Demographics in Haiti

• Population 8.7 million

• 42% under 14 y/o (compare to 20% in the U.S.)

• Country size 300 sq. km, slightly smaller than Maryland

• Race: 95% Black African or mulatto

• Languages: Creole and French

• Religion: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16%, voodoo pervasive

The Bad News

• Deforestation is devastating: <2% vegetation coverage

• Per capita income < $440 USD/yr. (averages < $1.20 per day)

• Unemployment 80%; 2/3 of people live by subsistence farming

• 80% live below the poverty line; 54% live in abject poverty

• 1% of the people control 50% of the wealth

• 10% of children work to help support their families

• <65% of eligible kids are enrolled in primary school; of these, only 63% finish

• Only 15% of eligible kids are enrolled in secondary school

• Yearly inflation 8.9%

• Illiteracy rate 53%

• Average life expectancy 57 years

• Average family size: 5 children

• 42% of kids under 5 y/o are malnourished

• Less than half the population has access to potable water

• Infant mortality 83/1000 (compared to 6.5/1000 U.S.)

• Mortality under 5 y/o 125/1000

• One doctor and one nurse per 10,000 population

• HIV < 7% of overall population

The Good News

• 3.6 million people who are willing to work!

• 8.3 million consumers

• Beautiful beaches

• Warm climate

• Rich culture and history

• Hospitable people

• With increased socio-political stability in the first few years of Presdent René Préval’s administration (2006-present), Haiti now has a long-awaited sense of hope.

The Needs

• The needs are innumerable, but here are a few:

• Forgiveness of debts

• Massive investment in infrastructure - starting with the basics: readily available potable water, access to the electrical grid

• Reforestation and restoration of topsoil

• Education, including vocational training, to provide the 3.6 million potential workers with marketable skills so they are prepared to do work aside from subsistence farming

• Job creation for economic growth

• The establishment of a middle class

• Stable, "good" government