Similarities Between Dominican Republic And Haiti

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Although the Dominican Republic and Haiti share the island of Hispaniola and mirroring population figures, the two neighboring nations maintain few other similarities dating back to the last half century. Some believe that the fortunes of the nations are based off of geographical considerations, while most would agree that differences in government, political stability, social services, and gross domestic product (GDP) figures drive the differences. Regardless of what factor drives the differences of the two nations, it is easily agreed upon that the Dominican Republic thrives, while Haiti remains one of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere.

The Dominican Republic experienced the fastest growth rate (seven percent) in the Americas in the last two years; however, prosperity is a relatively new phenomenon in a nation with a tumultuous history. Dominicans have experienced a past filled with political and civil disorder, ethnic tensions, economic issues, long periods of military rule, and military interventions. Christopher Columbus discovered Hispaniola in 1492 and quickly began an …show more content…
While the Dominican Republic has distanced itself from the violent dictatorships and refocused on the economy, Haiti continues to sink further into despair. They might share an island, but the Dominican Republic and Haiti couldn't be more different today. While the former is a popular tourist destination in the Caribbean, Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world. According to the United Nations, only about 50 percent of Haitians can read and write (as opposed to nearly 90 percent in neighboring Dominican Republic) and child mortality rates in Haiti are three times higher than in the Dominican Republic. Additionally, the growth rate in Haiti is a miserable 1.2% and inflation is in double digits further exasperating the
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