The Dominican Republic Abroad: How Diaspora Keeps Ties Alive

The Dominican Republic’s vibrant culture and close-knit family values extend far beyond its borders. In recent decades, millions of Dominicans have emigrated to other countries in search of opportunities. Yet despite the distance, the Dominican diaspora maintains strong bonds with their homeland through shared traditions, community networks, and the steady flow of remittances that support loved ones back home. This article explores how Dominican communities worldwide keep their heritage alive and how the money they send home, now reaching record levels, sustains families and reinforces cultural ties.

The Global Dominican Diaspora

Dominicans form one of the most widespread and engaged diasporas in the Caribbean. In 2024, nearly 2.9 million Dominicans were living outside their home country, a significant figure in a nation of about 11 million residents. Economic aspirations, educational opportunities, and family reunification have been key drivers of this migration over the past half-century. Today, Dominican expatriates are concentrated in a handful of countries, with the United States and Spain being the most prominent destinations. In fact, the United States alone is home to roughly three-quarters of all Dominican migrants worldwide. Such dispersal means that a substantial share of Dominican families has members abroad, forging a truly transnational community.

To appreciate the scale of this diaspora, consider the largest Dominican communities overseas (figures from 2024):

United States: Approximately 2,398,000 Dominicans (by far the largest diaspora community).

Spain: About 201,000 Dominicans (the second-largest destination).

Italy: Around 29,800 Dominicans.

Chile: Around 22,800 Dominicans.

Canada: Around 22,100 Dominicans.

Netherlands: Roughly 18,000 Dominicans.

Other countries host smaller but notable Dominican enclaves, such as Venezuela (around 11,000) and various communities in Puerto Rico, Panama, Switzerland, and beyond. All told, roughly one-quarter of all people of Dominican origin now reside abroad, a remarkable diaspora footprint that has only grown over time.

Representatives of the Institute of Dominicans Abroad (INDEX) presented a report on Dominicans living overseas. The Dominican government maintains a registry of its citizens abroad, which, as of 2024, counted nearly 2.9 million nationals worldwide. This official effort underscores the importance of the diaspora, roughly a quarter of all Dominicans now live outside their homeland. The government uses such data to identify opportunities and to better integrate Dominican communities abroad with the nation’s development.

Dominicans in the United States: A Community of Millions

The United States hosts the largest Dominican diaspora by far, making Dominicans one of the most significant Latino immigrant groups in the US. More than 2.3 million people of Dominican origin reside in the United States (including those with legal status), concentrated especially in the Northeast. In fact, the U.S. accounts for about 75% of all Dominican emigrants worldwide. This community has deep roots: large-scale Dominican migration to the U.S. began after the 1960s, following political upheavals such as the end of the Trujillo dictatorship, and accelerated in the ensuing decades. Many Dominicans initially settled in New York City, which remains the heart of the diaspora. The New York metropolitan area alone is home to over a million Dominicans, making them the city’s largest immigrant group from Latin America. Over time, communities have also grown in places like New Jersey (e.g., Paterson), Florida (especially Miami), Massachusetts (e.g., Boston and Lawrence), and Pennsylvania (Philadelphia), among others.

Dominican-Americans have established vibrant neighborhoods and cultural centers in the U.S. Perhaps the best-known is Washington Heights in upper Manhattan, often nicknamed “Little Dominican Republic,” where Spanish signs, Dominican restaurants, and bachata music create an atmosphere reminiscent of Santo Domingo. Across the river in the Bronx, and in cities like Providence, Rhode Island, and Paterson, NJ, similar enclaves thrive. These communities celebrate their heritage proudly. For example, each summer the National Dominican Day Parade takes over Manhattan’s Avenue of the Americas, with tens of thousands of participants waving Dominican flags and dancing to merengue beats. The parade, which began in 1982, is organized by Dominican-American community leaders to “celebrate the richness of Dominican culture, folklore and popular traditions”. Similar Dominican pride parades and festivals are now held in other U.S. cities, from Boston to Haverstraw, NY, and from Providence to Grand Concourse in the Bronx, reflecting the wide dispersion of the diaspora.

