Haiti

Name: Haiti — country profile data
Creator: CountryReports

Capital:Port-au-Prince

Population:11.7M

Currency:Haitian Gourde (HTG) and US Dollar (USD)

Language:French (official), Creole (official)

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Quick Look Factsheet

A multi-page overview of Haiti.

Haiti Factsheet

Customs and Culture

Cultural Attributes

Haitians are friendly, generous and proud of their history and culture.

Land of the Mountainous Heart

Social Customs & Etiquette

Greetings

Haiti has an oral culture. There is a long tradition of proverbs, jokes, riddles and storytelling. Creole is famous for proverbs that voice popular beliefs and that reflect Haiti's social divisions. In rural areas, most serious conversations include at least one proverb

Gestures

People shake hands in greeting. In communicating with friends, direct eye contact, expressive or animated tone of voice, and expressive hand gestures are common, as is touching the other person. Personal space is often not as pronounced as among some other cultures, and interaction may be very close. Touch by caregivers is often appreciated.

Visiting

Haitians express their love of music and dance in “bamboches”. Bamboches are social gatherings where the dancing is pou' plaisi' (for pleasure). Haitians also combine work with pleasure through the “combite”. This is a communal working party held when a family or a neighborhood has a big work project. The participants work and afterwords drink “clairin” (a type of alcohol) to the beat of drums. A dance often follows the combite and may run late into the night.

Personal Appearance

Casual warm weather clothing is traditional in Haiti. Western Style clothing is worn in Urban areas. Tee-Shirts and shorts or pants in the rural area. School children wear uniforms. Men often wear a guayabera (loose fitting shirt). Most women still wear skirts or dresses in rural areas.

The traditional costume for men is a hand embroidered shirt made of cotton or linen. For women it is an embroidered short sleeve blouse. A colorful skirt and a scarf wrapped around their hair.

Diet

Joumou was created in honor of the Haitian Independence day on January 1st.

The main elements of the Haitian diet are corn, cassava, millet, rice and fruit. Tropical fruits such as pineapples, mangoes, oranges and grapefruit are plentiful.

A popular Haitian dish is called “grillot”. This is made of fried marinated pork, served with a very spicy sauce called sauce “ti malice”. “Sauce ti malice” is made from lemons, sour oranges, hot peppers, salt and spices. Another popular Haitian dish is called “lambi”. Lambi is conch meat served grilled or boiled.

A typical Haitian drink served during the holidays is called “crémasse”. It is made of condensed milk, coconut milk and white rum.

Family

Haitian society is matriarchal, especially where child-rearing and family life is concerned. Haitian families consist of parents and children. In rural areas, men are responsible for heavy farming work and women are responsible for performing household tasks and gathering fruits and vegetables to sell at local markets. Parents are authoritarian and the use of force as a means of discipline is common.

Among the poor, the most common relationship between men and women who live together is known as “plasaj”. In a plasaj, the man and the woman make an agreement about their finances and the sharing of work. This arrangement is not recognized as a legal marriage by the government.

Dating Customs

Dating and marriage customs in Haiti reflect a blend of African heritage, French colonial influence, and Caribbean traditions, shaped significantly by economic conditions and regional differences between urban and rural areas.

In urban centers like Port-au-Prince, dating practices have become increasingly similar to those found throughout the Western world, with young people meeting through social circles, schools, and increasingly through social media. In rural communities, however, courtship tends to be more conservative, often involving families in the process of selecting or approving partners.

Haiti has two recognized forms of long-term partnership: legal civil marriage and a traditional arrangement known locally as "plasaj" (plaçage). Plaçage is a form of consensual union in which couples live together and raise children without a formal legal or religious ceremony. Historically rooted in the colonial period when enslaved people were forbidden from legal marriage, plaçage remains widespread today, particularly among lower-income households. Studies have estimated that a significant majority of Haitian unions — in some rural areas as many as 70 to 80 percent — are plaçage arrangements rather than formal marriages.

Formal marriage, when it occurs, often involves both a civil ceremony conducted by a government official and a religious ceremony, most commonly Catholic or Protestant, reflecting Haiti's deeply Christian society. Weddings can be elaborate social events, involving extended family, communal meals, music, and dancing, though the scale depends heavily on the economic means of the families involved.

The legal minimum age for marriage in Haiti is 15 for girls and 18 for boys, though advocacy organizations have long pushed for reform to raise and equalize these thresholds. Gender dynamics within Haitian households can be complex; while patriarchal norms are present, Haitian women — particularly in market economies — often hold considerable economic independence.

Divorce exists under Haitian civil law but carries social stigma in many communities, particularly in rural and religious contexts. Family ties are considered central to Haitian identity, and decisions around partnership and marriage often involve the broader family unit rather than just the individuals directly involved.

Recreation

Soccer is the national sport of Haiti. Cockfighting is also popular.

In the Haitian streets you can watch a version of miniature football. It is played with two teams of five and a goal two feet high. Children's games include "lago" (a form of tag), "marelle" (a form of hopscotch) and "osselets" (a game 2-4 children can play that uses goats' bones as a type of dice).

