It’s true, Haiti has experienced a troubled history. And sadly, they still have a number of ongoing present-day struggles.

But there are things you probably didn’t know about Haiti.

Behind its failed system is a beautiful nation with a rich history and incredibly resilient people.

Here are 18 things you didn’t know about Haiti

1) Christopher Colombus discovered Haiti

Christopher Columbus discovered the island of Hispaniola in the 15th century.

But what you didn’t know about Haiti is that indigenous people already settled on the island: the Guanahatabey, the Arawaks or Tainos, and the Caribs.

During the 17th century, a struggle for control between France and Spain began. It was resolved by simply splitting the island into two colonies.

France controlled the western part of today’s Haiti.

Spain controlled the eastern part of today’s Dominican Republic.

2) The French exploited the land

They did this by bringing in thousands of slaves from Africa. Once they had the slaves for hard labour, they turned the land into the most profitable colony.

While you might have heard about the slavery past of Haiti, there is something you probably didn’t know about Haiti.

The French destroyed the soil by aggressively harvesting the same crop year after year (mostly sugar cane) to achieve the best profit. Today the soil in Haiti is very different to the soil across the border in the Dominican Republic.

The soil is fertile there, and the country can grow plenty of fruits and vegetables. Sadly, this is not the case in Haiti.

3) The largest mountaintop fortress in the Western Hemisphere is here

The Citadelle Laferrière is an iconic fortress built on a mountaintop. It was once the crown jewel of Haiti’s national defence. One of the things you didn’t know about Haiti is that this is the largest mountaintop fortress in the Western Hemisphere.

It is possible to reach the Citadelle from Cap Haitien by using public transport. Find out how in our post which includes things to see and do in Cap Haitien.

Knowledge of this fortress was one of the things I didn’t know about Haiti before my visit. Ultimately, the day I explored the fortress is one of my favourite memories from Haiti.

4) Voodoo is everywhere!

Haiti as the saying goes is 70% Catholic, 30% Protestant, and 100% Voodoo. Voodoo (or ‘vodou’) is everywhere in the Caribbean nation.

Haitian Voodoo is a religion that gradually developed in Haiti between the 16th and 19th centuries, and it is one of the things you probably didn’t know about Haiti.

Followers are known as servants of the spirits. Another thing you didn’t know about Haiti is that Haitians also love to gamble. Haitians frequently ask the gods for winning lottery numbers.

5) The nation’s wealth is owned by only a few

Another interesting fact you didn’t know about Haiti: Just 1% of Haiti’s population owns more than 50% of the nation’s wealth!

6) Haiti paid a debt for its independence

You probably didn’t know this about Haiti, but Haiti paid for their independence from France. Yes, that is correct. In order for Haiti to get its independence, it had to pay a debt to France.

Haiti also battled a war with the Dominican Republic. Several bad leaders and many natural disasters later, Haiti is currently the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.

7) At least 80% of Haiti’s population live under the country’s poverty line

In addition to those figures, 54% live in abject poverty.

A typical Haitian makes less than $3 a day. With 70% of the population without regular jobs, unemployment is also a challenge the country faces.

8) Haiti used to be rich

Haiti used to be wealthy, something you probably didn’t know about Haiti. During the 18th century, Haiti was the French Empire’s richest colony, but it came at a cost. Back then, it was known as the “Pearl of the Antilles.”

Haiti’s wealth grew so large during this time because of the importation of slaves and environmental exploitation.

Many years later, the massive deforestation in the country is the reason it now suffers flash flooding and other natural disasters. The land has also become infertile because of the removal of its top layer.

In those days, they didn’t know that this would make Haiti poorer in the future.

• 🔥 Hot Tip: Book accommodation on Booking.com
• 🎟 Book your tickets online: We use Viator and GetYourGuide
• 🔋 Stay charged: This Belkin Power Bank is essential!
• 📸 Join a Group Tour: View our tours OR search Tourradar
• ✅ Get Connected with eSIM: Easy and affordable! View eSIM

9) Haiti was the only country where slaves rebelled and won

In 1791, slaves and free blacks rebelled against their French masters and colonial administrators. They did this in order to claim freedom and equal rights for themselves. The rebel forces defeated the French army in 1803, making the Haitian Revolution the first successful slave revolt.

On January 1, 1804, the rebels declared independence from France and created the nation of Haiti, the first black republic. Soon after gaining independence, and economic decline left Haiti deep in poverty.

They haven’t been able to recover since.

10) Haiti’s current citizens are descendants of Africans

Most of Haiti’s current citizens are descendants of Africans shipped to the Caribbean to work as slaves in earlier centuries.

