Geography
Area: 27,750 sq. km. (10,714 sq. mi.); about the size of Maryland. Ile
de la Gonave and Ile de la Tortue comprise Haiti's principal offshore
territories.
Cities: Capital--Port-au-Prince (pop. 2 million). Other
cities--Cap Haitien (pop. 600,000).
Terrain: Rugged mountains with small coastal plains and river valleys,
and a large east-central elevated plateau.
Climate: Warm, semiarid, high humidity in many coastal areas.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Haitian(s).
Population (2001 est.): 8.1 million.
Annual population growth rate: 1975-2001, 1.9%; 2000-2015 (est.):
1.3%.
Ethnic groups: African descent 95%, African and European descent 5%.
Christian singles note-Religions: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16%,
voudou (voodoo) practices pervasive.
Languages: French (official), Creole (official).
Education: Years compulsory--6. Adult literacy (2001
est.)-50.8%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--79/1000. Life expectancy--49.1
yrs.
Government
Type: Republic.
Independence: January 1,1804.
Constitution: March 1987.
Branches: Executive--President. Legislative--Senate (27
Seats), Chamber of Deputies (83 seats). Judicial--Court of
Cassation.
Administrative subdivisions: Nine departments (a law creating a 10th
department, approved by Parliament and signed by then-President
Aristide, was awaiting publication to become law in November 2003).
Political parties and coalitions: Fanmi Lavalas (FL), Struggling
People's Organization (OPL), Open the Gate Party (PLB), Christian
Movement for a New Haiti (MOCHRENHA), Democratic Consultation Group (ESPACE),
Popular Solidarity Alliance (ESKANP), several others. The Democratic
Convergence is a coalition of most leading opposition parties formed
to protest the results of May 2000 legislative and local elections.
Suffrage: Universal at 18.
Economy
GDP (FY 2002): $3.5 billion.
Real GDP growth rate (FY 2002): -0.9%.
Per capita GNP (FY 2002): $425.
GDP by sector (2002): Agriculture--27%; industry--14%; services--52%;
indirect and import taxes--7%.
Inflation (2002 CPI yearly): 14.8%.
Natural resources: Bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble.
Agriculture (27% of GDP): Products--coffee, mangoes, sugarcane,
rice, corn, cacao, sorghum, pulses, other fruits and vegetables.
Industry (15.5% of GDP): Types--apparel, handicrafts,
electronics assembly, food processing, beverages, tobacco products,
furniture, printing, chemicals, steel.
Services (52% of GDP): Commerce, government, tourism.
Trade (2002): Total exports f.o.b.--$248 million: apparel,
mangoes, leather and raw hides, seafood, electrical. Major market--U.S.
($244 million). Imports--$870 million c.i.f. From U.S. $674
million--grains, soybean oil, motor vehicles, machinery, meat,
vegetables, plastics, petroleum.
Note: There are serious problems with national accounts in Haiti,
including incomplete coverage and the questionable accuracy of raw
data.
PEOPLE
Although Haiti averages about 290 people per square kilometer (748 per
sq. mi.). Its population is concentrated most heavily in urban areas,
coastal plains, and valleys. About 95% of Haitians are of African
descent. The rest of the population is mostly of mixed
Caucasian-African ancestry. A few are of European or Levantine
heritage. About two-thirds of the population live in rural areas.
French is one of two official languages, but it is spoken by only
about 10% of the people. All Haitians speak Creole, the country's
other official language. English is increasingly used as a second
language among the young and in the business sector.
Christian singles note-The dominant religion is Roman Catholicism.
Increasing numbers of Haitians have converted to Protestantism through
the work of missionaries active throughout the country. Much of the
population also practices voudou (voodoo), recognized by the
government as a religion in April 2003. Haitians tend to see no
conflict in these African-rooted beliefs coexisting with Christian
faith.