Holidays

Independence Day
1/1
Independence Day
Birthdate - John James Audubon
4/26
Birthday
Birthdate - John James Audubon, ornithologist and painter of birdlife, was born Les Cayes, Santo Domingo, Haiti
Christmas
12/25
Christmas
Christmas is called Noël, which originates from the French phrase les bonnes nouvelles (the good news), and refers to the gospel. This season is highlighted by the midnight mass where people would then come home to an enticing reveillon, a Christmas or New Year’s Eve supper to “wake them up” as this French word implies.
This usually comes out as a breakfast because it begins very early in the morning and often lasts till dawn. The typical Christmas menu includes fried pork or goat, pikliz(spicy pickled carrots and cabbage), fried plantains , Pain Patate( sweetened potato), fig, and banana pudding, Haitian bread and Pineapple Nog.
Freshly cut Christmas trees brought from the mountains a few days before Christmas occupy a large part of wealthy Haitian homes. The Christmas trees radiate with ornaments and graced by a nativity scene complete with the characters depicted in the first Christmas, all set with intricately designed stable animals and strewn with hay. Young and old alike would place their polished shoes filled with straw on the porch or under the Christmas tree. They believe that Papa Noel, their version of Santa Clause, would move the straw to place the present in or around the shoes.
Christmas day brings lots of eating, drinking, singing and playing with the toys brought by Papa Noel. Children are told to go to bed by midnight to make it easy for Papa Noël to work in his quiet way as he comes into the house usually through a window or down a hall or through a keyhole from his place in the North Pole.
People send gifts to children, relatives, friends, business associates, and the less fortunate ones. Children also have noisemakers and homemade firework to play with. They are allowed freedom to go wherever they want on this night with older children taking charge of younger ones. They are also allowed to drink anisette, a mild alcoholic beverage prepared by soaking the “anise” leaves in rum and sweetening it with sugar.
Christmas in Haiti would not be complete without music. Stations would play a variety of Christmas songs including the three of the well-known and well-loved popular Christmas songs in Haiti as in the rest of the world- the Mon beau sapin, Petit papa Noël, Oh, quand j’entends chanter Noël ! The whole neighborhood is ablaze with lights up until the wee hours of the morning and people gather in groups to go caroling.
Church members perform caroling in public places, aside from the regular worship services and special performances called cantatas. Religious Christmas music which comprise of hymns and songs used in churches, and classical compositions of Bach and Handel, along with popular Christmas carols are the sounds filling the air in this festive time. </p

Dates of Interest

December 25th
Christmas is called Noël, which originates from the French phrase les bonnes nouvelles (the good news), and refers to the gospel. This season is highlighted by the midnight mass where people would then come home to an enticing reveillon, a Christmas or New Year’s Eve supper to “wake them up” as this French word implies. This usually comes out as a breakfast because it begins very early in the morning and often lasts till dawn. The typical Christmas menu includes fried pork or goat, pikliz(spicy pickled carrots and cabbage), fried plantains , Pain Patate( sweetened potato), fig, and banana pudding, Haitian bread and Pineapple Nog. Freshly cut Christmas trees brought from the mountains a few days before Christmas occupy a large part of wealthy Haitian homes. The Christmas trees radiate with ornaments and graced by a nativity scene complete with the characters depicted in the first Christmas, all set with intric

How do people greet and communicate in Haiti?

People shake hands when greeting, and Haiti has a strong oral culture rich in proverbs, jokes, riddles and storytelling.

Shake hands when greeting
Expect proverbs in serious conversations, especially in rural areas

Good to know

Creole proverbs reflect popular beliefs and social divisions

What foods and drinks should I try in Haiti?

The Haitian diet centers on corn, cassava, millet, rice and plentiful tropical fruits, with popular dishes like grillot and lambi.

Good to know

Try grillot: fried marinated pork with spicy sauce ti malice
Try lambi: conch meat served grilled or boiled
Joumou is eaten in honor of Haitian Independence Day on January 1st
Crémasse, made of condensed milk, coconut milk and white rum, is served during the holidays

What are common gestures and personal space norms in Haiti?

Among friends, communication is expressive and close, with direct eye contact, animated tone, hand gestures and touching.

Expect and accept close interaction with friends
Use expressive hand gestures and direct eye contact

Good to know

Personal space is less pronounced than in some other cultures
Touch by caregivers is often appreciated

What should I wear in Haiti?

Casual warm-weather clothing is traditional, with Western-style clothing in urban areas and simpler tee-shirts, shorts or pants in rural areas.

Good to know

Men often wear a guayabera, a loose-fitting shirt
Women in rural areas mostly wear skirts or dresses
School children wear uniforms
Traditional costumes are hand-embroidered for both men and women

What is family life like in Haiti?

Haitian society is matriarchal in child-rearing and family life, with families typically made up of parents and children.

