Dominican diaspora exceeds three million across 129 countries, report shows

Dominican diaspora three million INDEX report United States demographic register

The Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Institute of Dominicans Abroad (INDEX), released the fifth edition of its Socio‑demographic Register of Dominicans residing abroad. The register estimates 3,030,647 people – about 28 % of the nation’s total population – live in 129 countries and territories.

North America hosts the overwhelming majority (84.9 %), with the United States alone accounting for 2,539,893 residents, followed by Spain, Italy, Chile, Canada and the Netherlands. Women represent 53.5 % of the diaspora, and one‑third are aged 0‑25 years. For the first time the study adds data from Asia, Africa and Oceania, identifying small communities in Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Botswana, Guinea, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Serbia and Vietnam.

“‘No State can fully represent a population it does not understand,’” said Vice‑minister Rubén Silié during the launch. Vice‑minister Celinés Toribio added that “the Register goes beyond counting residents; it allows us to understand their characteristics, needs and to shape more precise institutional responses.”