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Safety Score · Dominican Republic

How safe is Dominican Republic?

The Dominican Republic sits in the middle of the Americas range — 10.92 intentional homicides per 100,000 (2023, UNODC via World Bank). The US and Canada flag crime; the UK issues no nationwide warning. Comparable to Panama on the crime statistic.

Where buyers go

The Dominican corridors buyers move to, each paired with a US city at a comparable FBI-sourced rate. Provincial figures are 2018 — the latest verbatim per-province series.

Puerto Plata / Sosúa
Puerto Plata · North · 2018
C+
Composite 79.2 / 100

Verbatim 6.64/100k (2018) — among the lowest provincial rates in the country. 2018 is the latest verbatim per-province series.

US comparable
Austin, TX6.7/100K

A US state-capital at the same rate. DR figure is 2018.

Punta Cana
La Altagracia · East · 2018
D-
Composite 53.8 / 100

Verbatim 17.15/100k (2018) — among the five highest provincial rates that year. Treat as indicative, not current.

US comparable
Pittsburgh, PA16.7/100K

A US city at a similar rate. DR figure is 2018.

Buyer-destination average66.5 / 100 across 2 markets
Safety Score · Dominican Republic · sub-national view

Grade range across 2 regions
C+toD-

1 of 2 regions earn a C or higher Puerto Plata / Sosúa · 2018 leads at 79.2; Punta Cana · La Altagracia · 2018 drags the country average at 53.8.

The Dominican Republic sits in the middle of the Americas range — 10.92 intentional homicides per 100,000 (2023, UNODC via World Bank). The US and Canada flag crime; the UK issues no nationwide warning. Comparable to Panama on the crime statistic.

Regional distribution
1
1
ABCDF

Each bar = number of regions at that grade. Where you live in Dominican Republic matters more than the country average.

National aggregateD+68.9 / 100— a single number, useful for comparison; not the experience on the ground.
12-mo trend+5.1 pts
25507568.9
Sources · weighted composite
UNODC homicide 40% · three diplomatic advisories at 20% each
UNODC homicide
40%
10.92/100K
per 100K (2022)

10.92 intentional homicides per 100,000 people (2023) — UNODC data via the World Bank Intentional Homicide indicator (VC.IHR.PSRC.P5).

2023 reporting year (World Bank indicator updated 2026-04-08)Source ↗
US State Dept
20%
L2
score 70/100

Exercise increased caution in the Dominican Republic due to crime..

2025-06-12Source ↗
Government of Canada
20%
L2
score 70/100

Exercise a high degree of caution in the Dominican Republic due to crime..

2026-05-04Source ↗
UK FCDO
20%
L1
score 100/100

No nationwide advisory against travel at the fetch date; standard general travel advice only..

2025-12-10Source ↗
Last verified2026-05-16·Methodology v1.0.0How we calculate this score →
The read

What a D+ means here

The UNODC-derived homicide rate (10.92 per 100,000, 2023) reads as a D+, comparable to Panama, while the UK issues no nationwide warning and the US and Canada flag crime at their middle level. The composite holds the gap rather than averaging it away; tourist-zone risk differs from the national figure.

The Safety Score does not average disagreement away. Where the homicide data and the advisories pull in different directions, the composite holds the tension and the editor’s note explains it — because the honest answer for Dominican Republic is that the neighbourhood you buy in matters more than the national grade.

Statistical peers

Markets that score within range of Panama on the composite.

Panama
D+
Composite 68.20.7% less safe
11.3/100K homicides
Costa Rica
F
Composite 52.416.5% less safe
17.75/100K homicides
El Salvador
D
Composite 60.88.1% less safe
13.8/100K homicides
United States
C+
Composite 79.610.7% safer
6.4/100K homicides
United Kingdom
B+
Composite 86.517.6% safer
1.1/100K homicides
Places you know

Fixed reference points so the grade is legible to a North-American reader.

United StatesAnchor
C+
Composite 79.610.7% safer
6.4/100K homicides
CanadaAnchor
B+
Composite 88.819.9% safer
2/100K homicides
United KingdomAnchor
B+
Composite 86.517.6% safer
1.1/100K homicides
SpainAnchor
B+
Composite 89.420.5% safer
0.6/100K homicides
JapanAnchor
A+
Composite 98.129.2% safer
0.2/100K homicides
How we calculate this score →
The Brief

One market read, one process explainer, one number to know.

Free, no sponsors. Cross-border property and retirement, written for North American buyers.