2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

9 departments (departements, singular - departement); Artibonite, Centre, Grand 'Anse, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.7% (male 1,637,853; female 1,575,893) 15-64 years: 53.6% (male 1,962,975; female 2,073,353) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 131,784; female 145,959) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum; wood

Airports

12 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total

2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

10 914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m

6 (2002) Military Haiti

Area

land

27,560 sq km

total

27,750 sq km

water

190 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Maryland

Background

The native Arawak Amerindians - who inhabited the island of Hispaniola when it was discovered by Columbus in 1492 - were virtually annihilated by Spanish settlers within 25 years. In the early 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola, and in 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of the island - Haiti. The French colony, based on forestry and sugar-related industries, became one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean, but only through the heavy importation of African slaves and considerable environmental degradation. In the late 18th century, Haiti's nearly half million slaves revolted under Toussaint L'OUVERTURE and after a prolonged struggle, became the first black republic to declare its independence in 1804. Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history since then, and it is now one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Over three decades of dictatorship followed by military rule ended in 1990 when Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE was elected president. Most of his term was usurped by a military takeover, but he was able to return to office in 1994 and oversee the installation of a close associate to the presidency in 1996. ARISTIDE won a second term as president in 2000, and took office early in 2001. However, a political crisis stemming from fraudulent legislative elections in 2000 has not yet been resolved. Geography Haiti

Birth rate

34.06 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$361 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY 00/01 est.)

revenues

$273 million

Capital

Port-au-Prince

Climate

tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds

Coastline

1,771 km

Constitution

approved March 1987; suspended June 1988, with most articles reinstated March 1989; in October 1991, government claimed to be observing the constitution; return to constitutional rule, October 1994

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Haiti

conventional short form

Haiti

local long form

Republique d'Haiti

local short form

Haiti

Currency

gourde (HTG)

Currency code

HTG

Death rate

13.36 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$1.2 billion (1999)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador James B. Foley

embassy

5 Harry S Truman Boulevard, Port-au-Prince

mailing address

P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince

telephone

[509] 222-0354, 222-0368, 222-0200, 222-0612

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chief of Mission Harry Frantz LEO

consulate(s) general

Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Disputes - international

despite efforts to control illegal migration, destitute Haitians continue to cross into Dominican Republic; claims US-administered Navassa Island

Economic aid - recipient

$120 million (FY02)

Economy - overview

About 80% of the population lives in abject poverty. Nearly 70% of all Haitians depend on the agriculture sector, which consists mainly of small-scale subsistence farming and employs about two-thirds of the economically active work force. Following legislative elections in May 2000, fraught with irregularities, international donors - including the US and EU - suspended almost all aid to Haiti. The economy shrank an estimated 1.2% in 2001 and an estimated 0.9% in 2002. The contraction will likely intensify in 2003 unless a political agreement with donors is reached on economic policy. Suspended aid and loan disbursements totaled more than $500 million at the start of 2003.

Electricity - consumption

539.4 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

580 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

60.3%

hydro

39.7%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified

Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban

Ethnic groups

black 95%, mulatto and white 5%

Exchange rates

gourdes per US dollar - 29.25 (2002), 24.43 (2001), 21.17 (2000), 16.94 (1999), 16.77 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president

chief of state

President Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE (since 7 February 2001)

election results

Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE elected president; percent of vote - Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE 92%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 26 November 2000 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president, ratified by the National Assembly

head of government

Prime Minister Yvon NEPTUNE (since 4 March 2002); note - former Prime Minister CHERESTAL resigned in January 2002

Exports

$298 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities

manufactures, coffee, oils, cocoa

Exports - partners

US 83.9%, Dominican Republic 6.6%, Canada 2.4% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 745-7215

[509] 223-1641

chancery

2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

[1] (202) 332-4090

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September Communications Haiti

Flag description

two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength) Economy Haiti

GDP

purchasing power parity - $10.6 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

30%

industry

20%

services

50% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-0.9% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

19 00 N, 72 25 W

Geography - note

shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic) People Haiti

Government type

elected government

Highways

paved

1,011 km

total

4,160 km

unpaved

3,149 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

6.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

30,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

250,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Illicit drugs

major Caribbean transshipment point for cocaine en route to the US and Europe; substantial money-laundering activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor Haiti for illicit financial transactions; pervasive corruption This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$1.14 billion c.i.f. (2002)

Imports - commodities

food, manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, raw materials

Imports - partners

US 53.4%, Dominican Republic 5.3%, Colombia 3.4% (2002)

Independence

1 January 1804 (from France)

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

sugar refining, flour milling, textiles, cement, light assembly industries based on imported parts

