People and Society of Haiti

Nationality

Haitian(s)

Ethnic Groups

Black 95%, mulatto and white 5%

Population

11,724,763

Population in Major Urban Areas

PORT-AU-PRINCE (capital) 2.207 million

Medical facilities in Haiti are scarce and for the most part sub-standard. Outside of the capital standards are often even lower than in Port-au-Prince. Medical care in Port-au-Prince is limited, and the level of community sanitation is extremely low. Life-threatening emergencies often require evacuation by air ambulance at the patient's expense. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment in advance for health services. In the event of a medical emergency requiring evacuation, a list of air ambulance or charter flight services is available at the ACS web site. Incidents of cholera have declined significantly since a major outbreak in 2010 and travelers are generally not at high risk; however, cholera persists in many areas of Haiti. Prior to travel, U.S. citizens should obtain information about cholera and other health-related issues by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions, malaria and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC web site.

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Haiti stands at approximately 64 years, placing it among the lowest in the Western Hemisphere. This figure reflects the profound and ongoing challenges the country faces across its health, economic, and social systems. Women in Haiti tend to outlive men, with female life expectancy estimated at around 66 years compared to approximately 62 years for males. Haiti's relatively low life expectancy is shaped by a complex intersection of factors. Widespread poverty limits access to nutritious food, clean water, and basic sanitation for a significant portion of the population. The public health infrastructure remains severely underdeveloped, with shortages of trained medical personnel, medicines, and functioning health facilities, particularly in rural areas where the majority of Haitians live. Infectious diseases continue to pose serious threats. Malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS remain persistent public health concerns. The 2010 cholera outbreak — which followed the devastating January earthquake of that year — killed tens of thousands and strained an already fragile health system. A subsequent cholera resurgence emerged in 2022 amid escalating gang violence and displacement, further undermining public health capacity. The 2010 earthquake itself caused enormous mortality and long-lasting damage to critical infrastructure, and the August 2021 earthquake in the southern peninsula compounded these setbacks, killing over 2,200 people and destroying hospitals, clinics, and housing in an already vulnerable region. Maternal and infant mortality rates in Haiti are among the highest in the region, further dragging down overall life expectancy figures. Complications during pregnancy and childbirth remain a leading cause of death for women of reproductive age, while infant mortality runs well above regional averages, reflecting persistent gaps in prenatal care and neonatal services. Political instability — including the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021 and the subsequent deterioration of security conditions driven by gang expansion across much of the country — has severely disrupted health service delivery, supply chains, and humanitarian access. Recurring natural disasters, food insecurity, and constrained international aid pipelines have all compounded the difficulty of sustaining meaningful, long-term improvements in population health. Despite these challenges, some progress has been made over the past several decades — life expectancy was notably lower in the late 20th century — demonstrating that targeted interventions in areas such as vaccination coverage, maternal health, and nutrition can yield measurable gains even in deeply resource-constrained environments. Continued investment in primary health care, education, security, and infrastructure will be essential for Haiti to close the significant gap that separates its life expectancy from that of its Caribbean neighbors.

Infant Mortality Rate

Haiti faces one of the highest infant mortality rates in the Western Hemisphere, reflecting the country's persistent challenges in healthcare access, infrastructure, and socioeconomic conditions. As of the most recent available data, Haiti's infant mortality rate stands at approximately 40 to 45 deaths per 1,000 live births, meaning that roughly 4 to 5 percent of children born in Haiti do not survive to their first birthday. This figure is significantly higher than the Latin America and Caribbean regional average of around 14 deaths per 1,000 live births. The leading causes of infant death in Haiti include neonatal infections, respiratory illnesses, diarrheal diseases, and complications arising from premature birth or low birth weight. Malnutrition is a compounding factor, as it weakens immune responses and increases vulnerability to otherwise treatable conditions. Access to clean drinking water remains limited for a large portion of the population, particularly in rural areas, where waterborne illnesses continue to take a heavy toll on infants and young children. Haiti's healthcare system is severely underfunded and understaffed, with a shortage of trained medical professionals, particularly in remote regions outside Port-au-Prince. Many births occur outside of formal medical facilities, limiting access to skilled birth attendants and emergency obstetric care. The 2010 earthquake and subsequent natural disasters further destabilized an already fragile public health infrastructure, with effects on maternal and child health still being felt more than a decade later. Despite these challenges, the infant mortality rate has declined substantially over recent decades. In the 1990s, Haiti's infant mortality rate was estimated at over 90 deaths per 1,000 live births, meaning the current figures represent a meaningful improvement driven by international aid programs, expanded vaccination coverage, and community health worker initiatives supported by organizations such as UNICEF and the World Health Organization. Sustained progress will require continued investment in clean water and sanitation, nutrition programs, prenatal care, and strengthening the national health system to ensure that gains already made are not reversed by ongoing political instability and economic hardship.

