The Dominican Republic is a sovereign state located in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the nation of Haiti. In 2010, the Dominican Republic had an estimated population of 10,051,000, of which approximately three million live in the metropolitan area of Santo Domingo, the capital city. The Dominican Republic is the site of the first European settlement in the Americas, the city of Santo Domingo, founded in 1496.

The Dominican Republic’s location on the island of Hispaniola is strategic. The country is situated in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, and it shares the island with Haiti. The Dominican Republic also is located near some of the region’s major shipping lanes. The country’s location allows for easy access to both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

The Dominican Republic has a tropical climate and is subject to frequent hurricanes. The average temperature is about 27 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit). The country experiences two wet seasons, from May to November and from December to April.

The Dominican Republic is a middle-income developing country with a market economy. The Dominican Republic is the largest economy in the Caribbean and Central American region. The country is an exporter of sugar, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, and tobacco products. The Dominican Republic also exports gold, silver, and ferronickel. The country’s main trading partners are the United States, Haiti, China, and the Netherlands.