Introduction
Background
The native Taino - who inhabited the island of Hispaniola when Christopher COLUMBUS first landed on it 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. On 12 July 1862, the US officially recognized Haiti, but foreign economic influence and internal political instability induced the US to occupy Haiti from 1915-1934. Subsequently, 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. President Jovenel MOISE was assassinated on 7 July 2021, leading the country further into an extra-constitutional governance structure and contributing to the country’s growing fragility. On 20 July 2021, the Government of Haiti installed Ariel HENRY - whom President MOISE had nominated shortly before his death - as prime minister. As of March 2023, Haiti had no sitting elected officials. The country has long been plagued by natural disasters. In January 2010, a major 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti with an epicenter about 25 km (15 mi) west of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Estimates are that over 300,000 people were killed and some 1.5 million left homeless. The earthquake was assessed as the worst in this region over the last 200 years. A 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti’s southern peninsula in August 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.
Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Geography
Location
Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic
Geographic coordinates
19 00 N, 72 25 W
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Land boundaries
total: 376 km
border countries (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
Natural resources
bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower, arable land
Land use
agricultural land: 66.4% (2018 est.)
arable land: 38.5% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 10.2% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 17.7% (2018 est.)
forest: 3.6% (2018 est.)
other: 30% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
800 sq km (2013)
Population distribution
fairly even distribution; largest concentrations located near coastal areas
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
Nationality
noun: Haitian(s)
adjective: Haitian
Ethnic groups
Black 95%, mixed and White 5%
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: 29.68% (male 1,695,357/female 1,709,344)
15-64 years: 65.76% (male 3,733,899/female 3,808,453)
65 years and over: 4.56% (2023 est.) (male 228,800/female 294,408)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 58.3
youth dependency ratio: 51.2
elderly dependency ratio: 7.1
potential support ratio: 14.1 (2021 est.)
Median age
total: 24.7 years (2023 est.)
male: 24.4 years
female: 24.9 years
comparison ranking: total 170
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: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
22.4 years (2016/7 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49
Infant mortality rate
total: 38.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
male: 42.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 35.1 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 31
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 64.8 years (2023 est.)
male: 63 years
female: 66.7 years
comparison ranking: total population 204
Gross reproduction rate
1.24 (2023 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
34.3% (2016/17)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 91.9% of population
rural: 56.1% of population
total: 76.5% of population
unimproved: urban: 8.1% of population
rural: 43.9% of population
total: 23.5% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
3.3% of GDP (2020)
Physicians density
0.23 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Hospital bed density
0.7 beds/1,000 population (2013)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 82.9% of population
rural: 42.6% of population
total: 65.6% of population
unimproved: urban: 17.1% of population
rural: 57.4% of population
total: 34.4% of population (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: very high (2023)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
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.)
comparison ranking: total 118
Tobacco use
total: 7.7% (2020 est.)
male: 12.2% (2020 est.)
female: 3.1% (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 152
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
51.4% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 2.1%
women married by age 18: 14.9%
men married by age 18: 1.6% (2017 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 61.7%
male: 65.3%
female: 58.3% (2016)
Environment
Environment - current issues
extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; overpopulation leads to inadequate supplies of potable water and a lack of sanitation; natural disasters
Environment - international 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
Climate
tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds
Land use
agricultural land: 66.4% (2018 est.)
arable land: 38.5% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 10.2% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 17.7% (2018 est.)
forest: 3.6% (2018 est.)
