Haiti: flag, capital, currency and history

Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti, is a country in Caribbean, the Americas. Its capital is Port-au-Prince. The currency is the Haitian gourde. Languages spoken include French and Haitian Creole.

Quick facts about Haiti

Official name: Republic of Haiti
Capital: Port-au-Prince
Region: Americas, Caribbean
Currency: Haitian gourde (HTG, G)
Languages: French, Haitian Creole
Calling code: +509
Internet domain: .ht
Area: 27,750 km² (10,714 sq mi)
Land borders: Dominican Republic
Demonym: Haitian
National day: Independence Day, January 1

Flag of Haiti

Download the flag of Haiti as a scalable SVG or as a PNG in three sizes. The flag emoji is 🇭🇹.

SVG (vector)

History of Haiti

Before European contact, the island of Hispaniola was inhabited by the Taino. Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492, and Spain colonised the island, later ceding its western part to France in 1697. The French colony of Saint-Domingue became a major sugar producer based on enslaved African labour. A revolt beginning in 1791 grew into the Haitian Revolution, and independence was declared in 1804, creating the first independent Black-led republic in the Americas. Haiti experienced foreign occupation, dictatorship and political instability in later centuries. Port-au-Prince is its capital.

Key dates

1492Christopher Columbus reaches Hispaniola, beginning Spanish colonisation of the island.
1697The Treaty of Ryswick confirms French control of the western part of Hispaniola.
1791An uprising of enslaved people begins in Saint-Domingue, starting the Haitian Revolution.
1804Haiti declares independence from France on 1 January.
1915The United States begins an occupation of Haiti that lasts until 1934.
1986The Duvalier family's rule ends when Jean-Claude Duvalier leaves the country.

A short overview, not a full history. Dates are given for well-documented events only.