History of Haiti in Timeline
Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti, is located on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea, sharing the island with the Dominican Republic. It is the third-largest country in the Caribbean and the most populous, with an estimated 11.4 million people. Its capital and largest city is Port-au-Prince. Haiti occupies the western three-eighths of Hispaniola.
1900: Debt Repayment Consumes Budget
By 1900, 80% of Haiti's government spending was dedicated to debt repayment.
1900: Olympic Games Participation
Haiti began participating in the Olympic Games in 1900.
1902: Lüders Affair
In 1902, the German government used gunboat diplomacy during the Lüders Affair to intimidate and humiliate the Haitian government.
1908: President Alexis Forced From Power
In 1908, President Pierre Nord Alexis was forced from power.
1911: President Simon Forced From Power
In 1911, President François C. Antoine Simon was forced from power.
1913: President Oreste Ousted in Coup
In 1913, Michel Oreste was ousted in a coup.
December 1914: US seizes Haitian National Bank
In December 1914, the Americans removed $500,000 from the Haitian National Bank to take control.
1914: President Zamor Ousted in Coup
In 1914, Oreste Zamor was ousted in a coup.
July 1915: U.S. Marines Land in Haiti
In July 1915, U.S. Marines landed in Haiti following the killing of President Sam and to protect U.S. interests.
1915: U.S. Occupation Begins
In 1915, the United States began its occupation of Haiti.
1919: Execution of Charlemagne Péralte
In 1919, Charlemagne Péralte was captured and executed, becoming a national martyr.
1921: Senate Hearings on Haitian Deaths
In 1921, Senate hearings were held regarding the number of Haitians killed during the U.S. occupation.
1934: U.S. Forces Leave Haiti
After U.S. forces left Haiti in 1934, Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo.
1934: End of U.S. Occupation
In 1934, the U.S. occupation of Haiti ended.
1937: First recording in Haiti
In 1937, Haiti had its first recorded music by Jazz Guignard, though it was non-commercial.
1937: The Parsley Massacre
In 1937, Rafael Trujillo ordered the Parsley Massacre, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Haitians.
1941: U.S. financial advisor-general receiver
In 1941, The U.S. financial advisor-general receiver handled the budget.
September 1945: Haiti Becomes a Founding Member of the UN
On 27 September 1945, Haiti became a founding member of the United Nations.
1946: Lescot Overthrown
In 1946 Lescot was overthrown and Dumarsais Estimé became president.
1947: Final Debt Payment
In 1947, Haiti finished repaying its debt to France.
1950: Estimé Overthrown
In 1950 Dumarsais Estimé was overthrown and Paul Magloire replaced him as president.
1950: First Formal Census
In 1950, Haiti's first formal census gave a total population of 3.1 million.
1956: Political Turmoil Begins
In 1956, Haiti underwent severe political turmoil.
September 1957: Election of Franu00e7ois Duvalier
In September 1957, Franu00e7ois Duvalier was elected President of Haiti.
1957: Duvalier Dictatorship Begins
In 1957, the dictatorial rule of the Duvalier family began in Haiti.
1964: Duvalier Proclaims Himself President for Life
In 1964 Duvalier proclaimed himself President for Life.
1971: Start of Duvalier's theft from treasury
From 1971, it is estimated that President "Baby Doc" Duvalier, his wife Michele, and their agents stole US $504 million from the treasury between 1971 and 1986.
1971: Jean-Claude Duvalier Succeeds His Father
In 1971, Jean-Claude Duvalier succeeded his father as ruler of Haiti.
1974: World Cup Appearance
In 1974, the Haiti national football team became only the second Caribbean team to participate in the World Cup.
1975: Publication of Dezafi
In 1975, Franketienne broke from the French tradition in fiction with the publication of Dezafi, the first novel written entirely in Haitian Creole.
1982: World Heritage Site Inscription
In 1982, the Sans-Souci Palace and the Citadelle Laferrière were inscribed as a World Heritage Site.
1983: Papal Visit
In 1983, Pope John Paul II visited Haiti and publicly criticized the president.
1985: Demonstrations Against Duvalier
In 1985, demonstrations against Duvalier began in Gonaïves and spread across the country.
February 1986: Duvalier Departs Haiti
In February 1986, under pressure from the United States, Duvalier left Haiti for France.
1986: End of Duvalier's theft from treasury
By 1986, it is estimated that President "Baby Doc" Duvalier, his wife Michele, and their agents stole US $504 million from the treasury between 1971 and 1986.