other: 30% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 59.7% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Food insecurity
severe localized food insecurity: due to high food prices, natural disasters, and worsening civil insecurity - about 4.9 million people are estimated to face severe acute food insecurity and were in need of urgent food assistance between March and June 2023; the high levels of food insecurity are the result of sustained economic downturn, reducing domestic food production, elevated food prices, fuel shortage and frequent natural disasters; the situation is exacerbated by worsening insecurity, which has limited access to essential services, including markets, caused population displacements and hampered delivery of humanitarian assistance (2023)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 9.69 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 2.98 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 6.12 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,309,852 tons (2015 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 190 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 50 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 1.21 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
14.02 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Haiti
conventional short form: Haiti
local long form: Republique d'Haiti (French)/ Repiblik d Ayiti (Haitian Creole)
local short form: Haiti (French)/ Ayiti (Haitian Creole)
etymology: the native Taino name means "Land of High Mountains" and was originally applied to the entire island of Hispaniola
Government type
semi-presidential republic
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: 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"
Administrative divisions
10 departments (departements, singular - departement); Artibonite, Centre, Grand'Anse, Nippes, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est
Independence
1 January 1804 (from France)
National holiday
Independence Day, 1 January (1804)
Constitution
history: many previous; latest adopted 10 March 1987, with substantial revisions in June 2012; note – the constitution is commonly referred to as the “amended 1987 constitution”
amendments: 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; amended many times, last in 2012
Legal system
civil law system strongly influenced by Napoleonic Code
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President (vacant); note - Prime Minister Ariel HENRY assumed executive responsibilities, including naming Cabinet members, following the assassination of President MOISE on 7 July 2021; new elections have not yet been scheduled
head of government: Prime Minister Ariel HENRY (since 20 July 2021)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president; parliament must ratify the Cabinet and Prime Minister's governing policy
elections/appointments: 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); last election had been originally scheduled for 9 October 2016 but was postponed until 20 November 2016 due to Hurricane Matthew
election results:
2016: Jovenel MOISE elected president in first round; percent of vote - Jovenel MOISE (PHTK) 55.6%, Jude CELESTIN (LAPEH) 19.6%, Jean-Charles MOISE (PPD) 11%, Maryse NARCISSE (FL) 9%; other 4.8%
2011: Michel MARTELLY elected president in second round; percent of vote - Michel MARTELLY (Peasant's Response) 68%, Mirlande MANIGAT (RDNP) 32%
Legislative branch
description: bicameral legislature or le Corps legislatif ou le Parlement consists of:
Senate or le Sénat de la République (30 seats; 0 filled as of January 2023); members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 6-year terms (2-term limit) with one-third of the membership renewed every 2 years)
Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des députés (119 seats; 0 filled as of January 2023; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 4-year terms; no term limits); note - when the 2 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
elections:
Senate - last held on 20 November 2016 with runoff on 29 January 2017 (next originally scheduled for 27 October 2019 but postponed until political and civil society actors agree to a consensual process)
Chamber of Deputies - last held on 9 August 2015 with runoff on 25 October 2015 and 20 November 2016 (next originally scheduled for 27 October 2019 but postponed until political and civil society actors agree to a consensual process)
election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 10, women 0, percent of women 0%
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - NA
note: the Senate and Chamber of Deputies as of January 2023 was not functional
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour de cassation (currently 11 of 12 judges as prescribed by the constitution, 8 of whom were appointed in March 2023); note - Haiti is a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice; Constitutional Court, called for in the 1987 constitution but not yet established; High Court of Justice, for trying high government officials - currently not functional
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president from candidate lists submitted by the Senate of the National Assembly; 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
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 Superieur du Pouvoir Judiciaire is a 9-member body charged with the administration and oversight of the judicial branch of government
Political parties and leaders
