• Total prison population: 16,789 prisoners
• Crime trend: Narcotics-related crime is rising

Crime rates

The Dominican Republic is increasingly used by narcotics cartels as a transit point to the US. Narcotics trafficking and arms smuggling are linked to the high levels of violent crime.

• Annual defense budget: $153m

DOMINICAN ARMED FORCES

• Army: 12 light tanks (M-41A1) (15,000 personnel)
• Navy: 15 patrol boats (4000 personnel)
• Air force: 16 combat aircraft (6 A-37B) (5500 personnel)
• Nuclear capability: None

The Dominican Republic military is the second-largest in the region after Cuba. It focuses on illegal immigration from Haiti and narcotics smuggling. The main arms supplier is the US.

• Gross National Product (GNP): $20bn

Score card

• World GNP ranking: 65th
• GNP per capita: $2320
• Balance of payments: $867m
• Inflation: 27.5%
• Unemployment: 16%

Exports

Imports

Economic performance indicator

Strengths

Sustained tourism growth. Mining – mainly of nickel and gold – and sugar major sectors. Hand-made cigars, which are biggest sellers in US. Large hidden economy based on transshipment of narcotics to US.

Weaknesses

Peso falling in value. Massive bank fraud exposed in 2003 – $2.2 billion embezzled. Electricity shortages. Rising unemployment. Tourism vulnerable to global slumps.