Beyond festivals, the U.S. Dominican community sustains many cultural and civic organizations. There are Dominican heritage clubs, business associations, and hometown associations (more on these later) that keep immigrants connected to their roots. Spanish-language newspapers and radio stations in New York and other areas serve the community, and Dominican-owned businesses (from bodegas and barber shops to travel agencies) are commonplace in diaspora hubs. The Dominican-American population has also started making its mark politically; for instance, in 2016, Adriano Espaillat became the first Dominican-born U.S. Congressman, representing New York. Such milestones inspire pride and strengthen the voice of Dominicans abroad in advocating for their communities.

Dominicans in Spain and Europe

Outside the United States, Spain is the next most significant host of Dominican emigrants. Over 200,000 Dominicans reside in Spain, drawn by the shared language and cultural ties as well as Spain’s demand for immigrant labor in the past decades. The historical connection is notable: the Dominican Republic was formerly part of the Spanish Empire, and in modern times, Spain has been a natural destination for Latin Americans seeking opportunities in Europe. Beginning in the 1990s and 2000s, many Dominican women moved to Spain to work in domestic service or hospitality, and later brought family members. Today, Madrid hosts the largest Dominican community in Spain, with others in cities like Barcelona. Dominican-Spaniards have a presence in neighborhoods such as Madrid’s Cuatro Caminos and Lavapiés, where Dominican eateries and salons can be found. The community celebrates Dominican Independence Day (February 27) and other festivals with gatherings featuring Dominican music and food, keeping traditions alive in their new country.

Elsewhere in Europe, Italy has a smaller Dominican community (around 30,000 people), many of whom work in service sectors in Rome, Milan, or other cities. The Netherlands is home to nearly 18,000 Dominicans, some of whom are former students or professionals who settled there, and there is a notable community in Amsterdam. Switzerland and Germany also have small groups of Dominican expatriates, as do France and the United Kingdom, though these are not as large as the Spanish community. Across Europe, Dominican diaspora associations often organize cultural nights, domino tournaments, and religious festivities (such as celebrating the Virgen de Altagracia) that mirror those back home.

For Dominicans in Europe, maintaining cultural identity can require extra effort due to smaller numbers and different languages, but they remain tightly knit. Many Dominican Europeans stay connected to news from home via online media and make periodic trips back to the island. The vice ministry for Dominicans abroad (INDEX) has even established outreach in Europe to assist expats with consular services and to encourage community networking. All of this helps ensure that even far from the Caribbean, Dominicans in Europe continue speaking their language, cooking sancocho and mangú, and teaching their children about their island heritage.

Diaspora in Latin America and Beyond

While the U.S. and Europe account for most of the diaspora, Dominican communities can also be found elsewhere in the Americas. Puerto Rico, the neighboring island, has long been an entry point and destination for Dominicans; tens of thousands of Dominican immigrants moved to Puerto Rico, especially in the 1980s and 1990s (given its proximity and as a stepping stone to the mainland U.S.). Many Puerto Ricans of Dominican descent maintain dual cultural identities and travel frequently between San Juan and Santo Domingo. In Venezuela, a once-prosperous economy attracted Dominican traders and workers in past decades; today, around 10–15,000 Dominicans live in Venezuela, though economic turmoil there has slowed new migration. Panama and Puerto Rico both have Dominican enclaves as well, often involved in commerce and services.

Interestingly, newer diaspora destinations have emerged. Chile now hosts an estimated 22,000+ Dominican immigrants, a number that grew rapidly in the 2010s when Chile’s economy was strong and its immigration policies relatively open. Dominicans in Chile often work in retail, construction, or tourism, and community groups have formed in Santiago. Argentina and Brazil have much smaller Dominican populations, but a small number of students and professionals have settled there as well. In Canada, roughly 22,000 Dominicans live primarily in cities like Montreal and Toronto, a community that has been growing and now features annual Dominican cultural festivals, particularly in Montreal.

