Haiti occupies the western third of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. A former Spanish colony, in 1804 it was the first Caribbean state to become independent, and has been in a state of political chaos virtually ever since. Democracy did not materialize with the exile of the dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier in 1986. Elections were held in 1990, but by 1991 the military were back in power and were ousted in 1994 only through US intervention.

Most Haitians are the descendants of Africans; a few have European roots, primarily French. The majority of the population lives in extreme poverty: Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas, and Port-au-Prince has the worst slums in the Caribbean. Social tensions run high, and focus on class rather than race. In recent years, the combination of political repression and a collapsing economy led many to emigrate illegally to the USA, or across the border to the neighboring Dominican Republic.

Strengths

Coffee exports. Remittances by Haitians living abroad. US demand for goods assembled in Haiti. Large profits from transshipment of narcotics to USA.

Weaknesses

Huge tax avoidance. Foreign investment and promised aid deterred by political instability.

A wealthy elite, backed by the military, supported the Duvalier dictatorships and regularly financed coups after "Baby Doc" Duvalier's overthrow in 1986. UN sanctions followed the 1991 coup and US forces restored the elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, in 1994. His left-wing Lavalas party won legislative elections in 1995 and René Préval was installed as the new president, with the party's backing, in 1996. A backlash against austerity policies insisted on by the USA forced the prime minister to step down in 1997 and soured relations between the presidency and the legislature. New elections, finally held in May 2000, resulted in a strongly disputed but decisive victory for the Lavalas coalition. A similarly controversial presidential poll in November was won by Aristide. The opposition rejected his victory, leading to effective political stalemate.

International aid and relations with major donors have been cut following continued political instability. Illegal immigration to the USA and relations with the Dominican Republic are major issues.

In 1994, the military were ousted and democracy was restored. The armed forces and police were disbanded and an interim public security force was created. A 5300-strong new national police force has now been formed, funded and trained by the USA.

Haiti has no strategic resources. Under prolonged economic sanctions, it had to find unofficial sources of oil; much was imported from Europe.

One-third of soil is seriously eroded and forest cover is now only 1.5% of total land area. The removal of 4000 tonnes of toxic waste, illegally dumped in 1988 near Gonaïves, finally began in 1998.

Roads are poor, especially in the interior. Ferries provide the main transport to the southern peninsula.

Most Haitians cannot afford health care. In rural areas, help is often sought from voodoo priests.

The run-down state system is based on the French model; the baccalauréat pass rate is consistently under 10%. The wealthy educate their children abroad.

Extrajudicial killings, torture, and brutality continue, despite the ending of military dictatorship. Narcotics trafficking is highly organized. Police are inexperienced and the judicial system is slow and open to corruption.

Haiti's rigid class structure maintains extreme disparities of wealth between a few affluent families and the mass of the population, who live in slums without running water or proper sanitation. According to the UN, around 80% of Haitians cannot meet their basic daily needs.

Haiti's location, history, and culture provided much of its attraction for tourists in the 1960s and 1970s. Political instability and violence in the 1980s, however, led to the industry's near collapse and it has yet to recover.

In 1697, Spain ceded the west of Hispaniola to France. Ex-slave Toussaint l'Ouverture's rebellion in 1791 led to independence in 1804.

• 1915–1934 US occupation.
• 1957–1971 François "Papa Doc" Duvalier's brutal dictatorship.
• 1971–1986 His son Jean-Claude, "Baby Doc," rules; eventually flees.
• 1986–1988 Military rule.
• 1990 Jean-Bertrand Aristide elected; exiled in 1991 coup.
• 1994–1995 US forces oust military. Aristide reinstated; elections.
• 1997–1999 Political deadlock.
• 2000 Lavalas coalition and Aristide reelected.