Dominican Republic reaches Zero Hunger goal and consolidates its economic growth
During his participation in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Luis Abinader presented the social and economic progress that positions the Dominican Republic as a benchmark for development in the region. The president proudly announced that the country has successfully surpassed the Zero Hunger goal ahead of the 2028 deadline.
This achievement was supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which recently confirmed that the Dominican nation has officially exited the Hunger Map after reducing the prevalence of undernourishment below the 2.5% threshold.
We had committed to reaching the Zero Hunger goal by 2028. We achieved it sooner.
Luis Abinader, President of the Dominican Republic
Rising economic and social indicators
The head of state highlighted a significant transformation in the population’s well-being indicators. Monetary poverty, which stood at 25.8% in 2019, fell to 14.6% during the first half of 2026. These data reflect the government’s commitment to improving the quality of life for citizens.
- Foreign Investment: The country has maintained a four-year streak of receiving more than 4 billion dollars annually, surpassing the 5 billion dollar barrier in 2025.
- Exports: A historical record of nearly 16 billion dollars was registered, driven by institutional stability and legal certainty.
- Tourism: The sector shows extraordinary growth, projecting the arrival of more than 12 million visitors by the end of 2026, a considerable increase compared to the 7.5 million received in 2019.
Call to reform international financing
Beyond local successes, Abinader took advantage of the global forum to demand a review of financing mechanisms for middle-income countries. The president argued that economic growth should not be an impediment to accessing development resources. In this sense, he proposed integrating the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index into the criteria of international financial institutions.
The president emphasized that measuring progress solely through gross domestic product is insufficient and that it is imperative to implement more precise metrics to address the real needs of developing nations. His participation at the UN reaffirms the Dominican Republic’s active role in debates on contemporary global challenges.
