CAP-HAÏTIEN, September 14, 2026 — The World Bank Group released a new report on Haiti’s economic situation on Monday, entitled “Haiti – Pathways to Growth Amid Rising Risks”, which provides an in-depth assessment of the country’s performance and outlook. Despite consecutive years of economic challenges, the report emphasizes that Haiti possesses genuine strengths on which to build sustainable recovery and create better opportunities and jobs for its people, provided it decisively addresses its structural challenges.
Economic growth in Haiti has remained constrained over the past two decades. Yet the country has substantial potential. Among these strengths, the report highlights Haiti’s young, growing, and competitive workforce and its advantageous geographic position near major markets. The agricultural sector also holds strong potential in high-value export crops such as cocoa, vetiver, mangoes, and coffee. However, the report notes that this sector, which employs nearly half of the working population, receives less than 1 percent of formal credit.
“While stability is a prerequisite for economic recovery, Haiti must simultaneously implement policies to address emerging challenges: job creation, migration, volatility in remittance flows, and improved market access for its exports,” said Anne-Lucie Lefebvre, World Bank Country Manager for Haiti. “The World Bank Group stands ready to support the country in mobilizing additional resources to foster economic growth, deepen international partnerships, and implement reforms to strengthen institutions.”
The report identifies four major economic challenges that Haiti must address through concrete measures as part of its recovery plan. The first is creating jobs to support growth and security. Second is managing the return of internally displaced people, estimated at around 12 percent of the country’s population. Third is reducing vulnerability to fluctuations in remittance flows. Finally, the country must renew and broaden its access to trade markets.
“To return to a growth path despite heightened risks which characterize the current economic environment, Haiti must implement macro-fiscal and governance reforms that will yield results under any security scenario; develop a costed investment program for the Northern and Southern corridors that can be implemented immediately; and, finally, ensure the reconnection of the capital, which is the most difficult challenge and the most binding constraint in the short term,” said Bernard James Haven, Senior World Bank Economist for Haiti.
