2019 Edition

Background

The native Taino - who inhabited the island of Hispaniola when Christopher COLUMBUS first landed on it in 1492 - were virtually wiped out by Spanish settlers within 25 years. In the early 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola. 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 relied heavily on the forced labor of enslaved Africans and environmentally degrading practices. In the late 18th century, Toussaint L'OUVERTURE led a revolution of Haiti's nearly half a million slaves that ended France's rule on the island. After a prolonged struggle, and under the leadership of Jean-Jacques DESSALINES, Haiti became the first country in the world led by former slaves after declaring its independence in 1804, but it was forced to pay an indemnity to France for more than a century and was shunned by other countries for nearly 40 years. After the US occupied Haiti from 1915-1934, Francois "Papa Doc" DUVALIER and then his son Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” DUVALIER led repressive and corrupt regimes that ruled Haiti from 1957-1971 and 1971-1986, respectively. A massive magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti in January 2010 with an epicenter about 25 km (15 mi) west of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Estimates are that over 300,000 people were killed and some 1.5 million left homeless. The earthquake was assessed as the worst in this region over the last 200 years. On 4 October 2016, Hurricane Matthew made landfall in Haiti, resulting in over 500 deaths and causing extensive damage to crops, houses, livestock, and infrastructure. Currently the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti continues to experience bouts of political instability.

Area

Land

27,560 sq km

Total

27,750 sq km

Water

190 sq km

Area Comparative

slightly smaller than Maryland

Climate

tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds

Coastline

1,771 km

Elevation

Highest Point

Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m

Lowest Point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Mean Elevation

470 m

Environment Current Issues

extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; overpopulation leads to inadequate supplies of potable water and and a lack of sanitation; natural disasters

Environment International Agreements

Party To

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

Signed But Not Ratified

Hazardous Wastes

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); it is the most mountainous nation in the Caribbean

Irrigated Land

970 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

Border Countries

Dominican Republic 376 km

Total

376 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

66.4% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

38.5% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

10.2% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

17.7% (2011 est.)

Forest

3.6% (2011 est.)

Other

30% (2011 est.)

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

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, arable land

Population Distribution

fairly even distribution; largest concentrations located near coastal areas

Terrain

mostly rough and mountainous

Age Structure

0 14 Years

32.27% (male 1,733,920 /female 1,747,387)

15 24 Years

21.11% (male 1,139,188 /female 1,137,754)

25 54 Years

37.32% (male 1,997,816 /female 2,028,495)

55 64 Years

5.1% (male 262,494 /female 287,515)

65 Years And Over

4.21% (male 199,617 /female 254,254) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

22.6 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

9.5% (2017)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

34.3% (2016/17)

Current Health Expenditure

5.4% (2016)

Death Rate

7.5 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

7.5 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

13.3 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

62.3 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

54.8 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

47.6% of population

Improved Total

57.7% of population

Improved Urban

64.9% of population

Unimproved Rural

52.4% of population

Unimproved Total

42.3% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

35.1% of population

Education Expenditures

2.4% of GDP (2016)

Ethnic Groups

black 95%, mixed and white 5%

HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate

2% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS Deaths

2,700 (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

160,000 (2018 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2013)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

39.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

51.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

45.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

French (official), Creole (official)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

67.2 years

Male

61.9 years

Total Population

64.6 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

57.3% (2015)

Male

64.3%

Total Population

60.7%

Major Infectious Diseases

Degree Of Risk

very high (2016)

Food Or Waterborne Diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever (2016)

Vectorborne Diseases

dengue fever and malaria (2016)

Major Urban Areas Population

2.704 million PORT-AU-PRINCE (capital) (2019)

Maternal Mortality Rate

480 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

23.6 years

Male

23.1 years

Total

23.3 years (2018 est.)