Alternative League for Haitian Progress and Emancipation (Ligue Alternative pour le Progres et l’Emancipation Haitienne) or LAPEH [Jude CELESTIN]
Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MCNH or Mochrenha [Luc MESADIEU]
Christian National Movement for the Reconstruction of Haiti or UNCRH [Jean Chavannes JEUNE]
Combat of Peasant Workers to Liberate Haiti (Konbit Travaye Peyizan Pou Libere Ayiti) or Kontra Pep La [Jean William JEANTY]
Convention for Democratic Unity or KID [Evans PAUL]
Cooperative Action to Rebuild Haiti or KONBA [Jean William JEANTY]
December 16 Platform or Platfom 16 Desanm [Dr. Gerard BLOT]
Democratic Alliance Party or ALYANS [Evans PAUL] (coalition includes KID and PPRH)
Democratic Centers' National Council or CONACED [Osner FEVRY]
Democratic and Popular Sector (Secteur Democratique et Populaire) or SDP [Nenel CASSY, Andre MICHEL, and Marjorie MICHEL]
Democratic Unity Convention (Konvansyon Inite Demokratik) or KID [Enold JOSEPH]
Dessalinian Patriotic and Popular Movement or MOPOD [Jean Andre VICTOR]
Effort and Solidarity to Create an Alternative for the People or ESKAMP [Joseph JASME]
Fanmi Lavalas or FL [Maryse NARCISSE and former President Jean Bertrand ARISTIDE]
Forward (En Avant) [Jerry TARDIEU]
Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats (Fusion Des Sociaux-Démocrates Haïtiens) or FHSD [Edmonde Supplice BEAUZILE]
G18 Policy Platform (Plateforme Politique G18) [Joseph WUILSON]
Haiti in Action (Ayiti An Aksyon Haiti's Action) or AAA [Youri LATORTUE]
Haitian Tet Kale Party (Parti Haitien Tet Kale) or PHTK [Line Sainphaar BALTHAZAR]
Independent Movement for National Reconciliation or MIRN [Luc FLEURINORD]
Lavni Organization or LAVNI [Yves CRISTALIN]
Lod Demokratik [Jean Renel SENATUS]
Love Haiti (Renmen Ayiti) or RA [Jean Henry CEANT]
MTV Ayiti [Reginald BOULOS]
National Consortium of Haitian Political Parties (Consortium National des Partis Politiques Haitiens) or CNPPH [Jeantel JOSEPH]
National Shield Network (Reseau Bouclier National) [Victor PROPHANE and Garry BODEAU]
Organization of the People's Struggle (Oganizasyon Pep Kap Lite) or OPL [Edgard LEBLANC]
Patriotic Unity (Inite Patriyotik) or Inite [Sorel YACINTHE and Levaillant Louis JEUNE]
Platform Pitit Desalin (Politik Pitit Dessalines) or PPD [Jean-Charles MOISE]
Political Party for Us All or Bridge (Pont) or Pou Nou Tout [Jean Marie CHERESTAL]
Popular Patriotic Dessalinien Movement (Mouvement Patriotique Populaire Dessalinien) or MOPOD [Jean Andre VICTOR]
Rally of Progressive National Democrats (Rassemblement des Democrates Nationaux Progressistes) or RDNP [Eric JEAN-BAPTISTE]
Respe (Respect) [Charles Henry BAKER]
Women and Families Political Parties (Defile Pati Politik Fanm Ak Fanmi) [Marie Rebecca GUILLAUME]
International organization participation
ACP, 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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Louis Harold JOSEPH (since 15 May 2023)
chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-4090
FAX: [1] (202) 745-7215
email address and website:
amb.washington@diplomatie.ht
https://www.haiti.org/
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Orlando (FL), New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); (since 28 September 2023)
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:
acspap@state.gov
https://ht.usembassy.gov/
Flag description
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength); the colors are taken from the French Tricolor and represent the union of blacks and mulattoes
National symbol(s)
Hispaniolan trogon (bird), hibiscus flower; national colors: blue, red
National anthem
name: "La Dessalinienne" (The Dessalines Song)
lyrics/music: Justin LHERISSON/Nicolas GEFFRARD
note: adopted 1904; named for Jean-Jacques DESSALINES, a leader in the Haitian Revolution and first ruler of an independent Haiti
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: National History Park – Citadel, Sans Souci, Ramiers
Economy
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$32.856 billion (2021 est.)
$33.458 billion (2020 est.)
$34.615 billion (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
comparison ranking: 135
Real GDP per capita
$2,900 (2021 est.)
$3,000 (2020 est.)
$3,100 (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
comparison ranking: 197
GDP (official exchange rate)
$8.608 billion (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
16.84% (2021 est.)
22.8% (2020 est.)
18.7% (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 18
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 22.1% (2017 est.)
industry: 20.3% (2017 est.)
services: 57.6% (2017 est.)
comparison rankings: services 138; industry 146; agriculture 41
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 99.1% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 10% (2016 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 32.6% (2016 est.)
investment in inventories: -1.4% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 20% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -60.3% (2017 est.)
note: figure for household consumption also includes government consumption
Agricultural products
sugar cane, cassava, mangoes/guavas, plantains, bananas, yams, avocados, maize, rice, vegetables
Industries
textiles, sugar refining, flour milling, cement, light assembly using imported parts
Labor force
5.01 million (2021 est.)
note: shortage of skilled labor; unskilled labor abundant
comparison ranking: 84
Unemployment rate
15.73% (2021 est.)
15.45% (2020 est.)
