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Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture-products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $284 million expenditures: $308 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY96/97 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 gourde (G) = 100 centimes

Debt - external (Debt-external) [time series]

$781 million (1995 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview (Economy-overview) [time series]

About 75% of the population lives in abject poverty. Nearly 70% of all Haitians depend on the agriculture sector, which consists mainly of small-scale subsistence farming and employs about two-thirds of the economically active work force. The country has experienced little or no job creation since President PREVAL took office in February 1996, although the informal economy is growing. Failure to reach agreements with international sponsors have denied Haiti badly needed budget and development assistance. Meeting aid conditions in 1998 will be especially challenging in the face of mounting popular criticism of reforms.

Electricity - capacity (Electricity-capacity) [time series]

153,000 kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]

48 kWh (1995)

Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]

315 million kWh (1995)

Exchange rates [time series]

gourdes (G) per US$1 (end of period)-17.311 (December 1997), 17.311 (1997), 15.093 (1996), 16.160 (1995), 12.947 (1994), 12.805 (1993)

Exports [time series]

total value: $90 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: light manufactures 53%, coffee 17%, other agriculture 17% partners: US 76.3%, EU 19.8% (1996)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 October-30 September Communications

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$7.1 billion (1997 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP-composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 44% industry: 13% services: 43% (1995)

Real GDP per capita (GDP-per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$1,070 (1997 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP-real growth rate) [time series]

1.1% (1997 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $665 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: machines and manufactures 34%, food and beverages 22%, petroleum products 14%, chemicals 10%, fats and oils 9% partners: US 65.0%, EU 13.9% (1995)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2.5% (1995 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate-consumer price index) [time series]

17% (1997 est.)

Labor force [time series]

total: 3.6 million (1995) by occupation: agriculture 66%, services 25%, industry 9% note: shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (1982)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 33, FM 0, shortwave 2

Radios [time series]

320,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic facilities barely adequate, international facilities slightly better domestic: NA international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

50,000 (1990 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

4 (1987 est.)

Televisions [time series]

32,000 (1992 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

60% (1996 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 27,750 sq km land: 27,560 sq km water: 190 sq km

Area - comparative (Area-comparative) [time series]

slightly smaller than Maryland

Climate [time series]

tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds

Coastline [time series]

1,771 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues (Environment-current issues) [time series]

extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water

International environmental agreements (Environment-international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban

Geographic coordinates [time series]

19 00 N, 72 25 W

Geography - note (Geography-note) [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

750 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 275 km border countries: Dominican Republic 275 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 20% permanent crops: 13% permanent pastures: 18% forests and woodland: 5% other: 44% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

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 [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

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 [time series]

none

Terrain [time series]

mostly rough and mountainous

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

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

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Timothy Michael CARNEY embassy: 5 Harry Truman Boulevard, Port-au-Prince mailing address: P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince telephone: [509] 22-0354, 22-0368, 22-0200, 22-0612

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); mission led by charge d' affairs chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4090 through 4092

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Rene Garcia PREVAL (since 7 February 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Rosny SMARTH resigned June 1997; currently no prime minister; ratification of a new prime minister held up in political gridlock stemming from controversy over the 6 April 1997 elections 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 17 December 1995 (next to be held by December 2000); prime minister appointed by the president, ratified by the Congress election results: Rene Garcia PREVAL elected president; percent of vote-Rene Garcia PREVAL 88%, Leon JEUNE 2.5%, Victor BENOIT 2.3%

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 745-7215 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[509] 23-1641

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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)

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

1 January 1804 (from France)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT, ACP, Caricom (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Cour de Cassation)

Legal system [time series]

based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale consists of the Senate (27 seats; members 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) elections: Senate-last held 25 June 1995 with reruns on 13 August and runoffs on 17 September (election held for nine seats 6 April 1997; results disputed and runoffs postponed indefinitely); Chamber of Deputies-last held 25 June 1995 with reruns on 13 August and runoffs on 17 September (next Senate and Chamber elections to be held November 1998) election results: Senate-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-Lavalas Political Organization 7, Lavalas family-leaning 7, independent 2, non-active members 2, vacant 9; Chamber of Deputies-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-Lavalas Political Organization (OPL) 32, antineoliberal bloc 24, minor parties and independents 22, vacant 5

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Port-au-Prince

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 1 January (1804)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Lavalas Family (FL), Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE; National Lavalas Political Organization (OPL), Gerard PIERRE-CHARLES; National Front for Change and Democracy (FNCD), Evans PAUL and Turneb DELPE; National Congress of Democratic Movements (KONACOM), Victor BENOIT; Movement for the Installation of Democracy in Haiti (MIDH), Marc BAZIN; National Progressive Revolutionary Party (PANPRA), Serge GILLES; Movement for National Reconstruction (MRN), Rene THEODORE; Haitian Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), Fritz PIERRE; Assembly of Progressive National Democrats (RDNP), Leslie MANIGAT; Mobilization for National Development (MDN), Hubert DE RONCERAY; Movement for the Organization of the Country (MOP), Gesner COMEAU and Jean MOLIERE; Open the Gate Party (PLB), Renaud BERNARDIN; Union of Patriotic Democrats (UPD), Rockefeller GUERRE; Generation 2004, Claude ROUMAIN; Alliance for the Liberation and Advancement of Haiti (ALAH), Reynold GEORGES; Haitian Democratic Party (PADEMH), Clark PARENT; National Alliance for Democracy and Progress; Haiti Can (Ayiti Kapab), Ernst VERDIEU

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Roman Catholic Church; Confederation of Haitian Workers (CTH); Federation of Workers Trade Unions (FOS); Autonomous Haitian Workers (CATH); National Popular Assembly (APN); Papaye Peasants Movement (MPP); Popular Organizations Gathering Power (PROP)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Haitian National Police (HNP) note: the regular Haitian Army, Navy, and Air Force have been demobilized but still exist on paper until/unless constitutionally abolished

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures-dollar figure) [time series]

$NA; note-mainly for police and security activities

Military expenditures (Military expenditures-percent of GDP) [time series]

NA%

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower-availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,490,464 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower-fit for military service) [time series]

males: 807,330 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower-military age) [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower-reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 75,448 (1998 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 43% (male 1,465,735; female 1,422,260) 15-64 years: 53% (male 1,733,636; female 1,881,367) 65 years and over: 4% (male 138,678; female 138,825) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

32.84 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate [time series]

14.17 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

black 95%, mulatto plus white 5%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

98.98 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages [time series]

French (official) 20%, Creole

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 51.4 years male: 49.33 years female: 53.58 years (1998 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 45% male: 48% female: 42.2% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Haitian(s) adjective: Haitian

Net migration rate [time series]

-3.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population [time series]

6,780,501 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.51% (1998 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3% (1982) note: roughly one-half of the population also practices Voodoo

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.67 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]

claims US-administered Navassa Island

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana en route to the US and Europe HEARD ISLAND AND MCDONALD ISLANDS (territory of Australia)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

14 (1997 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports-with paved runways) [time series]

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports-with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 6 (1997 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 4,160 km paved: 1,011 km unpaved: 3,149 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Jeremie, Les Cayes, Miragoane, Port-au-Prince, Port-de-Paix, Saint-Marc

Railways [time series]

total: 40 km (single track; privately owned industrial line)-closed in early 1990s narrow gauge: 40 km 0.760-m gauge

Waterways [time series]

NEGL; less than 100 km navigable