People of the Dominican Republic
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 11,073,624 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Dominican Republic
|
9,051,800 (2012 est.; excludes people in the D.R. of foreign origin) |
 United States (2013 census) |
1,757,961 |
 Spain (2013 est.) |
130,000 - 150,000 |
 Puerto Rico (2013 census) |
63,096 |
 Canada
|
16,720 |
 Venezuela (2011 census) |
11,399 |
 U.S. Virgin Islands
|
5,746 |
 Argentina (2010 census) |
5,661 |
 Switzerland
|
5,000 |
 Mexico
|
3,299 |
 Austria
|
2,942 |
| Languages | |
| Spanish | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly Roman Catholic; Protestant |
|
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Africans · Afro-Caribbeans · Arabs · Amerindians · Canarians · Chinese · French · Germans · Italians · Jews · Latin Americans · Levantines · Portuguese · Spanish | |
Dominicans (Spanish: Dominicanos) are a multi-ethnic people who originate from the Dominican Republic. Dominican was historically the demonym for the inhabitants of the Captaincy General of Santo Domingo, and was retained after the nation's independence was obtained. The majority of Dominicans reside in the Dominican Republic, although there is also a large Dominican diaspora, mainly in the United States (also in Spain, Canada and Puerto Rico to a lesser extent). The population of the Dominican Republic in 2007 was estimated by the United Nations at 9,760,000.
For most of its history (up to independence) the colony was known as Santo Domingo, the name of its present capital, and its patron saint, Saint Dominic. Hence the residents were called "Dominicanos" (Dominicans), which is the adjective form of "Domingo", and the revolutionaries named their newly independent country "La República Dominicana". It was often referred to as the "Republic of San Domingo" in English language 19th Century publications.
Another name that's been commonly used is "Quisqueyanos". In the national anthem of the Dominican Republic (Himno Nacional) the author uses the poetic term Quisqueyanos, that is, "Quisqueyans" instead of Dominicans. The word "Quisqueya" is a derivative from a native tongue of the Taino Indians which means, "Mother of all Lands." It is often used in songs as another name for the country.
The genetic makeup of the Dominican Republic's population is estimated to be 52.15% European, 39.57% Black African, and 8.28% Native American on average according to recent genealogical DNA testing. African input is higher in the southeastern plain, and generally in coastal areas, while both the European and native components peak in the north-central region (Cibao).
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Wikipedia