Mother's Mean Age at First Birth

22.8 years (2016/7 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Haitian

Noun

Haitian(s)

Net Migration Rate

-2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

22.7% (2016)

Physicians Density

0.23 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

Population

10,788,440 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

1.31% (2018 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 54.7%, Protestant 28.5% (Baptist 15.4%, Pentecostal 7.9%, Adventist 3%, Methodist 1.5%, other 0.7%), Vodou 2.1%, other 4.6%, none 10.2% (2003 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

19.2% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

27.6% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

33.6% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

80.8% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

72.4% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

66.4% of population (2015 est.)

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

0.99 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

0.98 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

0.91 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.79 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.01 male(s)/female

Total Population

0.98 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.66 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

2.9% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

56.2% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

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

Capital

Daylight Saving Time

+1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November

Geographic Coordinates

18 32 N, 72 20 W

Name

Port-au-Prince

Time Difference

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

Citizenship

Citizenship By Birth

no

Citizenship By Descent Only

at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Haiti

Dual Citizenship Recognized

no

Residency Requirement For Naturalization

5 years

Constitution

Amendments

proposed by the executive branch or by either the Senate or the Chamber of Deputies; consideration of proposed amendments requires support by at least two-thirds majority of both houses; passage requires at least two-thirds majority of the membership present and at least two-thirds majority of the votes cast; approved amendments enter into force after installation of the next president of the republic; constitutional articles on the democratic and republican form of government cannot be amended; amended 2011, 2012 (2018)

History

many previous; latest adopted 10 March 1987

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

Republic of Haiti

Conventional Short Form

Haiti

Etymology

the native Taino name means "Land of High Mountains" and was originally applied to the entire island of Hispaniola

Local Long Form

Republique d'Haiti/Repiblik d Ayiti

Local Short Form

Haiti/Ayiti

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Michele SISON (since 21 February 2018)

Embassy

Tabarre 41, Route de Tabarre, Port-au-Prince

Fax

[509] 229-8028

Mailing Address

(in Haiti) P.O. Box 1634, Port-au-Prince, Haiti; (from abroad) 3400 Port-au-Prince, State Department, Washington, DC 20521-3400

Telephone

[509] 229-8000

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

Chancery

2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Paul Getty ALTIDOR (since 2 May 2012)

Consulate's General

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

Fax

[1] (202) 745-7215

Telephone

[1] (202) 332-4090

Executive Branch

Cabinet

Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president; parliament must ratify the Cabinet and Prime Minister's governing policy

Chief Of State

President Jovenel MOISE (since 7 February 2017)

Election Results

Jovenel MOISE elected president in first round; percent of vote - Jovenel MOISE (PHTK) 55.6%, Jude CELESTIN (LAPEH) 19.6%, Jean-Charles MOISE (PPD) 11%, Maryse NARCISSE (FL) 9%; other 4.8%

Elections Appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a single non-consecutive term); last election originally scheduled for 9 October 2016 but postponed until 20 November 2016 due to Hurricane Matthew

Head Of Government

Prime Minister Fritz William MICHEL (since 22 July 2019); note - Prime Minister Jean Michel LAPIN resigned on 22 July 2019

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); the colors are taken from the French Tricolor and represent the union of blacks and mulattoes

Government Type

semi-presidential republic

Independence

1 January 1804 (from France)

International Law Organization Participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt

International Organization Participation

ACP, AOSIS, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial Branch

Highest Courts

Supreme Court or Cour de cassation (consists of a chief judge and other judges); note - Haiti is a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice

Judge Selection And Term Of Office

judges appointed by the president from candidate lists submitted by the Senate of the National Assembly; note - Article 174 of Haiti's constitution states that judges of the Supreme Court are appointed for 10 years, whereas Article 177 states that judges of the Supreme Court are appointed for life

Subordinate Courts

Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; magistrate's courts; land, labor, and children's courts

Legal System

civil law system strongly influenced by Napoleonic Code

Legislative Branch

Description

bicameral legislature or le Corps l'egislatif ou le Parlement consists of: le S'enat or Senate (30 seats, 29 filled as of June 2019; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 6-year terms with one-third of the membership renewed every 2 years) la Chambre de deput'es or Chamber of Deputies (119 seats; 116 filled as of June 2019; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 4-year terms); note - when the 2 chambers meet collectively it is known as L'Assembl'ee nationale or the National Assembly and is convened for specific purposes spelled out in the constitution

