Haiti 's purchasing power parity GDP fell 8 % in 2010 ( from US$ 12.15 billion to US$ 11.18 billion ) and the GDP per capita remained unchanged at PPP US$ 1,200 . Despite having a viable tourist industry , Haiti is one of the world 's poorest countries and the poorest in the Americas region , with poverty , corruption , poor infrastructure , lack of health care and lack of education cited as the main causes . Trade declined dramatically after the 2010 earthquake and subsequent outbreak of cholera . Haiti ranked 145 of 182 countries in the 2010 United Nations Human Development Index , with 57.3 % of the population being deprived in at least three of the HDI 's poverty measures
2010 earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
Haiti