The earliest known inhabitants of Hispaniola (of which Haiti is today the western part and the Dominican Republic the eastern) reached the island about 2600 BC. When Christopher Colombus arrived in 1492, the island was occupied by the Taínos, a relatively sophisticated and peaceful people. The Taínos were enslaved by the Spanish and virtually eradicated in the first 50 years of Spanish rule due to a combination of the import of old world diseases; harsh treatment mainly in the mines; and mass suicides. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Spaniards used the island as a launching point from which to explore the rest of the Western Hemisphere. French Buccaneers later used the western third of the island as a point from which to harass English and Spanish ships. In 1697, Spain ceded the western third of Hispaniola to France. As piracy was gradually suppressed, some French adventurers became planters, making Saint Domingue, as the French portion of the island was known, the 'pearl of the Antilles' - arguably the richest colony in the 18th century French Empire.

During this period, African slaves were brought to work on Sugarcane and Coffee plantations. In 1791, the slave population revolted - led by Haitian heroes Toussaint L'Ouverture, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, and Henri Christophe - and gained control of the northern part of the French colony, waging a war of attrition against the French.

By January 1804, the local forces defeated an army sent by Napoleon Bonaparte, established independence from France, and renamed the area Haiti. The impending defeat of the French in Haiti is widely credited with contributing to Napoleon's decision to sell Louisiana territory to the United States in 1803. Haiti is the world's oldest black republic and the second-oldest republic in the Western Hemisphere, after the United States. It is the only country in the world to have gained its independence following a successful slave rebellion. Although Haiti actively assisted the independence movements of many Latin American countries, the independent nation of former slaves was excluded from the hemisphere's first regional meeting of independent nations, in Panama in 1826, and did not receive US diplomatic recognition until 1862.

Two separate regimes (north and south) emerged after independence, but were unified in 1820. Two years later, Haiti occupied Santo Domingo, the eastern, Spanish speaking part of Hispaniola. In 1844, however, Santo Domingo broke away from Haiti and became the Dominican Republic. With 22 changes of government from 1843 to 1915, Haiti experienced numerous periods of intense political and economic disorder, prompting the United States military intervention of 1915. Following a 19-year occupation, US military forces were withdrawn in 1934 and Haiti regained sovereign rule.

From 7 February 1986 - when the 29-year-old dictatorship of the Duvalier family ended - until 1991, Haiti was ruled by a series of Provisional governments. In 1987 a constitution was ratified that provides for an elected, bicameral parliament, an elected president that serves as a head of state, and a prime minister, cabinet, ministers, and supreme court appointed by the president with parliament's consent. The Haitian Constitution also provides for political decentralisation through the election of mayors and administrative bodies responsible for local government.

Flag

Coat of Arms

The oldest use of a symbol for Haiti is known since 1807. The symbol shows several national flags, with two cannons and palm trees. The symbol indicates the battle for independence of the republic. The motto, in French, means 'Strength through unity'. The symbol remained in use until 1849, when President General Faustin Soulouque crowned himself as Emperor Faustin I. At the same time he adopted new Imperial arms, showing two cannons and a (French) imperial eagle. Two lions were used as supporter and the whole placed in a purple mantle. The emperor was forced to leave the country in 1859, after which the old symbol was restored. Ever since the composition has been the same, but the colours and items have changed somewhat.

Download Anthem

La Dessalinienne

March on! For ancestors and country,
United march, United march;
Loyal subjects all remain,
And lords of our domain
United march, March on!
United march for ancestors and country,
March on, united march, march on!
Unite for ancestors and country!

For sacred soil,
For sires of old
We gladly toil.
When teem field and wold
The soul is strong and bold.
We gladly toil, we gladly toil
For sacred soil,
For sires of old.

For land we love
And sires of old
We give our sons.
Free, happy, and bold,
One brotherhood we'll hold.
We give our sons, we give our sons
For land we love
And sires of old.

For those who gave
For country all,
God of the brave,
To thee, O God, we call;
Without thee we must fall,
God of the brave, God of the brave.
For those who gave
For country all.

