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Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Dominican Republic: Health & Wellbeing
How long, and how well fed, do people live?
Dominican Republic is placed 114th of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 73.72 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 30.63 (2024).
Share
Health & Wellbeing
114th
of 200 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 73.72Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023Years a newborn would live at current death rates
- 30.63Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2024Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
- 6.717Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, 2024Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
- 16.4Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, 2024Population in severe food insecurity (%)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Dominican Republic on health & wellbeing — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Life Expectancy at Birth
UN DESA Population Division
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
73.72
Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Higher is better
Dominican Republic: 73.72. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.
- World median
- 74.63
- Best in Caribbean
- 81.69 Puerto Rico
- Land neighbours
- Haiti 64.94
Key 2 of 4
Under-Five Mortality Rate
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
30.63
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Lower is better
Dominican Republic: 30.63. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.
- World median
- 14.54
- Best in Caribbean
- 4.653 Turks and Caicos Islands
- Land neighbours
- Haiti 52.75
Key 3 of 4
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Dominican Republic’s is from 2019 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
6.717
Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Lower is better
Dominican Republic: 6.717. Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.
- World median
- 13.8
- Best in Caribbean
- 2.485 Saint Lucia
- Land neighbours
- Haiti 21.98
Key 4 of 4
Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
16.4
Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Lower is better
Dominican Republic: 16.4. Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.
- World median
- 4.9
- Best in Caribbean
- 4.4 Grenada
- Land neighbours
- Haiti 45.4
02Over time
Which way Dominican Republic is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Years a newborn would live at current death rates · higher is better
Dominican RepublicWorld median
Dominican Republic rose from 70.36 in 2000 to 73.72 in 2023; the world median went from 70.68 to 74.63.
Every year’s figures
Year Dominican Republic World median 2023 73.72 74.630 2022 74.21 74.313 2021 71.76 72.433 2020 72.64 73.063 2019 73.11 74.196 2018 73.56 74.081 2017 73.37 74.029 2016 72.89 74.013 2015 72.98 73.783 2014 73.14 73.330 2013 73.04 73.386 2012 72.82 73.210 2011 72.50 73.003 2010 72.04 72.827 2009 71.59 72.426 2008 71.33 72.264 2007 71.10 72.113 2006 71.05 72.027 2005 71.04 71.876 2004 70.73 71.477 2003 70.86 71.409 2002 70.72 71.173 2001 70.55 70.926 2000 70.36 70.678 Under-Five Mortality Rate
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) · lower is better
Dominican RepublicWorld median
Dominican Republic fell from 39.6 in 2000 to 30.63 in 2024; the world median went from 30.43 to 14.54.
Every year’s figures
Year Dominican Republic World median 2024 30.634 14.5 2023 31.476 15.2 2022 32.301 14.7 2021 33.039 15.1 2020 33.780 15.3 2019 34.353 15.7 2018 34.743 16.3 2017 34.917 16.8 2016 34.945 17.5 2015 34.883 17.9 2014 34.850 18.3 2013 34.812 18.7 2012 34.772 18.8 2011 34.768 19.0 2010 34.853 19.2 2009 34.948 20.8 2008 35.105 20.7 2007 35.324 21.8 2006 35.604 22.8 2005 35.991 24.0 2004 36.447 25.9 2003 37.040 26.9 2002 37.713 28.0 2001 38.585 29.1 2000 39.596 30.4 Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Population in severe food insecurity (%) · lower is better
Dominican RepublicWorld median
Dominican Republic fell from 24.3 in 2015 to 16.4 in 2024; the world median went from 3.4 to 4.9.
Every year’s figures
Year Dominican Republic World median 2024 16.4 4.9 2023 17.9 4.7 2022 19.0 5.4 2021 22.0 5.7 2020 22.2 5.6 2019 23.2 5.0 2018 22.4 4.2 2017 23.4 4.0 2016 23.7 3.4 2015 24.3 3.4
03In context
Dominican Republic beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.
