The Dominican Republic has an estimated population of 10.65 million, up from 9.44 million at the 2010 census. The country has an overall population density of 197 people per square kilometer (502/square mile), which ranks 65th in the world.

The capital and largest city of the Dominican Republic is Santo Domingo, which is also the largest Caribbean city. Santo Domingo has a population of 970,000, with a metropolitan population of nearly 3 million. Other major cities include Santiago de los Caballeros (750,000), La Romana (215,000) and San Pedro de Macoris (190,000).

Dominican Republic Demographics

The history of the country dates back to when Christopher Columbus first landed at its port in 1492, in pursuit of discovering India and realizing the existence of the ëNew Worldí instead. Back then, the land was inhabited by the Arawak-speaking population, known as the Tainos. Following the island's discovery, the Spanish and subsequently the French ruled what is now called the Dominican Republic. The Tainos no longer exist today. They are believed to have been exterminated by the genocide incurred on the indigenous population of the Americas, following Columbusí landing.

Today, nearly 73% of the country's population is racially mixed, while 16% is White and 11% Black. The most common ethnic immigrant groups are West Indians. Many immigrants move to the Dominican Republic in search of better opportunities. There are tens of thousands of Jamaicans in the country and more than 700,000 people of Haitian descent. There are about 10,000 Puerto Rican immigrants around greater Santo Domingo.

Genealogical testing in 2012 found the average Dominican is 58% European, 35% Sub-Saharan African and 7% Asian-Native American.

Dominican Republic Population Projections

The Dominican Republic is expected to begin growing faster in the next two decades. By 2030, the population will reach 12.1 million, up more than 18% from 2012, and largely driven by a growing population aged 60 and older. Santo Domingo will hit a population of 4 million by 2030.

Source: Jose Juan C