1986: End of Duvalier Rule
In 1986, the dictatorial rule of the Duvalier family ended in Haiti.
March 1987: Constitution of Haiti established
On 29 March 1987, the current structure of Haiti's political system was set forth in the Constitution of Haiti.
November 1987: Aborted Elections
In November 1987, elections were aborted after violence in the capital.
June 1988: Manigat Overthrown
In June 1988, President Leslie Manigat was overthrown in a coup d'état.
September 1988: St. Jean Bosco Massacre
In September 1988, the St. Jean Bosco massacre occurred.
March 10, 1990: Abraham Transfers Power
On March 10, 1990, Avril transferred power to Gen. Hérard Abraham.
March 1990: Avril's Military Regime Ends
In March 1990, General Prosper Avril's military regime ended.
December 1990: Aristide Elected President
In December 1990, Jean-Bertrand Aristide was elected president of Haiti.
1990: International Aid
From 1990 to 2003, Haiti received more than US$4 billion in aid, including US$1.5 billion from the United States.
1991: Aristide Overthrown in Coup
In 1991, Jean-Bertrand Aristide was overthrown by the military in a coup d'état.
1993: Primary Education Enrollment Rate
According to the 2013 Millennium Development Goals Report, Haiti's primary education enrollment rate was 47%.
September 1994: U.S. Negotiates Departure of Military Leaders
In September 1994, the United States negotiated the departure of Haiti's military leaders, leading to Operation Uphold Democracy.
November 1994: Hurricane Gordon Devastates Haiti
In November 1994, Hurricane Gordon caused significant damage and loss of life in Haiti.
1995: Haitian Army folded
After the Haitian Army folded in 1995, the Haitian National Police (HNP) gained sole power of authority on the Haitian citizens.
1995: René Préval wins election
In 1995, René Préval won the elections with 88% of the popular vote, although with a low turnout.
1995: Demobilization of Haitian Armed Forces
In 1995, the former Haitian Armed Forces were demobilized and replaced by the Haitian National Police (PNH).
November 2000: Aristide returns to the presidency
In November 2000, Aristide returned to the presidency with 92% of the vote after an election boycotted by the opposition.
2000: Disputed Election
In 2000, there was a disputed election in Haiti, leading to later consequences.
2001: US Aid Cut Off
Between 2001 and 2004, US aid to the Haitian government was cut off following the disputed 2000 election and accusations about President Aristide's rule.
2001: Protestant Population
Other sources suggested that the Protestant population might have formed one-third of the population in 2001.
2002: Pyramid schemes cost Haitians millions
In 2002, Haitians lost hundreds of millions in pyramid schemes described as the "only real economic initiative" of the Aristide years.
2003: International Aid
From 1990 to 2003, Haiti received more than US$4 billion in aid, including US$1.5 billion from the United States.
2003: Vodou Recognition
Vodou was officially recognized by the Haitian government in 2003.
September 2004: Severe flooding
On 17 September 2004, soil erosion and deforestation caused periodic and severe flooding in Haiti.
2004: Aristide's Departure and Aid Restoration
After Aristide's departure in 2004, aid to Haiti was restored, and the Brazilian army led a United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti peacekeeping operation.
2004: Tropical Storm Jeanne hits Haiti
In 2004, Tropical Storm Jeanne caused flooding and mudslides in Haiti, resulting in 3,006 deaths, primarily in Gonaïves.
2004: Coup d'état and UN Intervention
In 2004, a coup d'état occurred in Haiti, leading to intervention by the United Nations.
2004: Anti-Aristide revolt and exile of Aristide
In 2004, an anti-Aristide revolt led to Aristide's exile, with disputed claims of a coup d'état involving U.S. forces. A United Nations Stabilisation Mission (MINUSTAH) was brought in.
2004: Brain Drain
In 2004, it was estimated that 80% or more of college graduates from Haiti were living abroad.
2005: Economic Growth
After almost four years of recession, the Haitian economy grew by 1.5% in 2005.
2006: Corruption Perceptions Index report
According to a 2006 report by the Corruption Perceptions Index, there is a strong correlation between corruption and poverty in Haiti, with the republic ranking first for levels of perceived domestic corruption.
2006: René Préval re-elected President
In 2006, René Préval was re-elected President of Haiti following elections, with Boniface Alexandre having assumed interim authority.
