View A Map of Haiti

Official Name: Republic of Haiti
Population: 8,490,200
Capital City: Port-au-Prince (1.4 million)
Languages: French (official), French Creole (official)

The native Arawak Amerindians - who inhabited the island of Hispaniola when Columbus discovered it 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 since then, and it is now one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere.

* Haiti is the poorest country in the western Hemisphere.
* One out of five children die from preventable illnesses before reaching the age of five.
* Diarrhea is the leading cause of death for children under five
* Only 50% of the population have access to running water
* 300,000 child laborers
* 2,500 street children in Port au Prince alone.
* GNI per capita for Haiti is $450 (in 2005)
* Under-five mortality rate for Haiti is 120 (in 2005) 120 out of 1000 die before they are 5 years old.
* Infant mortality rate for Haiti is 84 (in 2005)  84 out of 1000 die before the age of one.
* Life expectancy is 51
* 50% of the population lives on less than $1 a day.
* 80% of the population lives on less than $2 a day.

(Taken from UNICEF and World Bank)