Haiti
| République d'Haïti Repiblik d Ayiti | |
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| Flag | Coat of Arms |
| Capital | Port-au-Prince |
| Government | Republic |
| Language | French, Haitian Creole (official) |
| President | René Préval |
| Prime minister | Jacques-Edouard Alexis |
| Area | 10,714 sq mi |
| Population | 8,528,000 (2005) |
| GDP per capita | $1,800 (2006) |
| Currency | Gourde |
The Republic of Haiti is a country located in the Caribbean Sea, and occupies one-third of the Caribbean island Hispaniola.
Columbus' ship the Santa Maria reached Haiti on Christmas Eve 1492. The settlement there was named "La Navidad". Haiti was given to Spain in the Line of Demarcation set up by the Pope in 1515.
Haiti formed the first successful slave revolt under the leadership of Toussaint L'Ouverture and was the first independent black republic. Haiti claimed its independence from France on January 1, 1804, making it the second country in the Americas to gain its independence.
About 80% of the population lives in wretched poverty, and Haiti is known as one of the poorest countries in the world.[Citation Needed] Haiti is the origin of the occult practice of voodoo, which is still popular in rural areas.
