History of Dominican Republic in Timeline

The Dominican Republic is a Caribbean nation occupying the eastern portion of Hispaniola, sharing the island with Haiti. It's the second-largest Caribbean country by both area (48,671 sq km) and population (approximately 11.4 million in 2024), after Cuba and Haiti respectively. Santo Domingo is its capital city, home to about 3.6 million residents.

1902: Short-lived governments

From 1902 on, short-lived governments were again the norm, with their power usurped by caudillos in parts of the country.

1902: Former Presidency of Horacio Vásquez

Horacio Vásquez was president from 1902 to 1903.

1905: Roosevelt Corollary

In 1905 United States President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed his famous Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.

1906: Dominican customs agreement

In 1906 an agreement provided for the arrangement to last 50 years.

1907: Missionaries in Dominican Republic

By 1907 missionaries from the Episcopal, Free Methodist, Seventh-day Adventist and Moravians churches began work in the Dominican Republic.

1911: Assassination of Ramón Cáceres

In 1911, President Ramón Cáceres was assassinated, leading to political instability and civil war.

1914: Political Deadlock Broken

In 1914, a political deadlock was broken after an ultimatum by Wilson telling the Dominicans to choose a president or see the U.S. impose one.

May 7, 1916: Resignation of Jimenes

On May 7, 1916, President Jimenes resigned despite a U.S. offer of military aid, leading to the U.S. occupation of the Dominican Republic.

May 16, 1916: U.S. Marines Land

On May 16, 1916, U.S. Marines landed in the Dominican Republic, seizing the capital and other ports.

1916: US occupation

During the U.S. occupation of 1916–24, peasants from the countryside, called Gavilleros, would not only kill U.S. Marines, but would also attack and kill Arab vendors traveling through the countryside.

1916: Volleyball Introduced by U.S. Marines

In 1916, volleyball was introduced to the Dominican Republic by U.S. Marines.

1918: Expansion of education system

Between 1918 and 1920, more than three hundred schools were established nationwide.

1920: Expansion of education system

Between 1918 and 1920, more than three hundred schools were established nationwide.

1920: Influence on art scene

Between 1920 and 1940 the art scene was influenced by styles of realism and impressionism. Dominican artists were focused on breaking from previous, academic styles in order to develop more independent and individual styles.

October 1922: End of U.S. Government Rule

In October 1922, the U.S. government's rule ended in the Dominican Republic.

March 1924: Elections Held

In March 1924, elections were held, and Horacio Vásquez was the victor.

July 13, 1924: Inauguration of Horacio Vásquez

On July 13, 1924, Horacio Vásquez was inaugurated as president.

September 1930: Hurricane San Zenón

In September 1930, Hurricane San Zenón devastated Santo Domingo, killing 8,000 people.

November 1930: Defeat of General Cipriano Bencosme

In November 1930, General Cipriano Bencosme led an uprising but was defeated and killed in a confrontation with the army near Puerto Plata.

1930: Trujillo Seizes Power

In 1930, General Rafael Trujillo seized power after a military revolt.

1930: Start of Trujillo's Dictatorship

In 1930, Rafael Trujillo began his dictatorship in the Dominican Republic after a military revolt.

1932: Birth of Oscar de la Renta

In 1932, fashion designer Oscar de la Renta was born in the Dominican Republic.

1935: Border Agreement with Haiti

In 1935, Trujillo negotiated an undisputed border with Haiti.

1936: Distrito Nacional created

In 1936, the Distrito Nacional was created in Dominican Republic.

October 1937: Massacre of Haitians

In October 1937, Dominican troops murdered 10,000 to 15,000 Haitian men, women, and children along the Haitian-Dominican border under the orders of Trujillo.

1937: Merengue music promoted internationally

Between 1937 and 1950, merengue music was promoted internationally by Dominican groups like Billo's Caracas Boys and Chapuseaux and Damiron.