No matter the country, Dominican expatriates show a remarkable commitment to “Dominicanidad”, the essence of being Dominican. Whether in Latin America, Europe, or beyond, they establish Dominican restaurants (from New York’s famous Dominican bakeries to Madrid’s bachata clubs), they form baseball leagues and dance groups, and they send their children to weekend Spanish classes or folklore dance classes to pass on the culture. The spread of Dominicans across so many corners of the globe truly makes the Dominican Republic’s culture a global phenomenon.

Cultural Connections: Traditions Kept Alive Abroad

One of the most striking aspects of the Dominican diaspora is how well they preserve and promote Dominican culture and traditions in their new environments. Family and community are at the heart of this. Diaspora Dominicans frequently organize gatherings for birthdays, baptisms, and holidays just as they would back home; any occasion becomes an excuse to cook a big Dominican meal and invite the extended community. The aroma of rice, beans, and pollo guisado, or the sight of a bubbling pot of sancocho, can be found in Dominican neighborhoods from Miami to Madrid. Dominican cuisine, with staples like mangú (mashed plantains) and bachata music in the background, helps transplanted families feel at home and also introduces their heritage to new friends and neighbors.

Music and dance are perhaps the most visible ambassadors of Dominican culture abroad. The Dominican Republic’s two iconic musical genres, merengue and bachata, have gained international popularity largely through the diaspora’s influence. In cities with large Dominican populations, one can easily find clubs or annual festivals featuring live merengue bands. Bachata, once a rustic guitar music from the Dominican countryside, has evolved into a global phenomenon with superstar artists (many of whom, like Romeo Santos, are of Dominican descent in the diaspora). Dance schools around the world now teach bachata steps, a testament to how Dominican cultural expressions have spread and taken root far from the island. Through music, Dominicans abroad celebrate their identity and often attract others to enjoy it as well, fostering cross-cultural appreciation.

Religious and folk traditions also endure in diaspora communities. Many Dominican immigrants are Catholic, and they keep alive religious celebrations such as the feast day of Our Lady of Altagracia (the patron saint of the Dominican Republic) with special church services in places like New York and Madrid. Likewise, some diaspora groups organize Carnival celebrations, mirroring the February carnivals in the Dominican Republic, complete with vibrant costumes and masks (think of the famed diablos cojuelos costumes). Even if on a smaller scale, these events allow second-generation Dominican youth, who may have been born abroad, to experience the colorful traditions of their ancestral home.

Importantly, community organizations play a big role in cultural preservation. Nearly every city with a sizable Dominican population has clubs or associations named after the towns or provinces of the Dominican Republic, for example, a “San Juaneros Club” or “Club Dominicano de Baní,” which bring together people from the same hometown. These hometown associations not only socialize and celebrate cultural roots, but often raise funds for projects back in their Dominican hometowns, such as rebuilding a local church or sponsoring a patron saint festival. This tradition of hometown associations is strong among Dominicans (much as it is among Mexican and other Latin American diasporas). Through these groups, the diaspora actively contributes to community development at home while reinforcing their own sense of purpose and unity abroad.

Language is another cultural tie that binds the diaspora. Spanish remains the dominant language in Dominican homes abroad, and many parents strive to have their children grow up bilingual. Dominican Spanish has its own colloquial sayings and slang, and these linguistic quirks, from “¿que lo que?” (What’s up?) to “vaina” echoes through Dominican enclaves in foreign lands. At the same time, the diaspora often serves as a cultural bridge. They introduce aspects of Dominican culture (music, food, baseball passion) to their host countries, enriching multicultural cities, and conversely bring foreign influences back to the Dominican Republic when they visit. In this way, the culture is not only preserved but also dynamically exchanged.

In sum, no matter how far-flung, Dominican communities remain closely knit. Large family gatherings, community events, and the shared pride in being Dominican ensure that the distance from Quisqueya (a beloved Taino name for the island) does not dilute their identity. Instead, the diaspora extends Dominican culture onto the world stage, all while staying connected to its roots.

The Power of Remittances: Sending Money Back Home

While cultural traditions sustain the spirit of the diaspora, financial remittances are the lifeblood that sustains many families and communities in the Dominican Republic. Diaspora Dominicans have a strong custom of sending money back home, whether to support elderly parents, pay for siblings’ education, or invest in a family home. Over time, these individual remittances have added up to an economic force of major significance for the country.

