Haiti

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<p>The native Taino -- who inhabited the island of Hispaniola when Christopher COLUMBUS first landed 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 of 100 million francs (equivalent to $22 billion USD in March 2023) to France for more than a century and was shunned by other countries for nearly 40 years. In 1862, the US officially recognized Haiti, but foreign economic influence and internal political instability induced the US to occupy Haiti from 1915 to 1934.<br><br>Francois "Papa Doc" DUVALIER and then his son Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" DUVALIER led repressive and corrupt regimes that ruled Haiti in 1957-1971 and 1971-1986, respectively. Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE was Haiti's first democratically elected president in 1991 and was elected a second time in 2000, but coups interrupted his first term after only a few months and ended his second term in 2004. President Jovenel MOÏSE was assassinated in 2021, leading the country further into an extra-constitutional governance structure and contributing to the country’s growing fragility. The Government of Haiti then installed Ariel HENRY -- whom President MOÏSE had nominated shortly before his death -- as prime minister. <br><br>On 29 February 2024, a significant escalation of gang violence occurred on the 20th anniversary of ARISTIDE's second overthrow, after the announcement that HENRY would not hold elections until August 2025. HENRY’s return from an overseas trip was diverted to Puerto Rico when the airport closed due to gang violence. With control of much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, gang leaders called for the ouster of HENRY’S government. By mid-March, Haiti’s continued violence, HENRY’S inability to return to the country, and increasing pressure from the international community led HENRY to pledge to resign. On 25 April 2024, HENRY formally submitted his resignation as a nine-member Transitional Presidential Council assumed control, tasked with returning stability to the country and preparing elections. Since January 2023, Haiti has had no sitting elected officials.<br><br>The country has long been plagued by natural disasters. In 2010, a major 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti with an epicenter about 25 km (15 mi) west of the capital, Port-au-Prince. An estimated 300,000 people were killed, and some 1.5 million left homeless. The earthquake was assessed as the worst in this region in 200 years. A 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti’s southern peninsula in 2021, causing well over 2,000 deaths; an estimated 500,000 required emergency humanitarian aid. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, as well as one of the most unequal in wealth distribution.</p>

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

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19 00 N, 72 25 W

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Central America and the Caribbean

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slightly smaller than Maryland

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1,771 km

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tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds

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mostly rough and mountainous

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

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800 sq km (2013)

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fairly even distribution; largest concentrations located near coastal areas

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

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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

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Black 95%, mixed and White 5%

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Catholic 55%, Protestant 29%, Vodou 2.1%, other 4.6%, none 10% (2018 est.)

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<strong>note:</strong> 50-80% of Haitians incorporate some elements of Vodou culture or practice in addition to another religion, most often Roman Catholicism; Vodou was recognized as an official religion in 2003

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1.22% (2025 est.)

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20.76 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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7 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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-1.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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fairly even distribution; largest concentrations located near coastal areas

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2.987 million PORT-AU-PRINCE (capital) (2023)

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22.4 years (2016/7 est.)

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<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

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328 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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2.39 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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1.19 (2025 est.)

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0.29 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

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4.8 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

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22.7% (2016)

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10.7% (2023 est.)

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53.6% (2017 est.)

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deforestation (trees cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate potable water and lack of sanitation; natural disasters

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tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds

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9.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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14.022 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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semi-presidential republic

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10 departments (<em>départements</em>, singular - <em>département</em>); Artibonite, Centre, Grand'Anse, Nippes, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est

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civil law system strongly influenced by Napoleonic Code

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<strong>note:</strong> the constitution is commonly referred to as the “amended 1987 constitution”

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

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18 years of age; universal

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<strong>note:</strong> former Prime Minister Ariel HENRY, who had assumed executive responsibilities following the assassination of President MOÏSE on 7 July 2021, resigned on 24 April 2024; a nine-member Presidential Transitional Council, equipped with presidential powers, was sworn in on 25 April 2024 and will remain in place until 7 February 2026

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<strong>note 1:</strong> when the two chambers meet collectively, it is known as the National Assembly (or L'Assemblée nationale) and is convened for specific purposes spelled out in the constitution<br><strong><br>note 2:</strong> as of October 2024, the Senate and Chamber of Deputies were not functional

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<strong>note:</strong> the Superior Council of the Judiciary or Conseil Supérieur du Pouvoir Judiciaire is a 9-member body charged with the administration and oversight of the judicial branch of government<br><br><strong>note: </strong>Haiti is a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice, the Constitutional Court (called for in the 1987 constitution but not yet established), and the High Court of Justice, for trying high government officials (currently not functional)<br><br><strong>note</strong>: 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

