Haiti

The native Taino — who inhabited the island of Hispaniola when Christopher COLUMBUS first landed 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. In 1862, the US officially recognized Haiti, but foreign economic influence and internal political instability induced the US to occupy Haiti from 1915 to 1934.

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. Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE was Haiti’s first democratically elected president in 1991 and was elected a second time in 2000, but coups interrupted his first term after only a few months and ended his second term in 2004. President Jovenel MOÏSE was assassinated in 2021, leading the country further into an extra-constitutional governance structure and contributing to the country’s growing fragility. The Government of Haiti then installed Ariel HENRY — whom President MOÏSE had nominated shortly before his death — as prime minister.

On 29 February 2024, a significant escalation of gang violence occurred on the 20^th anniversary of ARISTIDE’s second overthrow, after the announcement that HENRY would not hold elections until August 2025. HENRY’s return from an overseas trip was diverted to Puerto Rico when the airport closed due to gang violence. With control of much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, gang leaders called for the ouster of HENRY’S government. By mid-March, Haiti’s continued violence, HENRY’S inability to return to the country, and increasing pressure from the international community led HENRY to pledge to resign. On 25 April 2024, HENRY formally submitted his resignation as a nine-member Transitional Presidential Council assumed control, tasked with returning stability to the country and preparing elections. Since January 2023, Haiti has had no sitting elected officials.

The country has long been plagued by natural disasters. In 2010, a major 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti with an epicenter about 25 km (15 mi) west of the capital, Port-au-Prince. An estimated 300,000 people were killed, and some 1.5 million left homeless. The earthquake was assessed as the worst in this region in 200 years. A 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti’s southern peninsula in 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.

Table of Contents

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

Haiti map shows the country’s border with the Dominican Republic and its position in the Caribbean Sea.

Geographic coordinates

19 00 N, 72 25 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total : 27,750 sq km

land: 27,560 sq km

water: 190 sq km

comparison ranking: total 147

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than Maryland

Area comparison map:

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: 65.1% (2022 est.)

arable land: 36.5% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 10.9% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 17.8% (2022 est.)

forest: 12.4% (2022 est.)

other: 22.5% (2022 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

Population

total: 11,753,943 (2024 est.)

male: 5,792,443

female: 5,961,500

comparison rankings: total 83; female 83; male 85

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.

French audio sample:

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: 30.5% (male 1,790,061/female 1,794,210)

15-64 years: 65.3% (male 3,787,782/female 3,887,791)

65 years and over: 4.2% (2024 est.) (male 214,600/female 279,499)

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 53.1 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 46.7 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 6.4 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 15.5 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 25 years (2024 est.)

male: 24.7 years

female: 25.3 years

comparison ranking: total 173

Population growth rate

1.23% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 77

Birth rate

21.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 60

Death rate

7.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 111

Net migration rate

-1.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 160

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: 1 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female

total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 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

Maternal mortality ratio

350 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

comparison ranking: 27

Infant mortality rate

total: 36.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 40.2 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 33.5 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 32

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 65.6 years (2024 est.)

male: 63.8 years

female: 67.4 years

comparison ranking: total population 205

Total fertility rate

2.44 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 72

Gross reproduction rate

1.21 (2024 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.)

Health expenditure

3.5% of GDP (2021)

4.1% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.29 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

4.8 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

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.)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

22.7% (2016)

comparison ranking: 72

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: 7.1% (2025 est.)

male: 12.4% (2025 est.)

female: 2.1% (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: total 150

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

9.5% (2016/17)

comparison ranking: 53

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

51.4% (2023 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 2.1% (2017)

women married by age 18: 14.9% (2017)

men married by age 18: 1.6% (2017)

Education expenditure

1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

13.2% national budget (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 198

Literacy

total population: 68% (2017 est.)

male: 72.9% (2017 est.)

female: 63.9% (2017 est.)

Environment

Environment – current issues

deforestation (trees cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate potable water and 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

Urbanization

urban population: 59.7% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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: République d’Haïti (French)/Repiblik d Ayiti (Haitian Creole)

local short form: Haïti (French)/ Ayiti (Haitian Creole)

etymology: derived from the Arawak name Ayti, meaning “Land of Mountains,” that 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: the name means “the port of the prince” and probably came from a ship called The Prince that anchored in the bay in the early 18th century

Administrative divisions

10 departments (départements, singular – département); Artibonite, Centre, Grand’Anse, Nippes, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est

Legal system

civil law system strongly influenced by Napoleonic Code

Constitution

history: many previous; latest adopted 10 March 1987, with substantial revisions in June 2012

amendment process: 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

note: the constitution is commonly referred to as the “amended 1987 constitution”

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)

head of government: Prime Minister Alix Didier FILS-AIMÉ (since 10 November 2024)

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 was 20 November 2016; new elections were delayed in 2022 and 2023 and have not been scheduled by the transitional presidential council

election results:
2016: Jovenel MOÏSE elected president in first round; percent of vote – Jovenel MOÏSE (PHTK) 55.6%, Jude CELESTIN (LAPEH) 19.6%, Jean-Charles MOÏSE (PPD) 11%, Maryse NARCISSE (FL) 9%; other 4.8%

2011: Michel MARTELLY elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round – Michel MARTELLY (Peasant’s Response) 68%, Mirlande MANIGAT (RDNP) 32%

note: former Prime Minister Ariel HENRY, who had assumed executive responsibilities following the assassination of President MOÏSE on 7 July 2021, resigned on 24 April 2024; a nine-member Presidential Transitional Council, equipped with presidential powers, was sworn in on 25 April 2024 and will remain in place until 7 February 2026

Legislative branch

legislature name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)

legislative structure: bicameral

note 1: when the two 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

note 2: as of October 2024, the Senate and Chamber of Deputies were not functional

Legislative branch – lower chamber

chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Députés)

number of seats: 119 (all directly elected)

electoral system: plurality/majority

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 4 years

most recent election date: 8/9/2015 to 10/25/2015

parties elected and seats per party: Haitian Tet Kale Party (PHTK) (9); Konvansyon Inite Demokratik (KID) (7); Ayiti an aksyon (AAA) (6); Fanmi Lavalas (6); Patriotic Unity Party (Inite Patriyotik) (4); People’s Struggle Party (OPL) (7); Other (24)

percentage of women in chamber: 0%

expected date of next election: December 2025

Legislative branch – upper chamber

chamber name: Senate (Sénat)

number of seats: 30 (all directly elected)

electoral system: plurality/majority

scope of elections: partial renewal

term in office: 6 years

most recent election date: 11/20/2016 to 1/29/2017

parties elected and seats per party: Haitian Tet Kale Party (PHTK) (9); Truth (Vérité) (3); Konvansyon Inite Demokratik (KID) (2); Bouclier (2); Ayiti an aksyon (AAA) (2); Other (10)

percentage of women in chamber: 0%

expected date of next election: December 2025

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour de cassation (consists of 12 judges)

judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president from candidate lists submitted by the Senate of the National Assembly

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 Supérieur du Pouvoir Judiciaire is a 9-member body charged with the administration and oversight of the judicial branch of government

note: Haiti is a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice, the Constitutional Court (called for in the 1987 constitution but not yet established), and the High Court of Justice, for trying high government officials (currently not functional)

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

Political parties

Alternative League for Haitian Progress and Emancipation (Ligue Alternative pour le Progres et l’Emancipation Haitienne) or LAPEH
Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MCNH or Mochrenha
Christian National Movement for the Reconstruction of Haiti or UNCRH
Combat of Peasant Workers to Liberate Haiti (Konbit Travaye Peyizan Pou Libere Ayiti) or Kontra Pep La
Convention for Democratic Unity or KID
Cooperative Action to Rebuild Haiti or KONBA
December 16 Platform or Platfom 16 Desanm
Democratic Alliance Party or ALYANS (coalition includes KID and PPRH)
Democratic Centers’ National Council or CONACED
Democratic and Popular Sector (Secteur Democratique et Populaire) or SDP
Democratic Unity Convention (Konvansyon Inite Demokratik) or KID
Dessalinian Patriotic and Popular Movement or MOPOD
Effort and Solidarity to Create an Alternative for the People or ESKAMP
Fanmi Lavalas or FL
Forward (En Avant)
Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats (Fusion Des Sociaux-Démocrates Haïtiens) or FHSD
G18 Policy Platform (Plateforme Politique G18)
Haiti in Action (Ayiti An Aksyon Haiti’s Action) or AAA
Haitian Tet Kale Party (Parti Haitien Tet Kale) or PHTK
Independent Movement for National Reconciliation or MIRN
Lavni Organization or LAVNI
Lod Demokratik
Love Haiti (Renmen Ayiti) or RA
MTV Ayiti
National Consortium of Haitian Political Parties (Consortium National des Partis Politiques Haitiens) or CNPPH
National Shield Network (Reseau Bouclier National)
Organization of the People’s Struggle (Oganizasyon Pep Kap Lite) or OPL
Patriotic Unity (Inite Patriyotik) or Inite
Platform Pitit Desalin (Politik Pitit Dessalines) or PPD
Political Party for Us All or Bridge (Pont) or Pou Nou Tout
Popular Patriotic Dessalinien Movement (Mouvement Patriotique Populaire Dessalinien) or MOPOD
Rally of Progressive National Democrats (Rassemblement des Democrates Nationaux Progressistes) or RDNP
Respe (Respect)
Women and Families Political Parties (Defile Pati Politik Fanm Ak Fanmi)

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:
[email protected]

https://www.haiti.org/

consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Orlando (FL), New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis HANKINS (since 3 May 2024)

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:
[email protected]

https://ht.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

ACP, ACS, 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

Independence

1 January 1804 (from France)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 January (1804)

Flag description

two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which has a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll with the motto L’UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength); the colors are taken from the French flag and represent the union of ethnic groups

