43 Interesting Facts About Haiti | Historical, Culture, Geography
The Republic of Haiti fills up one-third of the western island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean. Also, share two-thirds of the eastern island is the Dominican Republic.
Haiti offers us a lot with miles of striking mountains, beautiful beaches, and resilient people. Its impressive history and distinctive culture have turned the country into what it is now.
Sadly, in the past, Haiti faced natural disasters & poverty higher than any other Caribbean country but now turns into a popular & unique destination.
Basic Things about Haiti | Haitian Information
Official Name: Republic of Haiti
Capital City: Port-au-Prince
Population: 11,067,777
Area: 27,750 sq km
Languages: French, Creole
Time Zone: UTC-5 (Eastern Time Zone)
– Source: CIA World Fact Book
However, here’s a look at Haiti’s many interesting facts to learn more about the nation’s amazing facts.
Interesting Facts about Haiti to Make you Sense
What is Haiti Known for?
No#1: Independent nation
After the U. S. Haiti is the second independent nation in the Western Hemisphere.
No#2: Official religion
In the world, Haiti is the only country to admitted Voodoo as an official religion. In the Haitian culture, Voodoo is a crucial part that’s why President Francis Duvalier realized himself as a priest of Voodoo.
No#3: Name origination
The word “Ayiti” originates from the word from the indigenous Taíno, which means “Land of mountains” – the most mountainous nation in the Caribbean.
Haiti Historical Facts
No#4: Ruling history
Almost seventy various dictators ruled between 1804 and 1915.
Cool Facts about Haiti
No#5: unified country
From 1822-1844 the Haiti & the Dominican Republic were unified countries called “Hispaniola.”
No#6: Gross Domestic Product:
In 2019 Haiti’s Gross Domestic Product was only 756 dollars per capita; the poorest country.
No#7: Official language
In the Americas, Canada & Haiti are the only two nations whose official language is French. Additionally, more than 90% of Haitians use Creole as their first language, but in 1987it only recognized an official language.
Fun Facts about Haiti
No#8: The Citadelle Laferrière -the largest fortress
In the Western Hemisphere, the Citadelle Laferrière is considered the largest fortress; built between 1806-1820; walls rise 130 feet from the mountaintop and cover 10,000 square meters.
No#9: Mountainous country
Haiti’s mountain tops touch over 8,000 feet. Hence this country is named after by this option. This country is primarily mountains than any Caribbean nation.
No#10: Abolish slavery
In human history, The Haitian slave Revolution was the only successful event to abolish slavery. In the Western Hemisphere, Haiti was the first country.
Facts about Haitian Culture
No#11: Solar enriched hospital
The Universitaire De Mirebalais, Hospital in Haiti became the most prominent solar enriched hospital in the world. As this country faced a death toll of more than 300,000 people, it also left 5 million people homeless by an earthquake in 2010.
No#12: Cave paintings
From the Taino people there cave paintings are surviving. Presently these paintings are recognized as national symbols also serve as the most outstanding tourist attractions in the country.
No#13: Cockfighting
Haiti’s official sport is Cockfighting. Though in the U.S., Animal rights activists are considered inhumane & cruel, in Haiti, Cock Fighting popularity is skyrocketing. The winner gets $67that is almost a month’s salary.
Hot pepper with raw meat soaked in rum to feed the cocks, making them aggressive & challenging. The winning cock owner gets $70.
No#14: Interesting divorce fact
In Haiti, an Interesting fact relates to divorce; only one partner must be present for a divorce. In the 1970s, Haiti passed a law for easy divorcés. This law was created to boost tourism.
No#15: A very colorful country
With a powerful artistic tradition, Haiti is known for its colorful, bold, and symbolic paintings. The buses & streets of Haiti were creatively painted, adding extra attraction for tourists.
Beautiful Facts about Haiti
No#16: Gourde currency of Haiti
According to a plant name Gourd Haiti’s currency is called; a hardy plant to Haitians, a prevalent food. Until 1807 Gourd was a currency itself. After introducing recent official currency, it names after Gourd.
