Haiti
Republic of HaitiRépublique d'Haïti (French)/
semi-presidential republicIndependence 1 January 1804 (from France)
Haiti as the 2025 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 142 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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 20 th 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.
Geography
Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic
17 fieldsLand useshare of 27,750 sq km
Location
Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic
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
People and Society
35 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2024 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2025 est.)
Male · female(2017 est.)
Religions(2018 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.
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.)
Infant mortality rate
- total:
- 35 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- male:
- 40.2 deaths/1,000 live births
- female:
- 33.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Alcohol consumption per capita
- total:
- 2.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- beer:
- 0.55 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- wine:
- 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- spirits:
- 2.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- other alcohols:
- 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Child marriage
- women married by age 15:
- 2.1% (2017)
- women married by age 18:
- 14.9% (2017)
- men married by age 18:
- 1.6% (2017)
Environment
10 fieldsLand use(2023 est.)
Environmental issues
- deforestation (trees cleared for agriculture and used as fuel);
- soil erosion;
- inadequate potable water and lack of sanitation;
- natural disasters
International environmental agreements
- party to:
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
- signed, but not ratified:
- Nuclear Test Ban
Urbanization
- urban population:
- 59.7% of total population (2023)
- rate of urbanization:
- 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
2.854 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- from petroleum and other liquids:
- 2.848 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- from consumed natural gas:
- 6,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually:
- 2.31 million tons (2024 est.)
- percent of municipal solid waste recycled:
- 9.1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal
- municipal:
- 190 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- industrial:
- 51 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- agricultural:
- 1.209 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Government
Semi-presidential republic; President (vacant); Prime Minister Alix Didier FILS-AIMÉ (since 10 November 2024)
25 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Haiti
- conventional short form:
- Haiti
- local long form:
- République d'Haïti (French)/Repiblik d Ayiti (Haitian Creole)
- local short form:
- Haïti (French)/ Ayiti (Haitian Creole)
- etymology:
- derived from the Arawak name Ayti, meaning "Land of Mountains," that was originally applied to the entire island of Hispaniola
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
Constitution
- history:
- many previous; latest adopted 10 March 1987, with substantial revisions in June 2012
- amendment process:
- proposed by the executive branch or by either the Senate or the Chamber of Deputies;
- consideration of proposed amendments requires support by at least two-thirds majority of both houses;
- passage requires at least two-thirds majority of the membership present and at least two-thirds majority of the votes cast;
- approved amendments enter into force after installation of the next president of the republic;
- constitutional articles on the democratic and republican form of government cannot be amended
note: the constitution is commonly referred to as the “amended 1987 constitution”
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
- citizenship by birth:
- no
- citizenship by descent only:
- at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Haiti
- dual citizenship recognized:
- yes
- residency requirement for naturalization:
- 5 years
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
- election results:
- ;
- 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
Legislative branch - lower chamber
- chamber name:
- Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Députés)
- number of seats:
- 119 (all directly elected)
- electoral system:
- plurality/majority
- scope of elections:
- full renewal
- term in office:
- 4 years
- most recent election date:
- 8/9/2015 to 10/25/2015
- parties elected and seats per party:
- Haitian Tet Kale Party (PHTK) (9);
- Konvansyon Inite Demokratik (KID) (7);
- Ayiti an aksyon (AAA) (6);
- Fanmi Lavalas (6);
- Patriotic Unity Party (Inite Patriyotik) (4);
- People's Struggle Party (OPL) (7);
- Other (24)
- percentage of women in chamber:
