Haiti is a country in the Caribbean, one of the 28 entries this site files under that subregion. In formal use it is Republic of Haiti. The capital is Port-au-Prince.
Some 11.8 million people call it home, placing it 83rd of 250 by population — between Belgium above it and Jordan below. Among the 28 entries in the Caribbean it ranks 3rd by area and 1st by population.
Its territory runs to 27,750 km², which ranks it 149th of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind Burundi and just ahead of Rwanda. Put next to a country most people can picture, it is a fraction smaller than Belgium.
Where Haiti is and what surrounds it
Plotted on a globe it falls at 19.0° north, 72.4° west, which puts it in the northern hemisphere, roughly 2,115 km from the equator, in what geographers would call tropical latitudes.
Follow that same latitude east or west and you reach India, Mali and Mauritania — places that share its distance from the equator but little else.
Its land neighbours number 1: the Dominican Republic.
It has both a coastline and land borders, which is the most common arrangement of all.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
People, population and language
Spread across 27,750 km², that works out at about 424 people per square kilometre, which makes it densely populated. Half the entries in this dataset fall below roughly 90 per square kilometre.
2 languages carry official status: French and Haitian Creole. Haitian Creole is listed for no other entry in this dataset, which makes it effectively unique to Haiti. French, the first listed, is shared with 45 other entries worldwide.
People from Haiti are called Haitians.
Inside the Americas it places 13th of 56 by population, and it accounts for 27% of everyone living in the Caribbean.
Currency and codes
It uses the Haitian gourde (G, HTG). It is issued for Haiti alone.
The top-level domain is .ht. To phone it from abroad you dial +509. Its ISO codes are ht and HTI, which is what most databases and flag files use.
If a quiz asks for the capital of Haiti, the answer is Port-au-Prince.
It holds a seat at the United Nations, one of 193 entries here that do. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Neighbouring countries
Haiti shares borders with 1 country:
Fun facts about Haiti
- Ranked by land area, Haiti is 149th out of the 250 countries and territories on this site.
- In land area it is a fraction smaller than Belgium.
- Haitian Creole is listed as an official language for no other entry in this dataset.
- French is official here and in 45 other entries worldwide.
- India and Mali sit at almost the same latitude, on the far side of the globe.
- It is 83rd of 250 by population, with about 11.8 million residents.
Haiti — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Haiti?
- The capital of Haiti is Port-au-Prince.
- What is the population of Haiti?
- Haiti has a population of about 11.8 million, which makes it the 83rd most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Belgium sits just above it and Jordan just below.
- Which countries border Haiti?
- Haiti borders 1 country: the Dominican Republic.
- What currency does Haiti use?
- Haiti uses the Haitian gourde, written G (currency code HTG). No other entry in this dataset uses it.
- What language is spoken in Haiti?
- Haiti lists 2 official languages: French and Haitian Creole. Haitian Creole does not appear as an official language anywhere else in this dataset.
- Where is Haiti located?
- Haiti is in the Caribbean, part of the Americas. Its reference coordinates are 19.0° north and 72.4° west, roughly 2,115 km from the equator in tropical latitudes.
- How big is Haiti?
- Haiti covers 27,750 km², ranking 149th of 250 by land area. That makes it a fraction smaller than Belgium.
- Is Haiti a country?
- Yes. Haiti is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
