Poverty in Haiti affects millions nationwide as insecurity, displacement, and repeated shocks strain household survival. Low average incomes are compounded by high inflation, limited fiscal capacity, and infrastructure gaps such as low electricity access. Deprivation also shows up in hunger and nutrition, including large-scale food insecurity and chronic undernutrition.
Key Takeaways
- Haiti’s extreme poverty rate is estimated at 38.4% in 2018, and the poverty rate is 58.5% in 2018, reflecting worsening welfare under shocks (World Bank).
- $10.8 billion nominal GDP for Haiti in 2023 (current US$), indicating limited fiscal capacity that affects poverty reduction.
- Haiti’s GDP per capita was $1,014 (current US$) in 2023, underscoring extremely low income levels tied to poverty.
- $1.0 billion in humanitarian funding was required for Haiti in 2024 to respond to escalating needs (a proxy for the scale of deprivation).
- 2.0 million people in Haiti were displaced by conflict-related violence and insecurity as of mid-2024 (humanitarian displacement estimates).
- 10.1% of Haiti’s population is undernourished (prevalence of undernourishment) per FAO’s SOFI estimates for the early 2020s period.
- 5.3 million people in Haiti were estimated to be food insecure in 2023, indicating large-scale economic vulnerability and poverty conditions.
- 4.9 million people in Haiti were classified as severely food insecure (IPC Phase 3 or worse) in 2023.
- 46.0% of Haiti’s population is considered multidimensionally poor (deprived in multiple indicators) as of 2017/2018 estimates cited in academic and UNDP-derived work.
- FAO estimated that 2023 crop and livestock losses in Haiti reached $400 million equivalent in damage and production impacts (disaster impact assessments).
- 14.9 million people across the Latin America & Caribbean region require humanitarian assistance in 2024, and Haiti is among the hardest-hit countries for poverty and basic needs (OCHA regional overview).
- 4.5 million people in Haiti face severe acute food insecurity risk in 2024 projections (IPC/food security analysis).
- Haiti’s access to electricity was 23.1% in 2022 (World Bank), indicating infrastructure deficits that worsen living standards.
- 27% of Haiti’s population is without access to improved sanitation services (UNICEF/WHO JMP reporting used in poverty deprivation analyses).
- Haiti had 61% of the population using at least basic water services as of the latest JMP period reporting (WHO/UNICEF).
In Haiti, deep and worsening poverty leaves millions hungry, displaced, and without basic services.
Related reading
01 · Category
Economic Conditions11 stats
01
Haiti’s extreme poverty rate is estimated at 38.4% in 2018, and the poverty rate is 58.5% in 2018, reflecting worsening welfare under shocks (World Bank).
02
$10.8 billion nominal GDP for Haiti in 2023 (current US$), indicating limited fiscal capacity that affects poverty reduction.
03
Haiti’s GDP per capita was $1,014(current US$) in 2023, underscoring extremely low income levels tied to poverty.
04
Haiti’s inflation rate was 28.9% in 2023 (annual %), which erodes purchasing power and can deepen poverty.
05
Haiti’s current account balance was -$1.3 billion in 2023 (current US$), reflecting external financing pressures relevant to poverty conditions.
06
Official development assistance (net) to Haiti was $836 million in 2022 (current US$), a key resource channel for poverty-related spending.
07
$3.6 billion in remittances were received by Haiti in 2023, a major household income source that can offset poverty shocks.
08
Haiti’s imports were $8.8 billion in 2023 (current US$), contributing to trade imbalances and domestic cost pressures.
09
In 2022, 53% of Haiti’s population lived on less than $5.50/day (2017 PPP) (World Bank/LCMS-derived global poverty line tracking).
10
Haiti’s general government health expenditure was $99 million in 2022 (current US$), indicating limited public budget for poverty-alleviating services.
11
Haiti’s tax revenue was 11.2% of GDP in 2022, limiting fiscal space for poverty reduction programs (IMF/WB-style fiscal reporting).