1940: Influence on art scene

1940: Immigration to the Dominican Republic

Until about 1940, Puerto Rican and Cuban immigrants fled to the Dominican Republic due to poor economy and social unrest in their respective home countries.

1941: End of Customs Agreement

In 1941, Trujillo achieved the end of the 50-year customs agreement.

1946: Purchase of Military Aircraft and Warships

Between 1946 and 1949, the Dominican government purchased military aircraft and warships from the British government.

1947: Dominican Republic Debt-Free

In 1947, Trujillo made the Dominican Republic debt-free.

1949: Purchase of Military Aircraft and Warships

Between 1946 and 1949, the Dominican government purchased military aircraft and warships from the British government.

1950: Merengue music promoted internationally

Between 1937 and 1950, merengue music was promoted internationally by Dominican groups like Billo's Caracas Boys and Chapuseaux and Damiron.

1950: Population

In 1950, the population of the Dominican Republic was 2,380,000.

September 23, 1956: Ozzie Virgil Sr. Becomes First Dominican-Born MLB Player

On September 23, 1956, Ozzie Virgil Sr. made history as the first Dominican-born player in Major League Baseball (MLB).

1956: Scheduled Expiry of Customs Agreement

The customs agreement in Dominican Republic would expire in 1956.

August 13, 1959: Capture of C-47 Transport in Cuba

On August 13, 1959, a C-47 transport aircraft flying from the Dominican Republic carrying military advisors and supplies landed at Trinidad airport and was seized by Castro's forces.

August 26, 1960: US severed diplomatic relations

On August 26, 1960, the United States severed diplomatic relations with the Dominican Republic.

November 25, 1960: Assassination of the Mirabal Sisters

On November 25, 1960, Trujillo's henchmen killed three of the Mirabal sisters, leading to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women being observed on this anniversary.

1960: US broke up with Trujillo

In 1960, the U.S. broke with Trujillo after his agents attempted to assassinate the Venezuelan president Rómulo Betancourt with a car bomb.

January 1961: US suspended the export of petroleum products

In January 1961 the United States suspended the export of trucks, parts, crude oil, gasoline and other petroleum products.

May 30, 1961: Assassination of Trujillo

On May 30, 1961, Trujillo was shot and killed by Dominican dissidents during a car chase.

May 31, 1961: Arrest of individuals plotting to overthrow the government

On May 31, 1961, Venezuela arrested several individuals plotting to overthrow the government, armed with weapons traced to the Dominican Republic.

November 18, 1961: U.S. Warning to Trujillos

On November 18, 1961, U.S. Secretary of State Dean Rusk warned the Trujillos against reasserting dictatorial domination.

1961: Assassination of Rafael Trujillo

In 1961, the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo ended with his assassination.

1961: Emigration wave begins

In 1961, the first of three late-20th century emigration waves began after the assassination of dictator Trujillo, due to fear of retaliation and political uncertainty.

January 4, 1962: OAS Lifts Sanctions

On January 4, 1962, the OAS lifted its sanctions on the Dominican Republic.

1962: Election of Juan Bosch

In 1962, Juan Bosch was elected president of the Dominican Republic.

February 1963: Juan Bosch takes office

In February 1963, a democratically elected government under leftist Juan Bosch took office in Dominican Republic.

1963: Oscar de la Renta's label

By 1963, Oscar de la Renta had designs bearing his own label.

1963: Military Coup against Juan Bosch

In 1963, Juan Bosch was deposed in a military coup.

1963: Dominican Revolutionary Party in power

In 1963, the Dominican Revolutionary Party was in power in the Dominican Republic.

April 24, 1965: Second military coup ousts Donald Reid Cabral

On April 24, 1965, a second military coup in the Dominican Republic ousted the military-installed president Donald Reid Cabral. The pro-Bosch Constitutionalists maintained control of most of the capital despite tank assaults, strafing, and aerial bombardment.

1965: Dominican Civil War

In 1965, the Dominican Civil War took place.

1965: US occupation and travel restrictions

In 1965, the United States began a military occupation of the Dominican Republic and eased travel restrictions, making it easier for Dominicans to obtain U.S. visas.

1966: Exodus continues

From 1966 to 1978, the exodus from the Dominican Republic continued, fueled by high unemployment and political repression.

1966: Social Christian Reformist Party in power

From 1966, the Social Christian Reformist Party was in power in the Dominican Republic.

1966: Start of Joaquín Balaguer's Authoritarian Rule

In 1966, Joaquín Balaguer began his authoritarian rule, which lasted until 1978 and later from 1986 to 1996.

1966: Joaquín Balaguer wins elections

In 1966, Joaquín Balaguer won the elections in the Dominican Republic, supervised by U.S. and OAS peacekeeping troops who then left the country. Balaguer, Trujillo's last puppet-president, remained in power for 12 years.

1971: Oscar de la Renta becomes US citizen

In 1971, Oscar de la Renta became a US citizen.

1973: Bosch founds PLD

In 1973, Bosch founded the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) after leaving the PRD.

1978: Exodus continues

From 1966 to 1978, the exodus from the Dominican Republic continued, fueled by high unemployment and political repression.

1978: Dominican Revolutionary Party in power

From 1978, the Dominican Revolutionary Party was in power in the Dominican Republic.

1978: Antonio Guzmán Fernández becomes president

In 1978, opposition candidate Antonio Guzmán Fernández of the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) succeeded Balaguer to the presidency of Dominican Republic.

1978: Transition Towards Representative Democracy

In 1978, the Dominican Republic started transitioning towards a representative democracy.

August 1979: Hurricane David hits Dominican Republic

In August 1979, Hurricane David struck the Dominican Republic, resulting in over 2,000 deaths, leaving 200,000 homeless, and causing over $1 billion in damage.

1982: Salvador Jorge Blanco wins presidency

In 1982, another Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) win occurred in Dominican Republic, under Salvador Jorge Blanco.

1985: Exchange rate liberalization

In 1985, the exchange rate to the U.S. dollar was liberalized in Dominican Republic.

August 1986: Exchange rate

In August 1986, the exchange rate of the Dominican peso to the U.S. dollar stood at 2.70 pesos per dollar.

1986: Social Christian Reformist Party in power

From 1986, the Social Christian Reformist Party was in power in the Dominican Republic.

1986: Balaguer regains the presidency

In 1986, Balaguer regained the presidency of Dominican Republic.

1986: Return of Joaquín Balaguer

In 1986, Joaquín Balaguer returned to power.

1990: Economic turmoil in the late 1980s and 1990

Following economic turmoil in the late 1980s and 1990, the gross domestic product (GDP) fell by up to 5% and consumer price inflation reached an unprecedented 100% in Dominican Republic.

1990: Balaguer re-elected

In 1990, Balaguer was re-elected as president of Dominican Republic.

1992: Economic Growth in Dominican Republic

From 1992 to 2018, the Dominican Republic experienced the fastest-growing economy in the Western Hemisphere.

1992: Columbus Lighthouse completed

In 1992, the massive Columbus Lighthouse was completed during a later tenure of Joaquín Balaguer as president of Dominican Republic.

1993: Exchange rate

In 1993, the exchange rate of the Dominican peso to the U.S. dollar was 14.00 pesos per dollar.

1994: Balaguer wins flawed elections

In 1994, Balaguer won the elections in Dominican Republic, defeating PRD candidate José Francisco Peña Gómez, but the elections were flawed, leading to international pressure.

1996: Generally free and fair elections

According to international observers, presidential and congressional elections since 1996 have been generally free and fair in Dominican Republic.

1996: Dominican Liberation Party in power

From 1996, the Dominican Liberation Party was in power in the Dominican Republic.

