Dominican Republic's Pensions Superintendency study with the World Bank finds workers contribute to pensions for only 40% of their careers

Dominican Republic's Pensions Superintendency, working with the World Bank, published research based on 20 years of administrative records finding that workers who contribute to social security pay into the pension system for only around 40% of their potential working life, pointing to constraints on retirement savings accumulation. The study finds contributors pay in for about four out of every ten months, with around one third of members contributing very sporadically and about 20% maintaining near-complete formal career contribution histories. It also reports that, as of end-2023, the pension system had more than 2.1 million active contributors and nearly 5 million affiliates, equivalent to 62.7% of the working-age population. Contribution density varies significantly by sector, income, cohort and region, with higher levels in health, education, finance and public administration and lower levels in construction, mining and arts, while higher-paid workers contribute more consistently; those born after 1980 show more frequent participation and higher wages. The analysis also identifies a gender participation gap driven by women being less likely to enter formal employment, although once affiliated they contribute at similar rates and wages to men, and notes lower contribution density in Santo Domingo compared with other regions.