No#17: Top point of biodiversity
Haiti has almost 5,600 plant species living between sea levels to mountain peaks. Haiti is also the birthplace of endangered mammal species like Haitian Solenodon.
No#18: Tourism -the largest industries
By cruise ship, almost one million tourists come. Tourist loves to visit a private resort called lodge at Labadee, on Haiti’s northern coast. It was named after a French man Marquis de La Badie, the first settler in this space in the 17th century.
No#19: Columbus’ impression
In 1492, Christopher Columbus first landed on Hispaniola Island and gave it a name. Columbus’s first impression was that he got Asia or India.
On Haiti’s capital central square, Christopher Columbus stands, which is home to 20% of the country’s population.
No#20: National sport
Soccer is Haiti’s national sport. They first competed in the World Cup in 1974.
No#21: Gamble lovers
Maximum Haitians are gamble lovers. Even in voodoo ceremonies, they beg gods to win the lottery numbers.
No#22: Deforested nations
Haiti is the world’s most deforested nation- Overgrazing, Lower agricultural practices, increasing demand for charcoal, and land scarcities are the leading causes.
No#23: Highest peak
What is Haiti Famous for
The Pic la Selle, at 8,793 feet above sea level, is Haiti’s highest peak.
No#24: Unequal labor practices
Unequal labor practices are available in the country; that’s why a maximum of people are jobless.
No#25: Literacy rate
In Haiti, a maximum of 60.7% of its population knows how to read and write.
No#26: According to NRI
Network Readiness Index- the World Economic Forum’s Haiti is lower among North American nations. NRI is an indicator of the country’s technology and information improvement.
No#27: Mobile & internet connections
For the wealthy minority, Mobile and internet connections are also reserved for the capital business interests.
No#28: Two significant challenges
For Haitians, Water supply & Sanitation are two significant challenges. Human Pollution and other waste are available in most of the Haitian rivers.
Diseases like hookworm typhoid are common in the area.
No#29: AIDS/ HIV affected people
Almost 50 % of Haitian people are affected by AIDS/ HIV.
No#30: Highest death toll
In Haiti’s history, the sixth-highest death toll occurred in 1963, while Hurricane Flora hit this country, resulting in almost 8000 deaths.
No#31: Drug business
Haiti is well known for its drug business, although it is pretty illegal. Their business spread out all over Central South America, United States & Europe.
No#32: Potential threat
Corruption is the main threat to the country also its citizens. Out of listed 176 countries, Haiti is ranked the 159th by Transparency International.
In the world, Somalia is the most corrupted country.
No#33: Anemia common for children:
Between the six months – five years children anemia is common.
No#34: First detection of Smallpox
In 1507 Haiti, Smallpox was detected first, and then Haiti was called Hispaniola.
No#35: Massive cholera outbreak
In 2010 this country caused almost 8,900 people, and 733,000 others affected, until 2015.
Important Facts about Haiti
No#36: Only one public university
In Haiti, the University in Port-au-Prince is the only public university founded in 1944.
No#37: Child death rate
Children of Haiti are prone to deaths over 10% of before five. Almost 50 % of them are unvaccinated.
No#39: The income per capita
The average income per capita in Haiti is inadequate. It is only $480 per year, with 80% of the population living under the poverty line.
No#40: Health care access
Less than 40% of its citizens have primary Health care access, though this is a primarily populated country in the Caribbean.
No#41: Food expense
Maximum Haitians’ spent the majority of their income on food.
No#42: Haiti’s airport
In Haiti, Among the 14 airports, just four of them have paved runways. Their main export crop is Coffee.
No#43: National Security Volunteers:
(“Papa Doc”) the former Francois Duvalier president of Haiti made the National Security Volunteers in 1957.
Which interesting facts about Haiti touch you more? Even If you know more about Haiti facts, leave a comment to add it to our list.