Descendants of African slaves make up 95% of Haiti’s population.

8 more things you didn’t know about Haiti

11) Haiti has a high cost of living

Many Haitian families spend 60% of their monthly income on food, including families living below the poverty line.

Eighty percent of the population spends at least 75% of their earnings on food.

This leaves minimal funds for other necessities such as medicine, clothing and education.

Get Connected with eSIM

Get connected easily on your travels—buy an eSIM! It works like an app: buy it, download it, and get connected in minutes! It’s easy, affordable, and convenient. Keep your original phone number, too!

Use our code: RACHEL5045 to get $3 off your first purchase!

Buy an eSIM for your next trip!

12) The nation is young

Over 40% of the population is under 14 years old, creating a high dependency ratio.

This was one of the things I didn’t know about Haiti before my visit and it surprised me.

13) The main trade partner is the USA

The United States of America is Haiti’s biggest trade partner. More than half of Haitian imports come from the United States, and over 80% of its exports go to the USA.

Coffee is the biggest export from Haiti, another thing I didn’t know about Haiti.

Recommended posts about Haiti

What to Eat in Haiti – 10 Best Foods From Haiti

Border Crossing from the Dominican Republic to Haiti

Haiti and the Dominican Republic share an island – why are they so different?

14) Haiti has a lot of mountains

You probably didn’t know that Haiti is the most mountainous country in the Caribbean.

15) Life expectancy rates are very low in Haiti

It has been reported that a woman’s life expectancy in Haiti is 52. And for men, it’s 50.

If you compare this to nearby countries in the Americas and Caribbean, Haiti has a much lower life expectancy.

This is mainly due to the lifestyle of Haitians. The alarmingly high cost of food in Haiti forces most people to survive on a low-calorie, low nutritious diet.

Ultimately, this makes them more vulnerable to disease.

16) Haiti has some delicious food

You probably didn’t know Haiti has some delicious, unique meals/snacks. Our favourite was “Poulet aux noix”, essentially a chicken in tomato sauce with cashews.

This dish is traditionally prepared for Sunday lunch, and it is often accompanied by rice with djon-djon or rice with green peas.

But to find a few more, check out these 10 foods to try in Haiti.

Get Connected with eSIM

Get connected easily on your travels—buy an eSIM! It works like an app: buy it, download it, and get connected in minutes! It’s easy, affordable, and convenient. Keep your original phone number, too!

Use our code: RACHEL5045 to get $3 off your first purchase!

Buy an eSIM for your next trip!

17) There are two official languages in Haiti

Haiti is the only other nation in the Americas to have French as its official language (the other country is Canada). Haitian Creole is the other official language in Haiti. This is a handy thing to know about Haiti if you plan on visiting one day.

I’d definitely recommend trying to learn a little French language to be able to communicate with the locals.

Make sure you get Travel Insurance before hitting the road. We recommend Heymondo & SafetyWing

Click here and get 5% off Heymondo from us!

18) Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola

That’s right, they share it with another country, the Dominican Republic. During our visit to both nations, we noticed considerable differences the moment we crossed the border from the Dominican Republic into Haiti.

For instance, the language changes from Creole/French to Spanish. Secondly, the architecture is different.

And also, there is a huge gap between the two nations’ wealth. Read more about which 2 countries share one Island.

So there you have it. 18 Things you probably didn’t know about Haiti. You might also enjoy our other posts about Haiti. 

Travel Tips for North America

We have many travel guides and tips for North America— a fascinating continent!

We love travelling in Mexico and have many food and detailed guides. Read them here. 

These top 6 travel hacks to save money are great to read when planning your travels.

Are you interested in visiting these 15 best places to travel in the USA,  the ten best foods in New York, or searching the 12 best cheap eats in Vancouver?

If you plan to travel long-term after leaving North America, these 21 cheapest countries to visit will help you make your hard-earned dollars stretch a bit further.

For food lovers, don’t miss our top 10 countries for foodies; one is in North America.

You’ll need to stay connected while travelling in North America. We recommend eSIM. They’re easy, reliable and affordable. View eSIMs for individual countries, or consider a regional eSIM for North America.

If your travels in North America are part of a much larger global adventure, then a Global eSIM may be the answer. It connects you in 124 countries, offering data-only eSIM and data/call/text eSIM. The Global eSIM has been a game-changer; we couldn’t imagine travelling without it now.

If you want to travel with like-minded travellers, consider joining a group tour. Check out our Group Tours first for any upcoming departures in North America, or view these deals on Tourradar for group tours in North America.

Check out our best-ever travel tips compiled from more than twenty years of experience.