List of municipalities of the Dominican Republic

The municipalities of the Dominican Republic are, after the regions and the provinces, the third level of the political and administrative division of the Dominican Republic.

The division of provinces into municipalities (municipios) is established in the Constitution and further regulated by Law 5220 on the Territorial Division of the Dominican Republic. It was enacted in 1959 and has been frequently amended to create new provinces, municipalities and lower-level administrative units.

Municipalities may be further divided into secciones (literally: sections) and parajes (literally: places or neighborhoods). Municipal districts (distritos municipales) may be formed in the case of municipalities with several urban centres.

The provinces as the second level of political and administrative division contain at least two municipalities. The Distrito Nacional, which is neither a municipality nor a province, consists of only one municipality, Santo Domingo (Constitution: “the city of Santo Domingo de Guzmán is the Distrito Nacional”).

Administration

According to the Constitution and the law, the municipalities are administered by the municipality’s Municipal Office (ayuntamiento), which is a legal entity in its own right consisting of two bodies: the alcadía (Mayor’s Office), with the alcalde (Mayor), and the Municipal Council (concejo de regidores), with at least five members (regidores). The Municipal Council is an exclusively normative, regulatory and supervisory body, the Mayor’s Office the executive one. The mayor is a voting member of the Municipal Council. He and his deputy, as well as the regidores and their deputies, are elected by the electorate on the occasion of elections held nationally every four years.

If a municipality consists of more than one urban center, the additional centres may be elevated to the status of municipal district (distrito municipal), with the remaining district of the municipality called cabecera (main municipality). The administration of the municipal district is the responsibility of a municipal district office (junta municipal), which includes the director (director) and a municipal district council (junta de vocales) with at least three members (vocales). The director and his deputy, as well as the vocales and their deputies, are elected by the electorate on the occasion of elections held nationally every four years. They represent the municipal district to the municipality and are subordinate to it.

If a municipality is further divided into secciones, the municipal council appoints an alcalde pedáneo for each of them. He reports to the mayor or, if his sección is in a municipal district, to its director. If the municipality is further divided into parajes, the municipal council appoints an ayudante del alcalde pedáneo for each of them.

Municipalities are often given special designations because of their number of inhabitants: ciudad (city) in the case of urban centers with over 10,000 inhabitants or the capital of a province, villas (town) in the case of towns with over 1,000 inhabitants or seats of a local government, poblados (village) in the case of villages.

Municipalities

The following is a list of the 158[14] municipalities (municipios) of the Dominican Republic as of June 1, 2021.