- 0%
- expected date of next election:
- August 2026
Legislative branch - upper chamber
- chamber name:
- Senate (Sénat)
- number of seats:
- 30 (all directly elected)
- electoral system:
- plurality/majority
- scope of elections:
- partial renewal
- term in office:
- 6 years
- most recent election date:
- 11/20/2016 to 1/29/2017
- parties elected and seats per party:
- Haitian Tet Kale Party (PHTK) (9);
- Truth (Vérité) (3);
- Konvansyon Inite Demokratik (KID) (2);
- Bouclier (2);
- Ayiti an aksyon (AAA) (2);
- Other (10)
- expected date of next election:
- August 2026
Judicial branch
- highest court(s):
- Supreme Court or Cour de cassation (consists of 12 judges)
- judge selection and term of office:
- judges appointed by the president from candidate lists submitted by the Senate of the National Assembly
- subordinate courts:
- Courts of Appeal;
- Courts of First Instance;
- magistrate's courts;
- land, labor, and children's courts
note: the Superior Council of the Judiciary or Conseil Supérieur du Pouvoir Judiciaire is a 9-member body charged with the administration and oversight of the judicial branch of government
note: Haiti is a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice, the Constitutional Court (called for in the 1987 constitution but not yet established), and the High Court of Justice,
for trying high government officials (currently not functional)
note : Article 174 of Haiti's constitution states that judges of the Supreme Court are appointed for 10 years, whereas Article 177 states that judges of the Supreme Court are appointed for life
Political parties
- Alternative League for Haitian Progress and Emancipation (Ligue Alternative pour le Progrès et l’Emancipation Haïtienne) or LAPEH
- Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MCNH or Mochrenha
- Christian National Movement for the Reconstruction of Haiti or UNCRH
- Combat of Peasant Workers to Liberate Haiti (Konbit Travaye Peyizan Pou Libere Ayiti) or Kontra Pep La
- Convention for Democratic Unity or KID
- Cooperative Action to Rebuild Haiti or KONBA
- December 16 Platform or Platfom 16 Desanm
- Democratic Alliance Party or ALYANS (coalition includes KID and PPRH)
- Democratic Centers' National Council or CONACED
- Democratic and Popular Sector (Secteur Démocratique et Populaire) or SDP
- Democratic Unity Convention (Konvansyon Inite Demokratik) or KID
- Dessalinian Patriotic and Popular Movement or MOPOD
- Effort and Solidarity to Create an Alternative for the People or ESKAMP
- Fanmi Lavalas or FL
- Forward (En Avant)
- Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats (Fusion Des Sociaux-Démocrates Haïtiens) or FHSD
- G18 Policy Platform (Plateforme Politique G18)
- Haiti in Action (Ayiti An Aksyon Haiti's Action) or AAA
- Haitian Tet Kale Party (Parti Haitien Tet Kale) or PHTK
- Independent Movement for National Reconciliation or MIRN
- Lavni Organization or LAVNI
- Lod Demokratik
- Love Haiti (Renmen Ayiti) or RA
- MTV Ayiti
- National Consortium of Haitian Political Parties (Consortium National des Partis Politiques Haitiens) or CNPPH
- National Shield Network (Reseau Bouclier National)
- Organization of the People's Struggle (Oganizasyon Pep Kap Lite) or OPL
- Patriotic Unity (Inite Patriyotik) or Inite
- Platform Pitit Desalin (Politik Pitit Dessalines) or PPD
- Political Party for Us All or Bridge (Pont) or Pou Nou Tout
- Popular Patriotic Dessalinien Movement (Mouvement Patriotique Populaire Dessalinien) or MOPOD
- Rally of Progressive National Democrats (Rassemblement des Démocrates Nationaux Progressistes) or RDNP
- Respe (Respect)
- Women and Families Political Parties (Defile Pati Politik Fanm Ak Fanmi)
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Lionel DELATOUR (since 11 June 2025)
- chancery:
- 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 332-4090
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 745-7215
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; https://www.haiti.org/
- consulate(s) general:
- Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Orlando (FL), New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Henry T. WOOSTER (since 12 June 2025)
- embassy:
- Tabarre 41, Route de Tabarre, Port-au-Prince
- mailing address:
- 3400 Port-au-Prince Place, Washington, DC 20521-3400
- telephone:
- [011] (509) 2229-8000
- FAX:
- [011] (509) 2229-8027
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; https://ht.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, ACS, AOSIS, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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)
- meaning:
- the colors are taken from the French flag and represent the union of ethnic groups
National anthem(s)
- 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:
- National History Park – Citadel, Sans Souci, Ramiers
Economy
27 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2024 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP · (2024 est.)
Budget(2020 est.)
