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 20th 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.

fairly even distribution; largest concentrations located near coastal areas

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

fairly even distribution; largest concentrations located near coastal areas

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

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
election/appointment process: 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)
most recent election date: 20 November 2016
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%
expected date of next election: 30 August 2026
note: 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

legislature name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
legislative structure: bicameral
note: 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

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: August 2026

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)
expected date of next election: August 2026

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: 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

Alternative League for Haitian Progress and Emancipation (Ligue Alternative pour le Progrès et l’Emancipation Haïtienne) 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 Démocratique 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 Démocrates Nationaux Progressistes) or RDNP
Respe (Respect)
Women and Families Political Parties (Defile Pati Politik Fanm Ak Fanmi)

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

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

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: 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

the Haitian Armed Forces (FAdH): Army
Ministry of Justice and Public Security: Haitian National Police (Police Nationale d'Haïti or PNH) (2025)
note: 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)

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

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

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 some 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 swaths of territory, including 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 (2025)

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

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

refugees: 5 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 1,041,229 (2024 est.)

deforestation (trees cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate potable water and lack of sanitation; natural disasters

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)