World Factbook
Haiti
République d'Haïti (French)/Repiblik d Ayiti (Haitian Creole)
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red; a centered white rectangle bears the coat of arms, which has a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll with the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength) meaning: the colors are taken from the French flag and represent the union of ethnic groups
Capital
name
Port-au-Prince
etymology
the name means "the port of the prince" and probably came from a ship called The Prince that anchored in the bay in the early 18th century
time difference
UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
geographic coordinates
18 32 N, 72 20 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Haiti
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
note
note: the constitution is commonly referred to as the “amended 1987 constitution”
history
many previous; latest adopted 10 March 1987, with substantial revisions in June 2012
amendment process
proposed by the executive branch or by either the Senate or the Chamber of Deputies; consideration of proposed amendments requires support by at least two-thirds majority of both houses; passage requires at least two-thirds majority of the membership present and at least two-thirds majority of the votes cast; approved amendments enter into force after installation of the next president of the republic; constitutional articles on the democratic and republican form of government cannot be amended
Country name
etymology
derived from the Arawak name Ayti, meaning "Land of Mountains," that was originally applied to the entire island of Hispaniola
local long form
République d'Haïti (French)/Repiblik d Ayiti (Haitian Creole)
local short form
Haïti (French)/ Ayiti (Haitian Creole)
conventional long form
Republic of Haiti
conventional short form
Haiti
Independence
1 January 1804 (from France)
Legal system
civil law system strongly influenced by Napoleonic Code
Government type
semi-presidential republic
Judicial branch
note
note: the Superior Council of the Judiciary or Conseil Supérieur du Pouvoir Judiciaire is a 9-member body charged with the administration and oversight of the judicial branch of government note: Haiti is a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice, the Constitutional Court (called for in the 1987 constitution but not yet established), and the High Court of Justice, for trying high government officials (currently not functional) note : Article 174 of Haiti's constitution states that judges of the Supreme Court are appointed for 10 years, whereas Article 177 states that judges of the Supreme Court are appointed for life
highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Cour de cassation (consists of 12 judges)
subordinate courts
Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; magistrate's courts; land, labor, and children's courts
judge selection and term of office
judges appointed by the president from candidate lists submitted by the Senate of the National Assembly
Executive branch
note
note: former Prime Minister Ariel HENRY, who had assumed executive responsibilities following the assassination of President MOÏSE on 7 July 2021, resigned on 24 April 2024; a nine-member Presidential Transitional Council, equipped with presidential powers, was sworn in on 25 April 2024 and will remain in place until 7 February 2026
cabinet
Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president; parliament must ratify the Cabinet and prime minister's governing policy
chief of state
President (vacant)
election results
2016: Jovenel MOÏSE elected president in first round; percent of vote - Jovenel MOÏSE (PHTK) 55.6%, Jude CELESTIN (LAPEH) 19.6%, Jean-Charles MOÏSE (PPD) 11%, Maryse NARCISSE (FL) 9%; other 4.8% 2011: Michel MARTELLY elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Michel MARTELLY (Peasant's Response) 68%, Mirlande MANIGAT (RDNP) 32%
head of government
Prime Minister Alix Didier FILS-AIMÉ (since 10 November 2024)
most recent election date
20 November 2016
election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a single non-consecutive term)
expected date of next election
30 August 2026
National holiday
Independence Day, 1 January (1804)
National color(s)
blue, red
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
National History Park – Citadel, Sans Souci, Ramiers
Political parties
