Unieros Haiti Country Profiles

Haitian Flag

Full name: Republic of Haiti
Population: 8.4 million (via UN, 2006)
Capital: Port-au-Prince
Area: 27,750 sq km (10,714 sq miles)
Major languages: Creole, French
Major religion: Christianity

Sources:
BBC
World Fact Book

Le Matin - daily Haitian newspaper

Le Nouvelliste - daily Haitian newspaper

Haiti Progress - weekly newspaper

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Republic of Haiti

Haiti_map

Brief History

Haiti is located in between Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic and is west of the Dominican Republic. It was discovered in 1492 by Columbus who called it Hispanola, or Little Spain. In 1697 Spain, ceded part of land to the French and this part was called it Haiti - “Land of Mountains.” In 1804 following a slave revolt, Haiti became the first black led republic.

Since its independence, Haiti has experienced political turmoil and upheaval especially under the brutal dictatorships of Voodoo physician Francois "Papa Doc" and his son Jean-Claude, or "Baby Doc" who both declared themselves ‘president-for-life.” Haiti aimed to improve its government with its first elected president in 1990, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a former priest. In 1991, however, Aristide lost power in a violent military coup. Aristide was later re-elected in 2000 but uprisings against his leadership forced him into exile in 2004.

Today Haiti is ruled by President Rene Preval, who is said to be a champion of the people.

Due its volatile political history, Haiti is now one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Culturally, Haiti is known for voodoo religion, drumming, dancing, and music.

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