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Background:
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The
native Arawak Amerindians - who inhabited the island of
Hispaniola when it was discovered by Columbus in 1492 -
were virtually annihilated by Spanish settlers within 25
years. In the early 17th century, the French established
a presence on Hispaniola, and in 1697, Spain ceded to
the French the western third of the island - Haiti. The
French colony, based on forestry and sugar-related
industries, became one of the wealthiest in the
Caribbean, but only through the heavy importation of
African slaves and considerable environmental
degradation. In the late 18th century, Haiti's nearly
half million slaves revolted under Toussaint L'OUVERTURE
and after a prolonged struggle, became the first black
republic to declare its independence in 1804. Haiti has
been plagued by political violence for most of its
history. It is the poorest country in the Western
Hemisphere. |
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Location:
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Caribbean, western one-third of the island of
Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic |
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Geographic coordinates:
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19 00 N,
72 25 W |
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Map references:
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Central
America and the Caribbean |
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Area:
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total:
27,750 sq km
land: 27,560 sq km
water: 190 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
smaller than Maryland |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
360 km
border countries: Dominican Republic 360 km |
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Coastline:
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1,771 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation |
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Climate:
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tropical;
semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds
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Terrain:
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mostly
rough and mountainous |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m |
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Natural resources:
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bauxite,
copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 28.3%
permanent crops: 11.61%
other: 60.09% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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750 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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lies in
the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe
storms from June to October; occasional flooding and
earthquakes; periodic droughts |
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Environment - current issues:
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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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Environment - international agreements:
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party
to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes |
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Geography - note:
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shares
island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western
one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican
Republic) |
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Population:
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8,121,622
note: estimates for this country explicitly take
into account the effects of excess mortality due to
AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher
infant mortality and death rates, lower population and
growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be
expected (July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 42.6% (male 1,741,622/female 1,721,436)
15-64 years: 53.9% (male 2,137,225/female
2,242,639)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 124,383/female
154,317) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
18.03 years
male: 17.63 years
female: 18.44 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.26%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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36.59
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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12.34
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-1.68
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
73.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 79.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 66.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 52.92 years
male: 51.58 years
female: 54.31 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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5.02
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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5.6%
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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280,000
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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24,000
(2003 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Haitian(s)
adjective: Haitian |
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Ethnic groups:
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black
95%, mulatto and white 5% |
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Religions:
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Roman
Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal
4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3% (1982)
note: roughly half of the population practices
Voodoo |
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Languages:
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French
(official), Creole (official) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 52.9%
male: 54.8%
female: 51.2% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Haiti
conventional short form: Haiti
local long form: Republique d'Haiti
local short form: Haiti |
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Government type:
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elected
government |
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Capital:
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Port-au-Prince |
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Administrative divisions:
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9
departments (departements, singular - departement);
Artibonite, Centre, Grand 'Anse, Nord, Nord-Est,
Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est |
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Independence:
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1 January
1804 (from France) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 1 January (1804) |
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Constitution:
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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 |
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Legal system:
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based on
Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: Interim President Boniface ALEXANDRE
(since 29 February 2004)
note: Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE resigned as
president on 29 February 2004; ALEXANDRE, as Chief of
the Supreme Court, constitutionally succeeded Aristide
head of government: Interim Prime Minister Gerald
LATORTUE (since 12 March 2004), chosen by
extraconstitutional Council of Eminent Persons
representing cross-section of political and civic
interests
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in
consultation with the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for
a five-year term; election last held 26 November 2000
(next to be held in November 2005); prime minister
appointed by the president, ratified by the National
Assembly
election results: Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE elected
president; percent of vote - Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE 92%
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral
National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale consists of the
Senate (27 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve six-year terms; one-third elected every two years)
and the Chamber of Deputies (83 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); note
- the National Assembly stopped functioning in January
2004 when the terms of all Deputies and two-thirds of
sitting Senators expired; no replacements have been
elected; the President is currently ruling by decree
elections: Senate - last held for two-thirds of
seats 21 May 2000 with runoffs on 9 July boycotted by
the opposition; seven seats still disputed; election for
remaining one-third held on 26 November 2000 (next to be
held in 2005); Chamber of Deputies - last held 21 May
2000 with runoffs on 30 July boycotted by the
opposition; one vacant seat rerun 26 November 2000 (next
to be held in November 2005)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - FL 26, independent 1;
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - FL 73, MOCHRENA 3, PLB 2, OPL 1, vacant
1, other minor parties and independents 3 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Court or Cour de Cassation |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Alliance
for the Liberation and Advancement of Haiti or ALAH [Reynold
GEORGES]; Assembly of Progressive National Democrats or
RDNP [Leslie MANIGAT]; Ayiti Kapab [Ernst VERDIEU];
Convention for Democratic Unity or KID [Evans PAUL];
National Congress of Democratic Movements or KONAKOM
[Victor BENOIT]; Nationalist Progressive Revolutionary
Party or PANPRA [Serge GILLES]; Democratic Movement for
the Liberation of Haiti or MODELH [Francois LATORTUE];
Grand Center Right Front coalition (composed of MDN, MRN,
and PDCH) [Hubert de RONCERAY, Jean BUTEAU, Osner FEVRY
and Marie-Denise CLAUDE]; Haitian Christian Democratic
Party or PDCH [Osner FEVRY and Marie-Denise CLAUDE];
Haitian Democratic Party or PADEMH [Clark PARENT];
Haitian Democratic and Reform Movement or MODEREH [Dany
TOUSSAINT and Pierre Soncon PRINCE]; Heads Together [Dr.