Alternative League for Haitian Progress and Emancipation (Ligue Alternative pour le Progrès et l’Emancipation Haïtienne) or LAPEH Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MCNH or Mochrenha Christian National Movement for the Reconstruction of Haiti or UNCRH Combat of Peasant Workers to Liberate Haiti (Konbit Travaye Peyizan Pou Libere Ayiti) or Kontra Pep La Convention for Democratic Unity or KID Cooperative Action to Rebuild Haiti or KONBA December 16 Platform or Platfom 16 Desanm Democratic Alliance Party or ALYANS (coalition includes KID and PPRH) Democratic Centers' National Council or CONACED Democratic and Popular Sector (Secteur Démocratique et Populaire) or SDP Democratic Unity Convention (Konvansyon Inite Demokratik) or KID Dessalinian Patriotic and Popular Movement or MOPOD Effort and Solidarity to Create an Alternative for the People or ESKAMP Fanmi Lavalas or FL Forward (En Avant) Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats (Fusion Des Sociaux-Démocrates Haïtiens) or FHSD G18 Policy Platform (Plateforme Politique G18) Haiti in Action (Ayiti An Aksyon Haiti's Action) or AAA Haitian Tet Kale Party (Parti Haitien Tet Kale) or PHTK Independent Movement for National Reconciliation or MIRN Lavni Organization or LAVNI Lod Demokratik Love Haiti (Renmen Ayiti) or RA MTV Ayiti National Consortium of Haitian Political Parties (Consortium National des Partis Politiques Haitiens) or CNPPH National Shield Network (Reseau Bouclier National) Organization of the People's Struggle (Oganizasyon Pep Kap Lite) or OPL Patriotic Unity (Inite Patriyotik) or Inite Platform Pitit Desalin (Politik Pitit Dessalines) or PPD Political Party for Us All or Bridge (Pont) or Pou Nou Tout Popular Patriotic Dessalinien Movement (Mouvement Patriotique Populaire Dessalinien) or MOPOD Rally of Progressive National Democrats (Rassemblement des Démocrates Nationaux Progressistes) or RDNP Respe (Respect) Women and Families Political Parties (Defile Pati Politik Fanm Ak Fanmi)
Legislative branch
note
note 1: when the two chambers meet collectively, it is known as the National Assembly (or L'Assemblée nationale) and is convened for specific purposes spelled out in the constitution note 2: as of October 2024, the Senate and Chamber of Deputies were not functional
legislature name
National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"La Dessalinienne" (The Dessalines Song)
history
adopted 1904; named for Jean-Jacques DESSALINES, founder of Haiti
lyrics/music
Justin LHERISSON/Nicolas GEFFRARD
National symbol(s)
Hispaniolan trogon (bird), hibiscus flower
Administrative divisions
10 departments ( départements , singular - département ); Artibonite, Centre, Grand'Anse, Nippes, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Députés)
term in office
4 years
number of seats
119 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
8/9/2015 to 10/25/2015
expected date of next election
August 2026
percentage of women in chamber
0%
parties elected and seats per party
Haitian Tet Kale Party (PHTK) (9); Konvansyon Inite Demokratik (KID) (7); Ayiti an aksyon (AAA) (6); Fanmi Lavalas (6); Patriotic Unity Party (Inite Patriyotik) (4); People's Struggle Party (OPL) (7); Other (24)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate (Sénat)
term in office
6 years
number of seats
30 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
partial renewal
most recent election date
11/20/2016 to 1/29/2017
expected date of next election
August 2026
parties elected and seats per party
Haitian Tet Kale Party (PHTK) (9); Truth (Vérité) (3); Konvansyon Inite Demokratik (KID) (2); Bouclier (2); Ayiti an aksyon (AAA) (2); Other (10)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 745-7215
chancery
2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 332-4090
chief of mission
Ambassador Lionel DELATOUR (since 11 June 2025)
consulate(s) general
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Orlando (FL), New York
email address and website
amb.washington@diplomatie.ht https://www.haiti.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[011] (509) 2229-8027
embassy
Tabarre 41, Route de Tabarre, Port-au-Prince
telephone
[011] (509) 2229-8000
mailing address
3400 Port-au-Prince Place, Washington, DC 20521-3400
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Henry T. WOOSTER (since 12 June 2025)
email address and website
acspap@state.gov https://ht.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, ACS, AOSIS, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt