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Region:
Caribbean
Capital:
Port-au-Prince
Population:
7,656,166 (July
2004 est.)
Surface
area:
27,750 sq km
Currency:
gourde
GDP
per capita:
purchasing power
parity - $1,600
(2003 est.)
Background:
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.
Economy
– Overview
In this poorest
country in the
Western Hemisphere,
80% of the population
lives in abject
poverty. 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
and an estimated
0.9% in 2002.
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.
The resumption
of aid flows
from all donors
will alleviate
but not end the
nation's bitter
economic problems.
Extensive civil
strife in early
2004, marked
by the flight
of President
ARISTIDE, further
impoverished
Haiti.
United
Nations membership
date:
24 October 1945
New
York Mission:
Permanent Mission
of Haiti to the
United Nations
801 Second Avenue,
Room 600
New York, N.Y.
10017 USA
Telephone: 212-370-4840
Fax: 212-661-8698
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