Form of government: Republic
Capital: Port-Au-Prince
Population: ~9,035,536
Official languages: French, Creole
Money/Currency: Gourde
Area: 10,714 square miles
Geography

Nature
The tropical climate and trade winds produce warm temperatures for most of the year. The country is moutainous, but the coastline is flat and rich in sea life and coconut trees. Royal palm trees are prevalent here and can reach 60 feet tall. There has been mass deforestation in order to make way for farm land and provide supplies for the population.


In 1957,dictator Francois Duvalier ruled the country,and deep poverty was hidden by strong government controls. The government killed many people disagreed with Duvalier's government. Many Haitians left the country and moved to safety in other countries. Duvalier's government ended in 1986.
People & Culture

The people in the north have a Creole accent, and are influenced by the Dominican Republic neighbors. The population is 95% black and 5% white.Haitian parents, like most other parents are strict, but very affectionate. The extended family often lives with the family in tight quarters. Haitians attend folk dances and voodoo ceremonies. About half the population practices voodoo,which is a mixture of traditions that many enslaved Afrikans brought to the island that were merged with Catholic beliefs. carnival and new year's day are the biggest holidays for most Haitians. The Haitian diet consists of local vegetables and fruits, along with some spicy meat dishes.