Population Demographics In Haiti

Population Demographics
Haiti has a population of 10,486,800 people (CIA,2017). Of this population, major ethnic groups are black (95%), mulatto and white (CIA, 2017). Religion is a very important part of Haitian culture, with the majority of the population practicing Roman Catholicism (54.7%), Protestant (28.5%), Voodoo (2.1%), and only 10.2% of people are non-religious (CIA, 2017). Voodoo is not entirely considered a religion, but instead serves as a “cultural background for most Haitians… which includes healing practices, health promotion and prevention of illness and promotion of personal well-being” (WHO, 2010). Haiti’s rough history of oppression and mass casualties through natural disasters, like the recent earthquake, has only made
Sociopolitical Background

Haiti currently stands as the poorest country in the western hemisphere, and continues to face political instability and debt. Historically, Haiti has experienced many coups d’état and dictatorships but now has a semi-presidential republic system. After President Michel Martelly stepped down in February 2016 with no successor in line, along with allegations of election fraud, protests and violence rose in the streets. Due to Hurricane Matthew, an election could not take place until late November 2016 (CIA, 2017). On February 7, 2017, elected President Jovenel Moise took office. The frequent natural disasters have magnified the country’s level of poverty. In particular, the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in 2010 shattered Port-au-Prince and its neighboring cities, causing the economy to suffer tremendously. The earthquake left the country in $7.8 billion in damage and shrunk its GDP (CIA, 2017). With a current per capita GDP of $1,800 and a decelerating economic growth, Haiti experiences economic challenges (CIA, 2017). 59% of Haitians live under the national poverty line of US $2.42 per day. In addition to the political and economic obstacles,
It has only one immediate neighbor, the Dominican Republic, to the east and is surrounded by water on the other three sides. Additionally, it is split into two peninsulas, which are separated by the Gonave Gulf (WorldAtlas, 2016). Further off the western coasts of Haiti are the countries of Jamaica and Cuba, which can be seen in the map below. Haiti is aptly named from the indigenous name ‘Ayti’ or ‘Mountainous Land’ for its mountainous terrain, with approximately 2/3 of the land being above 1,600 feet high (Britannica, 2017). Haiti’s climate is warm, humid and tropical but varying with elevation, as seen by frost developing at high elevations in the winter. It has four major mountain ranges: the Cordillera Septentrional, the Massif du Nord, Matheux/Trou d’Eau Mountains depending on where one is in Haiti, and the Massif de la Selle (Britannica, 2017). Haiti is susceptible to earthquakes due to the presence of a fault line south of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti and the mostly densely populated portion of the country. Haiti as a whole is vulnerable to tropical storms and hurricanes, but the Southern peninsula in particular has a higher risk (Britannica,