For flag on high
For Native land
'Tis fine to die.
Our traditions demand
Be ready, heart and hand,
'Tis fine to die, 'tis find to die
For flag on high,
For Native land.

English Translation

March on! For ancestors and country,
United march, United march;
Loyal subjects all remain,
And lords of our domain
United march, March on!
United march for ancestors and country,
March on, united march, march on!
Unite for ancestors and country!

For sacred soil,
For sires of old
We gladly toil.
When teem field and wold
The soul is strong and bold.
We gladly toil, we gladly toil
For sacred soil,
For sires of old.

For land we love
And sires of old
We give our sons.
Free, happy, and bold,
One brotherhood we'll hold.
We give our sons, we give our sons
For land we love
And sires of old.

For those who gave
For country all,
God of the brave,
To thee, O God, we call;
Without thee we must fall,
God of the brave, God of the brave.
For those who gave
For country all.

For flag on high
For Native land
'Tis fine to die.
Our traditions demand
Be ready, heart and hand,
'Tis fine to die, 'tis find to die
For flag on high,
For Native land.

National Holidays

Visit Our Calendar

January 1: Independence Day
January 2: Ancestors' Day
May 1: Agriculture and Labor Day
May 18: Flag and University Day
October 17: Anniversary of the Death of Jean-Jacques Dessalines
October 24: United Nations Day
November 1: All Saints Day
November 2: All Souls Day
November 18: Battle of Vertières' Day
December 25: Christmas Day

Youth (15-24 years) literacy rate, 2000-2006*, male

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Youth (15-24 years) literacy rate, 2000-2006*, female

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Number per 100 population 2005: phones

8

Number per 100 population 2005: Internet users

7

Primary school enrolment ratio 2000-2006*, gross, male

-

Primary school enrolment ratio 2000-2006*, gross, female

-

Primary school enrolment ratio 2000-2006*, net, male

-

Primary school enrolment ratio 2000-2006*, net, female

-

Primary school attendance ratio (2000-2006*) ratio, net, male

48

Primary school attendance ratio (2000-2006*) ratio, net, female

51

% of primary school entrants reaching grade 5 2000-2006*, adMinister data

-

% of primary school entrants reaching grade 5 2000-2006*, survey data

89

Secondary school enrolment ratio 2000-2006*, gross, male

-

Secondary school enrolment ratio 2000-2006*, gross, female

-

Secondary school enrolment ratio 2000-2006*, net, male

-

Secondary school enrolment ratio 2000-2006*, net, female

-

Secondary school attendance ratio (2000-2006*), net, male

18

Secondary school attendance ratio (2000-2006*), net, female

21

Successful municipal elections in December 2006 marked another important step forward in Haiti’s democratic process since the inauguration of President Rene Preval in May 2006.

Presidential elections were held in Haiti on 7 February 2006. The elections were originally due to start in November 2005, but were postponed 4 times due to logistical problems and security concerns. Following the elections, there were several days of demonstrations and sporadic outbreaks of violence due to the time taken by the Provisional Elections Commission to publicly announce the result. On 16 February, Rene Preval was declared the winner. The announcement eased months of political tension in Haiti.

A second round of Parliamentary elections took place on 21 April 2006. The Presidential inauguration of Rene Preval took place on 14 May 2006.

The EU deployed an Election Observation Mission to monitor the proceedings and the international community views the elections as fair and democratic. The 2006 elections marked an important point in Haiti's development. Haiti has suffered a chequered and volatile political history, marked by conflict and long periods of autocratic and semi autocratic rule. The development of the country's economy and people has been perpetually stifled as a result, making Haiti today the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with economic indicators on a par with the poorest countries in Africa.

Former President Aristide was first elected as President in December 1990, then ousted in a coup in September 1991, after which he spent the next 3 years in the US. The subsequent 3-year, interim, unconstitutional, military de facto regime was facing UN-mandated military intervention by mid-September 1994. On the brink of the UN, US-led intervention, its leader, General Raoul Cedras, and his fellow leaders agreed to step down.

President Aristide and other elected officials returned to Haiti in October 1994, and the restored Haitian authorities organised nation-wide local and parliamentary elections in June 1995. Aristide's term ended in 1995. He was barred from succeeding himself under the terms of the constitution and agreed to step aside and support a presidential election in December 1995, in which one of his main political allies, René Préval, was elected with 88% of the vote.

Towards the end of 1996, Aristide broke from his original Lavalas Political Organisation (OPL) and created a new political party, the Lavalas Family (FLO). Political gridlock followed flawed senate elections in April 1997, and the government was unable to organise the local and parliamentary elections due in late 1998. When local/municipal government elections were finally held on 21 May 2000 a multitude of political parties were represented and more than 60% of the electorate voted.

But due to a defective Provisional Electoral Council vote count methodology, the May 2000 election, in which Fanmi Lavalas enjoyed a virtual clean sweep, was deemed flawed by the International community and the Government of Haiti was sharply criticised.

The flawed May 2000 election marked the start of 3½ years of further political stalemate and turmoil, during which Aristide was 're-elected' President in a November 2000 election that was boycotted by the main opposition parties and characterised by very low voter turn out.

From 2001 until towards the end of 2003, despite protracted and intensive efforts by the international community spearheaded by the OAS with significant input from CARICOM, the stale-mate continued, with its under current of political violence and extortion. An apparently 'staged' coup at the Presidential palace on 17 December 2001 further entrenched the opposition parties to their position of not talking to Aristide's regime, further compounded by the latter's failure to pay OAS mandated reparations following the coup and to make progress on security/disarmament.

By the end of 2003 the political stalemate, and nation-wide disenchantment with Aristide, had reached a new level. An unlikely combination of the widely respected civil society 'Group 184' successfully calling for regular, peaceful, anti-government demonstrations, and a group of increasingly vocal and violent members of the ex-Army, succeeded in elevating anti-Aristide sentiment in the country.

Following an attack on dissenting students widely attributed to Aristide's 'chimères' (political bully boys) at the Port-au-Prince University on 5 December 2003, the situation continued to deteriorate moving into 2004, ironically Haiti's 200th Anniversary of Independence. Mediation efforts by the OAS and CARICOM continued to no avail, political violence escalated, and shortly after the ex-army militants had reportedly 'surrounded' Port-au-Prince towards the end of February 2004, Aristide asked for a US plane to help him into exile, resigned and left the country on 29 February 2004.

On Aristide's departure the UN Security Council adopted UN Resolution 1529, which amongst other measures called for the despatch of a Multinational Interim Force (MIF). The MIF began to deploy almost immediately on the adoption of the Resolution and a UN Assessment Mission. On 4 March 2004 a 'Tripartite Council' was named consisting of a representative of former President Aristide's 'Fanmi Lavalas' party; 1 named by the opposition; and a representative of the international community. This group was mandated to select 7 eminent persons (known as the 'Conseil des Sages'), which it did on 5 March. On 9 March the Council selected Gérard Latortue as Prime Minister from a short list of 3 candidates. The new Prime Minster swore in his government - of predominantly technocrats rather than politicians - on 17 March, and it was subsequently agreed that the interim government would work for elections within 2 years.

The MIF handed over to a UN force – MINUSTAH- with a 6-month renewable mandate in June/July 2004. MINUSTAH has had some success in conducting joint operations with the Haitian National Police in some of the traditionally lawless, gang- dominated parts of the country, including Cité Soleil in Port-au-Prince. With the help of the international community, the interim government worked towards free and fair elections in early 2006.

The interim government worked closely with the international community to restore law and order in the country. Some of the long-standing 'no-go' areas in the capital Port-au-Prince and other areas are being tackled by the 7,000 strong UN mandated force, MINUSTAH, working in tandem with the Haiti National Police (PNH). However, the process of disarmament and the restoration of the rule of law in some of these difficult areas is likely to take years rather than months, and will present one of the main challenges to the incoming Haitian administration.

The MINUSTAH mandate was recently renewed for an extended 8 months until October 2007, under the command of Brazilian Major-General Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz, replacing General Jose Elito Siguera Carvalho. Tragically, former commander General Urano Teixeira de Matta Bacellar was found dead in his hotel room in 2006 after he committed suicide.