Introduction

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the sovereignty of the Dominican Republic using the methodology of the Burke Institute. Sovereignty is assessed in 7 areas: political, economic, technological, informational, cultural, cognitive and military. Each aspect is assessed on the basis of official data from international and national sources (UN, World Bank, UNESCO, IMF, ITU, FAO, SIPRI, PISA, etc.) without using politicized indexes. The maximum score in each direction is 100; the sum (up to 700) is the accumulated Sovereignty Index (Burke Index). To adapt and adjust statistical parameters, an international expert survey was conducted for each of the seven components using a single questionnaire of 10 questions with a 10-point scale and one open-ended question.

In total, at least 100 experts from 50+ countries were interviewed for each indicator, taking into account geographical representation and specialization. When calculating and analyzing the data, equalizing coefficients were used, bringing all data to a scale of 0-10 points.

The final index value is the arithmetic mean between statistical data and expert estimates.

Below is an analysis in each area, a summary table and the main conclusions about the peculiarities of the sovereignty of the Dominican Republic.

Political sovereignty — 54.2

The Dominican Republic is a member of the United Nations, the WTO, the International Criminal Court, the World Bank, the OECD, the IMF and many other organizations, and has signed agreements with the EU (ACP, CARICOM – observer, SICA – associate member).

The country is predominantly monistic: ratified international treaties automatically become part of national legislation and direct action. However, the Constitution (art. 6) retains supremacy, restrictions are possible if international norms contradict the Constitution, then they are declared invalid. Stable political stability has been noted in 2024-2025: President Abinader and his party have a supermajority, and the opposition is small.

Social and economic risks remain low; the main challenge may be the crisis in neighboring Haiti. The index's assessment of political stability is 0.24 (2023), which is higher than the regional average, and positions in the Global Peace Index are improving.

According to the WGI (World Bank) Government Effectiveness index, the Dominican Republic received 0.13 points in 2023 and a 56.6 percent rank. This is higher than the historical average and the global average, indicating a noticeable quality of public services and a relatively low impact of political risks.

EGDI (United Nations E-Government Index) for 2024 is 0.7013, position No.85 in the world, which is one of the highest values (HEGDI) among the Caribbean countries. The efficiency of digital services is higher than the global average, but progress is limited, and the pace of development lags behind global leaders.

President Abinader (2020-2028) is popular, won the elections with 57%, the party won the municipal elections with 60%. The real level of trust remains positive, although there are signs of a slight decline in approval; the main successes are the fight against corruption and economic growth. There are no foreign military bases in the Dominican Republic.

All bases (for example, San Ysidro, naval base) belong to the national armed forces. The country supports the International Criminal Court (ICC) and has signed the Rome Statute. Recognizes the jurisdiction of transnational judicial authorities in a number of cases, actively participates in global legal forums, strengthening the rule of law.

The country remains quite centralized, especially in matters of the state budget and governance. Some recommendations from economists and international bodies on the need to decentralize public spending (especially at the provincial level) are still poorly implemented. In 2024, Law No. 1-24 on National Intelligence was adopted.

The law strengthens centralization and expands the powers of the National Intelligence Directorate (DNI), prompting criticism about the threat to privacy and reduced transparency. Officially, the country is implementing reforms to increase transparency and control, supported by the MDB and the OECD.

Data completeness assessment: the main indicators are available from international sources, the coverage is 98%.

Economic sovereignty — 49.7

GDP per capita at purchasing power parity (PPP) is $27,541 (2024), which corresponds to 136% of the global average. Official foreign exchange reserves (excluding gold) — $13.4 billion as of December 2024; by June 2025, the figure rose to $14.8 billion. The national debt amounts to 57.6–58.8% of GDP by the end of 2024; the value has remained stable in recent years. Billions of public expenditures are aimed at maintaining minimum food standards; grain stocks and food programs ensure a steady supply of food for at least 3-4 months for the entire country.

The Dominican Republic depends on oil and gas imports (more than 85% of consumption), but is slowly increasing its share of renewable energy: in 2024, about 18% of electricity is generated from renewable energy sources (solar and wind energy).

