Real size
How big is the Dominican Republic really?
48,600 km²
18,800 sq mi · 40th smallest of the 167 here · about the size of Slovakia
Normal web maps show it about the right size
The Dominican Republic covers 48,600 km² (18,800 sq mi), about the size of Slovakia. It sits close to the equator, where normal web maps barely stretch land, so they show it at about its real size, and make countries farther from the equator look bigger than it.
Measured from our map outlines, so official figures can differ by a few percent. Ranks count the 167 countries and territories on these pages: those over 5,000 km², not counting disputed territories.
- Real area
- 48,600 km²
- Size rank
- 128th of 167
- On a normal web map
- About right
- Latitude
- 19°N
Countries about the same size
- SlovakiaAbout the same size
- Costa RicaCosta Rica is 1.1 times the size of the Dominican Republic
- Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina is 1.1 times the size of the Dominican Republic
- EstoniaThe Dominican Republic is 1.1 times the size of Estonia
- CroatiaCroatia is 1.1 times the size of the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic through history
Borders here have moved many times. Step through our maps, from 2000 BCE to today, to see who ruled this land before, and how big their realms really were.
Open the history map →Browse the eras →
Common questions
- How big is the Dominican Republic?
- The Dominican Republic covers about 48,600 km² (18,800 sq mi). It is the 40th smallest of the 167 countries and territories on these pages (those over 5,000 km²).
- Do maps show the Dominican Republic at the right size?
- Mostly. The Dominican Republic lies close enough to the equator that a normal web map draws it only about 1.1 times too big, while countries far to the north or south are drawn several times too big.
- Is the Dominican Republic bigger than Slovakia?
- They are about the same size: within 5% of each other.
- Is the Dominican Republic bigger than Costa Rica?
- No. Costa Rica is about 1.1 times the size of the Dominican Republic.