Demographics of Haiti
Although Haiti averages approximately 250 people per square kilometer (650 per sq. mi.), its population is concentrated most heavily in urban areas, coastal plains, and valleys. About 95% of Haitians are of predominantly Afro-Caribbean descent[1]. The remainder of the population vary in ethnic groups from mulattoes, mestizoes, marabous, to Arabs (primarily Syrian and Lebanese people), and Europeans. Also a significant amount of Jewish ancestry[2]. White-descended Haitians are mainly of French, Polish, Spanish, Italian, and German heritage. Hispanic residents in Haiti are mostly Cuban, Colombian, Panamanian, Venezuelan, or Dominican. There is a very small percentage within the minority who are of Asian origin. A majority of Haitians inherit both African and Taino/Arawak heritage due to the history of the island. There is a very small percentage within the minority who are of Asian descent; nearly all are immigrant residents. The very small number of Asians in Haiti are virtually all concentrated in the country's largest urban areas (primarily Port-au-Prince). About two thirds of the Haitian population live in rural areas.
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Haiti is an Afro-Latin nation with some African contributions to the culture as well as its language, music and religion. Primarily French, Spanish, and to a much lesser extent (food, art, and folk religion) Taíno and Arab customs are also present in the society. Haiti has many close cultural ties with its neighbors, Cuba especially, and the neighboring Dominican Republic due to the history involving those countries and the post-imperialist era.
French is one of two official languages. All Haitians speak Haitian Creole, the country's other official language. The latter, is a creole based primarily on French and Spanish languages, with some English, Taíno, Portuguese, African, and Arabic influences. Spanish though not official is spoken by a growing amount of the population. It is spoken more frequently near the border with the Dominican Republic, however Spanish is increasingly being spoken in more westward areas, as Venezuelan, Cuban, and Dominican trade influence Haitian society, and Haiti becomes increasingly involved in Latin American affairs. English is increasingly spoken among the young and in the business sector.
The state religion is Roman Catholicism which most of the population professes. Some Haitians have converted to Protestantism through the work of missionaries active throughout the country. Much of the population also practice Vodou traditions but these claims are denied by a significant amount of the strict Roman Catholic populace. Haitians that do practice both faiths however tend to see no conflict in these African-rooted beliefs co-existing with Christian faiths.
Although public education is free, private and parochial schools provide around 75% of educational programs offered. Less than 65% of children of primary school age are actually enrolled. At the secondary level, the figure drops to 15%. Of those enrolled in primary school, 63% will complete it. On average, it takes 16 years to produce a single graduate of the 6-year cycle. Though Haitians place a high value on education, few can afford to send their children to secondary school. Remittances sent by Haitians living abroad are important in paying educational costs.
Large-scale emigration, principally to the United States, and Quebec- but also to Cuba, Canada, France, Spain, Belgium, French Guiana, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, and other Caribbean neighbors - has created what Haitians refer to as the Tenth Department or the Diaspora. About one of every six Haitians live abroad.
The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook [3].
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 2007 est.)
Population:
8,706,497
Age structure: (2003 est.)
0-14 years: 42.1% (male 1,846,175; female 1,817,082)
15-64 years: 54.4% (male 2,313,542; female 2,426,326)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 134,580; female 168,792)
Median age:
Total: 18.4 years
Male: 17.9 years
Female: 18.8 years
Population growth rate: 2.453% (2007 est.)
Birth rate: 35.87 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate: 10.4 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio: (2003 est.)
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.016 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.954 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.797 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.973 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Total: 63.83 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 59.07 deaths/1,000 live births
Male: 68.45 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
Total population: 57.03 years
Male: 55.35 years
Female: 58.75 years
Total fertility rate: 4.86 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 2.2% (2005 est.)[4]
Nationality:
Noun: Haitian(s)
Adjective: Haitian
Ethnic groups: Black 95%, Mulatto and White 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3%
Languages: French (official), Haitian Creole (official), Spanish (non official)
Literacy: (2008 est.)
[5] Definition: Age 15 and over that can read and write
Total population: 61.0%
Male: 63.8%
Female: 58.3%
- ^ CIA - The World Factbook -- Haiti
- ^ http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/haiti.html
- ^ The 2008 World Factbook: Haiti
- ^ data.unaids.org/pub/EPISlides/2007/2007_epiupdate_en.pdf
- ^ Institut Haitien de Statistique et d'Informatique - IHSI
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