verty is the fact that Haiti has one of the densest population concentrations (650 per square mile) of any nation in the world (Background notes: Haiti, 1997, 5). Currently, Haiti's population stands at approximately 7.18 million people. In a nation where the average annual per capita income is $340 and where the healthcare system is woefully inadequate, health and disease concerns are perpetually at crisis levels. The GNP of Haiti in 1996 was $2.5 billion (before inflation), or roughly the equivalent of this year's NASA budget. For the foreseeable future, experts expect Haiti's annual economic growth to be no more than 4.5% with most experts strongly believing this represents best case projections (Background notes: Haiti, 1997, 1).
95% of Haiti's population is of African descent with another 5% of African and European descent. 80% of Haiti's population belong to the Roman Catholic religion while 10% list themselves as Protestants. However the caveat should be noted that an overwhelming number of the population also hold some or many beliefs in Voodoo practices. Over the centuries Haitians have styled a unique brand of western religions which blend them with traditional Voodoo beliefs. Haiti has two official languages, French and Creole, although less than 10% of the population speaks the former. Additionally, Haiti has a staggeringly low literacy rate of 35% (Background notes: Haiti, 1997, 1).
Haiti is the second oldest republic (after the United States) in the western hemisphere. Its government is similar in design to the United States with an executive branch headed by an elected president. The legislative branch consists of two governing bodies. The upper division is known as the "Senate" and consists of 27 elected seats. The lower division is called the "Chamber of Deputies" and consists of 83 elected seats. The third branch of government is the judicial branch entitled the Court of Cassation. The island is su...