Election Results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 27, women 1, percent of women 3.6% Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 115, women 3, percent of women 2.5%; note - total legislature percent of women 2.7%

Elections

Senate - last held on 20 November 2016 with runoff on 29 January 2017 (next scheduled for 27 October 2019) Chamber of Deputies - last held on 9 August 2015 with runoff on 25 October 2015 and 20 November 2016 (next scheduled for 27 October 2019)

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

Justin LHERISSON/Nicolas GEFFRARD

Name

"La Dessalinienne" (The Dessalines Song)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 1 January (1804)

National Symbol S

Hispaniolan trogon (bird), hibiscus flower; national colors: blue, red

Political Parties And Leaders

Alternative League for Haitian Progress and Empowerment or LAPEH [Jude CELESTIN] Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MCNH [Luc MESADIEU] Christian National Movement for the Reconstruction of Haiti or UNCRH [Chavannes JEUNE] Convention for Democratic Unity or KID [Evans PAUL] Cooperative Action to Rebuild Haiti or KONBA [Jean William JEANTY] December 16 Platform or Platfom 16 Desanm [Dr. Gerard BLOT] Democratic Alliance Party or ALYANS [Evans PAUL] (coalition includes KID and PPRH) Democratic Centers' National Council or CONACED [Osner FEVRY] Dessalinian Patriotic and Popular Movement or MOPOD [Jean Andre VICTOR] Effort and Solidarity to Create an Alternative for the People or ESKAMP [Joseph JASME] Fanmi Lavalas or FL [Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE] For Us All or PONT [Jean-Marie CHERESTAL] Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats or FHSD [Edmonde Supplice BEAUZILE] Grouping of Citizens for Hope or RESPE [Charles-Henri BAKER] Haitians for Haiti [Yvon NEPTUNE] Haitian Tet Kale Party or PHTK [Ann Valerie Timothee MILFORT] Haiti in Action or AAA [Youri LATORTUE] Independent Movement for National Reconstruction or MIRN [Luc FLEURINORD] Konbit Pou refe Ayiti or KONBIT Lavni Organization or LAVNI [Yves CRISTALIN] Liberal Party of Haiti or PLH [Jean Andre VICTOR] Love Haiti or Renmen Ayiti [Jean-Henry CEANT, Camille LEBLANC] Mobilization for National Development or MDN [Hubert de RONCERAY] New Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MOCHRENA [Luc MESADIEU] Organization for the Advancement of Haiti and Haitians or OLAHH Party for the Integral Advancement of the Haitian People or PAIPH Patriotic Unity or IP [Marie Denise CLAUDE] Peasant's Response or Repons Peyizan [Michel MARTELLY] Platform Alternative for Progress and Democracy or ALTENATIV [Victor BENOIT and Evans PAUL] Platform of Haitian Patriots or PLAPH [Dejean BELISAIRE, Himmler REBU] Platform Pitit Desaline or PPD [Jean-Charles MOISE] Pont Popular Party for the Renewal of Haiti or PPRH [Claude ROMAIN] PPG18 Rally of Progressive National Democrats or RDNP [Mirlande MANIGAT] Renmen Ayiti or RA [Jean-Henry CEANT] Reseau National Bouclier or Bouclier Respect or RESPE Strength in Unity or Ansanm Nou Fo [Leslie VOLTAIRE] Struggling People's Organization or OPL [Jacques-Edouard ALEXIS] Truth (Verite) Union [Chavannes JEUNE] Unity or Inite [Levaillant LOUIS-JEUNE] Vigilance or Veye Yo [Lavarice GAUDIN]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

Expenditures

1.65 billion (2017 est.)

