The rate of natural increase (RNI), which measures the difference between birth rates and death rates, is a key indicator of population growth. In the Dominican Republic, the RNI is moderate, with recent estimates placing it around 1.0% to 1.2% per year. This rate is lower than that of its neighbor Haiti, which has a higher RNI—typically around 1.3% to 1.5%—due to higher birth rates and a younger population structure. Conversely, the Dominican Republic’s RNI is higher than that of nearby Caribbean nations such as Cuba and Puerto Rico, both of which have very low or even negative rates of natural increase, reflecting aging populations and lower fertility rates. Thus, while the Dominican Republic is experiencing continued population growth, it is at a more moderate pace than Haiti but faster than many other islands in the Caribbean region.
| Year | Rate of Natural Increase | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 2.661 | 5,696,855 |
| 1985 | 2.462 | 6,366,148 |
| 1990 | 2.243 | 7,023,987 |
| 1995 | 2.112 | 7,619,323 |
| 2000 | 1.928 | 8,231,409 |
| 2005 | 1.667 | 8,849,245 |
| 2010 | 1.405 | 9,432,674 |
| 2015 | 1.291 | 9,987,801 |
| 2020 | 1.215 | 10,498,946 |
| 2024 | 1.125 | 10,885,232 |
| 2025 | 1.097 | 10,977,927 |
| 2026 | 1.075 | 11,068,929 |
| 2030 | 0.975 | 11,415,619 |
| 2035 | 0.842 | 11,799,644 |
| 2040 | 0.727 | 12,124,973 |
| 2045 | 0.622 | 12,394,081 |
| 2050 | 0.527 | 12,608,829 |
| 2055 | 0.428 | 12,767,881 |
| 2060 | 0.333 | 12,868,429 |
| 2065 | 0.238 | 12,909,109 |
| 2070 | 0.143 | 12,888,330 |
| 2075 | 0.048 | 12,805,868 |
| 2080 | -0.042 | 12,663,926 |
| 2085 | -0.126 | 12,467,224 |
| 2090 | -0.2 | 12,222,569 |
| 2095 | -0.267 | 11,937,476 |
| 2100 | -0.329 | 11,618,225 |
Data from US Census International Database