Interpretation
Economic Conditions Interpretation
Haiti’s economic conditions look especially precarious as extreme poverty is 38.4% and total poverty 58.5% in 2018, while in 2023 low capacity is evident in a $1,014 GDP per capita alongside high inflation at 28.9%, shrinking purchasing power and making poverty reduction much harder.
02 · Category
Poverty Drivers6 stats
01
$1.0 billion in humanitarian funding was required for Haiti in 2024 to respond to escalating needs (a proxy for the scale of deprivation).
02
2.0 million people in Haiti were displaced by conflict-related violence and insecurity as of mid-2024 (humanitarian displacement estimates).
03
10.1% of Haiti’s population is undernourished (prevalence of undernourishment) per FAO’s SOFI estimates for the early 2020s period.
04
22% of Haitian children under 5 are chronically malnourished (stunting), reflecting a long-term poverty driver via health and nutrition deprivation.
05
34.6% of Haitian firms identify access to finance as a major constraint (World Bank Enterprise Surveys).
06
12.7% of Haiti’s youth (15–24) were not in employment, education, or training (NEET) in 2019 (ILO modeled estimates).
Interpretation
Poverty Drivers Interpretation
Haiti’s poverty drivers are being reinforced by overlapping shocks, with 2.0 million people displaced by violence and insecurity and chronic deprivation visible in 22% of children under 5 who are stunted, alongside major economic frictions such as 34.6% of firms citing lack of access to finance.
03 · Category
Poverty Levels5 stats
01
5.3 million people in Haiti were estimated to be food insecure in 2023, indicating large-scale economic vulnerability and poverty conditions.
02
4.9 million people in Haiti were classified as severely food insecure (IPC Phase 3 or worse) in 2023.
03
46.0% of Haiti’s population is considered multidimensionally poor (deprived in multiple indicators) as of 2017/2018 estimates cited in academic and UNDP-derived work.
04
62% of Haitians lack access to improved water sources, according to UNICEF WASH reporting (2019–2021 monitoring references).
05
77% of children in Haiti are affected by at least one form of deprivation (health, nutrition, water/sanitation, education) per UNICEF multidimensional child deprivation reporting.
Interpretation
Poverty Levels Interpretation
As of recent estimates, Haiti’s poverty is stark and multidimensional with 46.0% of people living in multidimensional poverty and 4.9 million classified as severely food insecure in 2023, showing that deprivation is widespread and deeply entrenched.
More related reading
04 · Category
Humanitarian Outcomes7 stats
01
FAO estimated that 2023 crop and livestock losses in Haiti reached $400 million equivalent in damage and production impacts (disaster impact assessments).
02
14.9 million people across the Latin America & Caribbean region require humanitarian assistance in 2024, and Haiti is among the hardest-hit countries for poverty and basic needs (OCHA regional overview).
03
4.5 million people in Haiti face severe acute food insecurity risk in 2024 projections (IPC/food security analysis).
04
UNICEF reached 2.1 million children with humanitarian assistance in Haiti in 2023 (UNICEF country annual report).
05
Haiti recorded 1.2 million children in need of nutrition assistance in 2024 (UNICEF/partners planning numbers).
06
OCHA estimated that 64% of health facilities in the affected areas were non-functional during peak insecurity periods in 2023 (Health Cluster / OCHA reporting).
07
MSF reported that 1.0 million people lacked access to health care due to insecurity in 2023 (MSF operational reporting).
Interpretation
Humanitarian Outcomes Interpretation
In Haiti’s humanitarian outcomes, millions are experiencing worsening conditions as 4.5 million people face severe acute food insecurity risk in 2024 and 64% of health facilities were non functional during peak insecurity in 2023, while assistance needs remain massive with 2.1 million children reached by UNICEF in 2023 and $400 million in crop and livestock losses in 2023.
Reference
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APA
Priyanka Sharma. (2026, February 13). Haiti Poverty Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/haiti-poverty-statistics
MLA
Priyanka Sharma. "Haiti Poverty Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/haiti-poverty-statistics.
Chicago
Priyanka Sharma. 2026. "Haiti Poverty Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/haiti-poverty-statistics.
Sources & references
38 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+24 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)