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Compare British Indian Ocean Territory (2007) - Haiti (2002)

Compare British Indian Ocean Territory (2007) z Haiti (2002)

 British Indian Ocean Territory (2007)Haiti (2002)
 British Indian Ocean TerritoryHaiti
Administrative divisions - 9 departments (departements, singular - departement); Artibonite, Centre, Grand 'Anse, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est
Age structure - 0-14 years: 39.5% (male 1,414,052; female 1,377,693)


15-64 years: 56.3% (male 1,924,867; female 2,049,952)


65 years and over: 4.2% (male 142,657; female 154,501) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products - coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum; wood
Airports 1 (2007) 12 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
total: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 10


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 6 (2002)
Area total: 54,400 sq km


land: 60 sq km; Diego Garcia 44 sq km


water: 54,340 sq km


note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago of 55 islands
total: 27,750 sq km


land: 27,560 sq km


water: 190 sq km
Area - comparative land area is about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Maryland
Background Established as a territory of the UK in 1965, a number of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) islands were transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands, Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All of the remaining islands are uninhabited. Former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius but also to the Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In 2000, a British High Court ruling invalidated the local immigration order that had excluded them from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia. The native Arawak Amerindians - who inhabited the island of Hispaniola when it was discovered by Columbus in 1492 - were virtually annihilated by Spanish settlers within 25 years. In the early 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola, and in 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of the island - Haiti. The French colony, based on forestry and sugar-related industries, became one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean, but only through the heavy importation of African slaves and considerable environmental degradation. In the late 18th century, Haiti's nearly half million slaves revolted under Toussaint L'OUVERTURE and after a prolonged struggle, became the first black republic to declare its independence in 1804. Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history since then, and it is now one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Over three decades of dictatorship followed by military rule ended in 1990 when Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE was elected president. Most of his term was usurped by a military takeover, but he was able to return to office in 1994 and oversee the installation of a close associate to the presidency in 1996. ARISTIDE won a second term as president in 2000, and took office early in 2001. However, a political crisis stemming from fraudulent legislative elections in 2000 has not yet been resolved.
Birth rate - 31.42 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget - revenues: $273 million


expenditures: $361 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY00/01 est.)
Capital - Port-au-Prince
Climate tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds
Coastline 698 km 1,771 km
Constitution - approved March 1987; suspended June 1988, with most articles reinstated March 1989; in October 1991, government claimed to be observing the constitution; return to constitutional rule, October 1994
Country name conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory


conventional short form: none


abbreviation: BIOT
conventional long form: Republic of Haiti


conventional short form: Haiti


local long form: Republique d'Haiti


local short form: Haiti
Currency - gourde (HTG)
Death rate - 14.88 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external - $1.2 billion (1999) (1999)
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission: Ambassador Roger NORIEGA


embassy: 5 Harry S Truman Boulevard, Port-au-Prince


mailing address: P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince


telephone: [509] 222-0354, 222-0269, 222-0200, 222-0327


FAX: [509] 223-1641, 222-0200, extension 460
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chief of Mission Harry Frantz LEO


chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 332-4090


FAX: [1] (202) 745-7215


consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Disputes - international Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia; in 2001, the former inhabitants of the Chagos Archipelago, evicted in 1967 and 1973 and now residing chiefly in Mauritius, were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation; in May 2006, the High Court of London reversed U.K. Government's 2004 orders of council that banned habitation on the islands; a small group of Chagossians visited Diego Garcia in April 2006; repatriation is complicated by the exclusive US military lease of Diego Garcia that restricts access to the largest viable island in the chain claims US-administered Navassa Island
Economic aid - recipient - $730.6 million (1995) (1995)
Economy - overview All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where a joint UK-US military facility is located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installation are performed by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the native Ilois return, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing. The territory makes money by selling fishing licenses and postage stamps. About 80% of the population lives in abject poverty. Nearly 70% of all Haitians depend on the agriculture sector, which consists mainly of small-scale subsistence farming and employs about two-thirds of the economically active work force. The country has experienced little job creation since the former President PREVAL took office in February 1996, although the informal economy is growing. Following legislative elections in May 2000, fraught with irregularities, international donors - including the US and EU - suspended almost all aid to Haiti. The economy shrank an estimated 1.2% in 2001, and the contraction will likely intensify in 2002 unless a political agreement with donors is reached and aid restored.
Electricity - consumption NA kWh 485.46 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military 522 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 69%