Gerard BLOT]; Lavalas Family or FL [leader NA]; Liberal
Party of Haiti or PLH [Michael MADSEN]; Mobilization for
National Development or MDN [Hubert DE RONCERAY];
Movement for National Reconstruction or MRN [Jean Henold
BUTEAU]; Movement for the Installation of Democracy in
Haiti or MIDH [Marc BAZIN]; National Front for the
Reconstruction of Haiti or FRON [Guy PHILIPPE]; National
Progressive Democratic Party or PNDPH [Turneb DELPE];
New Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MOCHRENA [Luc
MESADIEU]; Open the Gate Party (Parti Louvri Bayre) or
PLB [leader NA]; Popular Party for the Renewal of Haiti,
or Generation 2000 [Claude ROMAIN and Daniel SUPPLICE];
Struggling People's Organization or OPL [Edgard
LEBLANC]; MNP28 [Dejean BELIZAIRE]; KOMBA [Evans
LESCOUFLAIR] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Autonomous Organizations of Haitian Workers or CATH
[Fignole ST-CYR]; Confederation of Haitian Workers or
CTH; Federation of Workers Trade Unions or FOS; Group of
184 Civil Society Organization, or G-184 [Andy APAID];
National Popular Assembly or APN; Papaye Peasants
Movement or MPP [Chavannes JEAN-BAPTISTE]; Popular
Organizations Gathering Power or PROP; Roman Catholic
Church; Protestant Federation of Haiti |
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International organization participation:
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ACCT,
ACP, Caricom (suspended), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, MIGA, OAS,
OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Charge d'Affaires Raymond JOSEPH (as of
November 2004)
chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-4090
FAX: [1] (202) 745-7215
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Miami, New
York, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador James B. FOLEY
embassy: 5 Harry S Truman Boulevard,
Port-au-Prince
mailing address: P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince
telephone: [509] 222-0354, 222-0269, 222-0200,
222-0327
FAX: [509] 223-1641 or 222-0200 ext 460 |
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Flag description:
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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) |
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Economy - overview:
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In this
poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, 80% of the
population lives in abject poverty, and natural
disasters frequently sweep the nation. Two-thirds of all
Haitians depend on the agriculture sector, which
consists mainly of small-scale subsistence farming.
Following legislative elections in May 2000, fraught
with irregularities, international donors - including
the US and EU - suspended almost all aid to Haiti. The
economy shrank an estimated 1.2% in 2001, 0.9% in 2002,
grew 0.4% in 2003, and shrank by 3.5% in 2004. Suspended
aid and loan disbursements totaled more than $500
million at the start of 2003. Haiti also suffers from
rampant inflation, a lack of investment, and a severe
trade deficit. In early 2005 Haiti paid its arrears to
the World Bank, paving the way to reengagement with the
Bank. The resumption of aid flows from all donors is
alleviating but not ending the nation's bitter economic
problems. Civil strife in 2004 combined with extensive
damage from flooding in southern Haiti in May 2004 and
Tropical Storm Jeanne in northwestern Haiti in September
2004 further impoverished Haiti. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$12.05
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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-3.5%
(2004 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 30%
industry: 20%
services: 50% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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3.6
million
note: shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor
abundant (1995) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 66%, industry 9%, services 25% |
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Unemployment rate:
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widespread unemployment and underemployment; more than
two-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs
(2002 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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80% (2003
est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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22% (2004
est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $330.2 million
expenditures: $529.6 million, including capital
expenditures of NA (2004 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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coffee,
mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum, wood |
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Industries:
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sugar
refining, flour milling, textiles, cement, light
assembly industries based on imported parts |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA |
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Electricity - production:
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618
million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 60.3%
hydro: 39.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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574.7
million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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11,000
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Current account balance:
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$-27.63
million (2004 est.) |
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Exports:
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$338.1
million f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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manufactures, coffee, oils, cocoa, mangoes |
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Exports - partners:
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US 81.2%,
Dominican Republic 7.3%, Canada 4.1% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$1.085
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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food,
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment,
fuels, raw materials |
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Imports - partners:
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US 34.8%,
Netherlands Antilles 18%, Malaysia 5.1%, Colombia 4.7%
(2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$80.64
million (2004 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$1.2
billion (2004 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$150
million (FY04 est.) |
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Currency (code):
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gourde
(HTG) |
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Currency code:
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HTG |
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Exchange rates:
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gourdes
per US dollar - 38.352 (2004), 42.367 (2003), 29.251
(2002), 24.429 (2001), 21.171 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 October
- 30 September |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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130,000
(2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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140,000
(2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: domestic facilities barely
adequate; international facilities slightly better
domestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay
trunk service
international: country code - 509; satellite
earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 41, FM
26, shortwave 0 (1999) |
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Radios:
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415,000
(1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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2 (plus a
cable TV service) (1997) |
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Televisions:
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38,000
(1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.ht |
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Internet hosts:
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NA |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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3 (2000)
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Internet users:
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80,000
(2002) |
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Highways:
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total:
4,160 km
paved: 1,011 km
unpaved: 3,149 km (1999 est.) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Cap-Haitien |
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Airports:
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13 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
9
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.) |
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Military branches:
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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 |
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years
of age for voluntary recruitment into the police force
(2001) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 1,626,491 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 948,320 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males:
98,554 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$26
million (2003) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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0.9%
(2003) |
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Disputes - international:
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since
2004, about 8,000 peacekeepers from the UN Stabilization
Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) maintain civil order in
Haiti; despite efforts to control illegal migration,
Haitians fleeing economic privation and civil unrest
continue to cross into Dominican Republic and to sail to
neighboring countries; Haiti claims US-administered
Navassa Island |
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Illicit drugs:
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major
Caribbean transshipment point for cocaine en route to
the US and Europe; substantial money-laundering
activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor Haiti
for illicit financial transactions; pervasive corruption
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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