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Haiti SOCIETY
Population: Population estimated at 6.1 million
in
1989. Estimated growth averaged 1.4 percent annually from
1971 to
1982.
Language: The 1987 Constitution recognizes both
French
and Creole as official languages. Two languages
linguistically
distinct and not mutually comprehensible. Creole more
widely
spoken, but facility with French connotes higher social
status.
Ethnic Groups: Population almost entirely black
and
mulatto as result of historical origin as slaveholding
agricultural colony of France. Country's powerful economic
and
political elite mainly mulatto. Only ethnic minority the
"Arabs"-
-Syrian, Lebanese, and Palestinian immigrants--most of
whom
worked in export-import sector.
Religion: Roman Catholicism official religion
according
to 1860 Concordat with Vatican. Voodoo more widely
practiced than
Catholicism and could be considered national religion.
Much
overlap between believers in both religions, with most
voodooists
considering themselves members of Roman Catholic Church.
Although
church joined in several antivoodoo campaigns in course of
Haiti's history, its opposition to folk religion more
sporadic
and ambivalent than that of Protestant missionaries, who
condemned voodoo as diabolical in nature.
Education and Literacy: As of 1982, 65 percent
of
population over age ten had received no education.
Literacy rate
estimated at 23 percent in 1987, but increasing as result
of
higher enrollments, beginning in late 1970s. Private
schools
overtook public schools in primary school enrollment in
early
1980s. Chronic shortage of qualified teachers, mainly
because of
low pay. University of Haiti major institution of higher
education.
Health: Malnutrition widespread, especially
among
children. Prenatal and postnatal care inadequate,
contributing to
high infant mortality rate of 124 per 1,000 live births in
1983.
Most child deaths attributed to infectious diseases
(especially
diarrheal ailments), malnutrition, and acute respiratory
illness.
Most adult deaths from malaria, tuberculosis, parasitic
diseases,
and typhoid.
Data as of December 1989
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