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Photo: Tamas Iklodi w:en:User:It419 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Dominican Republic: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Dominican Republic is placed joint 83rd of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 61.54 (2025); Labour Income Share 48.4 (2025).
Work & Labour
joint83rd
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Dominican Republic on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Why it is a key: How much of the working-age population is actually in work — the half of the picture unemployment hides, because people who stop looking stop being counted.
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
61.54
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Dominican Republic: 61.54. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Caribbean
- 67.28 Jamaica
- Land neighbours
- Haiti 54.38
Each grey tick is one of 182 countries in the 2025 edition.
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Why it is a key: The share of people looking for work who cannot find it.
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
5.092
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Dominican Republic: 5.092. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Caribbean
- 1.746 Cuba
- Land neighbours
- Haiti 14.94
Each grey tick is one of 182 countries in the 2025 edition.
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Why it is a key: How much work is own-account or unpaid family labour, carrying no contract and no protection.
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
37.99
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Dominican Republic: 37.99. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Caribbean
- 5.474 United States Virgin Islands
- Land neighbours
- Haiti 76.04
Each grey tick is one of 182 countries in the 2025 edition.
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.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
Dominican RepublicWorld median
Dominican Republic rose from 54.75 in 2000 to 61.54 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Dominican Republic World median 2025 61.54 57.720 2024 61.21 57.694 2023 60.71 58.158 2022 59.74 57.688 2021 58.31 56.066 2020 56.67 55.691 2019 61.05 57.871 2018 60.03 56.911 2017 58.73 56.738 2016 57.90 56.845 2015 57.29 56.788 2014 55.53 56.774 2013 54.91 56.229 2012 55.44 56.289 2011 54.62 56.297 2010 53.75 56.212 2009 52.44 56.255 2008 54.84 57.308 2007 54.26 56.933 2006 54.07 56.685 2005 52.89 56.129 2004 53.27 55.465 2003 52.70 55.630 2002 53.67 55.843 2001 53.12 56.018 2000 54.75 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
Dominican RepublicWorld median
Dominican Republic rose from 41.63 in 2004 to 48.4 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Dominican Republic World median 2025 48.40 46.230 2024 48.02 46.060 2023 48.57 45.900 2022 48.00 45.615 2021 47.38 45.433 2020 49.56 47.267 2019 48.03 46.277 2018 47.70 46.187 2017 48.37 46.467 2016 47.76 46.798 2015 49.24 46.876 2014 51.21 47.281 2013 52.19 46.887 2012 50.88 46.231 2011 55.33 45.679 2010 55.88 46.024 2009 56.65 47.071 2008 53.60 45.312 2007 51.55 45.246 2006 49.34 45.670 2005 47.01 46.265 2004 41.63 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
Dominican RepublicWorld median
Dominican Republic fell from 6.432 in 2000 to 5.092 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Dominican Republic World median 2025 5.092 5.08 2024 5.312 5.15 2023 5.555 5.21 2022 5.504 5.34 2021 7.702 6.04 2020 6.126 6.38 2019 6.356 5.36 2018 5.861 5.35 2017 5.832 5.59 2016 7.284 5.90 2015 7.605 6.41 2014 6.719 6.58 2013 7.351 6.71 2012 6.722 6.79 2011 6.087 6.90 2010 5.212 7.04 2009 5.467 6.67 2008 4.764 5.79 2007 5.158 6.00 2006 5.654 6.50 2005 6.587 7.09 2004 6.303 6.80 2003 6.938 6.95 2002 6.779 6.91 2001 7.262 6.96 2000 6.432 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
Dominican RepublicWorld median
Dominican Republic fell from 40.75 in 2000 to 37.99 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Dominican Republic World median 2025 37.99 28.67 2024 38.15 29.04 2023 38.30 29.33 2022 39.51 29.67 2021 40.62 30.01 2020 40.13 30.54 2019 39.19 29.98 2018 40.72 30.15 2017 41.17 29.93 2016 40.32 29.91 2015 41.80 30.26 2014 42.01 30.47 2013 41.57 31.14 2012 43.19 31.00 2011 43.98 31.41 2010 44.27 32.37 2009 43.32 32.59 2008 43.44 31.76 2007 41.62 33.47 2006 42.21 34.27 2005 42.33 34.66 2004 39.98 35.51 2003 42.62 35.90 2002 42.93 35.96 2001 41.86 35.27 2000 40.75 35.67
03In context
Dominican Republic beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
1st182ndNot placed · 42 countries with too few key statisticsNo data
Dominican Republic and the countries it borders
The standing is each country’s place among all 182 placed on the topic; the other columns are the publishers’ own values, read at the edition the standing used.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominican Republic | =83rd | 61.54 | 48.4 | 5.092 | 37.99 |
 Haiti | 155th | 54.38 | 52.18 | 14.94 | 76.04 |
“—” means the publisher gives no reading for that country in that edition. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed.