hydro: 31%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m
Environment - current issues NA extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment - international agreements - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection


signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban
Ethnic groups - black 95%, mulatto and white 5%
Exchange rates - gourdes per US dollar - 26.674 (January 2002), 26.339 (2001), 22.524 (2000), 17.965 (1999), 16.505 (1998), 17.311 (1997)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)


head of government: Commissioner Leigh TURNER (since July 2006); Administrator Tony HUMPHRIES (since February 2005); note - both reside in the UK and are represented by the officer commanding British Forces on Diego Garcia


cabinet: NA


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch
chief of state: President Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE (since 7 February 2001)


head of government: Prime Minister Yvon NEPTUNE (since 4 March 2002); note - former Prime Minister CHERESTAL resigned in January 2002


cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president


elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 26 November 2000 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president, ratified by the National Assembly


election results: Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE elected president; percent of vote - Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE 92%
Exports - $326.6 million f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities - manufactures, coffee, oils, cocoa
Exports - partners - US 90%, EU 6% (2000)
Fiscal year - 1 October - 30 September
Flag description white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength)
GDP - purchasing power parity - $12 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector - agriculture: 30%


industry: 20%


services: 50% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate - -1.2% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 6 00 S, 71 30 E; note - Diego Garcia 7 20 S, 72 25 E 19 00 N, 72 25 W
Geography - note archipelago of 55 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)
Highways - total: 4,160 km


paved: 1,011 km


unpaved: 3,149 km (1996)
Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs - major Caribbean transshipment point for cocaine en route to the US and Europe; substantial money-laundering activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor Haiti for illicit financial transactions; pervasive corruption
Imports - $977.5 million c.i.f. (2001)
Imports - commodities - food, manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, raw materials
Imports - partners - US 60%, EU 10.5%, Dominican Republic 3.7% (2000)
Independence - 1 January 1804 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate - 0.6% (1997 est.)
Industries - sugar refining, flour milling, textiles, cement, light assembly industries based on imported parts
Infant mortality rate - 93.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - 14% (2001 est.)
International organization participation - ACCT, ACP, Caricom, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 3 (2000)
Irrigated land 0 sq km 750 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch - Supreme Court or Cour de Cassation
Labor force - 3.6 million (1995)


note: shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (2001) (1995)
Labor force - by occupation - agriculture 66%, services 25%, industry 9%
Land boundaries 0 km total: 360 km


border countries: Dominican Republic 360 km
Land use arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (2005)
arable land: 20.32%


permanent crops: 12.7%


other: 66.98% (1998 est.)
Languages - French (official), Creole (official)
Legal system the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch - bicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale consists of the Senate (27 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber of Deputies (83 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: Senate - last held for two-thirds of seats 21 May 2000, with runoffs on 9 July boycotted by the opposition; seven seats still disputed; election for remaining one-third held on 26 November 2000 (next to be held NA 2002); Chamber of Deputies - last held 21 May 2000, with runoffs on 30 July boycotted by the opposition; one vacant seat rerun 26 November 2000 (next to be held NA 2004)


election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FL 26, independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FL 73, MOCHRENA 3, PLB 2, OPL 1, vacant 1, other minor parties and independents 3
Life expectancy at birth - total population: 49.55 years


male: 47.88 years


female: 51.29 years (2002 est.)
Literacy - definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 45%


