Publishing and broadcast media

• Main national newspapers: There are 11 daily newspapers, including Listín Diario, Ultima Hora, El Nacional, and El Caribe
• Television stations: 7 services: 2 state-owned, 5 independent
• Radio stations: 131 services: 1 state-owned, 130 independent

Television broadcasts from both Mexico and the US can easily be received in the Dominican Republic.

• Main languages spoken: Spanish, French Creole
• Population density: 184/km2 (476/mi2) (Population density medium)

The urban/rural population split

Religious persuasion

Ethnic makeup

Population age breakdown

The white population, primarily the descendants of Spanish settlers, still own most of the land. The mixed-race majority – about 73% – controls much of the republic's commerce, and forms the bulk of the professional middle classes. Blacks, the descendants of Africans, are mainly small-scale farmers and often the victims of latent racism, especially if of Haitian origin. Women in the black community work the farms; in the white and mixed-race communities women are starting to make professional careers.

• Dates of last and next legislative elections: L. House 2002/2006 U. House 2002/2006
• Head of state: President Leonel Fernández

Decades of conservative rule under Joaquín Balaguer ended in 1996 with the election of Leonel Fernández of the moderate PLD. Hipolito Mejía of the center-left PRD won the presidency in 2000, but his initial popularity was eroded by spiraling living costs, high unemployment, chronic electricity shortages, and major bank collapses. Internal disputes within the PRD, street protests over the terms of an IMF loan, and continuing allegations of corruption led to his defeat and the reelection of Fernández in 2004.