- You are here:
- Home
- › Travel & living abroad
- › Travel advice by country
- › Country profiles
- › North & Central America and Caribbean
- › Haiti
North & Central America and Caribbean
Haiti |
|
|
|
Country information
HAITI TODAY
Country Facts
Area: 27,750 sq km (10,714 sq miles)
Population: 10million (2010 est.)
Capital City: Port-au-Prince (population: 2.43 million). Other cities: Cap Haïtien (population: 800,000 est.) Gonaives (population 350,000 est.)
People: African descent 95%, African and European descent 5%
Language(s): French (official), Haitian Creole (official)
Religion(s): Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 8%, Baptist 7%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, voodoo practices country-wide
Currency: The Gourde
Major political parties: Traditionally Haiti’s political parties revolve around key political figures. As a result, new parties are constantly created and old ones disbanded (17 new political parties registered for the 2010 elections including President Martelly’s Repons Peyizan party). Parties include INITE Coalition (formerlyLespwa/Hope), Lavalas (ex President Aristide’s party), Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats, Struggling People’s Organization, Haiti in Action, Christian National Union for the Reconstruction of Haiti, Respè (Charles Henri Baker’s party); Independent Movement for National Reconciliation, Ansamn Nou Fo, FRN: Front for National Reconstruction and RDNP: Assembly of National Progressive Democrats
Head of State: President: Michel Martelly
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective - Haitian(s)
Annual population growth rate (2010 est.): 1.3%
Education: Adult Literacy: men 54%; women 50% (varies between regions, but male literacy rates tend to be higher than female).
Health: Infant Mortality rate - 76 per 1,000 live births.
Life Expectancy: - male 59 years; female 62 years.
Haiti's population is concentrated heavily in urban areas (47.8%), coastal plains and valleys. About 95% of Haitians are of African descent. The rest of the population is mostly of mixed Caucasian-African ancestry with a small number of European or Levantine origin.
French is one of the two official languages but is spoken by only 10% of the population. The majority of Haitians speak Haitian Creole, the country's other official language. English and Spanish are increasingly spoken among the young and in the business sector.
The state religion is Roman Catholicism, which most of the population practice. Some Haitians have converted to Protestantism through the work of missionaries active throughout the country. Many also practice voodoo traditions and Haitians see no conflict in these African-rooted beliefs co-existing with Christian faiths.
Although public education is free, private and parochial schools provide around 85% of educational programs and fewer than 60% of those eligible for primary education are actually enrolled. At the secondary level, the figure drops to 19.5%. Only 35.6% of those enrolled will complete primary school. Though Haitians place a high value on education, few can afford to send their children to secondary school. Remittances sent by Haitians living abroad are important in contributing to educational costs.
Large-scale emigration, principally to the United States but also to Canada, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, and other Caribbean neighbours, has created what Haitians refer to as the Tenth Department or the Diaspora. The importance of this group is reflected by the government having a Ministry for Haitians Living Abroad. It is estimated that about one in every six Haitians live abroad. Haitian migration to the Dominican Republic has caused considerable social pressures. Conservative estimates suggest the number of Haitians in DR is 500,000. Other estimates vary between 1 to 2 million.
