Haiti Fast Facts and Figures
Overview
Inhabited by about 2.6 million people, Haiti is a country in sub-Saharan Africa.
Geographically, it contains the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea just outside the mouth of the Mississippi River, a smaller island to the west of Hispaniola, also in the Caribbean, and the larger island of Saint-Domingue in the southern Caribbean.
Popularly known as the ‘Pearl of the Caribbean’, it is one of the best-known locations in the world. A diverse and vibrant nation with a proud and vibrant history, Haiti has been called the “Pearl of the Caribbean” for a very long time. With its warm, tropical climate, it is a true tropical paradise, a haven for those who seek adventure far from the cares of the world.
Haiti
History
It wasn’t until the early 16th Century that the entire island of Hispaniola was claimed by the Dutch, an event which marked the moment when the island became an important part of the world’s commerce. At that moment, the Spanish crown became responsible for all the affairs of Hispaniola from the east of the island to the west. In 1511, Pedro Arias González was appointed and tasked with managing Hispaniola; as a result, the crown decided to call the newly-claimed island Saint-Domingue (which means “Saint of the Migrants”).
In 1626, the last French stronghold in Hispaniola was destroyed, forcing the island to become English. Following the English victory over the French and the Spanish, the French were expelled and the Spanish forces were sent to rule over Hispaniola. The English, however, ruled the island until the French regained control in 1697.
The French were expelled following the French Revolution in 1791 which ended the monarchy in France. Under the French Revolution, the island became a colony of the revolutionary government. The French were given the opportunity to return in 1803, but were defeated by Spain in what was known as the Battle of the Capes.
By the end of the First French Empire under Napoleon III, the island was given to the British. The British held control of the island until they were invaded