In recent years, remittance flows to the Dominican Republic have reached record highs. According to the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic, the country received $10.756 billion in remittances in 2024, marking a 5.9% increase over the previous year. To put this in perspective, that annual total (over $10.7 billion) is roughly equal to 9% of the Dominican Republic’s entire Gross Domestic Product. It also rivals the country’s earnings from other top foreign exchange sources, for example, tourism brought in a comparable $10.6 billion in 2024. In one single month, December 2024, remittances hit over $1 billion, an all-time high for any month, as migrants sent extra funds during the holiday season. These numbers underscore how critical diaspora money has become to the Dominican economy.

The United States is by far the largest source of remittances, reflecting the size of the Dominican community there. Around 80% of Dominican remittance dollars come from the U.S. In December 2024, for example, some $710 million of the $1 billion in remittances were sent from U.S.-based Dominicans. The strong U.S. job market and low unemployment in 2024 enabled Dominican-Americans to keep sending money steadily. Spain is the second-largest source, contributing about 5–6% of total remittances. Other countries like Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Panama, and even Haiti account for smaller shares of the flow. It may seem surprising, but “remittances from Haiti” likely represent money sent by Dominican diaspora living or working in Haiti, or possibly Haitians abroad sending to family in the Dominican Republic.) In any case, the broad geographical base of remittances mirrors the widespread nature of the diaspora itself.

These remittance inflows have proven incredibly important for household welfare in the Dominican Republic. Money sent from abroad is often used for necessities, groceries, utility bills, healthcare, as well as crucial investments like schooling for children or repairing homes. It is estimated that a very large portion of Dominican households rely on remittances. One study found that about 38% of Dominican adults receive money regularly from relatives abroad. In poorer households, especially, remittances make a huge difference. According to a World Bank report, remittances can account for up to 40% of total household income in the poorest Dominican homes. In other words, nearly half of the income in low-income families might come from sons, daughters, or siblings working overseas and sending help. This financial lifeline has been credited with reducing poverty and helping families withstand economic crises. During tough times, such as the global recession or the COVID-19 pandemic, remittances often proved more resilient than other economic flows, as migrants tightened their own belts to keep supporting families back home.

The impact of these funds extends beyond individual families. When millions of households have extra spending money from remittances, it boosts local businesses and stimulates the broader economy. Remittances fuel the consumption of goods and services in both urban and rural areas. They also enable investment: for example, a family might use remittances to start a small business or build a new house (providing jobs for local construction workers). The Central Bank has noted the “multiplying effect” of diaspora dollars, driving consumption, investment, and financing for vulnerable sectors of society. In 2024, the combination of high remittance inflows, tourism recovery, and export revenues helped keep the Dominican peso stable and inflation in check, showing that diaspora contributions are a macroeconomic stabilizer as well.

How Remittances Keep Ties Alive

Beyond the economic statistics lies a more human story: remittances are a tangible expression of love and responsibility that bind Dominican families across borders. For migrants, sending money home is often a central motivation for working abroad. Every month or two, a Dominican abroad might make that transfer. Nowadays, perhaps with a few taps on a smartphone, knowing that it will put food on the table for their children or ensure an aging parent can buy medicine. This regular act reinforces emotional connections. Many families coordinate the transfers with phone calls or video chats: a father overseas might say, “Check your account tomorrow,” and then follow up to hear the joy or relief in his family’s voices. In this way, financial support and emotional support go hand in hand.

The uses of remittances frequently have cultural significance as well. For instance, diaspora Dominicans often send extra money during holidays like Christmas, so that their families can celebrate Las Navidades with a proper feast and new clothes for the kids. They might sponsor a fiesta patronal (patron saint festival) in their hometown by funding the music band or donating towards church repairs. Some migrants return home for visits carrying gifts and savings that will be spent on baptisms, quinceañera (15th birthday) parties, or even weddings, life events that maintain cultural traditions, funded in part by diaspora earnings. Thus, remittances help ensure that family rites and community celebrations can continue robustly, even if one or more key family members are physically absent.

