The Dominican Republic is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares with the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands, along with Saint Martin, that are shared by two sovereign states. The Dominican Republic is the second-largest Caribbean nation by area (after Cuba) at 48,445 square kilometers (18,705 sq mi), and third by population with 10,349,209 people (as of 2019). In 2010, the Dominican Republic had the ninth-highest GDP per capita in Latin America and is the largest economy in the Caribbean and Central American region.

The Dominican Republic is a middle-income developing country with an economy primarily dependent on agriculture, mining, tourism, trade, and manufacturing. The country is the site of the first cathedral, castle, monastery, and fortress built in the Americas, located in Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone, a World Heritage Site. Santo Domingo was called Ciudad Trujillo (Trujillo City) from 1936 to 1961, after the Dominican dictator, Rafael Trujillo, named it after himself. Following his assassination, the city resumed its original designation.

The Dominican Republic has the ninth-largest economy in Latin America and is the largest in the Caribbean and Central American region. The country is classified as a middle-income developing country by the World Bank. The Dominican Republic is a founding member of the United Nations, World Trade Organization, Association of Caribbean States, Organization of American States, and other international organizations. The country is also the site of the first cathedral, castle, monastery, and fortress built in the Americas, located in Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone, a World Heritage Site.

The Dominican Republic’s economy depends on agriculture, mining, tourism, and manufacturing. The country is rich in gold, silver, and other minerals, and its main agricultural products include coffee, tobacco, sugarcane, and cocoa. Tourism is also a significant contributor to the economy, with the Dominican Republic being the most popular tourist destination in the Caribbean. The country is also a major exporter of cigars and rum.

The Dominican Republic has a free market economy with a large informal sector. The country is the largest exporter of cigars in the world and the second-largest producer of rum. The Dominican Republic