Across Caribbean
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Jamaica25th
Barbados=54th
Trinidad and Tobago68th
Puerto Rico=72nd
Cuba=78th- Dominican Republic=83rd
United States Virgin Islands89th
Saint Lucia91st
Bahamas108th
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines131st- Haiti155th
Anguillanot placed
Antigua and Barbudanot placed
Arubanot placed
British Virgin Islandsnot placed
Cayman Islandsnot placed
Curaçaonot placed
Dominicanot placed
Grenadanot placed
Montserratnot placed
Saint Kitts and Nevisnot placed
Saint Martinnot placed
Sint Maartennot placed
Turks and Caicos Islandsnot placed
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Dominican Republic in the topic’s list.
Nicaragua=78th
North Korea81st
Finland82nd- Dominican Republic=83rd
Ireland=83rd
Uganda=83rd
Italy86th
04Context, no vote
Where Dominican Republic is ahead of the world, and behind
16 more statistics filed under work & labour, 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 median8
Statistics on which Dominican Republic does better than the middle country measured.
Female Share of Senior and Middle ManagementILO · 2024 · world median 35.8647.4135.86▼ Worsened since 2014
Dominican Republic: 47.41 · world median 35.86 · Women in senior and middle management (% of managers). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.226 to 56.69; higher is better.
Position 10th of 86 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.8850.3864.885▲ 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.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6664.8461.66▲ Improved since 2015
Dominican Republic: 64.84 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 62nd of 182 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1626.8122.16No real change since 2015
Dominican Republic: 26.81 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 78th of 182 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,38454,04347,384▲ Improved since 2015
Dominican Republic: 54,043 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 73rd of 168 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.1620.4119.16No earlier reading
Dominican Republic: 20.41 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 83rd of 179 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3653.6653.36▲ Improved since 2015
Dominican Republic: 53.66 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 89th of 182 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8312.3112.83▲ Improved since 2015
Dominican Republic: 12.31 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 93rd of 182 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Behind the world median2
Statistics on which Dominican Republic does worse than the middle country measured.
Trade Union DensityILO · 2020 · world median 16.687.4916.68No earlier reading
Dominican Republic: 7.49 · world median 16.68 · Employees who are trade union members (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.2 to 91.42; higher is better.
Position 116th of 139 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Youth Not in Education, Employment or TrainingILO · 2024 · world median 14.3125.6914.31▼ Worsened since 2014
Dominican Republic: 25.69 · world median 14.31 · Youth not in education, employment or training (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.975 to 65.73; lower is better.
Position 16th of 97 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
No better end6
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5174.0259.51Moved since 2015
Dominican Republic: 74.02 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 40th of 182 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8442.131.84No real change since 2015
Dominican Republic: 42.1 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 70th of 182 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Public Sector EmploymentWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 15.0116.5415.01No earlier reading
Dominican Republic: 16.54 · world median 15.01 · Public sector employment (% of total employment). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 1.672 to 47.1.
Position 64th of 135 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8818.9718.88Moved since 2015
Dominican Republic: 18.97 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 88th of 182 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
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 here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.387.00914.38Moved since 2015
Dominican Republic: 7.009 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 118th of 182 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
No current reading for Dominican Republic
Fatal Occupational Injuries and Informal Employment Rate. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Dominican Republic’s 16 topics
Work & Labour is Dominican Republic’s 8th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first; each marker sits at the position divided by that topic’s field, so fields of different sizes compare fairly.
