About Haiti

By most economic measures, Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas. Haiti now ranks 149th of 182 countries in the United Nations Human Development Index (2006). About 80 percent of the population were estimated to be living in poverty in 2003. Most Haitians live on $2 or less per day. Haiti has 50 percent illiteracy, and over 80 percent of college graduates from Haiti have emigrated, mostly to the United States. Cité Soleil is considered one of the worst slums in the Americas, most of its 500,000 residents live in extreme poverty. Poverty has forced at least 225,000 children in Haiti’s cities into slavery, working as unpaid household servants.

The country has experienced little formal job-creation over the past decade. Mangoes and coffee are two of Haiti’s most important exports. Haiti’s richest 1 percent own nearly half the country’s wealth. Haiti has consistently ranked among the most corrupt countries in the world on the Corruption Perceptions Index. Since the day of “Papa Doc” Duvalier, Haiti’s government has been notorious for its corruption. Foreign aid makes up approximately 30 to 40 percent of the national government’s budget. The largest donor is the US, followed by Canada and the European Union.

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