Economic overview
- small Caribbean island economy and OECS-member state;
- extreme poverty and inflation;
- enormous income inequality;
- ongoing civil unrest due to recent presidential assassination;
- US preferential market access;
- very open to foreign direct investment
Agricultural products
sugarcane, cassava, plantains, bananas, mangoes/guavas, avocados, maize, tropical fruits, rice, vegetables (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
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)
- total:
- 37.5% (2024 est.)
- male:
- 30% (2024 est.)
- female:
- 47.1% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Remittances
18.9% of GDP (2023 est.) · 18.8% of GDP (2022 est.) · 19.1% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Current account balance
-$682.57 million (2023 est.) · -$491.954 million (2022 est.) · $87.656 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
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
Exports - commodities
garments, essential oils, scrap iron, industrial acids/oils/alcohols, bedding (2023) 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
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, rice, garments, cotton fabric, plastic products (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$2.718 billion (2024 est.) · $2.586 billion (2023 est.) · $2.173 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Debt - external
$1.865 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Exchange rates
gourdes (HTG) per US dollar - 131.811 (2024 est.) · 141.036 (2023 est.) · 115.631 (2022 est.) · 89.227 (2021 est.) · 93.51 (2020 est.)
Energy
7 fieldsElectrification% of population · (2019–22 est.)
Installed generating capacity, 472,000 kW(2023 est.)
Natural gas
- consumption:
- 3.2 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
- imports:
- 3.2 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Communications
6 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2019–22 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines
- total subscriptions:
- 1,360 (2022 est.)
- subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
- (2022 est.) less than 1
Broadcast media
- 398 legal broadcasting stations, including about 60 community radio stations;
- 105 TV stations, including 36 in Port-au-Prince, 41 others in the provinces, and more than 40 radio-television stations;
- large number of stations operate irregularly or flout regulations;
- VOA Creole Service broadcasts daily on 30 affiliate stations (2019)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
- total:
- 35,000 (2022 est.)
- subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
- (2022 est.) less than 1
Transportation
5 fieldsMerchant marine, 4 ships by typeone square, one ship · (2023)
Ports
- total ports:
- 5 (2024)
- large:
- 0
- medium:
- 1
- small:
- 0
- very small:
- 4
- ports with oil terminals:
- 1
- key ports:
- Cap Haitien, Jacmel, Miragoane, Petit Goave, Port au Prince
Military and Security
5 fieldsMilitary and security forces
- the Haitian Armed Forces (FAdH):
- Army
- Ministry of Justice and Public Security:
- Haitian National Police (Police Nationale d'Haïti or PNH) (2025)
note: the PNH is responsible for maintaining public security; it includes police, corrections, fire, emergency response, airport security, port security, and coast guard functions;
its units include a presidential guard and a paramilitary rapid-response Motorized Intervention Unit (BIM)
Military and security service personnel strengths
- estimates vary;
- up to 2,000 trained military personnel (the force is planned to eventually have around 5,000 personnel);
- estimates for the National Police range from a low of 9,000 to a high of about 13,000 (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
in recent years, Canada, Taiwan, UAE, and the US have provided some equipment to the Haitian security forces, including vehicles (2025)
Military - note
Haiti's military was disbanded in 1995 after it participated in multiple coups and was accused of other political interference and human rights violations; the military was reinstated by former President MOISE in 2017 after the UN ended its peacekeeping operation in Haiti; the reconstituted military established an Army command in 2018 and has received some training assistance from Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, France, and Mexico;
the military’s stated mission is to assist with natural disaster relief, border security, and combating transnational crime; in 2023, Prime Minister HENRY called upon the military to assist the National Police (PNH) in combating armed gangs, which have overwhelmed the PNH, killed hundreds of Haitians, and seized control of swaths of territory, including much of the capital Port-au-Prince, since the assassination of President MOISE in 2021
in 2023, the UN Security Council approved the deployment of a Kenya-led multinational security support mission (MSS) to help bring gang violence under control; the first contingent of MSS personnel from the Kenya National Police Service arrived in mid-2024; other countries pledging forces included the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad, and Jamaica; the mission is slated to have a total of 2,500 personnel (2025)
Terrorism
1 fieldTerrorist group(s)
Gran Grif; Viv Ansanm note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Transnational Issues
3 fieldsTrafficking in persons
tier rating: Special Case; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/haiti/
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Haiti.” The World Factbook 2025. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/haiti.