Good to know

In rural areas, men do heavy farming and women handle household tasks and selling produce at markets
Parents are authoritarian, and force as discipline is common
Among the poor, couples may live together in a 'plasaj' arrangement not recognized as legal marriage

What do people do for fun in Haiti?

Soccer is the national sport, and Haitians love music and dance, gathering at 'bamboches' for dancing purely for pleasure.

Good to know

Soccer is the national sport; a miniature street version is played 5-on-5
Cockfighting is also popular
Bamboches are social gatherings for dancing 'pou' plaisi''
A 'combite' is a communal working party followed by drinks, drumming and dancing
Children's games include lago (tag), marelle (hopscotch) and osselets

Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Sources: CountryReports

Photos of Haiti

Travel and Tourism

Travel Alert Status: Level 4: Do Not Travel
Currency: Gourde (HTG)
Time Difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Climate: Haiti's tropical climate produces seasonal rainfall, although large areas of the country are semiarid. Temperatures year round range from 70°F to 90°F with humidity sometimes high along the coast. Average annual rainfall varies from nearly zero in some areas to 53 inches in Port-au-Prince. The two rainy seasons that Port-au-Prince experiences are from April to June and from August to mid-November. Rain and accompanying thunder/lightning storms usually occur at dusk and at night, but the days remain clear and sunny. There is a crisp dry season from December to April. Surrounding mountains generally protect Port-au-Prince from Caribbean hurricanes.
Airports: 12

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Recipes

Featured Dish

Bananes Pesées (Fried Plantains)

Side Dish

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History

Historical Eras

Spanish Hispaniola
1492 – 1697
Christopher Columbus landed on Hispaniola in 1492, establishing it as Spain's first permanent colony in the Americas. Over two centuries, the indigenous Taíno population was decimated through disease and forced labor, and African slaves were imported to sustain plantation economies. By the late 1600s, Spanish control over the western portion of the island had weakened considerably, inviting French buccaneers and settlers to establish a rival presence.
Saint-Domingue
1697 – 1791
The Treaty of Ryswick formally ceded the western third of Hispaniola to France, which developed Saint-Domingue into the most profitable colony in the Western Hemisphere. Fueled by the brutal exploitation of hundreds of thousands of enslaved Africans, the colony produced vast quantities of sugar, coffee, and indigo. A rigid racial hierarchy divided grands blancs, affranchis, and enslaved people, generating profound social tensions that would eventually ignite revolution.
Haitian Revolution
1791 – 1804
The Bois Caïman ceremony of August 1791 launched the largest and most successful slave revolt in history, inspiring by the ideals of both the American and French revolutions. François-Dominique Toussaint Louverture emerged as the dominant military and political figure, outmaneuvering Spanish, British, and French expeditionary forces before being treacherously captured by Napoleon's forces in 1802. Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Henri Christophe completed the struggle, and on January 1, 1804, Dessalines proclaimed the independent Republic of Haiti.
Early Republic
1804 – 1915
The new republic was immediately burdened by political instability, racial division between black and mixed-race factions, and international isolation. Dessalines' autocratic rule ended with his assassination in 1806, splitting the country between Christophe's northern kingdom and Pétion's southern republic until Boyer reunified Haiti in 1820 and briefly annexed Santo Domingo. France extracted a crippling indemnity of 150 million francs as the price of recognition in 1825, a debt that hobbled Haitian development for well over a century.
U.S. Occupation
1915 – 1934
President Woodrow Wilson ordered the U.S. Marines to occupy Haiti in 1915, citing political instability and fears of European intervention, initiating a nineteen-year military occupation. The occupation modernized infrastructure and restructured state finances but suppressed Haitian sovereignty, dissolved the legislature, and violently quelled peasant resistance movements such as the Cacos. U.S. forces withdrew in 1934 under Franklin Roosevelt's Good Neighbor Policy, leaving a strengthened Haitian military that would dominate politics for decades.
Duvalier Era & Beyond
1934 – present
A succession of military governments culminated in the 1957 election of François 'Papa Doc' Duvalier, who declared himself President-for-Life in 1964 and ruled through terror enforced by the paramilitary Tonton Macoutes. His son Jean-Claude 'Baby Doc' Duvalier inherited power in 1971 and was ousted in 1986, opening a prolonged period of coups, democratic experiments, and crises including the 2010 earthquake that killed over 200,000 people and a devastating 2021 presidential assassination, leaving Haiti still seeking lasting stability.

Overview

Since the signing of the Treaty of Ryswick between the kingdoms of Spain and France in 1697, the island of Hispaniola (La Isla Española) has played host to two separate and distinct societies that we now know as the nations of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. At first encounter, and without the benefit of historical background and context, most students or observers find it incongruous that two such disparate nations--one speaking French and Creole, the other Spanish--should coexist within such limited confines. When viewed in light of the bitter struggle among European colonial powers for wealth and influence both on the continent and in the New World, however, the phenomenon becomes less puzzling. By the late seventeenth century, Spain was a declining power. Although that country would maintain its vast holdings in mainland North America and South America, Spain found itself hard pressed by British, Dutch, and French forces in the Caribbean. The Treaty of Ryswick was but one result of this competition, as the British eventually took Jamaica and established a foothold in Central America. The French eventually proved the value of Caribbean colonization, in an economic as well as a maritime and strategic sense, by developing modern-day Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, into the most productive colony in the Western Hemisphere, if not the world. Although the other European powers envied the French their island jewel, Saint-Domingue eventually was lost not to a colonial rival, but to an idea. That idea, inspired by the American Revolution and the French Revolution, was freedom; its power was such as to convince a bitterly oppressed population of African slaves that anything--reprisal, repression, even death-- was preferable to its denial. This positive impulse, liberally leavened with hatred for the white men, who had seized them, shipped them like cargo across the ocean, tortured and abused them, and forced women into concubinage and men into arduous labor, impelled the black population of Saint-Domingue to an achievement still unmatched in history: the overthrow of a slaveholding colonial power and the establishment of a revolutionary black republic. The saga of the Haitian Revolution is so dramatic that it is surprising that it has never served as the scenario for a Hollywood production. Its images are varied and intense: the voodoo ceremony and pact sealed in the Bois Cayman (Alligator Woods) in anticipation of the slave revolt of 1791; the blazing, bloody revolt itself; foreign intervention by British and Spanish forces; the charismatic figure of François-Dominique Toussaint Louverture, his rise and fateful decision to switch his allegiance from Spain to France, his surprisingly effective command of troops in the field, the relative restraint with which he treated white survivors and prisoners, the competence of his brief stint as ruler; the French expedition of 1802, of which Toussaint exclaimed, "All France has come to invade us"; Toussaint’s betrayal and seizure by the French; and the ensuing revolution led by Jean-Jacque Dessalines, Henri (Henry) Christophe, and Alexandre Pétion. Given the distinctive and auspicious origins of the Haitian republic, there is some irony in that the Dominicans commemorate as their independence day the date of their overthrow of Haitian rule. The Dominican revolt, however, came as a response to annexation by a Haitian state that had passed from the promise of orderly administration under Toussaint to the hard-handed despotism of Dessalines and had then experienced division, both racial and political, between the forces of Christophe and Pétion. By the time of its conquest of Santo Domingo (later to become the Dominican Republic), Haiti had come under the comparatively stable, but uninspired, stewardship of Jean-Pierre Boyer. Although viewed, both at the time and today, by most Dominicans as a crude and oppressive state dominated by the military, the Haiti that occupied both eastern and western Hispaniola from 1822 to 1844 can itself be seen as a victim of international political and economic isolation. Because they either resented the existence of a black republic or feared a similar uprising in their own slave-owning regions, the European colonial powers and the United States shunned relations with Haiti; in the process, they contributed to the establishment of an impoverished society, ruled by the military, guided by the gun rather than the ballot, and controlled by a small, mostly mulatto, ruling group that lived well, while their countrymen either struggled to eke out a subsistence-level existence on small plots of land or flocked to the banners of regional strongmen in the seemingly never-ending contest for power. To be sure, the French colonial experience had left the Haitians completely u

Timeline of Key Events

1492
Christopher Columbus lands and claims the island of Hispaniola for Spain.
Christopher Columbus lands and claims the island of Hispaniola for Spain. The Spanish build the New World’s first settlement at La Navidad on Haiti’s north coast.
1697
Spain cedes western part of Hispaniola to France.
Spain cedes western part of Hispaniola to France, and this becomes Haiti, or Land of Mountains.
1791 – 1803
A slave rebellion is launched by the Jamaican-born Boukman.
A slave rebellion is launched by the Jamaican-born Boukman leading to a protracted 13-year war of liberation against St. Domingue’s colonists and later, Napoleon’s army which was also assisted by Spanish and British forces. The slave armies were commanded by General Toussaint Louverture who was eventually betrayed by the French and subsequently exiled to France where he died.
1803
The Haitian blue and red flag is devised at Arcahie.
The Haitian blue and red flag is devised at Arcahie, by taking the French tricolor, turning it in its side and removing the white band. The Battle of Vertières in November marks the ultimate victory of the former slaves over the French.
1804
Haiti becomes independent.
Haiti becomes independent; former slave Jean-Jacques Dessalines declares himself emperor.
1807 – 1820
Civil war racks the country.
Civil war racks the country, which divides into the northern kingdom of Henri Christophe and the southern republic governed by Alexandre Pétion. Faced with a rebellion by his own army, Christophe commits suicide, paving the way for Jean-Pierre Boyer to reunify the country and become President of the entire republic in 1820.
1821
President Boyer invades Santo Domingo following its declaration of independence from Spain.
President Boyer invades Santo Domingo following its declaration of independence from Spain. The entire island is now controlled by Haiti until 1844.