1996: Another presidential contest is scheduled

In 1996, Balaguer scheduled another presidential contest in Dominican Republic due to flawed elections in 1994. Balaguer was not a candidate; the PSRC candidate was his Vice President Jacinto Peynado Garrigosa.

1996: Leonel Fernández achieves first win for PLD

In 1996, Leonel Fernández, with the support of Joaquín Balaguer, achieved the first-ever win for the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) in Dominican Republic.

1996: End of Joaquín Balaguer's Government

In 1996, the government of Joaquín Balaguer ended.

1998: Hurricane Georges strikes the country

In 1998, Hurricane Georges struck the Dominican Republic as the last major hurricane to hit the country.

2000: Dominican Revolutionary Party in power

From 2000, the Dominican Revolutionary Party was in power in the Dominican Republic.

2000: Hipólito Mejía wins election

In 2000, the PRD's Hipólito Mejía won the election in Dominican Republic, marking a time of economic troubles.

2000: Exchange rate

In 2000, the exchange rate of the Dominican peso to the U.S. dollar was 16.00 pesos per dollar.

2000: Urban population growth rate

Per the United Nations, the urban population growth rate for 2000 in Dominican Republic–2005 was 2.3%.

2000: Phone line subscribers

Since the year 2000, the phone line subscribers increased fivefold in Dominican Republic, when there were 1.6 million.

2001: Santo Domingo Province split off

In 2001, the new Santo Domingo Province was split off from the Distrito Nacional in Dominican Republic.

2002: Economy entered a recession

Until 2002, Dominican Republic entered a period of growth and declining inflation, after which the economy entered a recession.

2003: Poverty and illiteracy in Haiti

In 2003, it was reported that 80% of Haitians were poor (54% living in abject poverty) and 47.1% were illiterate.

2003: GDP dropping due to the Baninter fraud

In 2003, the Baninter fraud had a devastating effect on the Dominican economy, with GDP dropping by 1% as inflation ballooned by over 27%.

2003: Dominican Republic participates in invasion of Iraq

In 2003, under President Mejía, the Dominican Republic participated in the US-led coalition during the invasion of Iraq, suffering no casualties.

2004: Dominican Liberation Party in power

From 2004, the Dominican Liberation Party was in power in the Dominican Republic.

2004: Drug trans-shipment

In 2004, it was estimated that 8% of all cocaine smuggled into the United States had come through the Dominican Republic.

2005: Dominican Republic ranked

According to the 2005 Annual Report of the United Nations Subcommittee on Human Development in the Dominican Republic, the country is ranked No. 71 in the world for resource availability, No. 79 for human development, and No. 14 in the world for resource mismanagement.

2005: Criticism of Haitian expulsions

In 2005, Dominican President Leonel Fernández criticized collective expulsions of Haitians. The Dominican Foreign Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso defended Dominican Republic's sovereignty, after a UN delegation reported racism and discrimination against people of Haitian origin.

2005: Urban population growth rate

Per the United Nations, the urban population growth rate for 2005 in Dominican Republic–2005 was 2.3%.

2006: Frank Báez wins prize

In 2006, Frank Báez won the Santo Domingo Book Fair First Prize.

2006: Annual population growth rate

The annual population growth rate for 2006 in Dominican Republic–2007 was 1.5%, with the projected population for the year 2015 being 10,121,000.

2007: Population density

In 2007, the population density in Dominican Republic was 192 per km (498 per sq mi), and 63% of the population lived in urban areas.

2007: Annual population growth rate

The annual population growth rate for 2007 in Dominican Republic–2007 was 1.5%, with the projected population for the year 2015 being 10,121,000.

2008: Fernández elected for third term

In 2008, Fernández was elected for a third term as president of Dominican Republic.

2008: Gabriel Mercedes Wins Olympic Silver Medal in Taekwondo

In 2008, Gabriel Mercedes won an Olympic silver medal in taekwondo for the Dominican Republic.