The country has reserves of gold, silver, nickel, copper, as well as small deposits of bauxite and limestone; in terms of gold, it occupies a leading position in the Caribbean region, and the largest Pueblo Viejo mine operates. The volume of fresh water per capita is about 1,530 m3/year.

The country is not experiencing a shortage, there are large reservoirs and a well-developed dam system. The national payment system "ACH Dominicana” and “CardNet" process all internal transactions, including banks and mobile payments; their own infrastructure operates under the control of the Central Bank. In 2024, 77% of all domestic settlements are conducted in Dominican pesos (DOP); in the B2B and real estate sectors, up to 84%. External transactions are still dominated by US dollars.

The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic issues the national currency (DOP) and regulates credit policy, including the refinancing rate and inflation control.

Data completeness assessment: the main macroeconomic indicators are available from official sources (World Bank, IMF), coverage is 90%

Technological sovereignty — 35.4

The most recent available data show that R&D expenditure as a share of GDP in the Dominican Republic is 0.00%, significantly below the global average and is notable for the lack of investment in research and development. There are no direct government programs for large-scale import substitution in the high-tech sector.

The country is expanding the production of electronics and medical equipment in free economic zones, focusing the development of the industry on export rather than on domestic substitution. The share of the population enrolled in higher education in 2022 is 55.17%.

This is comparable to global averages, but below the maximum for the region achieved by the country in 2019 (64.38%). The indicator of fixed broadband access is about 43 connections per 100 inhabitants according to 2022 data.

This characterizes a fairly high level of Internet penetration for the Caribbean region, although it lags behind the leaders of Latin America. The main digital platforms implemented by the government are the portals “Bureaucracy Zero” and “Exporta Más". The first serves to digitalize and simplify public services (315 procedures have been simplified), the second provides declaration and export support (it handles ~58% of all export operations).

A high proportion of electronics, computer equipment and components are produced for export within the framework of free economic zones, however, critical high-tech goods (computers, software, microchips, equipment) dominate the import structure, reflecting the country's significant import dependence in the high-tech segment.

An intensive digital transformation of public services is underway based on the “Bureaucracy Zero” initiative: more than 315 government procedures have been digitized and are available online through integrated platforms. The Dominican Republic is considered the regional leader in this indicator among the countries of the Caribbean region.

According to independent monitoring, the domestic biotechnological base is weak; most of the equipment and components are imported, and internal scientific publications on biotechnology are rare.

The main progress is related to the introduction of robotic and automated systems in free economic zones, most importantly in medicine and electronics assembly, but the country is heavily dependent on imported equipment and technology. The Dominican Republic is actively positioning itself as a promising site for the production of printed circuit boards, assembly and testing of microcircuits (PCBs, ATP), thanks to 25 factories in free zones.

There is no in-house chip development, but the country is investing in manufacturing infrastructure for foreign businesses.

Data completeness assessment: key indicators are obtained from WIPO, ITU, UNESCO, which provides 93% coverage.

Information sovereignty — 51.8

The Dominican Republic ranks 38th in the ITU Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 with a score of 71.67/100, with a national CERT and a national cybersecurity strategy (valid until 2030). The country has 4 Internet Exchange Points (IXP), accounting for about 230 Gbps of internal network capacity. The growth rate is stable now, IXP actively supports the exchange of local Internet traffic.

The official language is Spanish; 85% of the population uses it to consume news. There are 8 national newspapers, 8 TV channels in the VHF band and 38 TV channels on other frequencies broadcasting in Spanish. The media space and IT infrastructure demonstrate high dependence on global platforms (Google, Meta, and others), there are no proprietary search engines and social networks, and resistance to BigTech is low.

Over 60% of media content is produced domestically: national news agencies, channels, radio and online portals predominate, but foreign streaming services are rapidly gaining popularity. No large-scale world-class IT products have been identified. The most notable solutions are government platforms for public services and exports, corporate applications in the banking sector and logistics, all of which are localized but not exported to foreign markets.

Digital services cover more than 60% of the population (for example, 63.5% of social media users). Online services are available for most administrative procedures and mass services. There are government data centers and localization of cloud resources for storing official documents, however, the vast majority of cloud solutions are foreign (Google, Microsoft), there is no own AWS/Google Cloud platform.

