Country Comments

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and even under impoverished minimal consumption the country has twice the population than its renewable resources can support.

Widespread deforestation is a critical concern in Haiti and poses a serious threat to the lives of Haitian citizens. This deforestation has led to flooding, dramatic rates of soil erosion, and subsequent declines in agricultural productivity. Haiti’s valuable coastal and marine resources have been degraded by sediment deposit and overfishing, resulting in considerable loss in biodiversity. Waste management in Haiti’s urban areas is a major challenge, especially in Port-au-Prince, one of the largest cities in the world without a sewer system. (1)

According to international agencies, some 4.1 million Haitians—more than a third—live with food insecurity and a third of the population lacks access to clean water.

Gender-based violence is common. The new penal code lists sexual harassment and gender-based violence as punishable offenses. Rape is punishable by up to life imprisonment. Until it comes into force in June 2022, there is no specific legislation against domestic violence, sexual harassment, or other forms of violence targeted at women and girls. The new penal code also will legalize abortion in all circumstances up to the twelfth week of pregnancy, in cases of rape or incest, or if the mental or physical health of the woman is in danger. Abortion was previously prohibited in all circumstances. The penal code also lowers the legal age for consensual sex to 15 while only allowing legal abortion starting at age 18. (2) Haiti’s total fertility rate is 3 children per woman. Even with 35,000 citizens emigrating annually for better economic opportunity elsewhere Haiti’s overall population continues to grow around 140,000 more citizens every year.

(1) https://www.usaid.gov/haiti/environment

(2) https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/haiti#