2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.4% (male 1,770,523/female 1,749,853) 15-64 years: 54.2% (male 2,201,957/female 2,301,886) 65 years and over: 3.4% (male 125,298/female 158,987) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

12 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total

4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

8 914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m

7 (2006)

Area

land

27,560 sq km

total

27,750 sq km

water

190 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Maryland

Background

The native Taino 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, which later became 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. After a prolonged struggle, Haiti became the first black republic to declare its independence in 1804. The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history. After an armed rebellion led to the departure of President Jean-Betrand ARISTIDE in February 2004, an interim government took office to organize new elections under the auspices of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Continued violence and technical delays prompted repeated postponements, but Haiti finally did inaugurate a democratically elected president and parliament in May of 2006. Geography Haiti

Birth rate

36.44 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$807.7 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$385 million

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

18 32 N, 72 20 W

name

Port-au-Prince

time difference

UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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; constitutional government ousted in a military coup in September 1991, although in October 1991, military government claimed to be observing the constitution; returned to constitutional rule in October 1994; constitution, while technically in force between 2004-2006, was not enforced; returned to constitutional rule in May 2006

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Haiti

conventional short form

Haiti

local long form

Republique d'Haiti/Repiblik d' Ayiti

local short form

Haiti/Ayiti

Currency (code)

gourde (HTG)

Currency code

HTG

Current account balance

$-58.72 million (2006 est.)

Death rate

12.17 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$1.309 billion (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Janet A. SANDERSON

embassy

5 Harry S Truman Boulevard, Bicentenaire-Port-au-Prince

mailing address

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

telephone

[509] 222-0200

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Raymond JOSEPH

telephone

[1] (202) 332-4090

Disputes - international

since 2004, about 8,000 peacekeepers from the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) maintain civil order in Haiti; despite efforts to control illegal migration, Haitians fleeing economic privation and civil unrest continue to cross into the Dominican Republic and sail to neighboring countries; Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Island

Economic aid - recipient

$153 million (FY05 est.)

Economy - overview

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with 80% of the population living under the poverty line and 54% in abject poverty. Two-thirds of all Haitians depend on the agriculture sector, mainly small-scale subsistence farming, and remain vulnerable to damage from frequent natural disasters, exacerbated by the country's widespread deforestation. A macroeconomic program developed in 2005 with the help of the International Monetary Fund helped the economy grow 1.8% in 2006, the highest growth rate since 1999. Haiti suffers from higher inflation than similar low-income countries, a lack of investment, and a severe trade deficit. In 2005, Haiti paid its arrears to the World Bank, paving the way for reengagement with the Bank. The government relies on formal international economic assistance for fiscal sustainability. In 2006, Haiti held a successful donors conference in which the total aid pledged exceeded Haiti's request. Remittances are the primary source of foreign exchange, equaling nearly a quarter of GDP.

Electricity - consumption

498.6 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

536.2 million kWh (2004)

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

Ethnic groups

black 95%, mulatto and white 5%

Exchange rates

gourdes per US dollar - 45.189 (2006), 40.449 (2005), 38.352 (2004), 42.367 (2003), 29.251 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president

chief of state

President Rene PREVAL (since 14 May 2006)

election results

Rene PREVAL elected president; percent of vote - Rene PREVAL 51%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 7 February 2006 (next to be held in 2010); prime minister appointed by the president, ratified by the National Assembly

head of government

Prime Minister Jacques-Edouard ALEXIS (since 30 May 2006)

Exports

$443.7 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

manufactures, coffee, oils, cocoa, mangoes

Exports - partners

US 80.9%, Dominican Republic 6.9%, Canada 4% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 745-7215

[509] 223-9038

consulate(s) general

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

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

28%

industry

20%

services

52% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.8% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.947 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$14.56 billion (2006 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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

5.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

24,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

280,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Illicit drugs

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 8 February, 2007

Imports

$1.721 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 48.7%, Netherlands Antilles 11.9%, Brazil 3.3% (2005)

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

65.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

78.01 deaths/1,000 live births

total

71.65 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

14.4% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.ht

Internet hosts

6 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

3 (2000)

Internet users

500,000 (2005) Transportation Haiti

Investment (gross fixed)

27.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Irrigated land

920 sq km (2003)

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%

industry

9%

services

25%

Land boundaries

border countries

Dominican Republic 360 km

total

360 km

Land use

arable land

28.11%

other

60.36% (2005)

permanent crops

11.53%

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 (30 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber of Deputies (99 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); note - in reestablishing the Senate, the candidate in each department receiving the most votes in the last election serves six years, the candidate with the second most votes serves four years, and the candidate with the third most votes serves two years

