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Panoramic view of a beach on the Saona island, Dominican Republic.

Photo: Tamas Iklodi w:en:User:It419 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale

Topic 14 of 18 · Country Index 2026

Dominican Republic: Poverty & Inequality

How is a country’s income shared, and how many live below a line?

Dominican Republic is placed 74th of 159 countries on poverty & inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Gini Index 38.4 (2023); Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day 0.37 (2023).

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Poverty & Inequality

74th

of 159 countries placed

Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics

Country Index 2026, all topicsjoint 71st of 183 →

01The evidence

The 3 key statistics that decide it

Only these place Dominican Republic on poverty & inequality — 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.

Why these keys

  1. Key 1 of 3

    Gini Index

    World Bank Group

    Why it is a key

    Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · Dominican Republic’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0

    38.4

    Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)

    Lower is better

    Dominican Republic: 38.4. Across the 159 countries at their latest reading, values run from 23 (India) to 59.07 (Namibia); the world median is 33.72.

    World median
    33.72
    Best in Caribbean
    34.07 Barbados

  2. Key 2 of 3

    Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day

    World Bank Group

    Why it is a key

    Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · Dominican Republic’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0

    0.37

    Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)

    Lower is better

    Dominican Republic: 0.37. Across the 159 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0 (Czechia) to 48.69 (DR Congo); the world median is 0.345.

    World median
    0.345
    Best in Caribbean
    0.01 Saint Lucia

  3. Key 3 of 3

    Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet

    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

    Why it is a key

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0

    16.2

    Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%)

    Lower is better

    Dominican Republic: 16.2. Across the 145 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Belarus) to 93.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 26.4.

    World median
    26.4
    Best in Caribbean
    7.1 Saint Lucia
    Land neighbours
    Haiti 88.9

03In context

Dominican Republic beside its neighbours

A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 159 countries on poverty & inequality, never a place within the region.

Caribbean
1st159thNot placed · 65 countries with too few key statisticsNo data

The whole world on poverty & inequality

Dominican Republic and the countries it borders

Standing among all 159; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.

CountryStandingGini IndexGini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)Poverty Gap at $3.00 a DayPoverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietShare of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%)
Dominican Republic74th38.40.3716.2
Haitinot placed——88.9

“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is

Placed either side on poverty & inequality

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

30 more statistics filed under poverty & inequality, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.

Every country

Ahead of the world median8

Statistics on which Dominican Republic does better than the middle country measured.

  • Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 21.267.81No 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.351No earlier reading

    Dominican Republic: 0.351 · world median 0.446 · Correlation between own and parents' years of schooling, born 1980–89 (0–1). World Bank Group, 2017 edition, data for 2017.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.123 to 0.66; lower is better.

    Position 123rd of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2017 dataset

  • Global Multidimensional Poverty IndexOPHI · 2025 · world median 0.0390.009▼ 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.8850.386▲ Improved since 2015

    Dominican Republic: 0.386 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Multidimensional Poverty MeasureWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 4.2521.619No earlier reading

    Dominican Republic: 1.619 · world median 4.252 · Multidimensional poverty headcount ratio (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 87.96; lower is better.

    Position 107th of 157 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up EstimatesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.10.78▲ Improved since 2014

    Dominican Republic: 0.78 · world median 2.1 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP, World Bank line-up estimate (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 89.54; lower is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 12,80016,478No real change since 2017

    Dominican Republic: 16,478 · world median 12,800 · Actual individual consumption per capita (PPP, current international $). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.

    Published values in that edition run from 688.7 to 52,654; higher is better.

    Position 71st of 173 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2021 dataset

  • Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6090.634▲ Improved since 2013

    Dominican Republic: 0.634 · world median 0.609 · IHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.226 to 0.923; higher is better.

    Position 78th of 169 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

Behind the world median18

Statistics on which Dominican Republic does worse than the middle country measured.

  • Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 0.1850.2▲ Improved since 2013

    Dominican Republic: 0.2 · world median 0.185 · Squared poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (0–100). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 9.74; lower is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Coefficient of Human InequalityUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 17.0518.18▲ Improved since 2013

    Dominican Republic: 18.18 · world median 17.05 · Coefficient of Human Inequality (%). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 4.865 to 43.08; lower is better.

    Position 79th of 169 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Income Growth of the Poorest 40%World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 1.8411.63▲ Improved since 2014

    Dominican Republic: 1.63 · world median 1.841 · Annualized growth in real income or consumption per person of the bottom 40% (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from -4.185 to 14.51; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.343▲ Improved since 2013

    Dominican Republic: 3 · world median 1.34 · Population below $4.20 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 72.3; lower is better.

    Position 26th of 59 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 7.8216.88▲ Improved since 2013

    Dominican Republic: 16.88 · world median 7.82 · Population below $8.30 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.07 to 93.58; lower is better.

    Position 25th of 59 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Prosperity GapWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.7542.371▲ Improved since 2013

    Dominican Republic: 2.371 · world median 1.754 · Average factor incomes must rise by to reach $28 a day. World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.406 to 12.06; lower is better.

    Position 25th of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 0.931.27▲ Improved since 2013

    Dominican Republic: 1.27 · world median 0.93 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 54.36; lower is better.

    Position 24th of 58 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Median Daily Income or Consumption per PersonWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 22.7615.67▲ Improved since 2013

    Dominican Republic: 15.67 · world median 22.76 · Median income or consumption per person, 2021 PPP dollars a day. World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 2.803 to 89.49; higher is better.

    Position 38th of 60 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Low Pay RateILO · 2024 · world median 17.8920.92▼ Worsened since 2015

    Dominican Republic: 20.92 · world median 17.89 · Employees paid less than two-thirds of the median hourly earnings (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 3.395 to 41.69; lower is better.

    Position 27th of 71 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Income Share Held by Richest 10%World Bank Group · 2023 · world median 26.1829.14▲ Improved since 2013

    Dominican Republic: 29.14 · world median 26.18 · Share of national income or consumption held by the richest tenth (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 18.79 to 43.08; lower is better.

    Position 22nd of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Societal Poverty RateWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 17.220.61▲ Improved since 2013

    Dominican Republic: 20.61 · world median 17.2 · Population below the societal poverty line, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 7 to 54.36; lower is better.

    Position 22nd of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID)Frederick Solt, University of Iowa · 2023 · world median 3336.7▲ Improved since 2013

    Dominican Republic: 36.7 · world median 33 · Gini index of disposable household income (0–100), SWIID estimate. Frederick Solt, University of Iowa, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 22.3 to 51.2; lower is better.

    Position 28th of 79 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Gini Index of Monthly EarningsILO · 2024 · world median 0.3370.367▲ Improved since 2014

    Dominican Republic: 0.367 · world median 0.337 · Gini index of employees’ monthly earnings (0 = all paid the same, 1 = maximum inequality). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.182 to 0.643; lower is better.

    Position 26th of 75 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour BenefitsWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 18.6512.57No earlier reading

    Dominican Republic: 12.57 · world median 18.65 · Benefits received as a share of beneficiaries' total income or consumption (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.455 to 90.86; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Exclusion by Socio-Economic GroupV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2023 · world median 0.4130.572▲ Improved since 2013

    Dominican Republic: 0.572 · world median 0.413 · Exclusion by socio-economic group index (0–1; higher = more exclusion). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.014 to 0.969; lower is better.

    Position 56th of 174 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Palma RatioWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.3321.695▲ Improved since 2013

    Dominican Republic: 1.695 · world median 1.332 · Palma ratio (income share of the richest 10% ÷ share of the poorest 40%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.771 to 4.193; lower is better.

    Position 19th of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Income Share Held by Lowest 20%World Bank Group · 2023 · world median 7.126.22▲ Improved since 2013

    Dominican Republic: 6.22 · world median 7.12 · Share of national income held by the poorest fifth (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 3.24 to 11.07; higher is better.