Today, a growing share of remittances is sent through secure online platforms and mobile apps. Services such as sendvalu, for example, enable Dominicans abroad to transfer money directly to a recipient’s bank account or cash pickup location in the Dominican Republic, often within minutes. This fintech revolution means diaspora workers can send smaller amounts more frequently with lower fees, increasing the total volume and reach of remittances. The Dominican Central Bank reported that over 93% of remittances in formal channels are paid out in cash to recipients (as of early 2024), but digital uptake is growing. The convenience of these services keeps migrants connected to home in real-time; they can respond quickly if a family member has an urgent need, bridging the distance instantly through a money transfer.

The Dominican government has recognized the huge value of the diaspora’s contributions and is taking steps to engage them more. The creation of the Institute for Dominicans Abroad (INDEX) and a Vice Ministry for Diaspora Affairs is one example; these bodies are mapping Dominican communities worldwide and seeking to involve them in national development. The comprehensive diaspora registry updated in 2024 (cited earlier) is not just a headcount; officials say it will be used to “identify economic and social opportunities and help integrate the diaspora into the nation.”. This could mean encouraging investment from successful Dominican entrepreneurs abroad or providing channels for second-generation youth to volunteer in projects in the Dominican Republic. There is also interest in tapping the expertise of highly educated Dominican professionals overseas (sometimes called the “brain drain”) and converting it into a “brain gain” through knowledge transfer partnerships. In essence, the goal is to move beyond seeing the diaspora only as remittance senders and instead as full-fledged partners in the country’s social and economic life.

That said, the everyday act of sending money remains the most direct and powerful link for now. It has literally transformed villages. For example, some rural towns have been rebuilt with the steady inflow of dollars from New York. In many Dominican hometowns, you can see new houses with modern comforts paid for by years of remittances. These are sometimes nicknamed remittance homes, and they stand as physical symbols of the sacrifice of those who went abroad and the improved living standards of those who stayed. Communities with high emigration often have better access to education and health for the families left behind, precisely because relatives abroad cover those expenses. In turn, this can slow further emigration by improving conditions at home, or it can sustain a cycle where new generations go abroad for education and then send support back, often a bit of both.

A Nation Beyond Borders

The story of the Dominican Republic abroad is ultimately one of resilience and reciprocal care. Across the world, Dominican diaspora communities have proven that you can carry your patria (homeland) in your heart and recreate a sense of home wherever you go. They have built little Quisqueyas in foreign lands through their music, food, festivals, and close community ties, ensuring that Dominican culture not only survives but thrives globally. At the same time, their commitment to family and community back home is unwavering, seen most concretely in the billions of dollars in remittances sent each year that uplift households and fuel the Dominican economy.

As of 2025, the bonds between the Dominican Republic and its sons and daughters abroad are stronger than ever. Both culturally and economically, the diaspora is keeping Dominican society connected across borders. The flow of support, whether it’s a shipment of favorite foods, a WhatsApp video call to join a relative’s birthday, or a hard-earned paycheck wired home, reinforces a two-way relationship. The island nurtured its people’s identity, and now its people (wherever they reside) help nurture the island’s well-being. In a real sense, the Dominican nation extends far beyond its geographic boundaries, encompassing all those who cherish their Dominican heritage and contribute to its prosperity from afar. This enduring partnership between diaspora and homeland ensures that, no matter the distance, Dominican families and traditions remain united, la dominicanidad viva y presente, alive and present around the world.

No matter the distance, money transfers, mobile top-ups, and gift cards make it easier to stay close, support loved ones, and keep Dominican families connected.

Sources:

Dominican Today – Around 2.9 million make up the Dominican diaspora

Migration Policy Institute – Immigrants from the Dominican Republic in the United States

Wikipedia – Dominican Day Parade

Newsinamerica / Central Bank of DR – Dominican Republic Receives US$10,756 Million in Remittances in 2024

EFE/SwissInfo – República Dominicana recibió remesas por 10,756 millones de dólares en 2024

Listín Diario – Remesas son el 40% de los ingresos en hogares más pobres

Inter-American Development Bank – Remittances and the Dominican Republic

WTO/BCRD – General Overview of Remittance Flows (Dominican Republic)