The Dominican Republic is located on the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. It shares the island with Haiti, which occupies the western third. The capital, Santo Domingo, is located on the south coast of the island.

The Dominican Republic is a middle-income developing country with an estimated 2018 GDP per capita of US$7,844. The economy is primarily services-based, with tourism and mining as the main sources of revenue. The country is also a major exporter of sugar, coffee, cocoa, and tobacco.

The Dominican Republic is a democratic republic and the oldest democracy in the Americas. The President of the Dominican Republic is the head of state and head of government. The country has a multi-party system, with two major political parties: the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) and the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD).

The Dominican Republic is a member of the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Caribbean Development Bank.