    Position 44th of 60 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.941.3▲ 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

Level with the median, or no median to compare1

  • Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.25▼ 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

No better end3

These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.

  • Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.8817.7No 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2019 dataset

  • Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.555.6Moved 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Poverty Headcount at National Poverty LinesWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 21.817.3No earlier reading

    Dominican Republic: 17.3 · world median 21.8 · Population below the national poverty line (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 82.3.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

No current reading for Dominican Republic

Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary Completion. 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

Poverty & Inequality among Dominican Republic’s 16 topics

Poverty & Inequality is Dominican Republic’s 9th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.

On the profile
  1. Peace & Security24th of 177
  2. Food & Agriculture48th of 184
  3. Gender & Equality53rd of 183
  4. Democracy & Civil Liberties69th of 198
  5. Economy & Innovation67th of 176
  6. Governance & Institutionsjoint 79th of 194
  7. Work & Labourjoint 83rd of 182
  8. Digital & Technology92nd of 198
  9. Poverty & Inequality74th of 159
  10. Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 89th of 186
  11. Mobility & Trade87th of 177
  12. Education & Knowledge98th of 198
  13. Development & Human Capitaljoint 106th of 196
  14. Health & Wellbeing114th of 200
  15. Energy115th of 165
  16. Risk & Resilience139th of 193

06The top of the list

Who leads on poverty & inequality

The three countries placed highest of 159, and the leaders Dominican Republic can most readily be measured against.

All 159 countries
  1. 1

    Belarus

    Eastern Europe

    1st of 159 · 3 of 3 keys

    Photo: zedlik , cropped by Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  2. 2

    Slovenia

    Southern Europe

    2nd of 159 · 3 of 3 keys

    Photo: Z.K. derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 3.0, greyscale

  3. =3

    Ukraine

    Eastern Europe

    Joint 3rd of 159 · 2 of 3 keys

    Photo: uploaded by Chern038 · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

Placed highest nearby

  1. Highest in Americas

    Canada28th3/3 keys

  2. Highest in Caribbean

    Saint Lucia60th3/3 keys

  3. This page

    Dominican Republic74th3/3 keys

Positions out of 159 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.

07Questions

Dominican Republic on poverty & inequality: 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 poverty & inequality?

Dominican Republic is placed 74th of 159 countries on Poverty & Inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Gini Index, Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day and Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.

What is the latest Gini Index figure for Dominican Republic?

38.4 in 2023 (gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 33.72.

What is the latest Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day figure for Dominican Republic?

0.37 in 2023 (poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.345.

How does Dominican Republic compare with Haiti on poverty & inequality?

Haiti is not placed on Poverty & Inequality, holding too few of its key statistics, and Dominican Republic 74th. Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet: Haiti 88.9, Dominican Republic 16.2.

How have Dominican Republic’s poverty & inequality figures changed?

Gini Index fell from 49.67 in 2002 to 38.4 in 2023; Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day fell from 3.13 in 2002 to 0.37 in 2023; Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet fell from 26 in 2017 to 16.2 in 2025.

Which poverty & inequality statistics are missing for Dominican Republic?

No current reading is published for Dominican Republic on Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary Completion. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.

08Method

Method, sources and how to cite

What this topic does not measure

These figures come from household surveys, which most countries run every few years rather than every year. So the subject's standing is read from each country's most recent survey of the last decade, with the year of every reading shown, rather than from one year in which only a minority of countries were surveyed. Two readings decide it — how unequally income is shared and how deep extreme poverty runs — because the other poverty and inequality measures here largely repeat one of those two or repeat average income, which already counts under Economy and Development. Countries with no survey in the last decade have no standing here. What work pays is under Work & Labour; wealth, as opposed to income, has no global source this site is permitted to republish.

About poverty & inequality, in full

How the Poverty & Inequality standing is decided

A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 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 3 keys to be placed.

The poverty & inequality method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built

The key statistics and their licences

The other 30 statistics on this page come from 8 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.

Cite this page

Nations Inquiry (2026). Dominican Republic: Poverty & Inequality — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/dominican-republic/poverty

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