2006: Youthful Population
In 2006, half of Haiti's population was younger than age 20.
2006: Haitian Diaspora in Canada
There were 100,000 Haitians in Canada in 2006.
2007: Earthquake hazard study
In 2007, an earthquake hazard study noted that the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault zone could be at the end of its seismic cycle, forecasting a potential 7.2 Mw earthquake.
2007: Caribbean Nations Cup Win
In 2007, the Haiti national football team won the Caribbean Nations Cup.
2007: Haitian Diaspora in Dominican Republic
In the Dominican Republic there were an estimated 800,000 Haitians in 2007.
April 2008: Food crisis and political unrest
In April 2008, Haiti experienced a food crisis and political unrest due to high food and fuel prices.
2008: Inhumane Prison Conditions
In 2008, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights deemed the confined living spaces and lack of latrines in Haitian prisons, forcing inmates to defecate in plastic bags, as inhumane.
September 2009: Debt Cancellation Eligibility
In September 2009, Haiti met the conditions set out by the IMF and World Bank's Heavily Indebted Poor Countries program, qualifying for cancellation of its external debt.
2009: Haitian Diaspora in the Bahamas
There were up to 80,000 Haitians in the Bahamas (2009).
January 2010: Earthquake hits Haiti
In January 2010, Haiti was struck by a magnitude-7.0 earthquake, causing between 160,000 and 300,000 deaths and leaving up to 1.6 million homeless.
January 2010: Magnitude 7.0 earthquake on fault zone
In January 2010, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake occurred on the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault zone.
January 2010: Post-Earthquake Aid Pledges
In January 2010, following the earthquake, US President Barack Obama promised US$1.15 billion in assistance to Haiti, and the European Union pledged more than €400 million (US$616 million).
January 2010: General elections postponed
In January 2010, general elections planned for Haiti were postponed due to the devastating earthquake.
January 2010: Health care shortage
In January 2010, the earthquake highlighted the chronic shortage of health care personnel and hospital resources in Haiti.
November 2010: Elections held for senate, parliament, and president
In November 2010, elections were held in Haiti for the senate, parliament, and the first round of the presidential elections.
2010: Geological findings after earthquake
After the earthquake of 2010, there was no evidence of surface rupture and geologists' findings were based on seismological, geological and ground deformation data.
2010: Economic Decline after Earthquake and Cholera Outbreak
Following the 2010 earthquake and subsequent cholera outbreak, Haiti's purchasing power parity GDP fell by 8%, from US$12.15 billion to US$11.18 billion.
2010: Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais founded
Following the 2010 earthquake, Partners In Health established the Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais, which is the largest solar-powered hospital globally.
2010: Damage to Jacmel
In 2010, Jacmel, a colonial city tentatively accepted as a World Heritage Site, was extensively damaged by an earthquake.
2010: Haitian National Police force number
In 2010, the Haitian National Police force numbered 7,000.
2010: Carnival Location Decision
In 2010, the Haitian government decided to stage the National Carnival in a different city outside Port-au-Prince each year.
2010: NYPD assists in rebuilding Haiti's police force
In 2010, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) sent a team of officers to Haiti to assist in the rebuilding of its police force.
2010: Religion Statistics
Religion in Haiti according to the Pew Research Center in 2010.
2010: Post-Earthquake Reconstruction Funds
The United Nations states that US$13.34 billion has been earmarked for post-earthquake reconstruction through 2020, though two years after the 2010 quake, less than half of that amount had actually been released.
2010: Industrial Park Master Plan
The plan for the Caracol industrial park pre-dated the 2010 earthquake but was fast-tracked as part of US foreign aid strategy to help Haiti recover.
2010: Haitian Diaspora in France
There were 80,000 Haitians in Metropolitan France (2010).
March 2011: Presidential run-off election
In March 2011, the presidential run-off election between Michel Martelly and Mirlande Manigat took place in Haiti.
2011: Primary Education Enrollment Rate
According to the 2013 Millennium Development Goals Report, Haiti's primary education enrollment rate was 88%.
2011: Trade Deficit
In 2011, Haiti had a trade deficit of US$3 billion, which was 41% of its GDP.
January 2012: Roi Henri Christophe Campus Opening
On 12 January 2012, the $50 million Roi Henri Christophe Campus of a new university in Limonade opened near Cap-Haïtien.
