Haiti

§1. Haiti Introduction

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, 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 have prompted repeated postponements, and Haiti missed the
  constitutionally-mandated presidential inauguration date of 7 February
  2006.

§2. Haiti Geography

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

Geographic coordinates:
  19 00 N, 72 25 W

Map references:
  Central_America_and_the_Caribbean

Area:
  total: 27,750 km²
  land: 27,560 km²
  water: 190 km²

Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:
  total: 360 km
  border countries: Dominican Republic 360 km

Coastline:
  1,771 km

Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  continental shelf: to depth of exploitation

Climate:
  tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds

Terrain:
  mostly rough and mountainous

Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
  highest point: Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m

Natural resources:
  bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower

Land use:
  arable land: 28.11%
  permanent crops: 11.53%
  other: 60.36% (2005)

Irrigated land:
  750 km² (1998 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

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

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

§3. Haiti People

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.)

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.)

Median age:
  total: 18.2 years
  male: 17.8 years
  female: 18.6 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
  2.3% (2006 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
  -1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  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
  total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
  total: 71.65 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 78.01 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 65.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 53.23 years
  male: 51.89 years
  female: 54.6 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
  4.94 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  5.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  280,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  24,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
  noun: Haitian(s)
  adjective: Haitian

Ethnic groups:
  black 95%, mulatto and white 5%

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

Languages:
  French (official), Creole (official)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 52.9%
  male: 54.8%
  female: 51.2% (2003 est.)

§4. Haiti Government

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Haiti
  conventional short form: Haiti
  local long form: Republique d'Haiti
  local short form: Haiti

Government type:
  elected government

Capital:
  Port-au-Prince

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

Independence:
  1 January 1804 (from France)

National holiday:
  Independence Day, 1 January (1804)

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

Legal system:
  based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Interim President Boniface ALEXANDRE (since 29 February
    2004)
  note: Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE resigned as president on 29 February 2004;
    ALEXANDRE, as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, constitutionally
    succeeded Aristide
  head of government: Interim Prime Minister Gerald LATORTUE (since 12 March
    2004), chosen by extraconstitutional Council of Eminent Persons
    representing cross-section of political and civic interests
  cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the
    president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election
    last held 26 November 2000 (next to be held in February 2006); prime
    minister appointed by the president, ratified by the National Assembly
  election results: Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE elected president; percent of vote
    - Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE 92%

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); note - the
  National Assembly stopped functioning in January 2004 when the terms of all
  deputies and two-thirds of sitting senators expired; no replacements have
  been elected; the president is currently ruling by decree
  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 in 2005); 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 in November 2005)
  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

Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court or Cour de Cassation

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]; Ayiti Kapab [Ernst VERDIEU]; Convention for Democratic Unity or
  KID [Evans PAUL]; Democratic Movement for the Liberation of Haiti or MODELH
  [Francois LATORTUE]; Grand Center Right Front coalition (composed of MDN,
  MRN, and PDCH) [Hubert de RONCERAY, Jean BUTEAU, Osner FEVRY and
  Marie-Denise CLAUDE]; 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]; Haitian Democratic Party
  or PADEMH [Clark PARENT]; Heads Together [Dr. Gerard BLOT]; Lavalas Family
  or FL [leader NA]; Liberal Party of Haiti or PLH [Michael MADSEN];
  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 Congress
  of Democratic Movements or KONAKOM [Victor BENOIT]; National Front for the
  Reconstruction of Haiti or FRON [Guy PHILIPPE]; National Progressive
  Democratic Party or PNDPH [Turneb DELPE]; Nationalist Progressive
  Revolutionary Party or PANPRA [Serge GILLES]; New Christian Movement for a
  New Haiti or MOCHRENA [Luc MESADIEU]; Open the Gate Party (Parti Louvri
  Bayre) or PLB [leader NA]; Popular Party for the Renewal of Haiti, or
  Generation 2000 [Claude ROMAIN and Daniel SUPPLICE]; Struggling People's
  Organization or OPL [Edgard LEBLANC]; MNP28 [Dejean BELIZAIRE]; KOMBA
  [Evans LESCOUFLAIR]

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; Group of 184 Civil Society Organization, or G-184 [Andy APAID];
  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

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, LAES,
  MIGA, OAS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Raymond JOSEPH (as of November 2004)
  chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 332-4090
  FAX: [1] (202) 745-7215
  consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, San Juan (Puerto
    Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Timothy M. CARNEY
  embassy: 5 Harry S Truman Boulevard, Port-au-Prince
  mailing address: P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince
  telephone: [509] 222-0200
  FAX: [509] 223-9038

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)

§5. Haiti Economy

Economy - overview:
  In this poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, 80% of the population
  lives 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. The economy grew 1.5% in 2005, the
  highest growth rate since 1999. Haiti suffers from rampant inflation, a
  lack of investment, and a severe trade deficit. In early 2005, Haiti paid
  its arrears to the World Bank, paving the way for reengagement with the
  Bank. The government is reliant on formal international economic assistance
  for fiscal sustainability. Remittances are the primary source of foreign
  exchange, equaling nearly a quarter of GDP in 2005.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $12.85 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
  $4.321 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
  1.5% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $1,600 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
  agriculture: 28%
  industry: 20%
  services: 52% (2004 est.)

Labor force:
  3.6 million
  note: shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (1995)

Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture 66%, industry 9%, services 25%

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

Population below poverty line:
  80% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  15.2% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
  27.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $400 million
  expenditures: $600.8 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005
    est.)

Agriculture - products:
  coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum; wood

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

Industrial production growth rate:
  NA%

Electricity - production:
  546 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - consumption:
  507.8 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:
  11,800 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:
  NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
  NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production:
  0 m³ (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
  0 m³ (2003 est.)

Current account balance:
  $34.08 million (2005 est.)

Exports:
  $390.7 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
  manufactures, coffee, oils, cocoa, mangoes

Exports - partners:
  US 81.2%, Dominican Republic 7.3%, Canada 4.1% (2004)

Imports:
  $1.471 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
  food, manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, raw
  materials

Imports - partners:
  US 34.8%, Netherlands Antilles 18%, Malaysia 5.1%, Colombia 4.7% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $95.26 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external:
  $1.3 billion (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
  $153 million (FY05 est.)

Currency (code):
  gourde (HTG)

Exchange rates:
  gourdes per US dollar - 40.449 (2005), 38.352 (2004), 42.367 (2003), 29.251
  (2002), 24.429 (2001)

Fiscal year:
  1 October - 30 September

§6. Haiti Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
  140,000 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
  400,000 (2004)

Telephone system:
  general assessment: domestic facilities barely adequate; international
    facilities slightly better
  domestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay trunk service
  international: country code - 509; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
    (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 41, FM 26, shortwave 0 (1999)

Television broadcast stations:
  2 (plus a cable TV service) (1997)

Internet country code:
  .ht

Internet hosts:
  3 (2005)

Internet users:
  500,000 (2005)

§7. Haiti Transportation

Airports:
  12 (2005)

Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 4
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2005)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 8
  914 to 1,523 m: 1
  under 914 m: 7 (2005)

Roadways:
  total: 4,160 km
  paved: 1,011 km
  unpaved: 3,149 km (1999)

Ports and terminals:
  Cap-Haitien

§8. Haiti Military

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 service age and obligation:
  18 years of age for voluntary recruitment into the police force (2001)

Manpower available for military service:
  males age 18-49: 1,626,491 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 18-49: 948,320 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
  males: 98,554 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
  $25.96 million (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
  0.9% (2003 est.)

§9. Haiti Transnational Issues

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

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


<Factbook 2006>
