The Dominican Population in the United States: Growth and Distribution

This study provides an overview of the size and growth of the Dominican population in the United States, a group that experienced considerable growth in the decade between 1990 and 2000, and discusses some of the unique characteristics of this community. The report also highlights the geographic distribution of Dominicans within the United States.

The report finds that the Dominican population experienced a nearly 90 percent growth between 1990 and 2000 and expects growth to continue over the coming years, with immigration as the driving force behind the population increase. Approximately 20,000 Dominicans are admitted annually as permanent residents, while another 200,000 enter the United States each year as temporary immigrants. The growth in the proportion of status adjusters relative to new arrivals within recent annual permanent immigration flows suggests that an increasing number of immigrants who may have initially envisioned a short-term stay are deciding to make their migration permanent. Although Dominicans have predominantly settled in the Northeast of the United States, there is some indication that the population is shifting to other regions, particularly the South.

According to most recent estimates, nearly two-thirds of the current Dominican population is foreign-born. The report shows that foreign-born Dominican immigrants are more likely to fall into older age groups in comparison to the overall Dominican population and the overwhelming majority of Dominican children under the age of 15 are U.S.-born natives. Findings also suggest that native Dominicans achieve relatively high educational attainment, with roughly 80 percent obtaining at least a high school degree.