With a Gross Domestic Product(GDP) estimate of US$6.56 billion[1] in 2009, Haiti is routinely regarded as one of the poorest nations in the western hemisphere. Based on estimates by the World Bank in 2005, the percentage of people living below the US$1 per day poverty line in Haiti is 54%, and the percentage of people living below US$2 per day is at 78%.[2]
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Poverty affects the Haitians in many aspects of everyday life, including housing, nutrition, education, healthcare, infant mortality rates, as well as environment. Haiti has constantly been plagued with low levels of living conditions, with many Haitians moving into the capital city of Port-au-Prince in a bid to escape poverty in the more rural areas of the country.
In 2009, Haiti was ranked the tenth most corrupt country in the world by Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index, with a CPI score of 1.8.[3] Studies conducted by Transparency International shows a strong correlation between corruption and poverty. Corruption increases poverty through lower economic growth rates, biased tax systems which would also lead to a widening disparity between the rich and the poor, poor implementation of social programs, lower welfare spending and unequal access to education.[4] Specifically for Haiti, studies have shown that international donors have been slow to assist Haiti, mainly due to widespread corruption and structural problems present in Haiti. Overseas charitable organisations have contributed more than 2.6 billion dollars’ worth of aid to the country since 1994, of which any obvious benefits have yet to seen.[5]
The high Infant Mortality Rate of 64 deaths per 1000 live births[6] is a result of the poor healthcare system, and the lack of a well-planned education system is the cause of low literacy rates (45%) in the country.[7]
| Under 5 Mortality Rate: | Per 1,000 live births |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 152 |
| 2009 | 87 |
| Infant Mortality Rate (under 1): | Per 1,000 live births |
| 1990 | 105 |
| 2009 | 64 |
Haiti ranks 59.5[8] in the Gini Coefficient index, with the richest 10% of Haitians receiving 47.83% of the nation's income, while the poorest 10% receive less than 0.9%.[9]
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