Revenues

1.567 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

13.23%

31 December 2017

13.1%

Current Account Balance

2016

-$83 million

2017

-$348 million

Debt External

31 December 2016

$2.17 billion

31 December 2017

$2.762 billion

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

2001

59.2

2012

60.8

Economy Overview

Haiti is a free market economy with low labor costs and tariff-free access to the US for many of its exports. Two-fifths of all Haitians depend on the agricultural sector, mainly small-scale subsistence farming, which remains vulnerable to damage from frequent natural disasters. Poverty, corruption, vulnerability to natural disasters, and low levels of education for much of the population represent some of the most serious impediments to Haiti’s economic growth. Remittances are the primary source of foreign exchange, equivalent to more than a quarter of GDP, and nearly double the combined value of Haitian exports and foreign direct investment.Currently the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with close to 60% of the population living under the national poverty line, Haiti’s GDP growth rose to 5.5% in 2011 as the Haitian economy began recovering from the devastating January 2010 earthquake that destroyed much of its capital city, Port-au-Prince, and neighboring areas. However, growth slowed to below 2% in 2015 and 2016 as political uncertainty, drought conditions, decreasing foreign aid, and the depreciation of the national currency took a toll on investment and economic growth. Hurricane Matthew, the fiercest Caribbean storm in nearly a decade, made landfall in Haiti on 4 October 2016, with 140 mile-per-hour winds, creating a new humanitarian emergency. An estimated 2.1 million people were affected by the category 4 storm, which caused extensive damage to crops, houses, livestock, and infrastructure across Haiti’s southern peninsula.US economic engagement under the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) and the 2008 Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act (HOPE II) have contributed to an increase in apparel exports and investment by providing duty-free access to the US. The Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Act of 2010 extended the CBTPA and HOPE II until 2020, while the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 extended trade benefits provided to Haiti in the HOPE and HELP Acts through September 2025. Apparel sector exports in 2016 reached approximately $850 million and account for over 90% of Haitian exports and more than 10% of the GDP.Investment in Haiti is hampered by the difficulty of doing business and weak infrastructure, including access to electricity. Haiti's outstanding external debt was cancelled by donor countries following the 2010 earthquake, but has since risen to $2.6 billion as of December 2017, the majority of which is owed to Venezuela under the PetroCaribe program. Although the government has increased its revenue collection, it continues to rely on formal international economic assistance for fiscal sustainability, with over 20% of its annual budget coming from foreign aid or direct budget support.

Exchange Rates

2013

45.22

2014

50.71

2015

63.34

2016

63.34

2017

65.21

Currency

gourdes (HTG) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$995 million

2017

$980.2 million

Exports Commodities

apparel, manufactures, oils, cocoa, mangoes, coffee

Exports Partners

US 80.6%, Dominican Republic 4.9% (2017)

Fiscal Year

1 October - 30 September

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

20% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

10% (2016 est.)

Household Consumption

99.1% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-60.3% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

32.6% (2016 est.)

Investment In Inventories

-1.4% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

22.1% (2017 est.)

Industry

20.3% (2017 est.)

Services

57.6% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$8.608 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$1,800

2016

$1,800

2017

$1,800

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$19.46 billion

2016

$19.74 billion

2017

$19.97 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

1.2%

2016

1.5%

2017

1.2%

Gross National Saving

2015

29.3% of GDP

2016

29.5% of GDP

2017

24.9% of GDP

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

Highest 10

47.7% (2001)

Lowest 10

0.7%

Imports

2016

$3.183 billion

2017

$3.618 billion

Imports Commodities

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

Imports Partners

US 20.7%, China 18.8%, Netherlands Antilles 15.7%, Indonesia 8.5% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

0.9% (2017 est.)

Industries

textiles, sugar refining, flour milling, cement, light assembly using imported parts

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

13.4%

2017

14.7%

Labor Force

4.594 million (2014 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

38.1%

Industry

11.5%

Services

50.4% (2010)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

NA

Population Below Poverty Line

58.5% (2012 est.)

Public Debt

2016

33.9% of GDP

2017

31.1% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$2.11 billion

31 December 2017

$2.361 billion

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$1.049 billion

31 December 2017

$1.273 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

31 December 2016

$1.37 billion

31 December 2017

$1.46 billion

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$2.253 billion

31 December 2017

$3.112 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$1.049 billion

31 December 2017

$1.273 billion

Taxes And Other Revenues

18.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2010

40.6%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

3.595 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification Rural Areas

0.5% (2016)

Electrification Total Population

38.7% (2016)

Electrification Urban Areas

65.4% (2016)

Population Without Electricity

8 million (2017)

Electricity Consumption

406.2 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

82% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

18% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

332,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

1.023 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

21,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

20,030 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

less than 1 (2017 est.)

