Provinces of the Dominican Republic facts for kids
The Dominican Republic is a country in the Caribbean. It has 31 main areas called provinces. Think of them like states or regions in other countries.
Each province has a special leader called a Civil Governor. The President of the Dominican Republic chooses this Governor. The Governor's main job is to represent the President in that province.
Contents
How Provinces are Governed
People in each province get to choose their own representatives for the country's government. They elect one Senator and at least two Representatives to go to the National Congress. These elected officials help make laws for the whole country.
The National District
There's also a special area called the National District (Distrito Nacional). It's a lot like a province, but it's a bit different. It doesn't have a Civil Governor. It only has one main city, which is Santo Domingo de Guzmán. This city is also the national capital of the Dominican Republic!
Local Government: Municipalities and Districts
Inside each province, there are smaller areas called municipalities. Most provinces have two or more municipalities. These local areas have their own leaders. People vote to choose a municipal council and a mayor to run their municipality.
Some municipalities also have even smaller parts called municipal districts. These districts are also run by their own municipal council and a mayor, chosen by the people.
The Dominican Republic has 154 municipalities and 202 municipal districts in total.
Provinces and Their Capital Cities
Here is a list of the provinces in the Dominican Republic and their main cities. The numbers for how many people live there are from a count done in 2010.
| Province | Capital | Area (km²) |
Population | Density | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azua | Azua de Compostela | 2,531.77 | 298,246 | 117.8 | 1 |
| Baoruco | Neiba | 1,282.23 | 111,269 | 86.8 | 2 |
| Barahona | Santa Cruz de Barahona | 1,739.38 | 232,818 | 133.9 | 3 |
| Dajabón | Dajabón | 1,020.73 | 87,274 | 85.5 | 4 |
| Distrito Nacional | Santo Domingo de Guzmán | 104.44 | 1,402,749 | 13,431.1 | D.N. |
| Duarte | San Francisco de Macorís | 1,605.35 | 338,649 | 211.0 | 5 |
| Elías Piña | Comendador | 1,426.20 | 84,632 | 59.3 | 6 |
| El Seibo | Santa Cruz del Seibo | 1,786.80 | 110,212 | 61.7 | 7 |
| Espaillat | Moca | 838.62 | 333,401 | 397.6 | 8 |
| Hato Mayor | Hato Mayor del Rey | 1,329.29 | 103,032 | 77.5 | 9 |
| Hermanas Mirabal | Salcedo | 440.43 | 121,887 | 276.7 | 21 |
| Independencia | Jimaní | 2,006.44 | 74,583 | 37.2 | 10 |
| La Altagracia | Salvaleón de Higüey | 3,010.34 | 372,289 | 123.7 | 11 |
| La Romana | La Romana | 653.95 | 344,580 | 526.9 | 12 |
| La Vega | Concepción de la Vega | 2,287.24 | 447,905 | 195.8 | 13 |
| María Trinidad Sánchez | Nagua | 1,271.71 | 195,886 | 154.0 | 14 |
| Monseñor Nouel | Bonao | 992.39 | 203,183 | 204.7 | 15 |
| Monte Cristi | San Fernando de Monte Cristi | 1,924.35 | 150,833 | 78.4 | 16 |
| Monte Plata | Monte Plata | 2,632.14 | 222,641 | 84.6 | 17 |
| Pedernales | Pedernales | 2,074.53 | 52,165 | 25.1 | 18 |
| Peravia | Baní | 792.33 | 217,241 | 274.2 | 19 |
| Puerto Plata | San Felipe de Puerto Plata | 1,852.90 | 470,839 | 254.1 | 20 |
| Samaná | Santa Bárbara de Samaná | 853.74 | 139,707 | 163.6 | 22 |
| Sánchez Ramírez | Cotuí | 1,196.13 | 248,807 | 208.0 | 23 |
| San Cristóbal | San Cristóbal | 1,265.77 | 640,066 | 505.7 | 24 |
| San José de Ocoa | San José de Ocoa | 855.40 | 97,640 | 114.1 | 25 |
| San Juan | San Juan de la Maguana | 3,569.39 | 317,293 | 88.9 | 26 |
| San Pedro de Macorís | San Pedro de Macorís | 1,255.46 | 392,911 | 313.0 | 27 |
| Santiago | Santiago de los Caballeros | 2,836.51 | 1,503,362 | 530.0 | 28 |
| Santiago Rodríguez | San Ignacio de Sabaneta | 1,111.14 | 99,044 | 89.1 | 29 |
| Santo Domingo | Santo Domingo Este | 1,296.35 | 3,263,053 | 2,517.1 | 30 |
| Valverde | Mao | 823.38 | 217,026 | 263.6 | 31 |
| Total | 48,666.83 | 9,445,281 | 194.1 | - |
See also
In Spanish: Provincias de la República Dominicana para niños
