Einar H. Dyvik
Research expert covering Nordics and global data for society, economy, and politics
Dominican Republic - Statistics & Facts
The Dominican Republic is often associated with its turquoise water, bachata dancing, and dreamy resorts. But this Caribbean nation has long been historically significant. Situated on the eastern two-thirds of Hispaniola Island, the Dominican Republic shares both geography and history with neighbor Haiti. After the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, the island became the Spanish colonial gateway to the Americas; however, by 1697, Spain had ceded the western part of the island to France. After two declarations of independence, first from Spain and later from Haiti, the Dominican nation became independent in 1844. Today, the country stands out as one of the largest-growing economies in Latin America and the Caribbean region.
