Haiti

National name:
République d’Haïti

Government
Republic with an elected government.

Geography Haiti, in the West Indies, occupies the western third of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Haiti is two-thirds mountainous, with the rest of the country marked by great valleys, extensive plateaus, and small plains.

Historical Background
The native Taino Amerindians - inhabited the island of Hispaniola - were virtually annihilated by Spanish settlers within 25 years. In the early 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola. 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.

• 1697 - Spain ceded to the French.

Facts & Figures

Name

Haiti

Capital

Port-au-Prince

Government

Semi-presidential republic 

Language

Haitian Creole, French 

Race/Ethnicity

90% black, 10% mulatto and white

Religion

80% (Catholics) & 16% (Protestants)

Area

27,750 km2

Population

10,188,000

Currency

Gourde (HTG)