View full timeline (24 events)

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Interesting Facts

When a child loses a tooth they throw the tooth on the roof and say “Rat, Rat, Rat. I give you a beautiful tooth. Send me back an old tooth.” They say the opposite of wht they really mean to trick the crafty Rat into giving them what they really want.
Haiti is the name given to the land by the former Taino-Arawak peoples, an indigenous group who originally inhabited the island. It means “mountainous country.”
The eccentric Henri Christophe ruled northern Haiti between 1806 and 1820. He ordered the construction of the Citadelle Laferrière and other fortresses as a defence against possible re-invasions of Haiti by the French, but these never occurred.
Haiti is a densely populated country, with an average of more than 250 people per square kilometre. About three-quarters of the people live in rural areas. City life is limited to the capital city (Port-au-Prince) and five or six large towns.
Haiti has a small population of Middle Eastern origin, the descendants of traders from Syria, Lebanon and Palestine who settled in Haiti and other Caribbean nations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Soccer is popular with both sexes in Haiti. There are national men's and women's soccer teams.

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Geography and Environment

Eighteenth-century Haiti, famed for its wealth and productivity, was known to the colonial world as the Pearl of the Antilles. Located in the Caribbean Sea on the western third of the island of Hispaniola, Haiti is a 10,700-square-mile area of primarily mountainous terrain, some of which rise above 8,000 feet, and 850 miles of spectacular coastline. Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, which occupies the eastern two-thirds.

Terrain: mostly rough and mountainous
Climate: Haiti's tropical climate produces seasonal rainfall, although large areas of the country are semiarid. Temperatures year round range from 70°F to 90°F with humidity sometimes high along the coast. Average annual rainfall varies from nearly zero in some areas to 53 inches in Port-au-Prince. The two rainy seasons that Port-au-Prince experiences are from April to June and from August to mid-November. Rain and accompanying thunder/lightning storms usually occur at dusk and at night, but the days remain clear and sunny. There is a crisp dry season from December to April. Surrounding mountains generally protect Port-au-Prince from Caribbean hurricanes.
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
Current Environmental Issues: extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water

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People & Demographics

Religion

Languages Spoken

French (official), Creole (official)

Creole
French

Population

Population: 11,724,763
Population in Major Urban Areas: PORT-AU-PRINCE (capital) 2.207 million
Nationality Noun: Haitian(s)
Ethnic Groups: Black 95%, mulatto and white 5%

Education

Literacy Definition: Age 15 and over can read and write

Health Information

Life Expectancy at Birth: Life expectancy at birth in Haiti stands at approximately 64 years, placing it among the lowest in the Western Hemisphere. This figure reflects the profound and ongoing challenges the country faces across its health, economic, and social systems. Women in Haiti tend to outlive men, with female life expectancy estimated at around 66 years compared to approximately 62 years for males. Haiti's relatively low life expectancy is shaped by a complex intersection of factors. Widespread poverty limits access to nutritious food, clean water, and basic sanitation for a significant portion of the population. The public health infrastructure remains severely underdeveloped, with shortages of trained medical personnel, medicines, and functioning health facilities, particularly in rural areas where the majority of Haitians live. Infectious diseases continue to pose serious threats. Malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS remain persistent public health concerns, and the 2010 cholera outbreak — which followed the devastating January earthquake of that year — killed tens of thousands and strained an already fragile health system. The earthquake itself caused enormous mortality and long-lasting damage to critical infrastructure, setting back health indicators that had been gradually improving over the preceding decades. Maternal and infant mortality rates in Haiti are among the highest in the region, further dragging down overall life expectancy figures. Complications during pregnancy and childbirth remain a leading cause of death for women of reproductive age, while infant mortality runs well above regional averages, reflecting gaps in prenatal care and neonatal services. Political instability, recurring natural disasters, food insecurity, and constrained international aid pipelines have all contributed to the difficulty of sustaining meaningful, long-term improvements in population health. Despite the challenges, some progress has been made over the past several decades — life expectancy was notably lower in the late 20th century — demonstrating that targeted interventions in areas such as vaccination coverage, maternal health, and nutrition can yield measurable gains even in resource-constrained environments. Continued investment in primary health care, education, and infrastructure will be essential for Haiti to close the significant gap that separates its life expectancy from that of its Caribbean neighbors.
Major Infectious Diseases — degree of risk: High

