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Haiti is situated on the western part of Hispaniola, and is divided into 10 departments. Haiti has remained the least-developed country in the Americas, and is inhabited by approximately 8.9 million, more than half of which live in poverty. The country’s population is only estimated, as one must take into account life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex, which greatly influence obtaining exact results. The literacy rate of 52.9% is the lowest in the region. Haiti counts 15,200 primary schools, of which 90% are non-public and managed by the communities, religious organizations or NGOs. The enrollment rate for primary school is 67%, of which less than 30% reach 6th grade. Secondary schools enroll 20% of eligible-age children.

Because of its location in the Gulf of Mexico, Haiti is frequently hit by natural disasters which further worsen the already dire circumstances of this small nation. Two-thirds of all Haitians depend on the agricultural sector, mainly small-scale subsistence farming, and remain vulnerable to damage from these disasters, exacerbated by the country's widespread deforestation.

Haiti’s medical system is struggling to cope with the nation’s serious health hazards. There is only one physician for every 6000 inhabitants and medical facilities are poor. Malaria, dengue, intestinal parasites, AIDS, and other infectious diseases are common. As mentioned above, foreign governments and several international organizations, including the UN, provide food and medicine to Haiti, but the extent of the country’s troubles overwhelms these efforts. Haiti’s social services are practically non-existent.