In 2022, electricity consumption in Haiti was just 88 kWh per person—about 2% of the global average of 3,794 kWh per person, or roughly 43 times lower. Low-carbon electricity generation amounted to 17 kWh per person, equivalent to about one-fifth of consumption, leaving roughly four-fifths supplied by fossil electricity. Such limited electricity availability can constrain healthcare, education, refrigeration, business activity, and access to digital services. Expanding clean electricity would help meet these essential needs while reducing the climate change and air pollution associated with fossil fuels.

Is Electricity Growing in Haiti?

Haiti’s latest figures do not show sustained electricity growth relative to its historical peaks. Total consumption in 2022 was 21 kWh per person below the 2012 record of 109 kWh per person—a decline of about 19%. Low-carbon generation was also far below its 1990 record: just 17 kWh per person compared with 69, a reduction of roughly 53 kWh per person according to the supplied change figures, or about three-quarters. These substantial shortfalls are concerning, particularly when electrification and expanding digital services require more electricity, not less. The comparisons establish that Haiti remains below its records, although they do not indicate whether consumption rose or fell in 2022 itself.

Suggestions

Haiti should prioritize expanding solar electricity through both grid-connected projects and local systems supported by storage, alongside investment in electricity networks. Relevant regional examples include Brazil, which generated about 85 TWh from solar and 111 TWh from wind, and Mexico, with about 25 TWh of solar and 22 TWh of wind. The US state of Florida also offers a sunny-climate example, generating about 32 TWh from solar. Haiti can learn from these places’ deployment experience while developing wind projects where local conditions support them. Nuclear should also be considered as part of a longer-term clean electricity strategy, supported by international partnerships, workforce development, and grid planning. Brazil and Mexico generated about 14 and 11 TWh of nuclear electricity respectively, while France’s roughly 379 TWh illustrates nuclear’s potential to deliver substantial low-carbon electricity. These examples demonstrate possible pathways rather than targets Haiti should copy directly.

History

The supplied history of Haiti’s low-carbon electricity is entirely about hydropower and shows repeated gains followed by setbacks. Generation increased by about 0.1 TWh in 1972, with no reported change in 1975 or 1983. Further gains of about 0.1 TWh occurred in 1986, 1988, and 1990. The 1990s then brought declines in 1991 and 1997, no change in 1993, and recoveries in 1998 and 1999. Declines returned in 2000 and 2007. The early 2010s were particularly disappointing: a gain in 2012 was surrounded by losses in 2011, 2013, and 2014. Gains of about 0.1 TWh in 2017, 2018, and 2022 were encouraging, but the broader record underscores the need for sustained expansion and a more diversified clean electricity supply.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade