53 Facts About Haiti

Haiti is a founding member of the United Nations, Organization of American States, Association of Caribbean States, and the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.

Haiti comes from the indigenous Taino language, in which it means "land of high mountains" and named the entire island of Hispaniola.

In French, Haiti's nickname means the "Pearl of the Antilles" because of both its natural beauty and the amount of wealth it accumulated for the Kingdom of France.

Island of Hispaniola, of which Haiti occupies the western three-eighths, has been inhabited since about 5000 BC by groups of Native Americans thought to have arrived from Central or South America.

Haiti was imprisoned at Fort de Joux, where he died in 1803 of exposure and possibly tuberculosis.

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Haiti borrowed heavily from Western banks at extremely high interest rates to repay the debt.

But, when in 1848 France finally recognized the Dominican Republic as a free and independent state and provisionally signed a treaty of peace, friendship, commerce and navigation, Haiti immediately protested, claiming the treaty was an attack upon their own security.

Haiti largely continued his father's policies, though curbed some of the worst excesses in order to court international respectability.

In November 1994, Hurricane Gordon brushed Haiti, dumping heavy rain and creating flash flooding that triggered mudslides.

In 2013, Haiti called for European nations to pay reparations for slavery and establish an official commission for the settlement of past wrongdoings.

Amid the political crisis, the government of Haiti installed Ariel Henry, previously nominated by President Moise, as prime minister.

Haiti is the most mountainous nation in the Caribbean, its terrain consists of mountains interspersed with small coastal plains and river valleys.

Ile a Vache is located off the southwest coast; part of Haiti are the Cayemites, located in the Gulf of Gonave north of Pestel.

La Navasse, located 40 nautical miles west of Jeremie on the south west peninsula of Haiti, is subject to an ongoing territorial dispute with the United States, who currently administer the island via the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Haiti's climate is tropical with some variation depending on altitude.

Haiti is subject to periodic droughts and floods, made more severe by deforestation.

An article published in Haiti's Le Matin newspaper in September 2008 cited comments by geologist Patrick Charles to the effect that there was a high risk of major seismic activity in Port-au-Prince; and duly the magnitude 7.

Haiti has rare elements such as gold, which can be found at The Mont Organise gold mine.

Haiti had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 4.

Haiti is home to four ecoregions: Hispaniolan moist forests, Hispaniolan dry forests, Hispaniolan pine forests, and Greater Antilles mangroves.

Government of Haiti is a semi-presidential republic, a multiparty system wherein the president of Haiti is head of state and elected directly by popular elections held every five years.

Haiti is the only country in the Western Hemisphere to undergo a successful slave revolution; however, a long history of oppression by dictators such as Francois Duvalier and his son Jean-Claude Duvalier has markedly affected the nation.

Haiti is a member of a wide range of international and regional organizations, such as the United Nations, CARICOM, Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, International Monetary Fund, Organisation of American States, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, OPANAL and the World Trade Organization.

In February 2012, Haiti signaled it would seek to upgrade its observer status to full associate member status of the African Union .

Haiti has consistently ranked among the most corrupt countries in the world on the Corruption Perceptions Index.

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In 2010, the New York City Police Department sent a team of veteran officers to Haiti to assist in the rebuilding of its police force with special training in investigative techniques, strategies to improve the anti-kidnapping personnel and community outreach to build stronger relationships with the public especially among the youth.

Haiti has a highly regulated, predominantly state-controlled economy, ranking 145th out of the 177 countries given a "freedom index" by the Heritage Foundation.

Haiti ranked 145th of 182 countries in the 2010 United Nations Human Development Index, with 57.

In September 2009, Haiti met the conditions set out by the IMF and World Bank's Heavily Indebted Poor Countries program to qualify for cancellation of its external debt.

Haiti received more than US$4 billion in aid from 1990 to 2003, including US$1.

Neighboring Dominican Republic has provided extensive humanitarian aid to Haiti, including the funding and construction of a public university, human capital, free healthcare services in the border region, and logistical support after the 2010 earthquake.

Today, Haiti relies heavily on an oil alliance with Petrocaribe for much of its energy requirements.

Haiti suffers from a shortage of skilled labor, widespread unemployment, and underemployment.

Haiti is the world's leading producer of vetiver, a root plant used to make luxury perfumes, essential oils and fragrances, providing for half the world's supply.

Tourism market in Haiti is undeveloped and the government is heavily promoting this sector.

Haiti has many of the features that attract tourists to other Caribbean destinations, such as white sand beaches, mountainous scenery and a year-round warm climate.

Haiti has two main highways that run from one end of the country to the other.

The state of Haiti's roads are generally poor, many being potholed and becoming impassable in rough weather.

In Haiti, communications include the radio, television, fixed and mobile telephones, and the Internet.

Haiti ranked number 143 out of 148 overall in the 2014 NRI ranking, down from 141 in 2013.

Many Catholics and Protestants in Haiti denounce Vodou as devil worship, but do not deny the power of such spirits.

Haiti is one of two independent nations in the Americas to designate French as an official language; the other French-speaking areas are all overseas departements, or collectivites, of France, such as French Guiana.

Emigrants from Haiti have constituted a segment of American and Canadian society since before the independence of Haiti from France in 1804.

Ninety percent of Haiti's children suffer from waterborne diseases and intestinal parasites.

The incidence of tuberculosis in Haiti is more than ten times as high as in the rest of Latin America.

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Haiti has a rich and unique cultural identity, consisting of a blend of traditional French and African customs, mixed with sizable contributions from the Spanish and indigenous Taino cultures.

Haiti's culture is greatly reflected in its paintings, music, and literature.

Sculpture is practiced in Haiti; noted artists in this form include George Liautaud and Serge Jolimeau.

Styles of music unique to the nation of Haiti include music derived from Vodou ceremonial traditions, Rara parading music, Twoubadou ballads, mini-jazz rock bands, Rasin movement, Hip hop kreyol, meringue, and compas.

Haiti had no recorded music until 1937 when Jazz Guignard was recorded non-commercially.

Haiti has always been a literary nation that has produced poetry, novels, and plays of international recognition.

Haiti is famous for its creole cuisine, and its soup joumou.

Haiti has participated in the Olympic Games since the year 1900 and won a number of medals.