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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.ht

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

Internet users [time series]

80,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 41, FM 26, shortwave 0 (1999)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

130,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

140,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (plus a cable TV service) (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $231.6 million expenditures: $366.7 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

gourde (HTG)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

HTG

Current account balance [time series]

$-48 million (2003)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.2 billion (1999)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$120 million (FY02)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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, which consists mainly of small-scale subsistence farming. Following legislative elections in May 2000, fraught with irregularities, international donors - including the US and EU - suspended almost all aid to Haiti. The economy shrank an estimated 1.2% in 2001 and an estimated 0.9% in 2002. Suspended aid and loan disbursements totaled more than $500 million at the start of 2003. Haiti also suffers from rampant inflation, a lack of investment, and a severe trade deficit. The resumption of aid flows from all donors will alleviate but not end the nation's bitter economic problems. Extensive civil strife in early 2004, marked by the flight of President ARISTIDE, further impoverished Haiti.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

539.4 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

580 million kWh (2001)

Exchange rates [time series]

gourdes per US dollar - 40.5 (2003), 29.2505 (2002), 24.4291 (2001), 21.1707 (2000), 16.9379 (1999)

Exports [time series]

$321 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

manufactures, coffee, oils, cocoa

Exports - partners [time series]

US 83.8%, Dominican Republic 6.5%, Canada 3.2% (2003)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 October - 30 September

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

purchasing power parity - $12.3 billion (2003 est.)

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

agriculture: 30% industry: 20% services: 50% (2001 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2003 est.)

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

0% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$1.028 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 53.5%, Dominican Republic 5.9%, Colombia 2.9% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

37.8% (2003 est.)

Labor force [time series]

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

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 66%, industry 9%, services 25%

Oil - consumption [time series]

11,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

80% (2003 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (Reserves of foreign exchange & gold) [time series]

$73 million (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

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

Geography

Area [time series]

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

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 [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, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes

Geographic coordinates [time series]

19 00 N, 72 25 W

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 (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 360 km border countries: Dominican Republic 360 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 28.3% permanent crops: 11.61% other: 60.09% (2001)

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]

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

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]

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

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

Capital [time series]

Port-au-Prince

Constitution [time series]

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

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador James B. FOLEY embassy: 5 Harry S Truman Boulevard, Port-au-Prince mailing address: P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince telephone: [509] 222-0354, 222-0269, 222-0200, 222-0327 FAX: [509] 223-1641 or 222-0200 ext 460

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Executive branch [time series]

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 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 November 2005); 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%

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]

elected government

Independence [time series]

1 January 1804 (from France)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court or 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 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 Prime Minister 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 2004); 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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 1 January (1804)

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

Alliance for the Liberation and Advancement of Haiti or ALAH [Reynold GEORGES]; Assembly of Progressive National Democrats or RDNP [Leslie MANIGAT]; Convention for Democratic Unity or KID [leader Evans PAUL]; Democratic Convergence (opposition coalition composed of KID, KONAKOM, OPL, PANPRA, RNDP, MIDH, and MOCHRENA) [Evans PAUL, Victor BENOIT, Edgard LEBLANC, Serge GILLES, Leslie MANIGAT, Marc BAZIN, Luc MESADIEU]; 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 Party or PADEMH [Clark PARENT]; Haitian Democratic and Reform Movement or MODEREH [Dany TOUSSAINT and Pierre Soncon PRINCE]; Heads Together [Dr. Gerard BLOT]; Lavalas Family or FL [Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE]; Liberal Party of Haiti or PLH [Michael MADSEN]; Mobilization for National Development or MDN [Hubert DE RONCERAY]; Movement for National Reconstruction or MRN [Jean BUTEAU]; Movement for the Installation of Democracy in Haiti or MIDH [Marc BAZIN]; National Front for the Reconstruction of Haiti or FRON [Guy PHILIPPE and Winter ETIENNE]; National Progressive Democratic Party or PNDPH [Turneb DELPE]; New Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MOCHRENA [Luc MESADIEU]; Popular Party for the Renewal of Haiti, or Generation 2000 [Claude ROMAIN and Daniel SUPPLICE]; Struggling People's Organization or OPL [Edgard LEBLANC]

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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 - 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 and after a prolonged struggle, became the first black republic to declare its independence in 1804. Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history. It is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

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 or unless they are constitutionally abolished

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$25.8 million (2003)

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

0.9% (2003)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,792,112 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 975,341 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary recruitment into the police force (2001)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 97,429 (2004 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 42.2% (male 1,646,216; female 1,583,294) 15-64 years: 54.1% (male 2,018,914; female 2,124,287) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 133,241; female 150,214) (2004 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

33.76 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate [time series]

13.21 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

black 95%, mulatto and white 5%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

5.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

24,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

280,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 74.38 deaths/1,000 live births male: 79.83 deaths/1,000 live births female: 68.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages [time series]

French (official), Creole (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 51.78 years male: 50.52 years female: 53.12 years (2004 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

total: 18.1 years male: 17.6 years female: 18.7 years (2004 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Haitian(s) adjective: Haitian

Net migration rate [time series]

-3.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population [time series]

7,656,166 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 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.71% (2004 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.76 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

despite efforts to control illegal migration, Haitians fleeing economic privation and civil unrest continue to cross into Dominican Republic and to sail to neighboring countries; Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Island

Illicit drugs [time series]

major 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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

12 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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