Introduction | Geography | History | Economy | People

Haiti remains the least-developed country in the Western Hemisphere and one of the poorest in the world.

Factories assemble toys, electronic equipment, and sporting goods, including baseballs, but nearly 70% of all Haitians depend on the agriculture sector. Coffee is still an important export, but most farmers tend only small family plots of corn, rice, and beans.

Comparative social and economic indicators show Haiti falling behind other low-income developing countries since the 1980s. Haiti now ranks 153rd of 177 countries in the UN’s Human Development Index. About 80% of the population lives in abject poverty, ranking the country second-to-last in the world. The country has experienced little formal job creation over the past decade, although the informal economy is growing.

In the past, difficulty in reaching agreements with international sponsors denied Haiti badly needed budget and development assistance. In addition to these geopolitical obstacles, another major roadblock to development during the last 20 years has been the repeated episodes of violence that have rocked the country. While there have been periods of relative calm, they were not long enough to convince foreign investors to commit significant capital to Haiti.

Consequently, the country has experienced shortages, severe trade deficits, and periodic high inflation during the 20-year period.

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For this section about Haitian Life, facts and maps are from:
National Geographic World Atlas for Young Explorers, 1998 National Geographic Society
National Geographic Picture Atlas of Our World, 1993 National Geographic Society
Kingfisher Circling the Globe,
A Young People's Guide to Countries & Cultures of the World