13.91% (2019 est.)
note: widespread unemployment and underemployment; more than two-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs
comparison ranking: 33
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 35.7% (2021 est.)
male: 28.1%
female: 45.6%
comparison ranking: total 24
Population below poverty line
58.5% (2012 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 47.7% (2001)
Budget
revenues: $1.179 billion (2020 est.)
expenditures: $1.527 billion (2020 est.)
Fiscal year
1 October - 30 September
Current account balance
$141.371 million (2021 est.)
$216.157 million (2020 est.)
-$168.76 million (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 65
Exports
$1.241 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$1.014 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$1.733 billion (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 171
Exports - partners
United States 83%, Canada 4%, Mexico 3%, India 1%, Hong Kong 1% (2021)
Exports - commodities
clothing and apparel, essential oils, eels, mangoes, scrap iron (2021)
Imports
$5.222 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$4.206 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$5.161 billion (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 142
Imports - partners
United States 26%, Dominican Republic 23%, China 19%, Turkey 3%, Indonesia 3% (2021)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, rice, clothing and apparel, poultry, palm oil (2021)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$2.759 billion (31 December 2021 est.)
$2.59 billion (31 December 2020 est.)
$2.355 billion (31 December 2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 122
Debt - external
$2.762 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.17 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
comparison ranking: 146
Exchange rates
gourdes (HTG) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
89.227 (2021 est.)
93.51 (2020 est.)
88.815 (2019 est.)
68.032 (2018 est.)
64.77 (2017 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
population without electricity: 7 million (2020)
electrification - total population: 47.1% (2021)
electrification - urban areas: 81.8% (2021)
electrification - rural areas: 3% (2020)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 3.453 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 339 million kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 643 million kWh (2019 est.)
comparison rankings: installed generating capacity 103; transmission/distribution losses 123; imports 121; exports 101; consumption 178
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 85.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 13.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal
production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 21,100 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption: 3.341 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 3.341 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
3.139 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 3.137 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 2,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 148
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 6,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 64 (2021 est.) less than 1
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 203
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 7.3 million (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 64 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 106
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: Haiti is in desperate need of maintaining effective communication services to enable it to keep going through the countless natural disasters, the country’s telecoms sector is really only surviving on the back of international goodwill to repair and replace the systems destroyed in the latest upheaval; Haiti’s fixed-line infrastructure is now practically non-existent, having been torn apart by Hurricane Matthew in 2016; what aid and additional investment has been forthcoming has been directed towards mobile solutions; over half of the country can afford a mobile handset or the cost of a monthly subscription; and mobile broadband subscriptions is half of that again – an estimated 28% in 2022; international aid continues to flow in to try and help the country’s telecoms sector recover – the World Bank has released a further $120 million to go on top of the $60 million grant provided after the last major 7.2 earthquake in August 2021 (2022)
domestic: fixed-line is less than 1 per 100; mobile-cellular teledensity is nearly 64 per 100 persons (2021)
international: country code - 509; landing points for the BDSNi and Fibralink submarine cables to 14 points in the Bahamas and Dominican Republic; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
Broadcast media
per 2019 data released by Haitian telecommunications regulator CONATEL (Conseil National des Télécommunications), there are 398 legal sound broadcasting stations on the territory, including about 60 community radio stations, and 7 radio stations on the AM band; the FM band in Haiti is oversaturated by 158 percent; most radio stations broadcast 17 to 19 hours a day; there are 105 television stations operating in Haiti, including 36 TV stations in Port- au- Prince, 41 others in the provinces, and more than 40 radio-television stations; a large number of broadcasting stations operate irregularly and some stations operate with technical parameters that do not comply with established standards, thus causing harmful interference to existing telecommunications systems; VOA Creole Service broadcasts daily on 30 affiliate stations
(2019)Internet users
total: 4.29 million (2021 est.)
