GeoRealityMatch
Stunning aerial view of Santo Domingo's coastline alongside the cityscape, capturing the vibrant urban layout and vibrant ocean.From below of old stone house facades under colorful cloudy sky in city at sundown

Dominican Republic

North America · Caribbean

High safetyAffordable cost of livingHigh development

The air is polluted.

BackpackerCombines affordable cost of living and high safety.
vs Costa Ricavs Mexico
Safety

88th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.038lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#88 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
10.9per 100,000 people a yearHighUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
40Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferLowNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$10,620national income per person, US dollarsModerate
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
14.0New York = 100ModerateNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
15.6years of median income to buy a median flatExpensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 173% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 89% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$15K$30K$28,721 PPP$11,059Inflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $4,055 a person, $9,130 at PPP, inflation 7.6%2007, $4,650 a person, $9,951 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2008, $5,024 a person, $10,346 at PPP, inflation 10.6%2009, $4,974 a person, $10,382 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2010, $5,479 a person, $11,246 at PPP, inflation 6.3%2011, $5,827 a person, $11,695 at PPP, inflation 5.8%2012, $6,014 a person, $11,777 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2013, $6,137 a person, $12,414 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2014, $6,496 a person, $13,465 at PPP, inflation 3%2015, $6,801 a person, $14,804 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2016, $7,160 a person, $16,282 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2017, $7,413 a person, $16,846 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2018, $7,883 a person, $17,995 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2019, $8,183 a person, $19,767 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2020, $7,135 a person, $18,998 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2021, $8,527 a person, $22,053 at PPP, inflation 8.2%2022, $10,104 a person, $24,622 at PPP, inflation 8.8%2023, $10,630 a person, $25,861 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2024, $10,876 a person, $27,582 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2025, $11,059 a person, $28,721 at PPP, inflation 3.9%$0$15K$30KInflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $4,055 a person, $9,130 at PPP, inflation 7.6%2007, $4,650 a person, $9,951 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2008, $5,024 a person, $10,346 at PPP, inflation 10.6%2009, $4,974 a person, $10,382 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2010, $5,479 a person, $11,246 at PPP, inflation 6.3%2011, $5,827 a person, $11,695 at PPP, inflation 5.8%2012, $6,014 a person, $11,777 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2013, $6,137 a person, $12,414 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2014, $6,496 a person, $13,465 at PPP, inflation 3%2015, $6,801 a person, $14,804 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2016, $7,160 a person, $16,282 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2017, $7,413 a person, $16,846 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2018, $7,883 a person, $17,995 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2019, $8,183 a person, $19,767 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2020, $7,135 a person, $18,998 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2021, $8,527 a person, $22,053 at PPP, inflation 8.2%2022, $10,104 a person, $24,622 at PPP, inflation 8.8%2023, $10,630 a person, $25,861 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2024, $10,876 a person, $27,582 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2025, $11,059 a person, $28,721 at PPP, inflation 3.9%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Around the middle for life expectancy

Life expectancy
73.9years, at birthModerate
#97 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
73WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100ModerateWHO · 2023
Air pollution
33.3PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Fast home internet

Unemployment rate
5.1%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
73 Mbpsmedian download speedFastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
503EF English Proficiency Index scoreModerateEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet73 MbpsFast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

From below of old stone house facades under colorful cloudy sky in city at sundown
How it changed

Dominican Republic's Human Development Index

0.776High human development

89th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 13th of 23 in North America.

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. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #87Ukraine0.779
  2. #88Ecuador0.777
  3. #89Dominican Republic0.776
  4. #89Guyana0.776
  5. #89Sri Lanka0.776
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.589 in 1990 to 0.776 in 2023.

0.550.680.800.77619902000201020231990: 0.5891991: 0.5941992: 0.6041993: 0.6111994: 0.6171995: 0.6241996: 0.6311997: 0.6391998: 0.6451999: 0.6522000: 0.6582001: 0.6632002: 0.6682003: 0.6702004: 0.6732005: 0.6832006: 0.6912007: 0.6982008: 0.7042009: 0.7072010: 0.7152011: 0.7212012: 0.7272013: 0.7312014: 0.7372015: 0.7472016: 0.7662017: 0.7702018: 0.7732019: 0.7712020: 0.7672021: 0.7622022: 0.7782023: 0.7760.550.680.8019902000201020231990: 0.5891991: 0.5941992: 0.6041993: 0.6111994: 0.6171995: 0.6241996: 0.6311997: 0.6391998: 0.6451999: 0.6522000: 0.6582001: 0.6632002: 0.6682003: 0.6702004: 0.6732005: 0.6832006: 0.6912007: 0.6982008: 0.7042009: 0.7072010: 0.7152011: 0.7212012: 0.7272013: 0.7312014: 0.7372015: 0.7472016: 0.7662017: 0.7702018: 0.7732019: 0.7712020: 0.7672021: 0.7622022: 0.7782023: 0.776

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
73.9 years2024at birthUp 2.8 years from 71 years in 2005
Internet users
91%2024of people onlineUp 76 points from 15% in 2006
Urban population
73%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 3 points from 69% in 2006
Births per woman
2.222024births per womanDown 0.35 from 2.57 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
15%2021of energy usedDown 6 points from 21% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityUp 9 points from 90% in 2005
Infant mortality
282024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 3 from 31 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
3 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 1 t from 2 t in 2005
Forest area
45%2023of land under forestUp 3 points from 42% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Rapidly growing Caribbean economy, with a stark contrast between resort life and local reality. The case against is polluted air.

About 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.

Practical facts

  • CapitalSanto Domingo
  • LanguagesSpanish
  • CurrencyDominican peso (DOP)
  • Area48,198 km²
  • Plug typeType A/B
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Dominican Republic's Human Development Index?

Dominican Republic's Human Development Index is 0.776 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #89 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Dominican Republic safe?

Dominican Republic scores 2.04 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #88 of 161 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.