DOMINICAN REPUBLIC DOMINICAN REPUBLIC REGION CARIBBEAN NATURAL RESOURCES INDUSTRY AGRICULTURE GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION GLOBAL RELATIONS DATE OF INDEPENDENCE FEBRUARY 27 1844 DATE OF CURRENT CONSTITUTION NOVEMBER 28 1966 POPULATION 8129734 1999 EST AREA 18704 SQ MI CAPITAL SANTO DOMINGO FORM OF GOVERNMENT REPUBLIC MAIN INDUSTRIES SUGAR REFINING LIGHT MANUFACTURING CEMENT TOURISM NATURAL RESOURCES NICKEL SILVER GOLD CURRENCY PESO GDP 39.8 BILLION 1998 EST GDP PER CAPITA 5000 1998 EST LANGUAGES SPANISH OFFICIAL RELIGIONS CHRISTIAN ROMAN CATHOLIC LITERACY RATE 82 LIFE EXPECTANCY 68 YEARS MALE 72 YEARS FEMALE BIRTHRATE 26 PER 1000 POPULATION DEATH RATE 6 PER 1000 POPULATION