Name Province Created Population
Census 2010[16]
Area (km2) Density Old names /
Full names
Altamira Puerto Plata January 27, 1895 22,323 179.32 124/km2
Arenoso Duarte January 1, 1994 19,299 142.20 136/km2
Azua Azua March 5, 1845 143,934 416.30 346/km2 Azua de Compostela
Baitoa[17] Santiago February 27, 2016 23,233 45.22 514/km2
Bajos de Haina San Cristóbal October 27, 1980 142,323 38.49 3,698/km2
Baní Peravia March 5, 1845 201,292 540.40 372/km2
Bánica Elías Piña March 5, 1845 12,123 265.98 46/km2
Barahona Barahona March 5, 1845 183,232 163.02 1,124/km2 Santa Cruz de Barahona
Bayaguana Monte Plata March 5, 1845 40,912 877.99 47/km2
Bisonó Santiago October 20, 1961 75,673 92.60 817/km2 Villa Bisonó
Boca Chica Santo Domingo January 1, 2003 201,292 145.67 1,382/km2
Bohechío San Juan March 2, 1976 12,332 407.82 30/km2
Bonao Monseñor Nouel March 5, 1845 200,102 664.37 301/km2
Cabral Barahona September 9, 1907 19,293 149.30 129/km2
Cabrera María Trinidad Sánchez February 27, 1870 39,929 297.58 134/km2 Tres Amarras
Cambita Garabitos San Cristóbal May 2, 1987 42,123 202.52 208/km2
Castañuelas Monte Cristi February 27, 1976 21,223 80.90 262/km2
Castillo Duarte September 9, 1907 26,455 133.68 198/km2
Cayetano Germosén Espaillat January 1, 1994 9,120 17.75 514/km2
Cevicos Sánchez Ramírez July 6, 1889 21,232 305.64 69/km2
Comendador Elías Piña April 25, 1880 50,349 252.93 199/km2
Constanza La Vega March 9, 1858 75,344 848.79 89/km2
Consuelo San Pedro de Macorís September 19, 1996 54,324 131.52 413/km2
Cotuí Sánchez Ramírez March 5, 1845 154,234 619.88 249/km2
Cristóbal Independencia August 3, 2003 9,912 151.72 65/km2
Dajabón Dajabón March 5, 1845 69,953 253.41 276/km2
Duvergé Independencia July 27, 1893 63,874 521.64 122/km2
El Cercado San Juan September 9, 1907 30,132 283.05 106/km2
El Factor María Trinidad Sánchez April 25, 1988 32,323 149.23 217/km2
El Llano Elías Piña March 1, 1976 10,202 104.49 98/km2
El Peñón Barahona December 16, 2002 5,023 29.02 173/km2
El Pino Dajabón January 18, 2002 14,203 88.35 161/km2
El Seibo El Seibo March 5, 1845 119,283 1,344.33 89/km2 Santa Cruz del Seibo
El Valle Hato Mayor March 9, 1976 12,343 161.12 77/km2
Enriquillo Barahona September 9, 1907 19,988 354.10 56/km2
Esperanza Valverde September 9, 1907 121,233 215.24 563/km2
Estebanía Azua November 20, 2001 9,887 159.20 62/km2
Fantino Sánchez Ramírez December 15, 1961 29,888 95.97 311/km2
Fundación Barahona July 16, 2003 12,123 52.59 231/km2
Galván Bahoruco July 1, 1998 21,019 214.66 98/km2
Gaspar Hernández Espaillat September 9, 1907 60,394 366.18 165/km2
Guananico Puerto Plata November 30, 1992 9,033 57.32 158/km2
Guayabal Azua August 3, 2004 10,003 262.87 38/km2
Guayacanes San Pedro de Macorís May 3, 2006 35,034 129.78 270/km2
Guaymate La Romana October 1, 1959 23,323 309.80 75/km2
Guayubín Monte Cristi May 9, 1855 60,934 899.26 68/km2
Hato Mayor del Rey Hato Mayor March 5, 1845 102,039 659.65 155/km2
Higüey La Altagracia March 5, 1845 422,934 2,029.14 208/km2 Salvaleón de Higüey
Hondo Valle Elías Piña August 12, 1955 15,445 120.63 128/km2
Hostos Duarte March 5, 2004 14,533 78.23 186/km2 Eugenio María de Hostos
Imbert Puerto Plata September 9, 1907 34,245 170.70 201/km2 Blanco
Jamao al Norte Espaillat May 25, 2001 12,213 115.48 106/km2
Jánico Santiago September 9, 1907 33,233 403.20 82/km2
Jaquimeyes Barahona July 7, 2004 8,374 178.63 47/km2