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - L'ESPWA 11, OPL 4, FL 3, FUSION 5, LAAA 2, UNCRH 2, ALYANS 1, PONT 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - L'ESPWA 21, FUSION 15, ALYANS 11, OPL 8, FL 6, UNCRH 6, MPH 4, RDNP 4, LAAA 4,KONBA 3, FRN 2, MOCHRENHA 1, MRN 1, Tet-Ansanm 1, MIRN 1, JPDN 1, UNITE 1, PLH 1; results for six other seats contested on 3 December 2006 remain unknown

elections

Senate - last held 21 April 2006, with run-off elections on 3 December 2006 (next regular election, for one third of seats, to be held in 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 21 April 2006, with run-off elections on 3 December 2006 (next regular election to be held in 2010)

Life expectancy at birth

female

54.6 years (2006 est.)

male

51.89 years

total population

53.23 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

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

1,637,657 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

1,626,491

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

931,972 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

948,320

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

97,690 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

98,554

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

18.6 years (2006 est.)

male

17.8 years

total

18.2 years

Military branches

the regular Haitian Armed Forces (FAdH) - Army, Navy, and Air Force - have been demobilized but still exist on paper unless they are constitutionally abolished

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$25.96 million (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.9% (2003 est.) Transnational Issues Haiti

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary recruitment into the police force (2001)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 January (1804)

Nationality

adjective

Haitian

noun

Haitian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

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

-1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

11,600 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Artibonite in Action or LAAA [Youri LATORTUE]; Assembly of Progressive National Democrats or RDNP [Leslie MANIGAT]; Convention for Democratic Unity or KID [Evans PAUL]; Cooperative Action to Build Haiti or KONBA [Evans LESCOUFALIR]; Democratic Alliance or ALYANS (coalition composed of KID and PPRH) [Evans PAUL]; Effort and Solidarity to Create an Alternative for the People or ESKAMP [Joseph JASME]; For Us All or PONT [Jean-Marie CHERESTAL]; Front for Hope or LESPWA (alliance of ESKAMP, PLB, and grass-roots organizations Grand-Anse Resistance Committee, the Central Plateau Peasants' Group, and Kombit Sudest) [Rene PREVAL]; Haitian Christian Democratic Party or PDCH [Osner FEVRY and Marie-Denise CLAUDE]; Haitian Democratic and Reform Movement or MODEREH [Dany TOUSSAINT and Pierre Soncon PRINCE]; Heads Together or Tet-Ansanm [Dr. Gerard BLOT]; Independent Movement for National Reconciliation or MIRN [Luc FLEURINORD]; Justice for Peace and National Development or JPDN [Rigaud DUPLAN]; Fanmi Lavalas or FL [Rudy HERIVEAUX]; Liberal Party of Haiti or PLH [Gehy MICHEL]; Merging of Haitian Social Democratic Parties or FUSION or FPSDH (coalition of Ayiti Capable, Haitian National Revolutionary Party, and National Congress of Democratic Movements) [Serge GILLES]; Mobilization for Haiti's Development or MPH [Samir MOURRA]; Mobilization for National Development or MDN [Hubert de RONCERAY]; Movement for National Reconstruction or MRN [Jean Henold BUTEAU]; Movement for the Installation of Democracy in Haiti or MIDH [Marc BAZIN]; National Christian Union for the Reconstruction of Haiti or UNCRH [Marie Claude GERMAIN]; National Front for the Reconstruction of Haiti or FRN [Guy PHILIPPE]; New Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MOCHRENA [Luc MESADIEU]; Open the Gate Party or PLB [Anes LUBIN]; Popular Party for the Renewal of Haiti or PPRH [Claude ROMAIN]; Struggling People's Organization or OPL [Edgard LEBLANC]; Union of Nationalist and Progressive Haitians or UNITE [Edouard FRANCISQUE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Autonomous Organizations of Haitian Workers or CATH [Fignole ST-CYR]; Confederation of Haitian Workers or CTH; Federation of Workers Trade Unions or FOS; General Organization of Independent Haitian Workers [Patrick NUMAS]; Grand-Anse Resistance Committee, or KOREGA; National Popular Assembly or APN; Papaye Peasants Movement or MPP [Chavannes JEAN-BAPTISTE]; Popular Organizations Gathering Power or PROP; Roman Catholic Church; Protestant Federation of Haiti

Population

8,308,504

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 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

80% (2003 est.)

Population growth rate

2.3% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Cap-Haitien Military Haiti

Radio broadcast stations

AM 41, FM 26, shortwave 0 (1999)

Radios

415,000 (1997)

Religions

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

note

roughly half of the population practices Voodoo

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$123.4 million (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

1,011 km

total

4,160 km

unpaved

3,149 km (1999)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 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

country code - 509; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

140,000 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular

400,000 (2004)

Television broadcast stations

2 (plus a cable TV service) (1997)

Televisions

38,000 (1997)

Terrain

mostly rough and mountainous

Total fertility rate

4.94 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

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