The Dominican Republic is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two sovereign states. The Dominican Republic is the second-largest Caribbean nation by area (after Cuba) at 48,671 square kilometers (18,792 sq mi), and third by population with approximately 10.5 million people, of which approximately 3.3 million live in the metropolitan area of Santo Domingo, the capital city.

The Dominican Republic’s economy is the eighth largest in the Caribbean and fourth largest in Central America. The country is the site of the largest gold mine in the Caribbean and the oldest European-established city in the Americas, Santo Domingo, the country’s capital. The Dominican Republic is the most visited destination in the Caribbean. The year-round warm climate and abundant rainfall, coupled with the island’s natural beauty, make it a popular tourist destination.