Life Expectancy

Life Expectancy at Birth: Life expectancy at birth in Haiti stands at approximately 64 years, placing it among the lowest in the Western Hemisphere. This figure reflects the profound and ongoing challenges the country faces across its health, economic, and social systems. Women in Haiti tend to outlive men, with female life expectancy estimated at around 66 years compared to approximately 62 years for males. Haiti's relatively low life expectancy is shaped by a complex intersection of factors. Widespread poverty limits access to nutritious food, clean water, and basic sanitation for a significant portion of the population. The public health infrastructure remains severely underdeveloped, with shortages of trained medical personnel, medicines, and functioning health facilities, particularly in rural areas where the majority of Haitians live. Infectious diseases continue to pose serious threats. Malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS remain persistent public health concerns, and the 2010 cholera outbreak — which followed the devastating January earthquake of that year — killed tens of thousands and strained an already fragile health system. The earthquake itself caused enormous mortality and long-lasting damage to critical infrastructure, setting back health indicators that had been gradually improving over the preceding decades. Maternal and infant mortality rates in Haiti are among the highest in the region, further dragging down overall life expectancy figures. Complications during pregnancy and childbirth remain a leading cause of death for women of reproductive age, while infant mortality runs well above regional averages, reflecting gaps in prenatal care and neonatal services. Political instability, recurring natural disasters, food insecurity, and constrained international aid pipelines have all contributed to the difficulty of sustaining meaningful, long-term improvements in population health. Despite the challenges, some progress has been made over the past several decades — life expectancy was notably lower in the late 20th century — demonstrating that targeted interventions in areas such as vaccination coverage, maternal health, and nutrition can yield measurable gains even in resource-constrained environments. Continued investment in primary health care, education, and infrastructure will be essential for Haiti to close the significant gap that separates its life expectancy from that of its Caribbean neighbors.

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Government & Politics

Country Identity

Country Name: Haiti
Full Country Name: Republic of Haiti
Local - Long: Republique d'Haiti
Local - Short: Haiti

Government Structure

Government Type: elected government
Legal System: based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive Branch: chief of state: President (acting) Edgarnd GOUSSE (2024); note: Haiti has experienced prolonged political instability following the assassination of President Jovenel MOÏSE on 7 July 2021; Ariel HENRY served as prime minister and de facto head of state from July 2021 until his resignation in March 2024 amid a severe security crisis driven by gang violence; a transitional presidential council was subsequently established to guide the country toward new elections head of government: Prime Minister Garry CONILLE (since June 2024), appointed by the Transitional Presidential Council; note: Haiti's transitional governance structure was formed in 2024 with the support of the international community to restore stability and prepare conditions for democratic elections cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the transitional presidential council elections: Under the 1987 constitution, the president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term and is ineligible for a consecutive second term; no presidential elections have been held since 2016, when Jovenel MOÏSE was elected; elections remain suspended due to ongoing security and political instability; the prime minister is appointed by the president and must be ratified by the National Assembly election results: Jovenel MOÏSE was elected president in the November 2016 election with approximately 55.6% of the vote; he was assassinated in July 2021 before completing his term; Haiti has since operated under transitional governance arrangements
Legislative Branch: Haiti's legislative branch was established as a bicameral National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale), consisting of the Senate (30 seats) and the Chamber of Deputies (119 seats). However, Haiti's legislative institutions have been effectively non-functional for an extended period. The terms of the last sitting legislators expired in January 2020, leaving the country without a functioning parliament. Since that time, the executive branch has governed by decree, a situation that has persisted through significant political upheaval, including the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021 and the subsequent transitional governance arrangements. Under the constitutional framework, senators were elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms, with one-third of seats renewed every two years, while deputies served four-year terms elected by popular vote. No legislative elections have been successfully organized since 2016, owing to chronic insecurity, political instability, gang violence, and institutional dysfunction that have made the conduct of free and fair elections effectively impossible. As of the mid-2020s, Haiti continues to be governed without a functioning legislature. A transitional presidential council was established in 2024 to help guide the country toward eventual elections and the restoration of democratic institutions, though significant obstacles remain. The reconstitution of a functional National Assembly is widely regarded as a critical step in Haiti's broader political stabilization process, but no confirmed election dates have been firmly established.
Judicial Branch: Supreme Court or Cour de Cassation
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Constitution: 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
Independence: 1 January 1804 (from France)
National Holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1804)

Capital City

Capital Name: Port-au-Prince
Capital - geographic coordinate: 18 32 N, 72 20 W
Capital Time Difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

According to tradition, in 1706, a Captain de Saint-Andre named the bay and its surrounding area after his ship Le Prince; the name of the town that grew there means, "the Port of The Prince"

Military

Branches: No regular military forces - small Coast Guard; a Ministry of National Defense established May 2012; the regular Haitian Armed Forces (FAdH) - Army, Navy, and Air Force - have been demobilized but still exist on paper until or unless they are constitutionally abolished

Embassy / Diplomatic Mission

Embassy of the United States Port-au-Prince Haiti

Boulevard du 15 October, Tabarre 41, Tabarre, Haiti

Telephone: (509) (2) 229-8000

Facsimile: (509) (2) 229-8027

Email: acspap@state.gov

After hours, weekend & holidays: Please call (509) (2) 229-8000.

American Citizens Services Unit office hours are 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Consular Section is closed on U.S. and local holidays.

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Economy

Haiti is classified as a low-income country and ranks as the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. Its economy is characterized by widespread poverty, significant income inequality, and heavy reliance on the informal sector, which employs the majority of the workforce. Gross domestic product was estimated at approximately 20 billion US dollars in 2023, with per capita GDP around 1,700 US dollars, among the lowest in the Americas.

