 sq km
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Land boundaries:
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total:
360 km
border countries: Haiti 360 km
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Coastline:
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1,288
km
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous
zone: 24 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the
continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 6 NM
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Climate:
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tropical
maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal
variation in rainfall
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Terrain:
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rugged
highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m
highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m
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Natural resources:
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nickel,
bauxite, gold, silver
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Land use:
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arable
land: 22.49%
permanent crops: 10.26%
other: 67.25% (2005)
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Natural hazards:
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lies
in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe
storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic
droughts
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Environment - current issues:
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water
shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs;
deforestation; Hurricane damage
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Geography - note:
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shares
island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds is the
Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti
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People |
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Population:
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9,650,054
(July 2009 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 31.4% (male 1,543,141; female 1,488,016)
15-64 years: 62.7% (male 3,087,351; female 2,960,319)
65 years and over: 5.9% (male 264,476; female 306,751)
(2009 est.)
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Population growth rate: |
1.48%
(2009 est.) |
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Birth rate: |
22.39
births/1,000 population (2009 est.) |
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Death rate: |
5.28
deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) |
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Net migration rate: |
-2.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) |
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Urban population: |
69% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.) |
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Sex ratio: |
at birth:
1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2009 est.) |
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Ethnic groups: |
white
16%, black 11%, mixed 73% |
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Nationality: |
noun: Dominican(s)
adjective: Dominican |
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Religions: |
Roman
Catholic 95%, other 5% |
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Languages: |
Spanish |
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Literacy: |
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87%
male: 86.8%
female: 87.2% (2004 est.) |
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Government |
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Country name: |
conventional long form: Dominican
Republic
conventional short form: The Dominican
local long form: Republica Dominicana
local short form: La Dominicana |
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Government type: |
Democratic republic |
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Capital: |
Santo
Domingo
geographic coordinates: 18
28 N, 69 54 W |
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Administrative divisions: |
31 provinces (provincias,
singular - provincia) and 1 district*(distrito); Azua, Bahoruco,
Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, El Seibo, Elias
Pina, 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, San Cristobal, San Jose de Ocoa, San Juan, San Pedro de
Macoris, Sanchez Ramirez, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Santo
Domingo, Valverde |
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Independence: |
27
February 1844 (from Haiti) |
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National holiday: |
Independence
Day, 27 February |
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Constitution: |
28
November 1966, amended 25 July 2002 |
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Legal system: |
Based
on French Civil codes; Criminal Procedures Code modified in
2004 to include important elements of an accusatory system;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Judicial
branch: |
Supreme
Court or Corte Suprema (judges are elected by a Council made
up of members of the legislative and executive branches with
the president presiding) |
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Suffrage: |
18 years of age, universal and
compulsory; married persons regardless of age; note - members of
the armed forces and national police cannot vote |
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Executive
branch: |
Chief
of state: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna
(since 16 August 2004); Vice President Rapahel ALBURQUERQUE de
Castro (since 16 August 2004); note - the president is both the chief
of state and head of government
Cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president
Elections: president and vice president elected on the same
ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a
second consecutive term); election last held 16 May 2008, next
to be held in May 2012)
election results: Leonel FERNANDEZ reelected president; percent
of vote - Leonel FERNANDEZ 53.6%, Miguel VARGAS 41%, Amable
ARISTY less than 5%. |
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Legislative
branch: |
bicameral
National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate
or Senado (32 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara
de Diputados (178 seats; members are elected by popular vote
to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 16 May 2006 (next to be held in
May 2010); House of Representatives - last held 16 May 2006
(next to be held in May 2010)
election results: Senate - percent of
vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 22, PRD 6, PRSC 4,
House of Representatives - percent vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PLD 96, PRD 60, PRSC 22 |
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Political parties and leaders: |
Dominican
Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna]; Dominican
Revolutionary Party or PRD [Ramon Alburquerque]; Social Christian
Reformist Party or PRSC [Enrique Antun]; National Progressive
Front [Vincent. Castillo, Pellegrin Castillo} |
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International organization participation: |
ACP,
BCIE, Caricom (observer), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (suspended), ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW
(signatory), PCA, RG, SICA (associated member), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant);
Charge d'Affaires Wellington BENCOSME.
chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington,
DC 20008.
telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280
FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057
consulate (s) general: Anchorage,
Boston, Chicago, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New
York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Sun Valley (California) |
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Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador P. Robert FANNIN
embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle
Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo
mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500
telephone: [1] (809) 221-2171
FAX: [1] (809) 686-7437 |
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Flag description: |
a
centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the
flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side)
and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a
small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by an olive
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 |
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Economy |
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Overview: |
The
Dominican economy has enjoyed strong GDP growth since 2005 and
continued to post sound gains through mid-2008. The global
recession, however, had a significant impact on GDP growth in
the latter half of the year as tourism and remittances, two of
the Dominican Republic's most important economic contributors,
showed signs of slowing. The economy is highly dependent upon
the US, the destination for about two-thirds of exports.