2008: Junot Díaz wins Pulitzer Prize

Junot Díaz won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for his novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (Pulitzer Prize Winner)

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March 2009: Internet users

In March 2009, there were 2,439,997 Internet users in Dominican Republic.

June 2009: Phone line subscribers

In June 2009, there were more than 8 million phone line subscribers in Dominican Republic.

November 2009: Dominican Republic pledges to include a "gender perspective" in ICT

In November 2009, the Dominican Republic became the first Latin American country to pledge to include a "gender perspective" in every information and communications technology (ICT) initiative and policy developed by the government.

April 2010: Violent crime case

In April 2010, five teenagers in the Dominican Republic were involved in the deaths of seven taxi drivers, sparking controversy due to the light sentences they received.

September 24, 2010: Sentencing in taxi driver case

On September 24, 2010, five teenagers were sentenced to prison terms of three to five years for killing seven taxi drivers in April 2010, causing protests from the victims' families.

2010: Dominican immigration to Puerto Rico

As of 2010, there were nearly 70,000 Dominicans living in Puerto Rico.

2010: Population age

In 2010, 31.2% of the population was under 15 years of age in Dominican Republic, with 6% of the population over 65 years of age.

2010: Population of Santo Domingo

In 2010, the capital city Santo Domingo had a population of 2,907,100 in Dominican Republic.

2010: Census results

The 2010 Census in the Dominican Republic registered 311,969 Haitians, 24,457 Americans, 6,691 Spaniards, 5,763 Puerto Ricans, and 5,132 Venezuelans.

2012: Danilo Medina elected president

In 2012, Danilo Medina of the PLD was elected president of Dominican Republic.

2012: Immigrant survey

In 2012, a Dominican government survey found 329,281 Haitian-born, 25,814 U.S.-born, 7,062 Spanish-born, 6,083 Puerto Rican-born, 5,417 Venezuelan-born, 3,841 Cuban-born, 3,795 Italian-born, 3,606 Colombian-born, 2,043 French-born, 1,661 German-born, and 1,484 Chinese-born residents in the Dominican Republic.

2012: Passengers rode the Santo Domingo Metro

In 2012, before the opening of the second line, 30,856,515 passengers rode the Santo Domingo Metro in Dominican Republic.

2012: Dominican descent in the U.S.

In 2012, there were approximately 1.7 million people of Dominican descent in the U.S.

April 2013: Second line opened

In April 2013, the second line of the Santo Domingo Metro opened in Dominican Republic.

August 2013: Current length of the Metro

As of August 2013, the current length of the Santo Domingo Metro, with the sections of the two lines open, is 27.35 kilometres.

2013: Government spending on foreign patients

Between 2013 and 2016, the Dominican Republic government invested a total of $16 billion pesos in health services offered to foreign patients.

2013: Remittances of US$3333 million

In 2013, remittances in Dominican Republic was US$3333 million, according to the Inter-American Development Bank.

2013: Dominican Republic Wins World Baseball Classic

In 2013, the Dominican Republic's baseball team achieved an undefeated record on their way to winning the World Baseball Classic.

October 20, 2014: Death of Oscar de la Renta

On October 20, 2014, fashion designer Oscar de la Renta died of complications from cancer.

2014: Religion statistics

In 2014, 57% of the Dominican Republic population identified as Roman Catholics and 23% as Protestants.

2014: Remittances increased to US$4571.30 million

In 2014, remittances in Dominican Republic increased to US$4571.30 million from US$3333 million in 2013, according to the Inter-American Development Bank.

2014: GDP Growth in Dominican Republic

In 2014, the GDP growth in the Dominican Republic reached 7.3%, the highest in the Western Hemisphere.

2014: Ridership increased

In 2014, with both lines opened, ridership increased to 61,270,054 passengers in Santo Domingo Metro in Dominican Republic.

2015: GDP Growth and Gold Production

In 2015, the GDP growth in the Dominican Republic was 7.0%, the highest in the Western Hemisphere. The gold production was 31 metric tonnes.

