Living in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic lies in the eastern part of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola and has around 10.6 million people. Mountains, fertile valleys, dry landscapes, and long coastlines shape the country. The tropical climate is generally warm; more rain falls along the northern and eastern coasts, while the southwest is drier. In Santo Domingo and other cities, many people live in densely built neighborhoods, travel by bus, motorcycle taxi, or private vehicle, and work in areas such as trade, services, construction, or industry. In rural areas, agriculture and small businesses are more important. Family life, music, and shared meals are part of everyday life in many places, which varies considerably from region to region.