45 Facts About Haiti

Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti, is a country in the Caribbean Sea located on the island of Hispaniola, east of Cuba in the Greater Antilles archipelago.

It covers an area of 27,750 square kilometres.

Haiti occupies the island's smaller western three-eighths, which it shares with the Dominican Republic.

Christopher Columbus discovered the island, which was originally inhabited by the indigenous Tano people.

Its capital and largest city is Port-au-Prince.

Its official languages are French and Haitian Creole.

The Haitian gourde is the official currency (HTG).

It shares its only land border with the Dominican Republic, which is located to the east.

It shares maritime borders with the Bahamas, Colombia, Cuba, and Jamaica.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, as well as the Caribbean's third-largest.

Christopher Columbus landed on the island and named it Hispaniola in 1492. A statue of Christopher Columbus stands in the central square of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital and home to 20% of the country's population.

The first sight of Haiti gave Columbus the impression that he had discovered India or Asia.

After the United States, Haiti is the Western Hemisphere's second oldest independent nation. It declared independence from France in 1804.

Between 1804 and 1915, it was ruled by seventy different dictators.

Haiti's national sport is soccer. They made their World Cup debut in 1974.

The majority of Haitians enjoy gambling. During voodoo ceremonies, they are even known to beg gods to reveal the winning lottery numbers.

Cockfighting is also widely practised in Haiti. The winner of the fight receives $67, which is nearly a month's pay for someone. The cocks are fed raw meat and hot pepper soaked in rum to make them tough and aggressive.

Haiti is also one of the world's most deforested countries. The primary causes are poor agricultural practises, overgrazing, high demand for charcoal, and land scarcity.

Haiti is also one of the world's most deforested countries. The primary causes are poor agricultural practises, overgrazing, high demand for charcoal, and land scarcity.

The Pic la Selle is Haiti's highest point, rising 8,793 feet (2,680 metres) above sea level.

Haiti has more mountains than any other Caribbean country.

Unfair labour practises are common in the country, and the majority of the population is unemployed. Poor road conditions have had disastrous consequences for farmers, who face significant difficulties transporting their goods to markets and towns.

Only 60.7% of Haiti's population can read and write.

Sanitation and water supply are two major issues confronting Haitians. The majority of Haitian rivers are polluted by human and other waste. Typhoid and hookworm are common diseases in the area.

In Haiti, one in every 50 people has HIV/AIDS.

The sixth-highest death toll in history occurred in Haiti in 1963, when Hurricane Flora struck, killing nearly 8000 people.

Haiti is also well-known for its illegal drug trade, with clients from Central and South America, Europe, and the United States. Human trafficking, particularly of children, is also widespread.

Approximately 1% of Haitians own 50% of the country's wealth.

Another potential threat to the country and its citizens is corruption. It is ranked 159th out of 176 countries on Transparency International's list. Somalia is the most corrupt country in the world, ranking 176th.

Anemia is common in infants and toddlers aged six months to five years.

In 1507, smallpox was also discovered for the first time in Haiti. The country was known as Hispaniola at the time.

In Haiti, there is only one public university: the University of Haiti in Port-au-Prince, which was founded in 1944. Wealthy students prefer to attend educational institutions and universities in other countries.

A cholera outbreak in the country in 2010 killed over 8,900 people and afflicted 733,000 others, lasting until 2015.

Haitian children are predisposed to death, with more than 10% dying before reaching the age of five. Half of its children are not immunised.

Only 40% of the country's people have access to basic health care. With 747 people per square mile, it is also the most densely populated country in the Western Hemisphere.

Haiti's average per capita income is extremely low. It is $480 per year, with 80% of the population living below the poverty line.

Prior to the 2010 earthquake, the region had over 430,000 orphans. Violence and AIDS are also blamed for the large number of orphans.

Only four of Haiti's 14 airports have paved runways. Coffee is the most important export crop.

The only other country in the Americas with French as its official language is Haiti.

Haiti was once a haven for Caribbean pirates. Haiti had gold mines and easy escape routes for pirates, and they (Haitians) also worked as local labourers for the pirates' mining and plantation work.

Gourde, Haiti's currency, is named after the 'gourd' plant.

Haiti's official languages are French and Haitian Creole.

Christopher Columbus is also buried in the Cathedral of Santa Maria in Haiti.

Haiti sold slaves to other countries, bringing them great wealth at the time.

The 2010 earthquake caused such devastation that experts estimate it will take decades to rebuild the infrastructure that supports health, governance, agriculture, and security. It also took the lives of over 200,000 Haitians.