2015: Projected population

The projected population for the year 2015 was 10,121,000 in Dominican Republic.

2016: Global Slavery Index

According to the 2016 Global Slavery Index, an estimated 104,800 people are enslaved in the modern day Dominican Republic, or 1.00% of the population.

2016: Reversal of immigration trends in Puerto Rico

As of 2016, immigration trends have reversed because of Puerto Rico's economic crisis.

2016: Government spending on foreign patients

Between 2013 and 2016, the Dominican Republic government invested a total of $16 billion pesos in health services offered to foreign patients.

2016: Danilo Medina re-elected president

In 2016, Danilo Medina of the PLD was re-elected president of Dominican Republic.

2016: Joint Elections after constitutional reform

Starting in 2016, elections are held jointly in Dominican Republic, after a constitutional reform.

2017: Haiti's GDP

In 2017, Haiti's per capita GDP (PPP) was $1,800, just over one-tenth of the Dominican figure.

2017: Dominican Republic population estimate

In 2017, the Dominican government estimated the population of Dominican Republic to be 10,189,895, with 847,979 being immigrants or descendants of recent immigrants, and 9,341,916 being ethnic Dominicans.

2017: Survey of foreign population

In the second half of 2017, a survey of the foreign population in the Dominican Republic found that the majority were of Haitian origin (751,080 out of 847,979).

September 2018: Exchange rate

As of September 2018 the exchange rate was 50.08 pesos per dollar in Dominican Republic.

2018: Economic Growth in Dominican Republic

Between 1992 and 2018, the Dominican Republic experienced an average real GDP growth rate of 5.3%.

2018: Santo Domingo named Culinary Capital

In 2018 and 2019, Santo Domingo was named a Culinary Capital of the Caribbean by the Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy.

2018: Dominican Republic signed treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

In 2018, Dominican Republic signed the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

2019: Santo Domingo named Culinary Capital

In 2018 and 2019, Santo Domingo was named a Culinary Capital of the Caribbean by the Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy.

2019: Global Innovation Index Ranking

In 2019, the Dominican Republic was ranked 87th in the Global Innovation Index.

2020: Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado Wins World and European Cyclo-cross Championship

In 2020, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, representing the Dominican Republic, won both the World and European Cyclo-cross championships.

2020: Luis Abinader wins election

In 2020, Luis Abinader, the opposition candidate, won the election in Dominican Republic, ending 16 years in power of the PLD, weeks after protests against Medina's government.

2020: Protests against the PLD's rule

In 2020, protests erupted in Dominican Republic against the PLD's rule, leading to Luis Abinader winning the election.

2020: Birth and death rates

In 2020, the Dominican Republic had an estimated birth rate of 18.5 per 1000 and a death rate of 6.3 per 1000.

2020: Males per 100 females

In 2020, there were an estimated 102.3 males for every 100 females in Dominican Republic.

2021: Population

In 2021, the population of the Dominican Republic was 11,117,873.

2022: Population survey

In a 2022 population survey, 71.7% self-identified as Mixed (Indio 34.2%, Moreno 26.1%, Mestizo 7.7%, Mulatto 3.8%), 18.7% as White, 7.4% as Black, and 0.3% as "Other" in Dominican Republic.

May 2024: Luis Abinader wins second term

In May 2024, President Luis Abinader won a second term in the elections in Dominican Republic. His policies on migration from Haiti were popular.

2024: Dominican Republic peaceful country ranking

According to the 2024 Global Peace Index, the Dominican Republic is the 97th most peaceful country in the world.

2024: Dominican-Born Players in Baseball Hall of Fame

As of 2024, five Dominican-born players—Adrián Beltré, Vladimir Guerrero, Juan Marichal, Pedro Martínez, and David Ortiz—have been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

2024: Population of Dominican Republic

In 2024, the Dominican Republic has an approximate population of 11.4 million people, with 3.6 million residing in the metropolitan area of Santo Domingo.