Haiti, in the West Indies, occupies the western third of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. About the size of Maryland, Haiti is two-thirds mountainous, with the rest of the country marked by great valleys, extensive plateaus, and small plains.
Population: 8.3 million (UN, 2003)
Capital: Port-au-Prince
Major languages: Creole, French
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 49 years (men), 50 years (women) (UN)