Total

29,900

Broadcast Media

98 television stations throughout the country, including 1 government-owned; cable TV subscription service available; 850 radio stations (of them, only 346 are licensed), including 1 government-owned; more than 100 community radio stations; over 64 FM stations in Port-au-Prince alone; VOA Creole Service broadcasts daily on 30 affiliate stations (2016)

Internet Country Code

.ht

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

12.2% (July 2016 est.)

Total

1,282,686

Telephone System

Domestic

fixed-line is less than 1 per 100; mobile-cellular telephone services have expanded greatly in the last decade due to low-cost GSM (Global Systems for Mobile) phones and pay-as-you-go plans; mobile-cellular teledensity is 61 per 100 persons (2018)

General Assessment

telecommunications infrastructure is among the least-developed in Latin America and the Caribbean; domestic cell service is functional (2018)

International

country code - 509; landing points for the BDSNi and Fibralink submarine cables to 14 points in the Bahamas and Dominican Republic; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

less than 1 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

5,703

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

61 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

6,486,549

Airports

14 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

2 438 To 3 047 M

2 (2017)

914 To 1 523 M

2 (2017)

Total

4 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

914 To 1 523 M

2 (2013)

Total

10 (2013)

Under 914 M

8 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

HH (2016)

Merchant Marine

By Type

general cargo 3, other 1 (2018)

Total

4

National Air Transport System

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

1 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

1 (2015)

Ports And Terminals

Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Port-au-Prince

Roadways

Paved

768 km (2009)

Total

4,266 km (2009)

Unpaved

3,498 km (2009)

Military And Security Forces

the Haitian Armed Forces (FAdH), disbanded in 1995, began to be reconstituted in 2017 to assist with natural disaster relief, border security, and combating transnational crime; the small Coast Guard is not part of the military, but rather the Haitian National Police. (2019)

Disputes International

since 2004, peacekeepers from the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti have assisted in maintaining civil order in Haiti; the mission currently includes 6,685 military, 2,607 police, and 443 civilian personnel; despite efforts to control illegal migration, Haitians cross into the Dominican Republic and sail to neighboring countries; Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Island

Illicit Drugs

Caribbean transshipment point for cocaine en route to the US and Europe; substantial bulk cash smuggling activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor Haiti for illicit financial transactions; pervasive corruption; significant consumer of cannabis

Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons

Idps

34,508 (includes only IDPs from the 2010 earthquake living in camps or camp-like situations; information is lacking about IDPs living outside of camps or who have left camps) (2019)

Stateless Persons

2,992 (2018); note - individuals without a nationality who were born in the Dominican Republic prior to January 2010

Trafficking In Persons

Current Situation

Haiti is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; most of Haiti’s trafficking cases involve children in domestic servitude vulnerable to physical and sexual abuse; dismissed and runaway child domestic servants often end up in prostitution, begging, or street crime; other exploited populations included low-income Haitians, child laborers, and women and children living in IDP camps dating to the 2010 earthquake; Haitian adults are vulnerable to fraudulent labor recruitment abroad and, along with children, may be subjected to forced labor in the Dominican Republic, elsewhere in the Caribbean, South America, and the US; Dominicans are exploited in sex trafficking and forced labor in Haiti

Tier Rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Haiti does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, Haiti was granted a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because its government has a written plan that, if implemented would constitute making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; in 2014, Haiti developed a national anti-trafficking action plan and enacted a law prohibiting all forms of human trafficking, although judicial corruption hampered its implementation; progress was made in investigating and prosecuting suspected traffickers, but no convictions were made; the government sustained limited efforts to identify and refer victims to protective services, which were provided mostly by NGOs without government support; campaigns to raise awareness about child labor and child trafficking continued (2015)