Background: 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. 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. 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. 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.

Area
Total: 27,750 km²
Land: 27,560 km²
Water: 190 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries
Total: 376 km
Border countries (1): (1) Dominican Republic 376 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
Highest point: Pic la Selle 2,674 m
Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Mean elevation: 470 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 65.1% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 36.5% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 10.9% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 17.8% (2023 est.)
Forest: 13.4% (2023 est.)
Other: 21.5% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 800 km² (2013)

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

Geography
Note: 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

Population
Total: 11,753,943 (2024 est.)
Male: 5,792,443
Female: 5,961,500
Distribution: fairly even distribution; largest concentrations located near coastal areas
Growth rate: 1.23% (2024 est.)

Languages: French (official), Creole (official)
Major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French); The World Factbook, sous endispansab pou enfomasyon debaz. (Haitian Creole); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

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

Age structure
0-14 years: 30.5% (male 1,790,061/female 1,794,210)
15-64 years: 65.3% (male 3,787,782/female 3,887,791)
65 years and over: 4.2% (2024 est.) (male 214,600/female 279,499)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 53.1 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 46.7 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 6.4 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 15.5 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 25 years (2024 est.)
Male: 24.7 years
Female: 25.3 years

Population growth rate: 1.23% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 21.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 7.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: fairly even distribution; largest concentrations located near coastal areas

Urbanization
Urban population: 59.7% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 2.987 million PORT-AU-PRINCE (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 328 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 36.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 40.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 33.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 65.6 years (2024 est.)
Male: 63.8 years
Female: 67.4 years

Total fertility rate: 2.44 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 15.4% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 57.2% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 32.6% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 17.1% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 57.4% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 33.7% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 10.7% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 15.1% (2024 est.); 14.6% (2023 est.); 14.7% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Capital
Name: Port-au-Prince
Geographic coordinates: 18 32 N, 72 20 W
Time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
Etymology: the name means 'the port of the prince' and probably came from a ship called The Prince that anchored in the bay in the early 18th century

Administrative divisions: 10 departments (départements, singular - département); Artibonite, Centre, Grand'Anse, Nippes, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est

Legal system: civil law system strongly influenced by Napoleonic Code

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt

Executive branch
Chief of state: President (vacant)
Head of government: Prime Minister Alix Didier FILS-AIMÉ (since 10 November 2024)
Cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president; parliament must ratify the Cabinet and prime minister's governing policy
Election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a single non-consecutive term)
Most recent election date: 20 November 2016
2016: Jovenel MOÏSE elected president in first round; percent of vote - Jovenel MOÏSE (PHTK) 55.6%, Jude CELESTIN (LAPEH) 19.6%, Jean-Charles MOÏSE (PPD) 11%, Maryse NARCISSE (FL) 9%; other 4.8%
2011: Michel MARTELLY elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Michel MARTELLY (Peasant's Response) 68%, Mirlande MANIGAT (RDNP) 32%
Expected date of next election: 30 August 2026
Note: 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

Legislative branch
Legislature name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
Legislative structure: bicameral
Note 1: 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
Note 2: as of October 2024, the Senate and Chamber of Deputies were not functional

Flag description: 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)

National anthem
Title: 'La Dessalinienne' (The Dessalines Song)
Lyrics/music: Justin LHERISSON/Nicolas GEFFRARD
History: adopted 1904; named for Jean-Jacques DESSALINES, founder of Haiti

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: -4.2% (2024 est.); -1.9% (2023 est.); -1.7% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: -4.2% (2024 est.); -1.9% (2023 est.); -1.7% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 99.8% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 5.7% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 9.9% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 3.4% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -18.8% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 15.9% (2024 est.)
Industry: 33.4% (2024 est.)
Services: 48.3% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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

Industrial production growth rate: -4.7% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 5.281 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 15.1% (2024 est.); 14.6% (2023 est.); 14.7% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 15.1% (2024 est.); 14.6% (2023 est.); 14.7% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $1.179 billion (2020 est.)
Expenditures: $1.527 billion (2020 est.)

Exports: $1.095 billion (2023 est.); $1.355 billion (2022 est.); $1.272 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: garments, essential oils, scrap iron, industrial acids/oils/alcohols, bedding (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $5.303 billion (2023 est.); $5.451 billion (2022 est.); $5.048 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, rice, garments, cotton fabric, plastic products (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 472,000 kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 861 million kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 152 million kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 49.3% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 83%
Access electrification - rural areas: 1.2% (2019 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 81.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 18.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Imports: 5.7 metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 19,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Natural gas
Consumption: 3.2 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 3.2 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 2.854 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 2.848 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 6,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 3.486 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 6,000 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 7.32 million (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 64 (2021 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 39% (2019 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 35,000 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

Airports: 17 (2025)

Heliports: 2 (2025)

Merchant marine
Total: 4 (2023)
By type: general cargo 3, other 1