Mobile operators belong to national and Latin American holdings; the main communication standard is 4G, the infrastructure significantly depends on the import of equipment and software, and partial sovereignty.

There is a law on the protection of personal data (Ley No. 172-13) regulating the processing and transfer of personal information; the legislation partially complies with GDPR standards, and state registration of data operators is ensured.

Data completeness assessment: infrastructure indicators are available from ITU, CIRA, OECD and specialized sources, coverage is 94%.

Cultural sovereignty — 72.6

For 2024, 1 UNESCO World Heritage Site has been registered — the Colonial City of Santo Domingo. There are 13 more objects on the tentative list. The Dominican Republic is the birthplace of the world—famous merengue music movement, as well as outstanding artists (for example, Oscar de la Renta is a global fashion icon).

Literature, cinema, and sports are notable areas of the country's presence on the global cultural scene. Every year, the Ministry of Culture awards the National Prize for Fine Arts to leading artists, as well as awards in the fields of literature, history, theater, and music (Premio Nacional de Artes Visuales, Premio Nacional de Literatura, Premio José Gabriel García de Historia, and others).

The country's cultural identity is based on the synthesis of European (Spanish), African and local Taino traditions — music, dance, cuisine, language and regional holidays reflect a deep mix of roots. Government support for small ethnic groups, such as descendants of Taino and Afro-Caribbean communities, is provided through educational, cultural and museum initiatives, but the scale of these programs is limited by national priorities.

There are at least 25 state and national museums, over 40 theaters, hundreds of churches, historical manors and architectural monuments, as well as many independent galleries in the country. The Dominican Republic regularly participates in international forums (for example, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, international film festivals, projects with Latin America), holds exhibitions and exchanges in the field of arts and crafts.

Merengue and bachata are officially recognized as cultural brands and are protected by national laws; Dominican textile, culinary and musical products have international protection under UNESCO conventions and national legislation.

The cuisine is based on a mix of Spanish, African, and Thai-Indian recipes: the main products are rice, beans, chicken, pork, fish, and a variety of inventive spices, fruits, and tropical vegetables; the cuisine is considered one of the most diverse in the Caribbean region. According to recent studies, more than 60% of residents regularly take part in cultural events — holidays, concerts, exhibitions, theatrical productions, religious festivals and folklore events.

Data completeness assessment: basic indicators are available in UNESCO and national statistics, coverage is 97%.

Cognitive sovereignty — 55.1

The HDI index is 0.776 (high), the country is in the top 90 of the global ranking, which corresponds to "high development" according to UN standards. Government spending on education is 3.94% of GDP (2022), 22% of all government spending, which is higher than the regional average. Adult literacy is 95.5% (2022), close to the level of developed countries and leading among the Caribbean region.

The Dominican Republic participates in PISA tests; in 2022, the results are significantly below the OECD average (below 400 points in mathematics and reading), the country is striving to improve the quality of education, as noted in the national strategy. About 16% of university graduates choose STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), with active programs to promote engineering and technology specialties.

About 8% of students participate in joint or foreign educational programs.: academic exchanges, franchises, and distance learning courses from leading universities in Latin America and the United States. The dominant language is Spanish; small groups of descendants of Taino Indians and Haitians retain separate cultural practices, but the actual number of speakers of small languages is less than 3% of the population.

There are 4 large state scientific institutes (including the Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Fundamental Research), as well as 20+ small university laboratories. Over the past 5 years, the country has created 3 national platforms for distance education, which are used by up to 60% of school and college students (through MiEscuela, EducaVirtual and University portals).

There are 12 government support programs (scholarships, grants, competitions, accelerators for young scientists and students), and more than 30,000 people receive talent development support every year.

Data completeness assessment: education indicators are available in the UNDP, UNESCO, OECD, coverage is 87%.

Military sovereignty — 37.2

Military spending accounts for 0.8% of GDP, totaling $981 million in 2024. The total number is about 71,000 (active) plus 10,000 reservists and 20,000 in paramilitary units (national police, special forces). The armament consists mainly of light armored vehicles, patrol ships, light attack aircraft (A-29 Tucano), Bell helicopters, CASA 212.

There are no modern heavy systems, and the equipment is being updated gradually. Our own assembly and production of weapons are extremely limited: historically, small-caliber weapons (Cristóbal Carbine, production has been discontinued), now only basic maintenance and modernization of imported ones.

Border control (especially from Haiti) is ensured by the combined efforts of the army, special services, the FRONT LINE and the police; there are modern monitoring systems, including patrols and drones. The military reserve consists of 10,000 people; the reservist structure is integrated into the conscription system and includes trained battalions.

Military policy is sovereign, the country does not belong to military blocs, but cooperates with the United States, Brazil, and the United Nations; it makes decisions autonomously, without strict supranational obligations. The national military industry is virtually non-existent: the only large arms factory (San Cristóbal) produced automatic rifles until 1966; modern production is only repair and small assembly of individual components.

The Dominican Republic does not possess nuclear weapons, there are no warheads, and the country has joined international nonproliferation agreements. There is no military space program. Intelligence functions are assigned to the national intelligence services (Departamento Nacional de Investigaciones), as well as army and aviation intelligence units, without their own satellite systems.

All parameters are reflected in the annual reports of SIPRI, UNODA, the Ministry of Defense, the official portals of state-owned companies (Embraer, IMBEL) and the UN/NGO industry databases - 89% coverage

Final Summary Table

The main conclusions

Strengths. Economy and macro stability: High GDP per capita (PPP $27,541) and significant gold and foreign exchange reserves (over $14 billion) ensure macroeconomic stability, allowing the country to be attractive for external investment.

Our own national payment system and the Central Bank localize control over the main financial flows and credit policy. Culture and tourism: Rich cultural identity, unique blend of European, African and Thai traditions, strong musical heritage (merengue, bachata) and gastronomic diversity.

High involvement of the population in cultural life (about 60%) and international recognition of brands. The country's demand in the global tourism segment, which provides stable income and active investments in infrastructure. Education and human development: GDP per capita, high literacy rate (95%), extensive educational platforms and government talent programs.

National government platforms for digital education and digitalization of public services. Natural resources: Abundance of gold, nickel, bauxite, water, fertile lands, stable volumes of fresh water and developed hydraulic infrastructure.

Security and control: Effective control over borders, own sovereign military policy without participation in military-political blocs.

Weaknesses. Technological autonomy and import dependence: Significant dependence on imports of high technologies, equipment, software and components (especially microelectronics, robots, biotechnologies). There is practically no own advanced IT industry and national military industry.

Limited basic science and R&D: Investments in R&D are minimal (0% of GDP), and there are few government research institutions with a fundamental profile. The results of the International Educational Tests (PISA) are significantly lower than the OECD average, reflecting the problems of systemic quality of education in STEM fields.

Energy independence and food security: Dependence on hydrocarbon imports (up to 85%), renewable sources do not yet provide significant coverage of national needs. The development of food security is limited by import dependence on a number of food products, despite the support of domestic programs.

Limited exports of its own products: A significant part of exports is concentrated in the basic resources and products of free economic zones, its own high-tech brands are poorly developed.

Limited capabilities in military space and strategic technologies: There is no national space program, no strategic weapons; exploration is conducted within the framework of traditional national services without satellite tracking technologies.

Overall assessment. The cumulative sovereignty index of the Dominican Republic is 356 out of 700 possible points (average — 50.9%), which places the country in the top 150 in the global top. The Dominican Republic is a country with a strong economic base, developed culture, high public engagement, effective financial management and stable macroeconomic parameters.

However, its weaknesses — external dependence in science, technology, energy supply and strategic industries, as well as limited fundamental scientific infrastructure — require solutions for long-term growth of autonomy and sustainability.

The sovereignty profile indicates that the Dominican Republic demonstrates a high level of economic and cultural sovereignty, strong instruments of internal governance and macro stability, and a decent political and legal foundation.

The main limitations are weak technological autonomy, energy and strategic dependence, lack of its own fundamental science and advanced industries. The country's sovereignty is strong at a basic level, but requires deep diversification and technology to enhance sustainability in the 21st century.