Agriculture remains a foundational sector, employing close to 40 percent of the labor force, though it contributes a smaller share to GDP. Smallholder farms dominate, producing coffee, mangoes, cocoa, sugarcane, rice, maize, sorghum, and root crops such as cassava. Despite this agricultural base, Haiti is a net food importer, with rice imports from the United States representing a particularly large share of consumption. Soil erosion, deforestation, and recurrent natural disasters have undermined agricultural productivity for decades.

The manufacturing sector centers on apparel and textile assembly, much of it located in industrial parks such as Caracol in the north and SONAPI near Port-au-Prince. These factories export primarily to the United States under the HOPE and HELP trade preference acts, which grant duty-free access for Haitian-made garments. Apparel accounts for the overwhelming majority of merchandise exports.

Services, including trade, telecommunications, and transportation, represent the largest portion of GDP. Tourism, once a modest contributor, has been severely curtailed by gang violence and political instability, particularly following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse and the escalating security crisis in Port-au-Prince.

Remittances from the Haitian diaspora, concentrated in the United States, Canada, the Dominican Republic, and France, constitute a vital economic lifeline, equivalent to roughly 20 percent of GDP and exceeding the value of exports. The national currency is the gourde, which has experienced sustained depreciation against the US dollar. Inflation has remained in double digits in recent years, eroding purchasing power.

Key economic challenges include chronic political instability, weak institutions, limited infrastructure, vulnerability to hurricanes and earthquakes, fuel shortages, and the disruption of supply chains by armed groups controlling major roads and the port of Port-au-Prince. International aid and support from multilateral institutions continue to play a substantial role in budget financing.

Snapshot

Currency Name and Code: Haitian Gourde (HTG) and US Dollar (USD)
GDP — official exchange rate: $4,321,000,000 (USD)
GDP Real Growth Rate: -3.5%

Banknotes

Budget & Public Finance

Fiscal Year: 1 October - 30 September
Annual Budget: $600,800,000 (USD)
External Debt: $1,300,000,000 (USD)
Investment (% of GDP): 27.4%
Economic Aid: $120,000,000 (USD)
Current Account Balance: $34,080,000 (USD)
Reserves of Foreign Exchange: $95,260,000 (USD)

Labor, Industry & Trade

Labor Force by Occupation: agriculture 66%; services 25%; industry 9%
Industries: sugar refining, flour milling, textiles, cement, light assembly industries based on imported parts
Agriculture Products: coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum, wood
Export Commodities: manufactures, coffee, oils, cocoa
Export Partners: US 84.5%, Dominican Republic 6.7%, Canada 2.5%0
Import Commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, raw materials
Import Partners: US 52.5%, Dominican Republic 5.2%, Colombia 3.4%

Energy

Oil Production: 0 bbl/day
Oil Consumption: 11,800 bbl/day
Oil Reserves: 0 bbl/day
Natural Gas Production: 0 cu m
Natural Gas Consumption: 0 cu m
Natural Gas Imports: 0 cu m
Natural Gas Exports: 0 cu m
Natural Gas Reserves: 0 cu m

Communications

Telephone System: General assessment: Telecommunications infrastructure is among the least developed in Latin America and the Caribbean; domestic facilities barely adequate; international facilities slightly better Domestic: Mobile-cellular telephone services are expanding rapidly due, in part, to the introduction of low-cost GSM phones; mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 40 per 100 persons International: Country code - 509; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Internet Country Code: .ht

News & Weather

Current Weather

Latest News

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Climate Overview

Haiti's tropical climate produces seasonal rainfall, although large areas of the country are semiarid. Temperatures year round range from 70°F to 90°F with humidity sometimes high along the coast. Average annual rainfall varies from nearly zero in some areas to 53 inches in Port-au-Prince. The two rainy seasons that Port-au-Prince experiences are from April to June and from August to mid-November. Rain and accompanying thunder/lightning storms usually occur at dusk and at night, but the days remain clear and sunny. There is a crisp dry season from December to April. Surrounding mountains generally protect Port-au-Prince from Caribbean hurricanes.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Haiti?

The population of Haiti is approximately 11.7M.

How do people greet and communicate in Haiti?

People shake hands when greeting, and Haiti has a strong oral culture rich in proverbs, jokes, riddles and storytelling. Do: Shake hands when greeting Expect proverbs in serious conversations, especially in rural areas Creole proverbs reflect popular beliefs and social divisions

What foods and drinks should I try in Haiti?

The Haitian diet centers on corn, cassava, millet, rice and plentiful tropical fruits, with popular dishes like grillot and lambi. Try grillot: fried marinated pork with spicy sauce ti malice Try lambi: conch meat served grilled or boiled Joumou is eaten in honor of Haitian Independence Day on January 1st Crémasse, made of condensed milk, coconut milk and white rum, is served during the holidays

What are common gestures and personal space norms in Haiti?

Among friends, communication is expressive and close, with direct eye contact, animated tone, hand gestures and touching. Do: Expect and accept close interaction with friends Use expressive hand gestures and direct eye contact Personal space is less pronounced than in some other cultures Touch by caregivers is often appreciated

What should I wear in Haiti?

