Discover
The identity of the nation
The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern portion of the island of Hispaniola, at the heart of the Caribbean, sharing the territory with Haiti. It is home to about 11 million people, the great majority Christian, in a country marked by music, warmth, and a national identity forged in the struggle for independence.
The Spanish heritage shaped the language, Catholicism, and much of the culture. Santo Domingo, the capital, was the first permanent city founded by Europeans in the Americas, and its Colonial Zone holds the continent’s first cathedral and first university. Catholicism remains the historic faith, but evangelical churches have grown greatly in recent decades, especially in working-class neighborhoods and cities.
Behind the professed faith, however, there are contrasts. Christianity coexists with a mixture of religions, with practices of Afro-Caribbean origin and a popular religiosity that blends devotion and superstition. There are regions and groups where faith is more nominal than living, and deep discipleship remains a challenge in many communities.
The nation also carries social wounds: inequality, a tense relationship with neighboring Haiti, and the vulnerability of many Haitian migrants living in precarious conditions. The deaf community, which communicates in Dominican Sign Language, remains the country’s least reached group.
Even so, the Dominican Republic is a nation of a growing church, vibrant worship, and welcoming people. There is real potential for this hospitable, musical people to carry the gospel to their Caribbean neighbors and to the nations where their diaspora has spread.
- Before colonization, the Taino inhabited the island they called Quisqueya.
- 1492 Christopher Columbus arrives on the island of Hispaniola; Spanish colonization begins.
- 1496 Founding of Santo Domingo, the first permanent European city in the Americas.
- 1821 Brief independence from Spain, soon followed by Haitian occupation in 1822.
- 1844 The La Trinitaria society, led by Juan Pablo Duarte, proclaims the nation's independence.
- 1930 Beginning of the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo, one of the longest and most repressive regimes in Latin America.
- 1961 Trujillo's assassination ends three decades of tyranny.
- Today A majority Christian country, with a growing church and challenges of inequality and religious syncretism.
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Spanishofficial, spoken by nearly the entire population
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Dominican Sign Languageused by the deaf community, the country's least reached group
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Haitian Creolespoken by part of the population of Haitian descent
The Dominican Republic occupies about two thirds of the island of Hispaniola, the second largest of the Greater Antilles, sharing a border of about 376 km with Haiti. The territory combines Caribbean beaches, fertile valleys, and the highest mountain range in the Caribbean, crowned by Pico Duarte, the region's highest point, at about 3,098 meters.
Major cities
- Santo DomingoCapital and largest city, with the historic Colonial Zone
- Santiago de los CaballerosSecond largest city, hub of the interior (Cibao)
- Punta CanaMain tourist destination, in the east
- Puerto PlataCoastal city in the north, with a strong tourist trade
Climate and temperature
La Bandera
The national everyday dish: white rice, beans, and stewed meat, often served with salad and fried plantain.
Mangú
Mashed green plantain, the base of the typical breakfast served with egg, cheese, and salami, the "three hits".
Sancocho
A hearty stew of meats, root vegetables, and other vegetables, served at parties and special occasions.
Mofongo
Fried green plantain mashed with garlic and pork crackling, shaped into balls.
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Warmth and hospitality
Dominicans are welcoming, spontaneous, and value personal contact.
Music as identity
Merengue and bachata were born here and are part of daily life and celebrations.
Baseball above all
The sport is a national passion and has produced world-class stars.
Faith present in daily life
Religiosity shows up in language, customs, and celebrations.
Family and community
Family and neighborhood ties are strong and central to social life.
- Treating the country as just a resort There is a real nation, with history and culture, beyond the tourist beaches.
- Speaking lightly about Haiti The relationship between the two countries is sensitive; approach it with care and respect.
- Being cold or distant Closeness and warmth are valued in relationships.
- Dismissing popular religiosity Even when mixed with other beliefs, faith is taken seriously by the people.
- Ignoring Spanish English is spoken in tourist areas, but the language of the heart is Spanish.
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
The Christian faith blends with Afro-Caribbean practices and popular superstition.
Many call themselves Christian, but without discipleship or living commitment.
The pursuit of goods and status pressures values and priorities, especially in cities.
The gap between rich and poor leaves many marginalized.
Haitians often live in precarious and excluded conditions.
Distrust in institutions undermines justice and the common good.
The country is a drug transit route, affecting communities and young people.
The tourism industry brings revenue, but also opens doors to exploitation and abuse.
Paternal abandonment and unstable relationships wound many homes.
The deaf remain the group least reached by the gospel.
The Dominican Republic is a country of broad religious freedom, where the overwhelming majority identifies as Christian. There is no organized persecution against Christians, and faith is lived openly in churches, schools, and public life.
Catholicism holds a historically privileged place, and evangelical churches grow freely, especially in working-class neighborhoods. Occasional tensions have more to do with social and cultural debates than direct hostility toward faith.
The greatest spiritual challenge is not external pressure but internal depth: overcoming religious syncretism, merely nominal faith, and a lack of discipleship, so that the people’s religiosity becomes living, transforming faith.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
The Dominican Republic is a majority Christian nation, with about 94% of the population identifying as Christian and around 11% as evangelical. Nearly every people group already has access to the gospel, and the main remaining challenge is the deaf community, which uses Dominican Sign Language and remains the only group classified as unreached. The call here is less about access and more about depth: discipleship, living faith, and overcoming syncretism.
- 32K Unreached 0,3%
- 0 Minimally reached 0%
- 17K Superficially reached 0,2%
- 1.1M Partially reached 9,8%
- 10.2M Significantly reached 89,8%
- 1 Unreached 10%
- 0 Minimally reached 0%
- 2 Superficially reached 20%
- 2 Partially reached 20%
- 5 Significantly reached 50%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Deaf Frontier
Chineses
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Every nation carries a redemptive purpose. Marks that seem woven into the identity God desires to restore:
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
higher in tourist areas
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Learn Spanish: English only helps in tourist areas; Spanish opens people's hearts.
- Pay attention to safety in urban areas; avoid displaying valuables.
- Respect the warmth of people: greet, give attention, and build relationships before getting down to business.
- Prepare for the tropical climate: heat and humidity year round, with hurricane risk between June and November.
- Use dollars or pesos wisely; the Dominican peso is the local currency.
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.