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Alternative League for Haitian Progress and Emancipation (Ligue Alternative pour le Progrès et l’Emancipation Haïtienne) or LAPEH<br>Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MCNH or Mochrenha<br>Christian National Movement for the Reconstruction of Haiti or UNCRH<br>Combat of Peasant Workers to Liberate Haiti (Konbit Travaye Peyizan Pou Libere Ayiti) or Kontra Pep La <br>Convention for Democratic Unity or KID<br>Cooperative Action to Rebuild Haiti or KONBA<br>December 16 Platform or Platfom 16 Desanm<br>Democratic Alliance Party or ALYANS (coalition includes KID and PPRH)<br>Democratic Centers' National Council or CONACED<br>Democratic and Popular Sector (Secteur Démocratique et Populaire) or SDP<br>Democratic Unity Convention (Konvansyon Inite Demokratik) or KID<br>Dessalinian Patriotic and Popular Movement or MOPOD<br>Effort and Solidarity to Create an Alternative for the People or ESKAMP<br>Fanmi Lavalas or FL<br>Forward (En Avant)<br>Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats (Fusion Des Sociaux-Démocrates Haïtiens) or FHSD<br>G18 Policy Platform (Plateforme Politique G18)<br>Haiti in Action (Ayiti An Aksyon Haiti's Action) or AAA<br>Haitian Tet Kale Party (Parti Haitien Tet Kale) or PHTK<br>Independent Movement for National Reconciliation or MIRN<br>Lavni Organization or LAVNI<br>Lod Demokratik<br>Love Haiti (Renmen Ayiti) or RA<br>MTV Ayiti<br>National Consortium of Haitian Political Parties (Consortium National des Partis Politiques Haitiens) or CNPPH <br>National Shield Network (Reseau Bouclier National)<br>Organization of the People's Struggle (Oganizasyon Pep Kap Lite) or OPL<br>Patriotic Unity (Inite Patriyotik) or Inite<br>Platform Pitit Desalin (Politik Pitit Dessalines) or PPD<br>Political Party for Us All or Bridge (Pont) or Pou Nou Tout<br>Popular Patriotic Dessalinien Movement (Mouvement Patriotique Populaire Dessalinien) or MOPOD<br>Rally of Progressive National Democrats (Rassemblement des Démocrates Nationaux Progressistes) or RDNP<br>Respe (Respect)<br>Women and Families Political Parties (Defile Pati Politik Fanm Ak Fanmi)

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ACP, ACS, 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

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1 January 1804 (from France)

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Independence Day, 1 January (1804)

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<strong>description:</strong> two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red; a centered white rectangle bears the coat of arms, which has a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll with the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength)<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> the colors are taken from the French flag and represent the union of ethnic groups

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Hispaniolan trogon (bird), hibiscus flower

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blue, red

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small Caribbean island economy and OECS-member state; extreme poverty and inflation; enormous income inequality; ongoing civil unrest due to recent presidential assassination; US preferential market access; very open to foreign direct investment

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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$25.224 billion (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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<strong>note:</strong> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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sugarcane, cassava, plantains, bananas, mangoes/guavas, avocados, maize, tropical fruits, rice, vegetables (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

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-4.7% (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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5.281 million (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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USA 82%, Canada 4%, Mexico 2%, France 2%, India 2% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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garments, essential oils, scrap iron, industrial acids/oils/alcohols, bedding (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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USA 31%, Dominican Republic 23%, China 14%, Indonesia 4%, India 3% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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refined petroleum, rice, garments, cotton fabric, plastic products (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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398 legal broadcasting stations, including about 60 community radio stations; 105 TV stations, including 36 in Port-au-Prince, 41 others in the provinces, and more than 40 radio-television stations; large number of stations operate irregularly or flout regulations; VOA Creole Service broadcasts daily on 30 affiliate stations (2019)

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.ht

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HH

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17 (2025)

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2 (2025)

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the Haitian Armed Forces (FAdH): Army<br><br>Ministry of Justice and Public Security: Haitian National Police (Police Nationale d'Haïti or PNH) (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> the PNH is responsible for maintaining public security; it includes police, corrections, fire, emergency response, airport security, port security, and coast guard functions; its units include a presidential guard and a paramilitary rapid-response Motorized Intervention Unit (BIM)

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estimates vary; up to 2,000 trained military personnel (the force is planned to eventually have around 5,000 personnel); estimates for the National Police range from a low of 9,000 to a high of about 13,000 (2025)

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in recent years, Canada, Taiwan, UAE, and the US have provided some equipment to the Haitian security forces, including vehicles (2025)

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men and women 18-25 may volunteer for the FAdH (2023)

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Haiti's military was disbanded in 1995 after it participated in multiple coups and was accused of other political interference and human rights violations; the military was reinstated by former President MOISE in 2017 after the UN ended its peacekeeping operation in Haiti; the reconstituted military established an Army command in 2018 and has received some training assistance from Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, France, and Mexico; the military’s stated mission is to assist with natural disaster relief, border security, and combating transnational crime; in 2023, Prime Minister HENRY called upon the military to assist the National Police (PNH) in combating armed gangs, which have overwhelmed the PNH, killed hundreds of Haitians, and seized control of swaths of territory, including much of the capital Port-au-Prince, since the assassination of President MOISE in 2021<br><br>in 2023, the UN Security Council approved the deployment of a Kenya-led multinational security support mission (MSS) to help bring gang violence under control; the first contingent of MSS personnel from the Kenya National Police Service arrived in mid-2024; other countries pledging forces included the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad, and Jamaica; the mission is slated to have a total of 2,500 personnel (2025)

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Gran Grif; Viv Ansanm

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<strong>note:</strong> details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide