th rate: 27 births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: - 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 60 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 69 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 3.1 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun--Dominican(s); adjective--Dominican

_#_Ethnic divisions: mixed 73%, white 16%, black 11%

_#_Religion: Roman Catholic 95%

_#_Language: Spanish

_#_Literacy: 83% (male 85%, female 82%) age 15 and over can
read and write (1990 est.)

_#_Labor force: 2,300,000-2,600,000; agriculture 49%, services 33%,
industry 18% (1986)

_#_Organized labor: 12% of labor force (1989 est.)

_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: Dominican Republic (no short-form name)

_#_Type: republic

_#_Capital: Santo Domingo

_#_Administrative divisions: 29 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona,
Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo,
Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega,
Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata,
Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez
Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro De Macoris, Santiago,
Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde

_#_Independence: 27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

_#_Constitution: 28 November 1966

_#_Legal system: based on French civil codes

_#_National holiday: Independence Day, 27 February (1844)

_#_Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

_#_Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
consists of an upper chamber or Senate (Senado) and lower chamber or
Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)

_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Joaquin BALAGUER
Ricardo (since 16 August 1986, fifth elected term began 16 August 1990);
Vice President Carlos A. MORALES Troncoso (since 16 August 1986)

_#_Political parties and leaders:

Major parties--
Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC), Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo;
Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Jose Francisco PENA Gomez;
Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Juan BOSCH Gavino;
Independent Revolutionary Party (PRI), Jacobo MAJLUTA;

Minor parties--
National Veterans and Civilian