Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with nearly 80% of its population living in poverty. 7 out of 10 Haitians live on less than US $2 a day.
About Haiti
In January 2010, Haiti endured the most powerful earthquake in over 200 years. A 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated much of its capital city, Port-au-Prince, and neighboring areas, killing more than 300,000 people and leaving more than 1.3 million homeless.
- Unemployment rate is 40.6%
- Only 53% of its population age 15 and over can read and write.
- 42% of children under the age of five are affected by chronic malnutrition.
- French and Creole are the official languages. Roman Catholicism is the major religion, voodoo is practiced throughout the nation.
- It’s a 2 hour plane ride from Florida to Haiti.