Major Infectious Diseases

High

Literacy Definition

Age 15 and over can read and write

• Roman Catholic80.0%
• Protestant16.0%
• other3.0%
• none1.0%

French (official), Creole (official)

• Creole
• French

• John James Audubon

  Scientist

  John James Audubon, ornithologist and painter of birdlife, was born in Les Cayes, Santo Domingo, Haiti

Crime Information

Crimes such as kidnappings, death threats, murders, armed robberies, home break-ins and car-jacking are not uncommon in Haiti. Generally, these crimes are committed by Haitians against other Haitians, but foreigners and U.S. citizens have been victimized. The incidence of kidnapping in Haiti has diminished from its peak in 2006 when 60 U.S. citizens were reported kidnapped. In 2012 there were nine reported kidnappings of U.S. citizens, two homicides, seventeen aggravated assaults, one sexual assault, and 115 reported robberies. In recent years, some U.S. citizens who were kidnapped reported being beaten and/or raped by their hostage takers. Kidnapping remains the most critical security concern, and kidnappers have not been averse to targeting children in the past. It is important to exercise a high degree of caution throughout the country. Keep valuables well hidden, ensure possessions are not left in parked vehicles, use private transportation, alternate your travel routes, and keep doors and windows in homes and vehicles closed and locked. You should avoid all night-time travel due to poor road conditions and increased criminal activity after dark. Remain alert for suspicious onlookers when entering and exiting banks, as criminals often watch and subsequently attack bank customers. Withdrawals of large amounts of cash should be avoided. Criminal perpetrators often operate in groups of two to four individuals, and may occasionally be confrontational and gratuitously violent. Criminals sometimes will seriously injure or kill those who resist their attempts to commit crime. In robberies or home invasions, it is not uncommon for the assailants to beat or shoot the victim in order to limit the victim's ability to resist. If an armed individual demands the surrender of a vehicle or other valuables, we recommend that you comply. This recommendation also applies in the event of a kidnapping. Exercise caution at all times and review basic personal security procedures frequently. Avoid using public transportation, including "tap-taps" (private transportation used for commercial purposes). All public transportation is prohibited for Embassy personnel due to the safety and security risks associated with its use. When arriving to Haiti by air, arrange for someone you know to meet you at the airport. You should decline all requests to carry items for others to or from Haiti. Traffickers of illegal drugs have duped unsuspecting travelers into helping transport narcotics aboard commercial airlines. Avoid certain high-crime zones in the Port-au-Prince area, including Croix-des-Bouquets, Carrefour, Martissant, the port road (Boulevard La Saline), urban route Nationale #1, route Nationale #9, the airport road (Boulevard Toussaint L'Ouverture) and its adjoining connectors to the New ("American") Road via Route Nationale #1 (which should also be avoided). This latter area in particular has been the scene of numerous robberies, car-jackings, and murders. Embassy employees are prohibited from entering Cite Soleil and La Saline and their surrounding environs due to significant criminal activity. Neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince once considered relatively safe, such as the Delmas road area, Petionville, and Vivy Mitchel have been the scenes of an increasing number of violent crimes. Cameras and video cameras should only be used with the permission of the subjects; violent incidents have followed unwelcome photography. Avoid photography/videography in high-crime areas. Holiday periods, especially Christmas and Carnival, often bring a significant increase in criminal activity. Haiti's Carnival season is marked by street celebrations in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday. In recent years, Carnival has been accompanied by civil disturbances, altercations and severe traffic disruptions. People attending Carnival events or simply caught in the resulting celebrations have been injured and killed. Random stabbings during Carnival season have also occurred. Roving musical bands called “rah-rahs” operate during the period from New Year's Day through Carnival. Being caught in a rah-rah event may begin as an enjoyable experience, but the potential for injury and the destruction of property is high. A mob mentality can develop unexpectedly leaving people and cars engulfed and at risk. During Carnival, rah-rahs continuously form without warning; some rah-rahs have identified themselves with political entities, lending further potential for violence. While the size of the Haitian National Police (HNP) is slowly increasing and its capabilities improving, it is still understaffed and under-equipped. As a result, it is unable to respond to all calls for assistance. There are continued allegations of police complicity in criminal activity. The response and enforcement capabilities of the HNP and the weakness of the judiciary often frustrate victims of crime in Haiti. In the past, U.S. citizens involved in business and property disputes in Haiti have been arrested and detained without charge and have been released only after intervention at high levels of the Haitian government. Do not buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are pirated goods illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may be also breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Haiti, you are subject to its laws. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. In some places driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Haiti, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going. Persons violating Haiti's laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Haiti are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. The judicial process in Haiti can be extremely slow; progress is often dependent on considerations not related to the specific case, including personal disputes. Detainees have waited months or years for their cases to be heard before a judge or to have legal decisions acted upon by the authorities. Bond is not usually available to those arrested for serious crimes with the result that often suspects remain in custody for many months before formal indictment. Judges have more or less unfettered freedom to detain individuals for prolonged periods of time without the possibility of release or sanctions. Based on the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, bilateral agreements with certain countries, and customary international law, if you are arrested in Haiti, you have the option to request that the police, prison officials, or other authorities alert the U.S. Embassy of your arrest, and to have communications from you forwarded to the U.S. Embassy.