About Haiti
The Republic of Haiti is the first independent state in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the first nation in the world born from a revolution of enslaved people.
This page brings together its geography and key institutional data; the latter as established by the 1987 Constitution.
Geography
Haiti, located on the second largest island in the Caribbean, lies 77 km southeast of Cuba. It occupies the western third of the island it shares with the Dominican Republic and has 1,530 km of coastline. With a mountainous geography between the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south, Haiti also comprises several islands surrounding the mainland: La Gonâve, La Tortue, L'Île-à-Vache, La Navase, etc.
The Republic
Its official name is the Republic of Haiti—République d'Haïti in French, Repiblik Ayiti in Haitian Creole. The Constitution defines it as an indivisible, sovereign, independent, cooperative, free, democratic, and social republic.
The capital and seat of government is Port-au-Prince.
National Symbols
National Colors: blue and red.
Flag: two horizontal stripes of equal size, blue on top and red on the bottom. In the center, on a white square, are the arms of the Republic: a palm tree crowned by the cap of liberty and, in its shadow, a trophy of arms with the legend «L'Union fait la Force» (unity is strength).
National currency: Liberté – Égalité – Fraternité (liberty, equality, fraternity).
National anthem: «La Dessalinienne», in honor of Jean-Jacques Dessalines. The lyrics are by Justin Lhérisson and the music by Nicolas Geffrard.
Language and currency
Official languages: Creole and French. The Constitution establishes that Creole is the language that unites all Haitians. Currency: the gourde, divided into centimes. Territorial Organization The territory of the Republic comprises the western part of the island of Hispaniola and the adjacent islands. It is divided into ten departments, each with its capital:
- Artibonite — Gonaïves
- Center — Hinche
- Grand'Anse — Jérémie
- Nippes — Miragoâne
- North — Cap Haitien
- Northeast — Fort-Liberté
- Northwest — Port-de-Paix
- West — Port-au-Prince
- South — Les Cayes
- Southeast — Jacmel
Founding dates
May 18, 1803. The two-color flag was born from the Arcahaie Congress, when the white stripe of the French tricolor was removed to leave the blue and red united. Haiti commemorates Flag Day on that day.
November 18, 1803. The Battle of Vertières seals the final victory over the French army.
January 1, 1804. Jean-Jacques Dessalines proclaims Haiti's independence.