République d’Haïti

Political Status: Independent state proclaimed in 1804; republic established in 1859; military-backed regime installed following coup of September 30, 1991; constitutional government reinstated on November 8, 1994.

Area: 10,714 sq. mi. (27,750 sq. km).

Population: 10,308,644 (2012E—UN); 9,801,664 (2012E—U.S. Census).

Major Urban Centers (2005E): PORT-AU-PRINCE (1,249,000), Carrefour (446,000), Cap-Haïtien (112,000).

Official Languages: French, Creole.

Monetary Unit: Gourde (market rate November 5, 2012: 42.15 gourdes = $1US).

President: Michel MARTELLY (Repons Peyizan); elected in second-round balloting on March 20, 2011, and sworn in on May 14 for a five-year term in succession to René PRÉVAL (Front for Hope).

Prime Minister: Laurent S. LAMOTHE; nominated by the president on March 1, 2012, approved by the Senate on April 10, approved by the Chamber of Deputies on May 3, and inaugurated on ...