Dominican Republic reports falling homicide rates and rising female employment

The Dominican Republic has seen a 17% decrease in its cumulative homicide rate compared to the same period in 2025, according to the Joint Task Force. As of October 16, 2026, the rate stood at 7.25 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, marking a 45.1% reduction since 2022.

While the national trend is downward, five specific regions—Elías Piña, Baoruco, Villa Altagracia, Monte Plata, and Pedernales—report rates exceeding 10 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants. The report also noted 52 homicides, 80 injuries, and 1,953 robberies during the analyzed period, with no kidnappings reported.

In economic news, Central Bank data from the National Continuous Labor Force Survey shows that women accounted for 86.6% of the net increase in employed persons between the second quarter of 2025 and 2026. The number of employed women rose by 127,742.

Despite this growth, a significant gender gap remains. Women make up 52.6% of the working-age population, but their employment rate is 51.7%, compared to 75.9% for men. Additionally, the national informality rate in the labor market was recorded at 53.8% for the second quarter of 2026.