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An intergovernmental organization established in 1951, IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society.

  • 146 Members and 98 observers
  • More than 450 field locations
  • More than 7,800 staff working on more than 2,700 projects
  • More than US$ 1.3 billion expenditures in 2011

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Beware of fraudulent offers of migration assistance in the internet or email marketing.

Individuals considering migrating for whatever purpose or destination should take extreme caution in dealing with internet offers or email marketing in light of recent surge in fraudulent schemes.

Dominican Republic 

Facts and Figures

IOM Member State since 1968

Capital: Santo Domingo
Population (2011): 10.1 million
Area: 48,072 sq km
Major Language: Spanish
Currency: Dominican Peso (DOP)
GDP per Capita PPP (2010): USD 9,350
HDI Rank (2011): 98 of 187
Remittances (2011 estimate): USD 3,593 million
Net Migration Rate (2010-2015): -2.7 migrants /1,000 population
Immigrants (2010): 4.2%
Women as a Percentage of Immigrants (2010): 41.0%
Population under 15 (2011): 30.7%
Adult HIV Prevalence (2009): 1%

Sources and Definitions

Latest News

Overview

Migration Activities

Donors

The Dominican Republic, by virtue of its geographical location, economic profile and 310 km land border with Haiti with whom it shares the island of Hispaniola, has long been a significant origin, destination, and transit point for irregular migrants from within the hemisphere as well as from other regions. The Dominican Republic and Haiti have equivalent-sized populations of approximately ten million each, yet the Dominican Republic occupies twice the territory and has an economy six times larger. The disparity between the two economies draws a large number of Haitian migrants to the informal labour sector in the Dominican Republic. Migration controls along the border have been historically relaxed with Haiti's rural field workers gaining access to the large agricultural labour market via an informal circular labour migration.

Both countries have expressed increasing concern at the growth of transnational criminality along their mutual border. While there have been significant advances over the past five years in border infrastructure, technical capacity and bi-national border operations, criminal networks continue a flourishing trade in drugs, small arms, and human beings.

Critical to the Dominican Republic's border control strategy is the IOM-supported integration of its four border crossing points with the national mainframe currently connecting the airports and accounting for all air and port arrivals and departures. Furthermore, IOM supports the efforts of the Government of the Dominican Republic to curb the incidence of irregular migration in general, improve labour migration policies, combat both human smuggling and trafficking, provide protection services to vulnerable migrants, mitigate migration related conflicts, and regularize the status of a number of long-time foreign nationals residing in the Dominican Republic whose status is still unresolved.

Regulating Migration

IOM works closely with the Government of the Dominican Republic to enhance migration management and security through practical operational solutions.

Projects

  • IOM Dominican Republic - Haiti Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration and Conflict Mitigation
  • Improving Labour Migration Administration in Central America and the Dominican Republic
  • Strengthening Local Capacities for Response and Administration of Risks with Respect to Seismic Events in the Provinces of Puerto Plata and Santiago, Dominican Republic
  • Tolerance Promotion and Conflict Mitigation Information Campaign


Last updated:
Main text: April 2012
Facts and figures: May 2012