Remittances from the US amount to about a tenth of GDP,
equivalent to almost half of exports and three-quarters of
tourism receipts. The country has long been viewed
primarily as an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco but in
recent years the service sector has overtaken agriculture
as the economy's largest employer due to growth in tourism and
free trade zones. Although 2007 saw inflation around 6%,
the rate grew to over 12% in 2008. High food prices,
driven by the effects of consecutive tropical storms on
agricultural products, and education prices were significant
contributors to the jump. The effects of the global
financial crisis and the US recession are projected to
negatively affect GDP growth in 2009 with a rebound expected in
2010. Although the economy is growing at a respectable rate,
high unemployment and underemployment remains an important
challenge. The country suffers from marked income inequality;
the poorest half of the population receives less that one-fifth
GNP, while the richest 10% enjoys nearly 40% of national income.
The Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR)
came into force in March 2007, which should boost investment and
exports and reduce losses to the Asian garment industry. |
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GDP: |
$78
billion (2008 est) |
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GDP - real growth rate: |
5.3%
(2008 est) |
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GDP - per capita
(PPP): |
$8,200 (2008 est.) |
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GDP - Composition by sector: |
agriculture: 10.8%
industry: 22.9%
services: 66.3% (2008 est.) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
10.6% (2008 est) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 14.6%
industry: 22.3%
services: 63.1% (2005) |
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Labor force: |
4.119
million (2008 est) |
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Unemployment rate: |
15.5%
(2008 est.) |
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Budget: |
revenues:
$7.46 billion
expenditures: $9.027 billion (2008 est) |
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Industries: |
tourism,
sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles,
cement, tobacco |
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Industrial production growth rate: |
1.3%
(2008 est.) |
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Agriculture - products: |
sugarcane,
coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn,
bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs |
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Exports: |
$6.949 billion
(2008 est) |
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Exports - commodities: |
ferronickel,
sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats, consumer
goods |
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Exports - partners: |
US 63.1%, Spain 3.7%, Belgium
3.6% (2008) |
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Imports: |
$16.08
billion (f.o.b. 2008 est) |
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Imports - commodities: |
foodstuffs,
petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals |
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Imports - partners: |
US 45.3%, Venezuela 9.6%, Mexico
6.1%, Colombia 4.9%, China 4.6% (2008) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and
gold: |
$2.288 billion (31 December 2008
est.) |
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Currency: |
Dominican
peso (DOP |
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Exchange rates: |
Dominican
pesos per US dollar - 34.775 (2008 est) |
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Communications |
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Telephones - main lines in use: |
985,700 (2008) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular: |
7.21 (2008) |
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Telephone system: |
general assessment:
relatively efficient system based on island-wide microwave radio
relay network
domestic: fixed
telephone line density is about 10 per 100 persons; multiple
providers of mobile cellular service with a subscribership of
roughly 60 per 100 persons
international: country code - 1 -809;
landing point for the America Region Caribbean Ring System
(ARCOS-1) fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable that
provides links to South and Central America, parts of the
Caribbean, and US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean) (2007) |
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Radio broadcast stations: |
AM
120, FM 56, shortwave 4 (1998) |
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Television broadcast
stations & Televisions: |
25
(2003) |
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Internet Country Code: |
.do |
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Internet Hosts:
Internet Users: |
105,546
1.677 million (2007) |
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Transportation |
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Railways: |
total: 1,784 km
country comparison to the world: 78
standard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,368 km 1.076-m, 0.889-m, and 0.762-m gauges
note: 1,226 km operated by sugar companies in 1.076 m, 0.889 m,
and 0.762-m gauges (2008) |
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Roadways: |
total:
19,705 km
paved: 9,872 km
unpaved: 9,833 km (2002) |
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Ports and harbors: |
Boca Chica, Caucedo, Puerto
Plata, Rio Haina, Santo Domingo |
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Merchant marine: |
by type: cargo 1
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008) |
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Airports: |
total: 35 |
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Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2009) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 17 (2009) |
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Military |
Army,
Navy, Air Force, (Fuerza Aerea Dominicana, FAD) (2009) |
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Main Source of Information: the Central Intelligence Agency
World Factbook |
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Favourite local dish |
Sancocho; a soup with
vegetables, starches (such as yams or potatoes) and meats. |
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