Haiti occupies the western third of Hispaniola Island, sharing its border with the Dominican Republic, and is the world's first independent black republic, founded by formerly enslaved people in 1804.
Geography & landscape
Haiti sits in Caribbean, in the northern hemisphere of North America. With an area of approximately 27,750 km², it is a smaller nation, set in the northern hemisphere and exposed to the tropical climate band typical of its latitude. Its capital, Port-au-Prince, lies near coordinates 19°, -72.42°.
The country shares the cultural and geographic context of North America, with neighbouring states and trade routes shaped by its position in the wider Caribbean region. Topography, watersheds and coastline (where present) define the practical realities of agriculture, settlement and transport across Haiti.
People & society
The population of Haiti is around 12M. Communities, dialects and customs vary by region, and the country’s sense of identity is shaped by its history, its borders and the everyday rhythms of its towns and cities.
Haiti recognises multiple official languages — Haitian Creole and French — reflecting the cultural plurality at the heart of national life. The choice of language often shifts with region, audience and context.
Government & politics
Haiti is structured as a semi-presidential republic. Political authority is exercised through institutions based primarily in Port-au-Prince, with the head of state and head of government performing constitutional roles defined by the country’s legal framework. Domestic policy, foreign relations and the administration of public services all flow from this constitutional core.
Economy & currency
The official currency of Haiti is the Haitian Gourde (HTG). Monetary policy, banking, taxation and trade are managed nationally, often in coordination with regional and international institutions. Major economic activity tends to cluster around Port-au-Prince and other principal urban centres, with secondary economies built on the country’s natural resources, manufacturing capacity and service industries.
Culture & everyday life
The cultural footprint of Haiti shows up in cuisine, music, sport, religious life, festivals and design. National holidays mark the country’s historical pivots; family meals, café culture and street life follow patterns rooted in geography and tradition. International audiences usually meet Haiti through its sport, its music, its food, or the global diaspora that carries those things abroad.
Travel essentials
The capital, Port-au-Prince, is the natural starting point for first-time visitors. International dialling uses the country code +509, and clocks are set to the EST (UTC-5) time zone. ISO standards identify Haiti as HT (alpha-2) and HTI (alpha-3) — useful when booking flights, decoding number plates, or matching customs paperwork. The flag, 🇭🇹, appears at every border post and on every passport.
By the numbers
Sort or filter the table below to compare key metrics at a glance.
| Metric | Value | Unit / Note |
|---|---|---|
| Capital city | Port-au-Prince | — |
| Continent | North America | — |
| Sub-region | Caribbean | — |
| Population | 12M | people |
| Area | 27,750 | km² |
| Currency | Haitian Gourde (HTG) | — |
| Calling code | +509 | international dialling |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) | standard time |
| Government type | Semi-presidential republic | — |
| ISO 3166 alpha-2 | HT | 2-letter code |
| ISO 3166 alpha-3 | HTI | 3-letter code |
| Latitude | 19 | degrees |
| Longitude | -72.42 | degrees |
Did you know?
Haiti is the only country in the world to have been founded as a result of a successful slave rebellion — declaring independence in 1804.