Dominican Republic and the countries it borders
Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Life Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death rates | Under-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%) | Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominican Republic | 114th | 73.72 | 30.63 | 6.717 | 16.4 |
 Haiti | 176th | 64.94 | 52.75 | 21.98 | 45.4 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Caribbean
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 200.
Turks and Caicos Islands39th
Anguilla48th
Cuba56th
Antigua and Barbuda66th
Montserrat=67th
British Virgin Islands77th
Barbados78th
Bahamas96th
Grenada103rd
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines109th- Dominican Republic114th
Saint Kitts and Nevis117th
Jamaica120th
Saint Lucia121st
Trinidad and Tobago127th
Dominica144th- Haiti176th
Arubanot placed
Cayman Islandsnot placed
Curaçaonot placed
Puerto Riconot placed
Saint Martinnot placed
Sint Maartennot placed
United States Virgin Islandsnot placed
Placed either side on health & wellbeing
The countries immediately above and below Dominican Republic in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Dominican Republic is ahead of the world, and behind
56 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median27
Statistics on which Dominican Republic does better than the middle country measured.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.83379.6384.83No real change since 2013
Dominican Republic: 379.63 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 412741▲ Improved since 2012
Dominican Republic: 27 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 21.267.8121.26No earlier reading
Dominican Republic: 7.81 · world median 21.26 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at most 2 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.169 to 63.08; lower is better.
Position 101st of 113 · derived, 1st = worst.
Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 PandemicAriel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset) · 2026 · world median 272.3583.4272.35No earlier reading
Dominican Republic: 83.4 · world median 272.35 · Excess deaths per 100,000 people, March 2020 to the end of each country's data (at most December 2023). Ariel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from -264.9 to 1,013; lower is better.
INFORM Severity IndexACAPS · 2025 · world median 3.11.93.1▲ Improved since 2022
Dominican Republic: 1.9 · world median 3.1 · INFORM Severity (1–5, most severe crisis). ACAPS, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.3 to 4.7; lower is better.
Position 72nd of 81 · derived, 1st = worst.
Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 37.5765.7737.57No earlier reading
Dominican Republic: 65.77 · world median 37.57 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at least 5 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 8.089 to 85.88; higher is better.
Position 16th of 115 · derived.
Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum)MAP · 2025 · world median 52.470.06352.47▲ Improved since 2015
Dominican Republic: 0.063 · world median 52.47 · New P. falciparum malaria cases per 1,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 334.75; lower is better.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.258471.25No real change since 2013
Dominican Republic: 84 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 28th of 196 · derived.
Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum)MAP · 2024 · world median 8.1060.0218.106No real change since 2014
Dominican Republic: 0.021 · world median 8.106 · Deaths from P. falciparum malaria per 100,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 133.27; lower is better.
Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of PneumoniaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 67.784.567.7No earlier reading
Dominican Republic: 84.5 · world median 67.7 · Children under 5 with pneumonia symptoms taken to a health provider (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 14 to 99.1; higher is better.
Position 20th of 127 · derived.
Agreement That Vaccines Are SafeWellcome Trust · 2018 · world median 77.6589.4477.65No earlier reading
Dominican Republic: 89.44 · world median 77.65 · People aged 15+ who agree that vaccines are safe (% of those who had heard of vaccines). Wellcome Trust, 2018 edition, data for 2018.
Published values in that edition run from 29.29 to 97.91; higher is better.
Position 25th of 144 · derived.
Births Attended by Skilled Health StaffUNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance) · 2023 · world median 99.399.999.3▲ Improved since 2013
Dominican Republic: 99.9 · world median 99.3 · Births attended by skilled health staff (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 60.9 to 100; higher is better.
Position 15th of 84 · derived.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.69159.88102.69▲ Improved since 2013
Dominican Republic: 159.88 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8192.681No earlier reading
Dominican Republic: 92.6 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 38th of 153 · derived.
Global Multidimensional Poverty IndexOPHI · 2025 · world median 0.0390.0090.039▼ Worsened since 2018
Dominican Republic: 0.009 · world median 0.039 · MPI (0–1). Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.517; lower is better.
Position 80th of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.
