Distrito Nacional
Caribbean's largest metro (3.6M); processes $10.7B remittances and hosts most corporate HQs; oldest European city in Americas (1502).
Santo Domingo is the Americas' oldest European-founded city still standing—Columbus's son Diego built the Alcázar here in 1510—and it remains the Caribbean's largest metropolitan area, with 3.6 million people concentrated in the Distrito Nacional and surrounding provinces. Unlike the country's 31 provinces governed by appointed officials, the Capital District elects its own mayor, reflecting its unique status as both administrative center and economic engine.
The district hosts corporate headquarters for national and international firms, from Barrick Gold to IKEA's Caribbean operations. Services contribute 56% of Dominican GDP, and much of that activity flows through Santo Domingo's banks, telecoms, and call centers. In 2024, the Central Bank estimated foreign currency inflows exceeding $43 billion nationally, with remittances ($10.7 billion) largely processed through the capital's financial system. Tourism adds another $10.7 billion, though most visitors pass through to beach destinations.
By 2026, Santo Domingo will test whether infrastructure can keep pace with concentration. The Colonial Zone attracts heritage tourism while new metro lines expand the city's reach. If investment in transit, housing, and services matches population growth, the capital can sustain its economic dominance. If congestion and inequality worsen, the district that drives half the economy may become a bottleneck rather than an engine.