The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD) reports that remittance inflows reached US$1.87 billion during the January-February 2026 period, marking a 1.0% interannual increase.
Data for the month of February alone shows receipts of US$887.6 million. While this contributes to the overall growth for the year, the February figure is US$29.4 million less than the same month in 2025 and US$95.2 million lower than January 2026.
The Central Bank attributes the month-over-month drop to the typical seasonal surge in January caused by visiting non-resident Dominicans.
International headwinds and the US market
The BCRD notes that current flows are being shaped by a complex global landscape. The conflict in the Middle East has driven up oil prices, fueling inflationary pressures and reducing household disposable income abroad. Furthermore, the US economy, the source of 83.4% of formal flows in February (US$663.5 million), is performing below initial expectations.
Key US economic indicators cited by the Central Bank are:
• Unemployment: General U.S. unemployment rose to 4.4% in February (up from 4.3% in January), with a net loss of 92,000 jobs.
• Latino workforce: The unemployment rate for the Latino population hit 5.2%, climbing from 4.9% in January.
• Service sector resilience: Despite job losses, the ISM Non-Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 56.1 in February. This expansion in the services sector, where much of the Dominican diaspora is employed, helped partially cushion the decline in remittance potential.
Geographic distribution
While the United States remains the primary source, other nations contributed to the February formal channels:
• Spain: US$46.7 million (5.9% of total).
• Italy & Switzerland: 1.2% and 1.0% respectively.
• Other sources: Haiti, Canada, and Panama.
Domestically, remittance distribution remains concentrated in urban centers. The National District received 48.0% of February flows, followed by Santiago (10.5%) and Santo Domingo province (6.6%). Combined, these metropolitan areas account for 65.1% of all receipts.
2026 outlook and macroeconomic stability
The 1.0% growth rate aligns with BCRD projections, which forecast a 3.5% interannual increase for the full year 2026—a slower pace than in 2025. This deceleration accounts for the new tax on US outbound transfers that took effect in January, alongside global uncertainty.
By year-end, the Central Bank estimates:
• Total Remittances: Approximately US$12.20 billion.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Expected to exceed US$5 billion.
The current inflows have bolstered the Dominican peso, which saw a 5.2% appreciation against the US dollar as of 28 February 2026, compared to December 2025. Additionally, international reserves closed February at US$16.18 billion (12.2% of GDP), representing 5.7 months of import cover, well above the thresholds recommended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Read more in Spanish:
Central Bank
17 March 2026