Economy of Haiti

While subsistence farming is prevalent among many Haitians, the country also maintains an agricultural export sector. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing collectively contribute to approximately one-quarter 28% of Haiti's annual gross domestic product, engaging about two-thirds 66% of the labor force. However, the expansion of agricultural activities faces challenges due to the mountainous terrain, limiting available land for cultivation. Out of the total arable land covering 550,000 hectares, only 125,000 hectares are suitable for irrigation, with just 75,000 hectares effectively improved with irrigation systems. Notable cash crops include coffee, mangoes, and cocoa, although the production of sugarcane, once a significant cash crop, has dwindled due to declining prices and international competition. Deforestation has significantly reduced Haiti's forest cover, leading to a decline in timber exports, with annual removals totaling approximately 1,000 kilograms. Additionally, Haiti possesses a small fishing industry, with annual catches averaging about 5,000 tons in recent years.

Haiti hosts a modest mining industry, with mineral extraction amounting to approximately US$13 million in 2013. Among the minerals extracted, bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, and marble are prominent. Lime and aggregates, along with marble to a lesser extent, are also extracted. Historical records indicate gold mining during the early colonial period by the Spanish, while bauxite extraction occurred near Miragoâne on the Southern peninsula in recent times. Canadian corporation International Halliwell Mines, Ltd., operating from 1960 to 1972 through its Haitian subsidiary, La Societe d'Exploitation et de Developpement Economique et Natural d'Haiti (Sedren), mined copper near Gonaïves. About 0.5 million tons of ore, valued at around $83.5 million, were exported, with the Haitian government receiving approximately $3 million in revenue. As of 2012, there were indications of potential gold and copper mining ventures in northern Haiti.

Haiti's energy consumption is relatively low, averaging around 250 kilograms of oil equivalent per capita annually. The country produced 546 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, slightly surpassing its consumption of 508 million kilowatt-hours. Haiti ranked last among 135 countries in net total electricity consumption. The primary source of energy in Haiti is the combustion of wood, supplemented by oil imports averaging about 11,800 barrels per day. The Péligre Dam, the nation's largest, supplies energy to the capital city of Port-au-Prince, while thermal plants serve other regions. Despite the relatively low demand for energy, Haiti's electricity supply has been erratic and subject to shortages, exacerbated by mismanagement that has hindered foreign investment of over US$100 million aimed at enhancing the country's energy infrastructure. To cope with frequent outages, businesses have resorted to alternative power sources. Although Haiti possesses significant potential for hydropower, its development has been limited. The government regulates oil and gas prices to mitigate the impact of international price fluctuations on Haitian consumers.

Haiti's services sector accounted for 52 percent of the nation's gross domestic product and employed a quarter of the labor force. World Bank data indicates that the services sector exhibited consistent, albeit modest, growth during the 1990s, making it one of the few sectors in Haiti's economy to do so.