Hobbled by foreign interventions, political instability, and natural disasters, the former French colony has long suffered from underdevelopment. Once the wealthiest colony in the Americas, Haiti is now the Western Hemispheres poorest country, with more than half of its population living below the poverty line.

Why is Haiti in so much poverty?

One of the biggest causes of poverty in Haiti is government instability. Throughout the past 30 years, Haiti has had 18 different leaders, with 18 different governments.

Why is Haiti unstable?

The politics of Haiti are considered historically unstable due to various coups détat, regime changes, military juntas and internal conflicts. The country has consistently ranked as one of the most corrupt nations according to the Corruption Perceptions Index, a measure of perceived political corruption.

What is the relationship between Haiti and the Dominican Republic?

Relations have long been complex due to the substantial ethnic and cultural differences between the two nations and their sharing of the island of Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. Living standards in the Dominican Republic are considerably higher than those in Haiti.

What is the language spoken in Haiti?

Haitian Creole French Haiti/Official languages Haitian Creole, a French-based vernacular language that developed in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. It developed primarily on the sugarcane plantations of Haiti from contacts between French colonists and African slaves.

What is the poorest place in Haiti?

Cite Soleil In Haiti 65% of the population is under the age of 25. Haiti is one of the poorest nations on earth, and this program takes place in Cite Soleil, which is the poorest neighborhood in Port au Prince, Haiti. The children we work with are sometimes homeless and parentless.