percent of population: 39% (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total 108
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 31,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.3 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 152
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1
Airports - with paved runways
4
note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
10
note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control
Roadways
total: 4,102 km (2011)
paved: 600 km (2011)
unpaved: 3,502 km (2011)
comparison ranking: total 153
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Port-au-Prince
Military and Security
Military and security forces
the Haitian Armed Forces (FAdH), disbanded in 1995, began to be reconstituted in 2017; it established an Army command in 2018
Ministry of Justice and Public Security: Haitian National Police (Police Nationale d'Haïti or PNH) (2023)
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 or BIM
Military and security service personnel strengths
up to 2,000 military troops (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 (2023)
Military service age and obligation
not available
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 training assistance from Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, 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 much of the capital Port-au-Prince since the assassination of President MOISE in 2021; in 2023, an estimated 200 armed gangs were operating in Haiti
the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) operated in Haiti from 2004 until 2017; its mission was to help restore stability after President Bertrand ARISTIDE fled the country, including assisting with the political process, strengthening government institutions, and promoting and protecting human rights; following the completion of MINUSTAH’s mandate in 2017, a smaller peacekeeping mission, the UN Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH), operated until 2019; its mission was to assist with the further development and strengthening of the national police, as well as Haiti’s justice and prison systems, and to promote and protect human rights; in 2019, the UN established the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) with the political mission of advising the Haiti Government in elections, governance, and security; BINUH's current mandate last until July 2023 (2023)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
Haiti-Dominican Republic: the Dominican Republic has increased security along the Haitian border to prevent unauthorized migration and smuggling, including constructing a fence and deploying military troops; some disputes over border limits, particularly along the Massacre River
Haiti-US: Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Island
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs: 171,000 (violence among armed gangs in the metropolitan area os Port-au-Prince) (2022)
stateless persons: 2,992 (2018); note - individuals without a nationality who were born in the Dominican Republic prior to January 2010
Trafficking in persons
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Haiti does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; officials initiated two prosecutions under the anti-trafficking law and assigned investigative judges in two additional high-profile cases; the government also identified and provided services to 11 adult trafficking victims, and also provided support to an unknown number of child victims and conducted an audit of judicial and child protection cases; however, the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts, compared with the previous year, to expand its anti-trafficking capacity; impunity and complicity, particularly in high-profile cases, remained problems; Haiti lacked sustained law enforcement efforts and did not pursue investigations following victim identification; improvements in law enforcement or victim protection efforts were unclear because the government did not disaggregate information on anti-trafficking law enforcement or victim protection efforts; anti-trafficking agencies did not cooperate effectively, and the government did not make sufficient efforts to combat child domestic servitude; because the government has devoted sufficient resources to a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute significant efforts to meet the minimum standards, Haiti was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3; therefore, Haiti remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year (2023)
trafficking profile: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Haiti, as well as Haitians abroad; in 2023, officials estimated three million Haitians were at risk of trafficking; during the reporting period, Haiti suffered multiple crises, including gang violence, fuel shortages, irregular migration outflows, internal population displacements, a cholera epidemic, the breakdown of basic infrastructure, and the government’s inability to provide basic services—all of which increased vulnerability to trafficking and reduced government capacity to address it; most of Haiti’s trafficking cases involve children in forced labor and sex trafficking in domestic service; NGOs estimate that between 150,000 and 300,000 children work in domestic servitude, of which about two-thirds are girls and one-third boys—mostly victims of sex trafficking and labor trafficking, respectively; female foreign nationals, especially citizens of the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, are particularly at risk for sex and labor trafficking in Haiti; commercial sex typically takes place in upscale neighborhoods and resort areas to cater to foreigners; NGOs report child sex tourism occurs in Haiti, with most sex tourists coming from Canada, the US, and Europe; traffickers target Haitian children in private or NGO-sponsored residential care centers, children working in construction, agriculture, fisheries, domestic work, begging, and street vending, IDPs including those displaced by natural disasters, stateless people, LGBTQI+ youth, and those affected by gang violence; risks to migrants remained high, including from migrant smugglers who exploit migrant women in commercial sex to repay alleged debts; among all Haitian migrant groups, those traversing the Dominican Republic-Haiti border seeking economic opportunities were the largest and most vulnerable to trafficking; cross-border trafficking of Haitians include forced labor in the Dominican construction, service, and agricultural industries and sex trafficking in the Dominican tourism industry; Haitian adults and children also are at risk of fraudulent recruitment and forced labor in other Caribbean countries, South America, and the US; Cuban medical workers in Haiti may have been forced to work by the Cuban government (2023)
Illicit drugs
a transit point for cocaine from South America and marijuana from Jamaica en route to the United States; not a producer or large consumer of illicit drugs; some cultivation of cannabis for local consumption