Violent Discipline of ChildrenUNICEF · 2025 · world median 75.863.575.8No earlier reading
Dominican Republic: 63.5 · world median 75.8 · Children aged 1-14 experiencing violent discipline (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 37.6 to 94; lower is better.
Position 66th of 90 · derived, 1st = worst.
Dietary Energy SupplyFAO · 2024 · world median 2,9823,3672,982▲ Improved since 2014
Dominican Republic: 3,367 · world median 2,982 · Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1,757 to 3,962; higher is better.
Position 43rd of 155 · derived.
Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two DaysUNICEF · 2025 · world median 82.993.982.9No earlier reading
Dominican Republic: 93.9 · world median 82.9 · Newborns with a health check within 2 days of birth (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 7.3 to 99.9; higher is better.
Position 31st of 109 · derived.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5462.1713.546No earlier reading
Dominican Republic: 2.171 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 116th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 909590▲ Improved since 2015
Dominican Republic: 95 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with DiarrhoeaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 41.553.241.5No earlier reading
Dominican Republic: 53.2 · world median 41.5 · Children under 5 with diarrhoea given oral rehydration salts (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 9.9 to 95.4; higher is better.
Position 41st of 127 · derived.
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 26.416.226.4▲ Improved since 2017
Dominican Republic: 16.2 · world median 26.4 · Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 93.9; lower is better.
Position 89th of 145 · derived, 1st = worst.
Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.3917.1316.39▼ Worsened since 2013
Dominican Republic: 17.13 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.
Position 93rd of 222 · derived.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.23.65.2▲ Improved since 2013
Dominican Republic: 3.6 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 95th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.997.796.9No earlier reading
Dominican Republic: 97.7 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.7620.7760.762▲ Improved since 2013
Dominican Republic: 0.776 · world median 0.762 · HDI score (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.388 to 0.972; higher is better.
Ranked 89th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.4513.814.45▲ Improved since 2013
Dominican Republic: 13.8 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 116th of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median17
Statistics on which Dominican Republic does worse than the middle country measured.
Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.7135.91133.7No real change since 2013
Dominican Republic: 135.91 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.
Position 109th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8582.9242.858▲ Improved since 2014
Dominican Republic: 2.924 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 98th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.484.133.48▲ Improved since 2015
Dominican Republic: 4.13 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
HPV Vaccination Coverage, GirlsWUENIC · 2025 · world median 65.55665.5▲ Improved since 2018
Dominican Republic: 56 · world median 65.5 · Girls in the target group given the final dose of HPV vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 99; higher is better.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 918791▲ Improved since 2015
Dominican Republic: 87 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.4170.351No real change since 2013
Dominican Republic: 0.417 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 106th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Overweight Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 5.57.5055.5▲ Improved since 2014
Dominican Republic: 7.505 · world median 5.5 · Children under 5 who are overweight (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.623 to 26.43; lower is better.
Position 63rd of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.16310.118.163▼ Worsened since 2013
Dominican Republic: 10.11 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 74th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.5030.564No real change since 2017
Dominican Republic: 0.503 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 110th of 172 · derived.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.4652.7727.46▲ Improved since 2013
Dominican Republic: 52.77 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 68th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.65124.4746.65▼ Worsened since 2013
Dominican Republic: 124.47 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 58th of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.2113.4410.21▼ Worsened since 2010
Dominican Republic: 13.44 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 47th of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
Early Initiation of BreastfeedingUNICEF · 2024 · world median 52.9541.5852.95No earlier reading
Dominican Republic: 41.58 · world median 52.95 · Newborns put to the breast within one hour of birth (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.749 to 93.1; higher is better.
