Formerly a Spanish colony, and having gained independence on 27 February 1844, the Dominican Republic was occupied by the USA from 1916 until 1924. After the dictatorship of General Rafael Trujillo (1930-61), in 1962, Juan Bosch, reformer and founder of the PRD, was elected President. He was deposed by a military coup (1963); after military intervention (1965), the USA established the long regime of J.A. Balaguer, leader of the PRSC. According to the 2015 Constitution, executive power rests with the President of the Republic, who is elected by direct vote for a four-year term; legislative power is in the hands of the National Congress (the Chamber of Deputies with 190 members and the Senate with 32 members elected for four-year terms).

Population by age and gender (% - 2020)
	75+ 60-74 45-59 30-44 15-29 0-14
MALE	AGE	FEMALE

There is a large Haitian minority.

Strong economic growth resumed in 2021 (halted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020), supported by tourism, construction, domestic demand and activities in the special economic zones. Most of the country’s exports go to the United States, the country’s main trading partner. Some commercial crops are cultivated (tobacco, sugar cane, cocoa and fruit), whereas rice, maize and cassava are grown to feed the local population. There is plentiful pasture for livestock farming. The main mineral resource is nickel (in Bonao); gold and silver are also mined. The most common industries are those associated with the processing of agricultural produce; there are cement factories and an oil refinery (Santo Domingo). Tourism, tax-free zones and remittances from migrant workers are fundamental to the economy.