Map to Haiti

Map of Haiti

Northwest area

Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.

• 80% live below the World Bank’s definition of poverty.
• Average yearly income is $240.
• 80% of the population’s average income is $100 a year.
• $3 to $4 a day is the pay for manual labor.
• 1% of the population would be considered "Middle Class" by the Industrialized Nation’s definition.

Haiti has limited manpower.

• 50% Unemployment rate.
• Average life span is under 50 years of age.
• 50% of children die by the age of 5.
• 45,000 children die from easily curable disease such as dehydration, diarrhea, and malnutrition.
• 50% of the population is under the age of 18 years old.
• A family would have to have 6 children in order to have 1 live.
• 80% of the population is illiterate.

Haiti has limited resources

• 1/3 of Haiti’s annual income comes through foreign aid.
• Estimates are that $800 million was stolen by Duvalier and Associates.
• $300 million a year has been lost in tourist trade because of the AIDS fear and the political situation.
• In 1920, 60% of Haiti was covered by lush forest and today only 5%.
• Foreign companies and investments prior to Duvalier’s overthrow added to the exploitation through low wages and little reinvestment. Since the overthrow, companies leaving has resulted in 12,000 less jobs.