Infant mortality rate

female

70.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

81.59 deaths/1,000 live births

total

76.01 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

11.9% (2001 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, Caricom, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.ht

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

3 (2000)

Internet users

30,000 (2002) Transportation Haiti

Irrigated land

750 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour de Cassation

Labor force

3.6 million

note

shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (1995)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 66%, services 25%, industry 9%

Land boundaries

border countries

Dominican Republic 360 km

total

360 km

Land use

arable land

20.32%

other

66.98% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

12.7%

Languages

French (official), Creole (official)

Legal system

based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale consists of the Senate (27 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber of Deputies (83 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FL 26, independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FL 73, MOCHRENA 3, PLB 2, OPL 1, vacant 1, other minor parties and independents 3

elections

Senate - last held for two-thirds of seats 21 May 2000, with runoffs on 9 July boycotted by the opposition; seven seats still disputed; election for remaining one-third held on 26 November 2000 (next to be held NA 2002); Chamber of Deputies - last held 21 May 2000, with runoffs on 30 July boycotted by the opposition; one vacant seat rerun 26 November 2000 (next to be held NA 2004)

Life expectancy at birth

female

52.92 years (2003 est.)

male

50.36 years

total population

51.61 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

51.2% (2003 est.) Government Haiti

male

54.8%

total population

52.9%

Location

Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 NM

continental shelf

to depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone

200 NM

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

18.5 years (2002)

male

17.4 years

total

17.9 years

Merchant marine

none (2002 est.)

Military branches

Haitian National Police (HNP)

note

the regular Haitian Army, Navy, and Air Force have been demobilized but still exist on paper until or unless they are constitutionally abolished

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$50 million (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.3% (FY00) Transnational Issues Haiti

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

1,735,845 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

944,474 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

94,349 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 January (1804)

Nationality

adjective

Haitian

noun

Haitian(s)

Natural hazards

lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; periodic droughts

Natural resources

bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower

Net migration rate

-4.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

11,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for the Liberation and Advancement of Haiti or ALAH [Reynold GEORGES]; Assembly of Progressive National Democrats or RDNP [Leslie MANIGAT]; Convergence (opposition coalition composed of ESPACE, OPL, and MOCHRENA) [Gerard PIERRE-CHARLES, Evans PAUL, Luc MESADIEU, Victor BENOIT]; Democratic Consultation Group coalition or ESPACE [Evans PAUL, Victor BENOIT] composed of the following

parties

National Congress of Democratic Movements or KONAKOM, National Progressive Revolutionary Party or PANPRA, Generation 2004, and Haiti Can; Haitian Christian Democratic Party or PDCH [Marie-France CLAUDE]; Haitian Democratic Party or PADEM [Clark PARENT]; Lavalas Family or FL [Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE]; Mobilization for National Development or MDN [Hubert DE RONCERAY]; Movement for National Reconstruction or MRN [Rene THEODORE]; Movement for the Installation of Democracy in Haiti or MIDH [Marc BAZIN]; Movement for the Organization of the Country or MOP [Gesner COMEAU and Jean MOLIERE]; National Cooperative Action Movement or MKN [Volrick Remy JOSEPH]; National Front for Change and Democracy or FNCD [Evans PAUL and Turneb DELPE]; New Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MOCHRENA [Luc MESADIEU]; Open the Gate or PLB [Renaud BERNARDIN]; Struggling People's Organization or OPL [Gerard PIERRE-CHARLES]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Autonomous Haitian Workers or CATH; Confederation of Haitian Workers or CTH; Federation of Workers Trade Unions or FOS; National Popular Assembly or APN; Papaye Peasants Movement or MPP; Popular Organizations Gathering Power or PROP; Roman Catholic Church

Population

7,527,817

note

estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

80% (2002 est.)

Population growth rate

1.67% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Jeremie, Les Cayes, Miragoane, Port-au-Prince, Port-de-Paix, Saint-Marc

Radio broadcast stations

AM 41, FM 26, shortwave 0 (1999)

Radios

415,000 (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

40 km 0.760-m gauge; single-track

note

privately owned industrial line; closed in early 1990s (2001 est.)

total

40 km

Religions

Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3% (1982)

note

roughly half of the population also practices Voodoo

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

coaxial cable and microwave radio relay trunk service

general assessment

domestic facilities barely adequate; international facilities slightly better

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

60,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

over 180,000 (January 2003)

Television broadcast stations

2 (plus a cable TV service) (1997)

Televisions

38,000 (1997)

Terrain

mostly rough and mountainous

Total fertility rate

4.86 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

widespread unemployment and underemployment; more than two-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs (2002 est.)

Waterways

NEGL; less than 100 km navigable