February 2012: Haiti seeks African Union membership
In February 2012, Haiti signaled its intent to upgrade its observer status to full associate member status of the African Union (AU).
October 2012: Caracol Industrial Park Inauguration
On 21 October 2012, the 240-hectare Caracol industrial park, the largest in the Caribbean, was inaugurated with a project cost of US$300 million.
2012: Childhood Vaccination Rates
As of 2012, 60% of children in Haiti under the age of 10 were vaccinated.
2012: Remittances as a Source of Foreign Exchange
As of 2012, remittances from Haitians living abroad were the primary source of foreign exchange, equaling one-fifth (20%) of Haiti's GDP and more than five times the earnings from exports.
2012: National police initiative started
In 2012 Haiti started an ability to fulfil a pledge by increasing its national police yearly by 50%, a four-year initiative.
2012: HNP officers receive specialized training
In 2012, 150 HNP officers received specialized training funded by the US government.
2012: USAID Job Creation Expectations
In 2012, USAID believed the Caracol industrial park had the potential to create as many as 65,000 jobs once fully developed.
June 2013: Planned upgrade of Haiti's AU status
In June 2013, the African Union (AU) was reportedly planning to upgrade Haiti's status from observer to associate at its summit.
2013: Millennium Development Goals Report
According to the 2013 Millennium Development Goals Report, Haiti had steadily boosted net enrollment rate in primary education.
2013: UNODC report on murder rates
According to the 2013 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report, murder rates in Haiti (10.2 per 100,000) are far below the regional average.
2013: Trade Partners
In 2013 (est.), Haiti's main export partner is the US 83.5%.
2013: Network Readiness Index Ranking
In 2013, Haiti ranked number 141 out of 148 overall in the World Economic Forum's Network Readiness Index (NRI).
2013: Airport Development Plans
In 2013, plans for the development of an international airport on Île-à-Vache were introduced by the prime minister.
2013: Specialized training for HNP officers continues
In 2013, specialized training for HNP officers funded by the US government continued.
2013: Haiti calls for slavery reparations
In 2013, the Haitian government called for European governments to pay reparations for slavery and establish an official commission for the settlement of past wrongdoings.
2013: Haitian Diaspora in Cuba
There were 300,000 Haitians in Cuba in 2013.
2014: Housing Development
By 2014, of the 5,000 houses promised near Caracol, only 750 had been built.
2014: Network Readiness Index Ranking
In 2014, Haiti ranked number 143 out of 148 overall in the World Economic Forum's Network Readiness Index (NRI).
2014: Tourism in Haiti
In 2014, Haiti received 1,250,000 tourists (mostly from cruise ships), and the industry generated US$200 million.
2014: Duvalier's trial shelved after death
In 2014, attempts to try Jean-Claude Duvalier for crimes committed under his rule were shelved following his death.
2014: Hotel Openings
In 2014, several hotels were opened in Haiti, including an upscale Best Western Premier, a five-star Royal Oasis hotel, a four-star Marriott Hotel, and other new hotel developments.
2015: USAID Feasibility Study
A USAid feasibility study in 2015 found that "a new port was not viable for a variety of technical, environmental and economic reasons".
2015: Major Import Partners
According to the 2015 CIA World Factbook, Haiti's main import partners are: Dominican Republic 35%, US 26.8%, Netherlands Antilles 8.7%, China 7%.
2015: Literacy Rate
According to the 2015 World Factbook, Haiti's literacy rate is 60.7%.
2015: US Aid Allocation
As of 2015, the US government has allocated US$4 billion for post-earthquake reconstruction in Haiti, with US$3 billion already spent and the remainder dedicated to longer-term projects.
2015: Reliance on Petrocaribe
In 2015, over 90 percent of Haiti's government budget was sourced from Petrocaribe, an oil alliance led by Venezuela.
2015: Haitian Diaspora in the US
There were an estimated 881,500 people of Haitian ancestry in the United States in 2015.
May 2016: Application for AU status not ratified
By May 2016, Haiti's application for associate member status of the African Union (AU) had still not been ratified.
November 2016: Elections held after postponements
In November 2016, after numerous postponements partly due to Hurricane Matthew, elections were held in Haiti.
2016: United Nations apologizes for cholera outbreak
In 2016, the United Nations apologized for the cholera outbreak in Haiti, but refused to acknowledge fault.
November 2017: Prison Overcrowding
In November 2017, Port-au-Prince penitentiary held 4,359 detainees, far exceeding its 1,200 capacity, leading to malnutrition and infectious diseases.