male: 48%


female: 42.2% (1995 est.)
Location archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic
Map references Political Map of the World Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims territorial sea: 3 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
contiguous zone: 24 NM


continental shelf: to depth of exploitation


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine - none (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016 -
Military branches - Haitian National Police (HNP)


note: the regular Haitian Army, Navy, and Air Force have been demobilized but still exist on paper until or unless they are constitutionally abolished
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $50 million (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 1.3% (FY00)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 1,691,585 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 919,275 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 87,049 (2002 est.)
National holiday - Independence Day, 1 January (1804)
Nationality - noun: Haitian(s)


adjective: Haitian
Natural hazards NA lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; periodic droughts
Natural resources coconuts, fish, sugarcane bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower
Net migration rate - -2.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Political parties and leaders - Alliance for the Liberation and Advancement of Haiti or ALAH [Reynold GEORGES]; Assembly of Progressive National Democrats or RDNP [Leslie MANIGAT]; Convergence (opposition coalition composed of ESPACE, OPL, and MOCHRENA) [Gerard PIERRE-CHARLES, Evans PAUL, Luc MESADIEU, Victor BENOIT]; Democratic Consultation Group coalition or ESPACE [Evans PAUL, Victor Benoit] composed of the following parties: National Congress of Democratic Movements or KONAKOM, National Progressive Revolutionary Party or PANPRA, Generation 2004, and Haiti Can; Haitian Christian Democratic Party or PDCH [Marie-France CLAUDE]; Haitian Democratic Party or PADEM [Clark PARENT]; Lavalas Family or FL [Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE]; Mobilization for National Development or MDN [Hubert DE RONCERAY]; Movement for National Reconstruction or MRN [Rene THEODORE]; Movement for the Installation of Democracy in Haiti or MIDH [Marc BAZIN]; Movement for the Organization of the Country or MOP [Gesner COMEAU and Jean MOLIERE]; National Cooperative Action Movement or MKN [Volrick Remy JOSEPH]; National Front for Change and Democracy or FNCD [Evans PAUL and Turneb DELPE]; New Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MOCHRENA [Luc MESADIEU]; Open the Gate or PLB [Renaud BERNARDIN]; Struggling People's Organization or OPL [Gerard PIERRE-CHARLES]
Political pressure groups and leaders - Autonomous Haitian Workers or CATH; Confederation of Haitian Workers or CTH; Federation of Workers Trade Unions or FOS; National Popular Assembly or APN; Papaye Peasants Movement or MPP; Popular Organizations Gathering Power or PROP; Roman Catholic Church
Population no indigenous inhabitants


note: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois, were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the 1960s and 1970s; in November 2000 they were granted the right of return by a British High Court ruling, though no timetable has been set; in November 2004, there were approximately 4,000 UK and US military personnel and civilian contractors living on the island of Diego Garcia
7,063,722


note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line - 80% (1998 est.)
Population growth rate - 1.42% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors - Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Jeremie, Les Cayes, Miragoane, Port-au-Prince, Port-de-Paix, Saint-Marc
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 41, FM 26, shortwave 0 (1999)
Radios - 415,000 (1997)
Railways - total: 40 km


narrow gauge: 40 km 0.760-m gauge; single-track


note: privately owned industrial line; closed in early 1990s (2001 est.)
Religions - Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3% (1982)


note: roughly half of the population also practices Voodoo
Sex ratio - at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female


total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage - 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: separate facilities for military and public needs are available


domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet


international: country code (Diego Garcia) - 246; international telephone service is carried by satellite (2000)
general assessment: domestic facilities barely adequate; international facilities slightly better


domestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay trunk service


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use NA 60,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular - 0 (1995)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) 2 (plus a cable TV service) (1997)
Terrain flat and low (most areas do not exceed two meters in elevation) mostly rough and mountainous
Total fertility rate - 4.3 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate - widespread unemployment and underemployment; more than two-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs (2001) (2001)
Waterways - NEGL; less than 100 km navigable
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