Santiago de los Caballeros, frequently referred to as Santiago, is located in the Santiago Province of the Dominican Republic. Situated approximately 155 km northwest of the national capital, Santo Domingo, the city sits at an average altitude of 178 meters. It serves as the capital of its province and stands as the largest major metropolis within the country's Cibao region.
The city is a significant urban center, ranking as the second-largest city in the Dominican Republic and the fourth-largest city in the Caribbean by population. Notably, it is the largest Caribbean city that does not serve as a capital and the largest non-coastal metropolis in the Caribbean islands. As of 2022, the city has a population of 771,748, while its broader metropolitan area—which includes the municipalities of Licey Al Medio, Baitoa, Tamboril, Puñal, and Villa González—houses 1,261,852 inhabitants.