Legend:
 Definition
 Field Listing
 Rank Order
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Background:
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The native Arawak Amerindians - who inhabited the island of Hispaniola when it was discovered by Columbus in 1492 - were virtually annihilated by Spanish settlers within 25 years. In the early 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola, and in 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of the island - Haiti. The French colony, based on forestry and sugar-related industries, became one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean, but only through the heavy importation of African slaves and considerable environmental degradation. In the late 18th century, Haiti's nearly half million slaves revolted under Toussaint L'OUVERTURE and after a prolonged struggle, became the first black republic to declare its independence in 1804. Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history. It is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
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Location:
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Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic
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Geographic coordinates:
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19 00 N, 72 25 W
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Map references:
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Central America and the Caribbean
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Area:
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total: 27,750 sq km
land: 27,560 sq km
water: 190 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Maryland
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Land boundaries:
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total: 360 km
border countries: Dominican Republic 360 km
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Coastline:
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1,771 km
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Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
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territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
contiguous zone: 24 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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Climate:
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tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds
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Terrain:
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mostly rough and mountainous
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m
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Natural resources:
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bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower
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Land use:
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arable land: 20.3%
permanent crops: 12.7%
other: 67% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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750 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; periodic droughts
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Environment - current issues:
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extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes
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Geography - note:
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shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)
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Population:
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7,656,166
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2004 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 42.2% (male 1,646,216; female 1,583,294)
15-64 years: 54.1% (male 2,018,914; female 2,124,287)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 133,241; female 150,214) (2004 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 18.1 years
male: 17.6 years
female: 18.7 years (2004 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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1.71% (2004 est.)
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Birth rate:
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33.76 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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Death rate:
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13.21 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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-3.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 74.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 68.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 79.83 deaths/1,000 live births
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 51.78 years
male: 50.52 years
female: 53.12 years (2004 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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4.76 children born/woman (2004 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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6.1% (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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250,000 (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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30,000 (2001 est.)
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Nationality:
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noun: Haitian(s)
adjective: Haitian
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Ethnic groups:
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black 95%, mulatto and white 5%
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3% (1982)
note: roughly half of the population practices Voodoo
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Languages:
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French (official), Creole (official)
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 52.9%
male: 54.8%
female: 51.2% (2003 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Haiti
conventional short form: Haiti
local short form: Haiti
local long form: Republique d'Haiti
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Government type:
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elected government
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Capital:
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Port-au-Prince
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Administrative divisions:
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9 departments (departements, singular - departement); Artibonite, Centre, Grand 'Anse, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est
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Independence:
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1 January 1804 (from France)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 1 January (1804)
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Constitution:
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approved March 1987; suspended June 1988 with most articles reinstated March 1989; in October 1991 government claimed to be observing the constitution; returned to constitutional rule in October 1994
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Legal system:
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based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Interim President Boniface ALEXANDER (since 29 February 2004)
note: Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE resigned as president on 29 February 2004
head of government: Prime Minister Gerald LATORTUE (since 12 March 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president
election results: Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE elected president; percent of vote - Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE 92%
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 26 November 2000 (next to be held in 2004); prime minister appointed by the president, ratified by the National Assembly
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale consists of the Senate (27 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber of Deputies (83 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FL 26, independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FL 73, MOCHRENA 3, PLB 2, OPL 1, vacant 1, other minor parties and independents 3
elections: Senate - last held for two-thirds of seats 21 May 2000 with runoffs on 9 July boycotted by the opposition; seven seats still disputed; election for remaining one-third held on 26 November 2000 (next to be held in 2004); Chamber of Deputies - last held 21 May 2000 with runoffs on 30 July boycotted by the opposition; one vacant seat rerun 26 November 2000 (next to be held in 2004)
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court or Cour de Cassation
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Political parties and leaders:
