Ayiti

Ayiti is the Haitian Creole name for the country located on the western part of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean. In English the country is called Haiti and in French Haïti. The name Ayiti is derived from the Indigenous Taíno language and is often translated as “land of high mountains.” Ayiti shares Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic.

Geography and people: The country features a varied landscape of mountains, river valleys, and a narrow coastal plain. Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city. The population is youthful and predominantly rural, with Haitian Creole as the most widely spoken language; French is also an official language. The economy remains low income and is characterized by agriculture, small-scale manufacturing, and services, with remittances playing a major role in foreign currency inflows.

History: Ayiti achieved its independence from France on January 1, 1804, after a slave rebellion led by figures such as Toussaint Louverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines. It established the first modern republic founded by formerly enslaved people. Since independence, Ayiti has faced periods of political instability, economic hardship, and natural disasters that have shaped its development.

Government and economy: The country is a unitary semi-presidential republic with a president and a prime minister and a bicameral legislature. The economy is concentrated in agriculture and textiles, supplemented by services and remittances. Ayiti remains vulnerable to hurricanes and earthquakes, and reconstruction, governance, and resilience-building efforts are ongoing priorities.