Dominican Republic
North America · Caribbean
Rapidly growing Caribbean economy, with a stark contrast between resort life and local reality.
Backpacker
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈Dominican Republic's Human Development Index
0.766
High human development#81 of 191 countries worldwide, #13 of 23 in North America.
Higher than 58% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is the most visited Caribbean nation, with dramatic mountains, white-sand beaches, and a vibrant local culture rooted in merengue, bachata, and a deep Spanish colonial heritage. The north coast and Samaná Peninsula offer a different, quieter face beyond the resort zones. Visitors who venture beyond the all-inclusive belt will discover a country of real colour and character.
- Most visited country in the Caribbean, ahead of Cuba, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico.
- Shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti — the starkest development contrast between two bordering countries.
Quick Facts
Capital
Santo Domingo
Language
Spanish
Currency
$ DOP
Area
48,198 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
73Mbps
GDP / Capita
$11K
PPP / Capita
$29K
Inflation
3.9%
Unemployment
5.1%
Innovation (GII)
22.6
GNI / Capita
$11K
Tax Revenue
14.7%
FDI Inflows
3.9%
Education Spend
3.8%
Cost of Living
38.2
Price Level Index
61st pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.579 → 0.766 (+0.187)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Dominican Republic for real?
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Dominican Republic head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is Dominican Republic's Human Development Index?
Dominican Republic's Human Development Index is 0.766 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #81 of 191 countries.
Is Dominican Republic safe?
Dominican Republic scores 2.04 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #88 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Dominican Republic?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Dominican Republic at 38.2 (New York = 100); that is #58 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Dominican Republic?
Life expectancy at birth in Dominican Republic is 73.9 yrs (World Bank), ranked #97 of 195 countries.