Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with 80% of the population living under the poverty line and 54% in abject poverty. Two-thirds of all Haitians depend on the agricultural sector, mainly small-scale subsistence farming, and remain vulnerable to damage from frequent natural disasters, exacerbated by the country's widespread deforestation. Population - 9,000,000
GDP - per capita: $1,900 (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 57.56 years
Ethnic groups:
Black 95%
Mulatto and White 5%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 80%
Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%)
None 1%
Other 3%
Note: roughly half of the population practices voodoo
Languages:
French (official), Creole (official)
Labor force: The labor force was some 3.6 million strong in 1995. There is a shortage of skilled labor but an abundance of unskilled labor available.
Currency: The currency of Haiti is the Gourde. Education and Literacy: By 1995 estimates, the majority of the Haitian population over the age of 15 can both read and write. Of the total population, some 45 per cent are literate. More information on Haiti can be found at the CIA World Fact Book by clicking here. |