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)

$34.406 billion (2023 est.)
$35.059 billion (2022 est.)
$35.659 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 143

Real GDP growth rate

-1.86% (2023 est.)
-1.68% (2022 est.)
-1.8% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 205

Real GDP per capita

$3,000 (2023 est.)
$3,000 (2022 est.)
$3,100 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 196

GDP (official exchange rate)

$19.851 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

36.8% (2023 est.)
34% (2022 est.)
16.8% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 209

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 18.2% (2023 est.)

industry: 31% (2023 est.)

services: 47.8% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

comparison rankings: services 163; industry 58; agriculture 40

GDP – composition, by end use

household consumption: 100.2% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 6.2% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 13.9% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 5.3% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -25.5% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

sugarcane, cassava, plantains, bananas, mangoes/guavas, avocados, maize, tropical fruits, rice, vegetables (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

textiles, sugar refining, flour milling, cement, light assembly using imported parts

Industrial production growth rate

-3.82% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 194

Labor force

5.281 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

comparison ranking: 84

Unemployment rate

15.1% (2024 est.)
14.6% (2023 est.)
14.6% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking: 183

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 37.5% (2024 est.)

male: 30% (2024 est.)

female: 47.1% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

comparison ranking: total 12

Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income

(2012)

Remittances

18.91% of GDP (2023 est.)
18.75% of GDP (2022 est.)
19.13% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues: $1.179 billion (2020 est.)

expenditures: $1.527 billion (2020 est.)

Public debt

31.1% of GDP (2017 est.)

comparison ranking: 167

Taxes and other revenues

18.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

comparison ranking: 99

Current account balance

-$682.57 million (2023 est.)
-$491.954 million (2022 est.)
$87.656 million (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

comparison ranking: 131

Exports

$1.095 billion (2023 est.)
$1.355 billion (2022 est.)
$1.272 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 182

Exports – partners

USA 82%, Canada 4%, Mexico 2%, France 2%, India 2% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports – commodities

garments, essential oils, scrap iron, industrial acids/oils/alcohols, bedding (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$5.303 billion (2023 est.)
$5.451 billion (2022 est.)
$5.048 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 149

Imports – partners

USA 31%, Dominican Republic 23%, China 14%, Indonesia 4%, India 3% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports – commodities

refined petroleum, rice, garments, cotton fabric, plastic products (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.566 billion (2024 est.)
$2.586 billion (2023 est.)
$2.173 billion (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

comparison ranking: 125

Debt – external

$1.865 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

comparison ranking: 96

Exchange rates

gourdes (HTG) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
131.811 (2024 est.)
141.036 (2023 est.)
115.631 (2022 est.)
89.227 (2021 est.)
93.51 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification – total population: 49.3% (2022 est.)

electrification – urban areas: 83%

electrification – rural areas: 1.2% (2019 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 472,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 861 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 152 million kWh (2023 est.)

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 56; consumption 163; installed generating capacity 152

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 81.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity: 18.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

imports: 5.7 metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 19,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption: 3.2 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports: 3.2 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

2.854 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 2.848 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 6,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total emissions 151

Energy consumption per capita

3.486 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 175

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 6,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 200

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 7.32 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 64 (2021 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 110

Broadcast media

398 legal broadcasting stations, including about 60 community radio stations; 105 TV stations, including 36 in Port-au-Prince, 41 others in the provinces, and more than 40 radio-television stations; large number of stations operate irregularly or flout regulations; VOA Creole Service broadcasts daily on 30 affiliate stations (2019)

Internet country code

.ht

Internet users

percent of population: 39% (2019 est.)

Broadband – fixed subscriptions

total: 35,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

comparison ranking: total 154

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

17 (2025)

comparison ranking: 146

Heliports

2 (2025)

comparison ranking: 124

Merchant marine

total: 4 (2023)

by type: general cargo 3, other 1

comparison ranking: total 170

Ports

total ports: 5 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 1

small: 0

very small: 4

ports with oil terminals: 1

key ports: Cap Haitien, Jacmel, Miragoane, Petit Goave, Port au Prince

Military and Security

Military and security forces

the Haitian Armed Forces (FAdH): Army

Ministry of Justice and Public Security: Haitian National Police (Police Nationale d’Haïti or PNH) (2025)

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 (BIM)

Military and security service personnel strengths

estimates vary; up to 2,000 trained military personnel (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 (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

in recent years, Canada, Taiwan, the US, and the UAE have provide some equipment to the Haitian security forces, including vehicles (2024)

Military service age and obligation

men and women 18-25 may volunteer for the FAdH (2023)

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, France, 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, the UN Security Council approved the deployment of a Kenya-led multinational security support mission (MSS) to help bring gang violence under control; the first contingent of MSS personnel from the Kenya National Police Service arrived in mid-2024; other countries pledging forces included the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad, and Jamaica; the mission is slated to have a total of 2,500 personnel (2024)