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Alliance for the Liberation and Advancement of Haiti or ALAH [Reynold GEORGES]; Assembly of Progressive National Democrats or RDNP [Leslie MANIGAT]; Convention for Democratic Unity or KID [leader NA]; Convergence (opposition coalition composed of ESPACE, OPL, and MOCHRENA) [Gerard PIERRE-CHARLES, Evans PAUL, Luc MESADIEU, Victor BENOIT]; Democratic Consultation Group coalition or ESPACE [Evans PAUL, Victor BENOIT] composed of the following parties: National Congress of Democratic Movements or KONAKOM, National Progressive Revolutionary Party or PANPRA, Generation 2004, and Haiti Can; Haitian Christian Democratic Party or PDCH [Marie-France CLAUDE]; Haitian Democratic Party or PADEM [Clark PARENT]; Lavalas Family or FL [Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE]; Mobilization for National Development or MDN [Hubert DE RONCERAY]; Movement for National Reconstruction or MRN [Rene THEODORE]; Movement for the Installation of Democracy in Haiti or MIDH [Marc BAZIN]; Movement for the Organization of the Country or MOP [Gesner COMEAU and Jean MOLIERE]; National Cooperative Action Movement or MKN [Volrick Remy JOSEPH]; National Front for Change and Democracy or FNCD [Evans PAUL and Turneb DELPE]; New Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MOCHRENA [Luc MESADIEU]; Open the Gate or PLB [Renaud BERNARDIN]; Struggling People's Organization or OPL [Gerard PIERRE-CHARLES]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Autonomous Haitian Workers or CATH; Confederation of Haitian Workers or CTH; Federation of Workers Trade Unions or FOS; National Popular Assembly or APN; Papaye Peasants Movement or MPP; Popular Organizations Gathering Power or PROP; Roman Catholic Church
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International organization participation:
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ACCT, ACP, Caricom, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond VALCIN (as of December 2003)
chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
FAX: [1] (202) 745-7215
telephone: [1] (202) 332-4090
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador James B. FOLEY (as of September 2003)
embassy: 5 Harry S Truman Boulevard, Port-au-Prince
mailing address: P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince
telephone: [509] 222-0354, 222-0368, 222-0200, 222-0612
FAX: [509] 223-1641
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Flag description:
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two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength)
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Economy - overview:
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In this poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, 80% of the population lives in abject poverty. Two-thirds of all Haitians depend on the agriculture sector, which consists mainly of small-scale subsistence farming. Following legislative elections in May 2000, fraught with irregularities, international donors - including the US and EU - suspended almost all aid to Haiti. The economy shrank an estimated 1.2% in 2001 and an estimated 0.9% in 2002. Suspended aid and loan disbursements totaled more than $500 million at the start of 2003. Haiti also suffers from rampant inflation, a lack of investment, and a severe trade deficit. The resumption of aid flows from all donors will alleviate but not end the nation's bitter economic problems. Extensive civil strife in early 2004, marked by the flight of President ARISTIDE, further impoverished Haiti.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $12.18 billion (2003 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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-1% (2003 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2003 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 30%
industry: 20%
services: 50% (2001 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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80% (2003 est.)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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37.3% (2003 est.)
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Labor force:
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3.6 million
note: shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (2003)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 66%, services 25%, industry 9%
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Unemployment rate:
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widespread unemployment and underemployment; more than two-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs (2002 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $273 million
expenditures: $361 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY00/01 est.)
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Industries:
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sugar refining, flour milling, textiles, cement, light assembly industries based on imported parts
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA
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Electricity - production:
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580 million kWh (2001)
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 60.3%
hydro: 39.7%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
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Electricity - consumption:
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539.4 million kWh (2001)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2001)
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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11,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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NA
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Oil - imports:
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NA
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Agriculture - products:
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coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum, wood
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Exports:
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$321 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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manufactures, coffee, oils, cocoa
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Exports - partners:
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US 84.5%, Dominican Republic 6.7%, Canada 2.5% (2002)
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Imports:
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$1.028 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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food, manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, raw materials
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Imports - partners:
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US 52.5%, Dominican Republic 5.2%, Colombia 3.4% (2002)
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Debt - external:
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$1.2 billion (1999)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$120 million (FY02)
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Currency:
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gourde (HTG)
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Currency code:
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HTG
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Exchange rates:
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gourdes per US dollar - 40.5 (2003), 29.25 (2002), 24.43 (2001), 21.17 (2000), 16.94 (1999)
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Fiscal year:
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1 October - 30 September
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Railways:
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total: 40 km
narrow gauge: 40 km 0.760-m gauge; single-track
note: privately owned industrial line; closed in early 1990s (2001 est.)
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Highways:
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total: 4,160 km
paved: 1,011 km
unpaved: 3,149 km (1999 est.)
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Waterways:
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less than 100 km navigable
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Ports and harbors:
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Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Jeremie, Les Cayes, Miragoane, Port-au-Prince, Port-de-Paix, Saint-Marc
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Merchant marine:
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none
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Airports:
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12 (2003 est.)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2003 est.)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 5 (2003 est.)
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This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
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