Position 100th of 136 · derived.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.941.320.9▲ Improved since 2015
Dominican Republic: 41.3 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 36th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.2627.7112.26▼ Worsened since 2014
Dominican Republic: 27.71 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 51st of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.13421.248.134No real change since 2014
Dominican Republic: 21.24 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 40th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7415.8440.74No earlier reading
Dominican Republic: 15.84 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 128th of 136 · derived.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.250.25▼ Worsened since 2014
Dominican Republic: 0.25 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
No better end11
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.6562.920.65No earlier reading
Dominican Republic: 62.9 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry OnWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 20.0538.4320.05No earlier reading
Dominican Republic: 38.43 · world median 20.05 · People aged 15+ who have ever been too anxious or depressed to continue their usual activities for two weeks or more (%). Wellcome Trust, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.934 to 49.35.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.8817.76.88No earlier reading
Dominican Republic: 17.7 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.454.235.4No real change since 2013
Dominican Republic: 54.2 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.555.64.55Moved since 2017
Dominican Republic: 5.6 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.2556.441.25No real change since 2013
Dominican Republic: 56.4 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.732.161.73Moved since 2014
Dominican Republic: 2.16 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 83rd of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.1717.1416.17Moved since 2013
Dominican Republic: 17.14 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.8361.657.83Moved since 2013
Dominican Republic: 61.6 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8939.0938.89Moved since 2015
Dominican Republic: 39.09 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 90th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Children with Functional DifficultiesUNICEF · 2024 · world median 1311.313No earlier reading
Dominican Republic: 11.3 · world median 13 · Children aged 5-17 with a functional difficulty (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.9 to 35.2.
No current reading for Dominican Republic
Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Report on Food Crises, Insecticide-Treated Net Use and Malaria Incidence (P. vivax) (last 2003). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Health & Wellbeing among Dominican Republic’s 16 topics
Health & Wellbeing is Dominican Republic’s 14th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Peace & Security24th of 1774/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture48th of 1844/4 keys
- Gender & Equality53rd of 1834/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties69th of 1984/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation67th of 1764/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 79th of 1944/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 83rd of 1824/4 keys
- Digital & Technology92nd of 1984/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality74th of 1593/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 89th of 1864/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade87th of 1774/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge98th of 1984/4 keys
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 106th of 1963/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing114th of 2004/4 keys
- Energy115th of 1653/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience139th of 1934/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on health & wellbeing
The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders Dominican Republic can most readily be measured against.
1
San MarinoSouthern Europe
1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
MonacoWestern Europe
2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
AndorraSouthern Europe
3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
South Korea5th4/4 keysHighest in Americas
United States=30th4/4 keysHighest in Caribbean
Turks and Caicos Islands39th3/4 keysThis page
Dominican Republic114th4/4 keys
Positions out of 200 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Dominican Republic and health & wellbeing
On health & wellbeing
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On health & wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines
The ten highest life evaluations of 2025, drawn on a world map, and the six things the report uses to explain them. Costa Rica and Mexico are the only two outside Europe and the Middle East.
08Questions
Dominican Republic on health & wellbeing: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Dominican Republic rank on health & wellbeing?
Dominican Republic is placed 114th of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth, Under-Five Mortality Rate, Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five and Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for Dominican Republic?
73.72 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.
What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for Dominican Republic?
30.63 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.
How does Dominican Republic compare with Haiti on health & wellbeing?
Haiti is placed 176th of 200, and Dominican Republic 114th. Life Expectancy at Birth: Haiti 64.94, Dominican Republic 73.72; Under-Five Mortality Rate: Haiti 52.75, Dominican Republic 30.63; Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five: Haiti 21.98, Dominican Republic 6.717; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity: Haiti 45.4, Dominican Republic 16.4.
How have Dominican Republic’s health & wellbeing figures changed?
Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 70.36 in 2000 to 73.72 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 39.6 in 2000 to 30.63 in 2024; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity fell from 24.3 in 2015 to 16.4 in 2024.
Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for Dominican Republic?
No current reading is published for Dominican Republic on Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Report on Food Crises, Insecticide-Treated Net Use and Malaria Incidence (P. vivax). They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.
How the Health & Wellbeing standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Life Expectancy at Birth — UN DESA Population Division, CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Under-Five Mortality Rate — UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five — UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 56 statistics on this page come from 19 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Dominican Republic’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Dominican Republic (banner) — Tamas Iklodi w:en:User:It419, CC BY-SA 3.0
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monaco — Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Dominican Republic: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/dominican-republic/health