Haiti, Economy

Haiti’s economy has been shrinking since the early 1980s while the population has continued to grow. In 2000 Haiti’s per capita gross domestic product was $510. This placed Haiti among the world’s poorest nations. Agriculture employs 68 percent of the labor force; manufacturing, services, and tourism are the next largest employers. About 25 to 50 percent of the workforce is underemployed or unemployed. The international sanctions employed against Haiti’s military leaders from 1991 to 1994 further weakened the already crippled economy. Government revenue in 1999 was $358 million and spending was about $467 million. Haiti’s international debt is approaching $1 billion.