Casual warm-weather clothing is traditional, with Western-style clothing in urban areas and simpler tee-shirts, shorts or pants in rural areas. Men often wear a guayabera, a loose-fitting shirt Women in rural areas mostly wear skirts or dresses School children wear uniforms Traditional costumes are hand-embroidered for both men and women

What is family life like in Haiti?

Haitian society is matriarchal in child-rearing and family life, with families typically made up of parents and children. In rural areas, men do heavy farming and women handle household tasks and selling produce at markets Parents are authoritarian, and force as discipline is common Among the poor, couples may live together in a 'plasaj' arrangement not recognized as legal marriage

What do people do for fun in Haiti?

Soccer is the national sport, and Haitians love music and dance, gathering at 'bamboches' for dancing purely for pleasure. Soccer is the national sport; a miniature street version is played 5-on-5 Cockfighting is also popular Bamboches are social gatherings for dancing 'pou' plaisi'' A 'combite' is a communal working party followed by drinks, drumming and dancing Children's games include lago (tag), marelle (hopscotch) and osselets

What is the capital of Haiti?

Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of Haiti, situated on the Gulf of Gonâve in the west of the country. It serves as the nation's political, economic, and cultural hub, home to the National Palace and the historic Iron Market. The city has faced significant challenges, most notably the devastating 2010 earthquake, yet it remains the vibrant center of Haitian civic life and commerce.

Where is Haiti located?

Haiti is located in the Caribbean, occupying the western third of the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles. It lies between Cuba to the northwest and Puerto Rico to the east, positioned in the Caribbean Sea. Notably, the country's very name derives from the Taino-Arawak word meaning "mountainous country," a fitting description given its rugged interior terrain.

What bodies of water surround Haiti?

Haiti is bordered by water on three sides, with the Atlantic Ocean to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the south and west, and the Windward Passage separating it from Cuba to the northwest. To the east, Haiti shares a land border with the Dominican Republic, the only country with which it shares the island of Hispaniola. The Gonâve Island and several smaller islands also fall within Haitian territory.

What religion is practiced in Haiti?

Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion in Haiti, practiced by approximately 80 percent of the population, with Protestant denominations accounting for around 16 percent. Alongside formal Christianity, Vodou — a syncretic spiritual tradition with roots in West African religions blended with Catholic elements — holds deep cultural significance and is practiced widely, often in combination with Christian faith. Vodou was officially recognized as a religion by the Haitian government in 2003.

What currency is used in Haiti?

The official currency of Haiti is the Haitian Gourde (HTG), which has been in use in various forms since the early nineteenth century. The US Dollar (USD) is also widely accepted and commonly used in business transactions, particularly in urban areas and tourist-facing establishments. The dual-currency environment reflects Haiti's close economic ties with the United States and its large diaspora community.

What languages are spoken in Haiti?

French and Haitian Creole are both official languages of Haiti. Haitian Creole, known locally as Kreyòl, is the mother tongue of virtually the entire population and the primary language of daily communication, literature, and popular culture. French has historically been associated with formal education, government, and the elite, though efforts to expand Creole's role in official contexts have grown significantly in recent decades.

What is Haiti's geography like?

Haiti is a predominantly mountainous country, a character so fundamental it is encoded in the nation's name — derived from the Taino-Arawak word for "mountainous country." The Massif du Nord and the Massif de la Selle are among the major ranges, with Pic la Selle reaching approximately 2,680 metres as the country's highest point. Fertile valleys and coastal plains lie between the ridges, while deforestation over centuries has significantly altered the landscape and contributed to environmental vulnerability.

What is Haiti known for?

Haiti is known as the site of the first successful slave revolution in history, leading to its independence in 1804 and its status as the first Black republic in the world. It is celebrated for its vivid Haitian art — particularly the naïve and Vodou-inspired painting tradition — as well as for Carnival, one of the Caribbean's most energetic festivals. The imposing Citadelle Laferrière, a UNESCO World Heritage mountain fortress built by King Henri Christophe as a defense against French re-invasion, stands as one of the most remarkable architectural monuments in the Western Hemisphere.

Last reviewed 2026

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Birthdate - John James Audubon

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How do people greet and communicate in Haiti?

What foods and drinks should I try in Haiti?

What are common gestures and personal space norms in Haiti?

What should I wear in Haiti?

What is family life like in Haiti?

What do people do for fun in Haiti?

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Recipes

Bananes Pesées (Fried Plantains)

Griots (Fried Pork with Shallots in a Hot Sauce)

Joumou (Yellow Squash Soup)

Riz et Pois Collés (Red Beans and Rice)

Riz Djon-djon (Rice with Black Haitian Mushrooms)

Bananes Pesées (Fried Plantains)

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Christopher Columbus lands and claims the island of Hispaniola for Spain.

Spain cedes western part of Hispaniola to France.

A slave rebellion is launched by the Jamaican-born Boukman.

The Haitian blue and red flag is devised at Arcahie.

Haiti becomes independent.

Civil war racks the country.

President Boyer invades Santo Domingo following its declaration of independence from Spain.

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