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About 75% of all Dominicans are mulatto, that is, of mixed European and African ancestry. Some of these could also possess a smaller degree of indigenous Taíno ancestry. The presence of Taíno ancestry in the Dominican genepool needs to be further tested, and without proper scientific investigation sweeping claims cannot be made about the exact composition of any indigenous bloodlines. There are also black and white (primarily Spanish descended) minorities. A smaller presence of East Asians (primarily ethnic Chinese) and Middle Easterners (primarily Lebanese) can also be found. The culturally indigenous Amerindian population is practically extinct. Many foreigners reside in the country for business, religious, or leisure purposes. There are significant numbers of American, Canadian, German and French expatriates residing in the country. Since the early 1960s, economic problems have led to a vast migration of Dominicans to the United States, mainly to large east coast cities. New York City's Washington Heights is so densely populated by Dominicans that it is sometimes referred to as Quisqueya Heights. Quisqueya is a popular name for Hispaniola that many believe derives from the island's original Arawak name, although this is disputed by some historians. Sizeable Dominican emigre communities exist in the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Spain, and St. Maarten. In recent years, illegal immigration from Haiti has dramatically increased as the Dominican economy improves and the Haitian economy remains virtually moribund. Most Haitian immigrants work at low-paying, unskilled labor jobs, including construction work and household cleaning. Current estimates put the Haitian population in the Dominican Republic as high as 1 million, a majority of whom are believed to be born in the Dominican Republic. |
Dominican Republic Information: Inside
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