Departments of Haiti


In the administrative divisions of Haiti, the department is the first of four levels of government. Haiti is divided administratively into ten departments, which are further subdivided into 42 arrondissements, 145 communes, and 571 communal sections.
In 2014, there was a proposal by the Chamber of Deputies to increase the number of departments from 10 to 14 —perhaps as high as 16.

Administration

Each departement has a departmental council compound of three members elected by the departmental assembly for a 4-year term. The departmental council is led by a president. The council is the executive organ of the department.

Each department has a departmental assembly who assists the council in its work. The departmental assembly is the deliberative organ of the department. The members of the departmental assembly are also elected for 4 years. The departmental assembly is led by a president.

History

Three Departments have roots in the former French colony of Saint-Domingue, namely: the Nord, Sud, and Ouest. In 1801, under Governor-General Toussaint Louverture, the "provinces," became known as departments. In 1821, Artibonite was created and in 1844, Nord-Ouest, both derived out of the Nord and Ouest departments. In 1962 during the reign of Duvalier, four new departments were created out of a territorial redistribution. These departments were: Centre, Grand'Anse, Nord-Ouest and Sud-Est. In 2003, a tenth department was created out of Grand'Anse, called Nippes.
In the 1990s, before the creation of Nippes, the "10th Department" was a phrase commonly used in regards to the Haitian diaspora. As of the 21st century, it became known as the "11th".

Demographics

Data based on 2015 estimates from the Haitian government.
MapDepartmentCapitalArea PopulationDensity
MapPlanning
Region
1ArtiboniteGonaïves498717275243501Central
2CentreHinche34877462362102Central
3Grand'AnseJérémie19124683012403South
4NippesMiragoâne12683425252704South
5NordCap-Haïtien211510671775005North
6Nord-EstFort-Liberté16233939672406North
7Nord-OuestPort-de-Paix21037288073507Central
8OuestPort-au-Prince498340297058108West
9SudLes Cayes26547749762909South
10Sud-EstJacmel203463260131010West