2017: Tuberculosis incidence
According to a 2017 report, Haiti's incidence of tuberculosis (TB) was the highest in the region, estimated at 200 cases per 100,000 people.
2017: Energy Production
As of 2017, Haiti was producing the least amount of energy among all countries in the Americas, with less than a quarter of the country having electric coverage.
2017: Haiti's Economy in 2017
In 2017, Haiti's per capita GDP was $1,800 and its GDP was $19.97 billion. The country uses the Haitian gourde as its currency.
2017: Jovenel Moïse sworn in as president
In 2017, Jovenel Moïse of the Haitian Tèt Kale Party was sworn in as president of Haiti.
2017: Cholera outbreak aftermath reported
In 2017, it was reported that roughly 10,000 Haitians had died and nearly a million had been made ill as a result of the cholera outbreak.
July 2018: Protests begin over fuel prices
On July 7, 2018, protests began in Haiti in response to increased fuel prices and later evolved into demands for President Moïse's resignation.
2018: Population Estimate
In 2018, Haiti's population was estimated to be about 10,788,000.
2018: Reactivation of FAdH
In 2018, President Jovenel Moise reactivated the Force Armée d'Haiti (FAdH).
2018: Electricity Project Announcement
In 2018, a 24-hour electricity project was announced for Haiti. As part of this project, 236 MW needs to be installed in Port-au-Prince, and 75 MW in all other regions.
2018: Railway Proposal
In 2018, the Regional Development Council of the Dominican Republic proposed a "trans-Hispaniola" railway between both countries.
2018: Life Expectancy
In 2018, the life expectancy at birth in Haiti was 63.66 years.
2018: Religious Demographics
The 2018 CIA World Factbook reported that 55% of Haitians were Catholics and 29% were Protestants.
2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index score
In 2019, Haiti had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 4.01/10, ranking it 137th globally out of 172 countries.
2019: Infant mortality rate
In 2019, Haiti's infant mortality rate was 48.2 deaths per 1,000 live births.
2020: Post-Earthquake Reconstruction Funds
The United Nations states that US$13.34 billion has been earmarked for post-earthquake reconstruction through 2020.
July 2021: President Moïse assassinated
On July 7, 2021, President Moïse was assassinated in an attack on his private residence and Ariel Henry was installed as acting prime minister on July 20, 2021.
August 2021: Major earthquake hits Haiti
On August 14, 2021, Haiti experienced another significant earthquake, causing many casualties and worsening economic conditions.
September 2021: Gang violence escalates
By September 2021, gang violence in Haiti had escalated into a full-blown gang war, contributing to the country's instability.
March 2022: Haiti faces political dysfunction
As of March 2022, Haiti had no president, no parliamentary quorum, and a dysfunctional high court due to a lack of judges.
2023: Size of the Haitian army
As of 2023, the Haitian army includes one infantry battalion that is in the process of being formed, with 700 personnel.
2023: Increase in kidnappings
In 2023, kidnapping in Haiti jumped 72% from the first quarter of the previous year, targeting wealthy individuals and leading to a shortage of medical staff.
March 2024: Prison Break in Port-au-Prince
In March 2024, armed gangs stormed the main prison in Port-au-Prince, resulting in the escape of approximately 3700 inmates and the death of 12 people.
March 2024: Ariel Henry prevented from returning to Haiti
In March 2024, gangs prevented Ariel Henry from returning to Haiti after a visit to Kenya, and he agreed to resign once a transitional government was formed. Nearly half of Haiti's population was living under acute food insecurity.
April 25, 2024: Transitional Presidential Council takes over Governance of Haiti
On April 25, 2024, the Transitional Presidential Council took over the Governance of Haiti and is scheduled to stay in power until 2026. Michel Patrick Boisvert was named interim prime minister.
May 2024: Airport Reopening
In May 2024, the airport reopened following three months closure following violence, and is expected to help ease a shortage of medications and basic supplies.
June 2024: Garry Conille sworn in as acting prime minister
On 3 June 2024, the council swore in Garry Conille as acting prime minister.
November 2024: Alix Didier Fils-Aimé replaced Conille as acting prime minister
On 10 November 2024, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé replaced Conille as acting prime minister.
2026: Scheduled end for Transitional Presidential Council governance
In 2026, the Transitional Presidential Council is scheduled to end its governance of Haiti.