- Peace & Security24th of 1774/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture41st of 1754/4 keys
- Gender & Equality54th of 1834/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties67th of 1983/3 keys
- Economy & Innovation67th of 1764/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 79th of 1944/4 keys
- Digital & Technology89th of 1983/3 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 83rd of 1824/4 keys
- Mobility & Tradejoint 68th of 1473/3 keys
- Poverty & Inequality82nd of 1592/2 keys
- Development & Human Capital108th of 1963/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge95th of 1714/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeingjoint 117th of 2004/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability115th of 1813/3 keys
- Energy136th of 1933/3 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 145th of 1923/3 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Dominican Republic can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
United States14th4/4 keysHighest in Caribbean
Jamaica25th4/4 keysThis page
Dominican Republic=83rd4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 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 work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Dominican Republic on work & labour: 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 work & labour?
Dominican Republic is placed joint 83rd of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Dominican Republic?
61.54 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Dominican Republic?
48.4 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How does Dominican Republic compare with Haiti on work & labour?
Haiti is placed 155th of 182, and Dominican Republic joint 83rd. Employment-to-Population Ratio: Haiti 54.38, Dominican Republic 61.54; Labour Income Share: Haiti 52.18, Dominican Republic 48.4; Unemployment Rate: Haiti 14.94, Dominican Republic 5.092; Vulnerable Employment: Haiti 76.04, Dominican Republic 37.99.
How have Dominican Republic’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio rose from 54.75 in 2000 to 61.54 in 2025; Labour Income Share rose from 41.63 in 2004 to 48.4 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 6.432 in 2000 to 5.092 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 40.75 in 2000 to 37.99 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Dominican Republic?
No current reading is published for Dominican Republic on Fatal Occupational Injuries and Informal Employment Rate. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Keep reading
Explore further
Dominican Republic, topic by topic
- Governance & Institutions=79th of 194
- Economy & Innovation67th of 176
- Education & Knowledge95th of 171
- Health & Wellbeing=117th of 200
- Development & Human Capital108th of 196
- Environment & Sustainability115th of 181
- Gender & Equality54th of 183
- Democracy & Civil Liberties67th of 198
- Peace & Security24th of 177
- Risk & Resilience=145th of 192
- Mobility & Trade=68th of 147
- Food & Agriculture41st of 175
- Poverty & Inequality82nd of 159
- Energy136th of 193
- Digital & Technology89th of 198
- The full Dominican Republic profile
Nearby, on work & labour
The key statistics, for every country
10Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided, step by step
A standing is a place in a list, not a mark out of anything. This one is part of the Country Index 2026, and it is worked out like this.
- A few key indicators decide it; the rest are context. 4 indicators on this topic are keys and 18 are charted alongside them without a vote. That split is the point: if every statistic voted, importing five more of one kind would quietly change what the topic is about.
- Each key is read at one edition. All of them describe 2025.
- Every country’s published value is turned into a place within that one key’s own field, and then expressed as a share of that field — how far down this key’s list the country sits, rather than how many countries are above it. Keys where a higher published number is worse (terrorism, hunger, disaster risk) are turned round first, so the good end is always the same end.
- Dividing by the field first is the whole reason this works. A place carries the size of its list inside it: 22nd of 44 and 108th of 215 are the same showing, and averaging the numbers 22 and 108 says loudly that they are not. Fields on this site run from about 44 countries to about 215, so averaging raw places would reward a country for happening to be measured in small ones. Dividing each place by its own field removes the size and leaves only the showing.
- The shares are averaged, plainly. One key, one vote — no key is weighted above another, because any weighting would be this site’s opinion presented as a measurement. Countries are then put in order by that average, and the average itself is never published. It is our arithmetic with nothing anchoring it, so printing it would invite it to be read as a measurement somebody made. The position it produces, the band, and the keys it was built from are all published instead — every one of them checkable against the tables on this page.
- A country needs 2 of this topic’s 4 keys — half, rounded up, and never fewer than 2. A standing built from one reading, printed beside one built from four, is two different things sharing a column heading. 182 countries clear the bar here.
- A key has to earn its vote every edition. It must measure at least 120 countries (below that it starts measuring who was surveyed rather than the world), it must not have more than 10% of its field tied at either end, and it must not repeat another key in the same topic — Spearman correlation above 0.92 counts as repeating. A topic needs at least 2 surviving keys to place anyone at all; this one has 4.
- A standing is relative, and the grouping is ours. It says where a country places against the others measured alongside it, so it moves when they move. The publishers listed on this page did not agree to be read together, and each measures its subject its own way: the underlying numbers are theirs, the ordering on top is this site’s — the same method as the rest of the Country Index, applied to one subject instead of all of them.
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 16 statistics on this page come from 2 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
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Dominican Republic: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/dominican-republic/work