HAITI FACTS

The Republic of Haiti covers 10,700 square miles (about the size of Maryland) and occupies the western third of the Caribbean Island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. The land is mountainous and mostly deforested.

Ninety-five percent of Haiti's 8.5 million people are descendants of African slaves brought to the New World to cut sugar cane; most of the rest are mulatto descendants of French settlers. About 70 percent of all Haitians are illiterate. Life expectancy is 54. One of every five Haitian children dies of malnutrition, dehydration or diarrhea. Both French and Creole are official languages, but most Haitians speak only Creole.

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and among the poorest in the world. The average annual income is $350, and 75 percent of the people live below the poverty level set by the World Bank. More than half the population is unemployed and many of these scratch out a subsistence living in agriculture. Coffee is the main export crop, factory workers earn less than $3 a day, and 1% of the population controls approximately 40% of the country's wealth.

Haitians are a very religious people. Roman Catholic and Protestant religions exist alongside voodoo, a spirit religion.  There are many inaccurate estimates of religion in Haiti. From our 20 years of ministry in Haiti, we estimate that over 50% of the population professes to be Christian. This includes both Catholic and Protestant Evangelicals. Voodoo is more than a religion. It is a belief system so intertwined with their culture that it influences over 70% of the Haitian people.

Although Haiti has many problems, there is great potential for blessing as the people turn and seek the Lord.