Jarabacoa La Vega March 9, 1858 72,019 665.88 108/km2
Jima Abajo La Vega September 19, 1996 50,394 132.72 380/km2
Jimaní Independencia June 4, 1945 20,192 458.49 44/km2
Juan de Herrera San Juan June 10, 1992 16,543 146.85 113/km2
Juan Santiago Elías Piña May 9, 2005 7,472 107.15 70/km2
La Ciénaga Barahona July 30, 2004 12,334 112.30 110/km2
La Descubierta Independencia June 27, 1938 13,233 206.85 64/km2
La Mata Sánchez Ramírez August 7, 2002 50,394 174.64 289/km2
La Romana La Romana February 27, 1897 239,987 185.52 1,294/km2
La Vega La Vega March 5, 1845 310,203 639.85 485/km2
Laguna Salada Valverde March 6, 1976 45,546 184.54 247/km2
Las Charcas Azua September 15, 2001 19,877 251.23 79/km2
Las Guáranas Duarte July 22, 1998 29,193 86.49 338/km2
Las Matas de Farfán San Juan March 5, 1845 72,303 636.64 114/km2
Las Matas de Santa Cruz Monte Cristi March 18, 1985 14,234 109.51 130/km2
Las Terrenas Samaná September 19, 1996 45,944 113.10 406/km2
Las Yayas de Viajama Azua May 1, 2001 24,573 472.54 52/km2
Licey al Medio Santiago July 13, 1984 49,432 27.04 1,828/km2
Loma de Cabrera Dajabón June 27, 1938 23,234 238.51 97/km2
Los Alcarrizos Santo Domingo January 31, 2005 345,329 52.14 6,623/km2
Los Cacaos San Cristóbal February 2, 2004 15,334 145.62 105/km2
Los Hidalgos Puerto Plata March 10, 1976 17,384 101.10 172/km2
Los Ríos Bahoruco November 27, 2001 13,234 149.87 88/km2
Luperón Puerto Plata June 18, 1945 25,443 272.07 94/km2 Bajabónico
Maimón Monseñor Nouel September 22, 1982 23,133 90.07 257/km2
Mao Valverde May 4, 1878 145,309 423.60 343/km2 Santa Cruz de Mao
Matanzas[18] Peravia August 19, 2014 54,234 203.39 267/km2
Mella Independencia March 22, 2004 5,233 508.81 10/km2
Miches El Seibo August 8, 1883 25,423 442.47 57/km2 El Jovero
Moca Espaillat March 5, 1845 213,244 239.36 891/km2
Monción Santiago Rodríguez September 9, 1907 39,993 101.61 394/km2
Monte Cristi Monte Cristi March 5, 1845 41,933 842.95 50/km2 San Fernando de Monte Cristi
Monte Plata Monte Plata March 5, 1845 67,473 623.55 108/km2
Nagua María Trinidad Sánchez July 10, 1882 132,394 552.71 240/km2 San José de Matanzas
Neiba Bahoruco March 5, 1845 100,987 423.46 238/km2
Nizao Peravia April 14, 1988 34,345 48.54 708/km2
Oviedo Pedernales March 3, 1950 12,345 799.86 15/km2
Padre Las Casas Azua June 27, 1938 45,394 496.98 91/km2
Paraíso Barahona February 29, 1976 23,124 138.63 167/km2
Partido Dajabón September 19, 1996 17,029 157.29 108/km2
Pedernales Pedernales June 27, 1938 94,397 1,274.67 74/km2
Pedro Brand Santo Domingo January 31, 2005 100,192 212.29 472/km2
Pedro Santana Elías Piña March 3, 1952 12,442 575.02 22/km2
Pepillo Salcedo Monte Cristi August 28, 1949 14,244 149.32 95/km2 Manzanillo
Peralta Azua March 7, 1976 20,394 115.85 176/km2
Peralvillo Monte Plata June 16, 2004 29,493 153.35 192/km2
Piedra Blanca Monseñor Nouel November 30, 1991 34,245 237.95 144/km2
Pimentel Duarte September 9, 1907 30,492 124.67 245/km2
Polo Barahona September 30, 2001 11,234 200.61 56/km2
Postrer Río Independencia May 4, 1982 9,394 158.93 59/km2
Pueblo Viejo Azua May 1, 2003 15,344 45.38 338/km2
Puerto Plata Puerto Plata March 5, 1845 301,344 509.01 592/km2 San Felipe de Puerto Plata
Puñal Santiago April 7, 2006 74,244 60.80 1,221/km2
Quisqueya San Pedro de Macorís July 1, 1998 25,944 155.45 167/km2
Ramón Santana San Pedro de Macorís April 25, 1894 13,493 249.92 54/km2
Rancho Arriba San José de Ocoa May 8, 1989 14,938 203.53 73/km2
Restauración Dajabón June 23, 1892 13,293 283.58 47/km2
Río San Juan María Trinidad Sánchez March 27, 1946 31,233 272.19 115/km2
Sabana de la Mar Hato Mayor March 5, 1845 28,912 508.52 57/km2
Sabana Grande de Boyá Monte Plata March 5, 1845 39,292 535.08 73/km2
Sabana Grande de Palenque San Cristóbal September 19, 1996 22,123 30.13 734/km2
Sabana Iglesia Santiago May 18, 2007 21,023 58.30 361/km2
Sabana Larga San José de Ocoa April 7, 1991 12,394 167.00 74/km2
Sabana Yegua Azua May 1, 2003 22,394 101.58 220/km2
Sabaneta Santiago Rodríguez March 5, 1845 59,833 804.47 74/km2 San Ignacio de Sabaneta
Salcedo Hermanas Mirabal March 5, 1845 78,333 190.60 411/km2 Juana Núñez
Salinas Barahona March 8, 2001 7,383 123.47 60/km2
Samaná Samaná March 5, 1845 102,939 412.11 250/km2 Santa Bárbara de Samaná
San Antonio de Guerra Santo Domingo March 24, 2004 97,889 288.25 340/km2
San Cristóbal San Cristóbal March 5, 1845 294,394 226.52 1,300/km2
San Francisco de Macorís Duarte March 5, 1845 279,443 727.15 384/km2
San Gregorio de Nigua San Cristóbal January 11, 2001 44,333 48.76 909/km2
San José de las Matas Santiago March 5, 1845 69,887 1,549.06 45/km2
San José de los Llanos San Pedro de Macorís March 5, 1845 34,332 436.46 79/km2
San José de Ocoa San José de Ocoa March 5, 1845 95,633 484.87 197/km2
San Juan de la Maguana San Juan March 5, 1845 233,392 1,876.21 124/km2
San Pedro de Macorís San Pedro de Macorís March 5, 1845 272,873 152.33 1,791/km2
San Rafael del Yuma La Altagracia August 11, 1959 29,296 1,123.85 28/km2
San Víctor[19] Espaillat August 29, 2014 78,383 99.85 785/km2
Sánchez Samaná September 9, 1907 29,303 328.53 89/km2
Santiago de los Caballeros Santiago March 5, 1845 1,000,009 428.88 2,332/km2
Santo Domingo Distrito Nacional March 5, 1845 1,443,384 104.44 13,820/km2
Santo Domingo Este Santo Domingo October 8, 2001 773,628 106.29 7,278/km2
Santo Domingo Norte Santo Domingo October 8, 2001 685,037 388.96 2,107/km2
Santo Domingo Oeste Santo Domingo October 8, 2001 468,284 54.10 8,656/km2
Sosúa Puerto Plata March 4, 1976 82,093 276.89 296/km2
Tábara Arriba Azua January 20, 2004 23,123 209.84 110/km2
Tamayo Bahoruco June 27, 1938 40,293 374.01 108/km2
Tamboril Santiago September 9, 1907 91,384 70.63 1,294/km2 Peña
Tenares Hermanas Mirabal June 27, 1938 40,293 159.71 252/km2
Vallejuelo San Juan March 8, 1976 15,898 218.82 73/km2
Vicente Noble Barahona March 3, 1976 28,583 225.63 127/km2
Villa Altagracia San Cristóbal September 9, 1907 129,394 482.05 268/km2
Villa González Santiago October 19, 1991 70,494 100.78 699/km2
Villa Hermosa La Romana July 28, 2004 159,544 158.63 1,006/km2
Villa Isabela Puerto Plata May 16, 1989 24,392 212.60 115/km2
Villa Jaragua Bahoruco February 28, 1976 14,843 120.23 123/km2
Villa Los Almácigos Santiago Rodríguez September 19, 1996 18,392 205.06 90/km2
Villa Montellano Puerto Plata January 21, 2006 26,345 73.89 357/km2
Villa Riva Duarte March 5, 1845 42,343 309.93 137/km2 San Antonio del Yuna
Villa Tapia Hermanas Mirabal March 5, 1845 42,123 90.12 467/km2 La Jagua
Villa Vásquez Monte Cristi June 27, 1938 24,293 229.86 106/km2 Santa Ana, Villa Isabel
Yaguate San Cristóbal March 5, 1976 54,663 121.81 449/km2
Yamasá Monte Plata September 9, 1907 90,129 441.61 204/km2

Provincial maps with their municipalities

Municipalities of the Dominican Republic