An estimated 2.7 million to 3.1 million Haitian adults, representing about one-third of the country’s adult population, lack valid national identification cards, limiting their access to essential services, formal employment, and economic opportunities, according to a World Bank Group report.
The report, titled Diagnostic of ID Ecosystems: Haiti, emphasizes that expanding access to the Unique National Identification Card could significantly aid Haitians in obtaining social assistance, opening bank and mobile money accounts, enrolling their children in school, and participating in civic activities.
Although Haiti has made strides in increasing legal identity coverage, with approximately 67% of adults holding national identification cards, the report notes that many still face barriers. It found that 85% of children under age 5 have their births registered, and 77% possess birth certificates.
The report attributes improvements to several reforms, including a 2020 decree that introduced biometric, chip-enabled identification cards, efforts to decentralize card printing, and the establishment of additional service points. However, it also stresses the need for predictable financing, clearer institutional responsibilities, and a coordinated national strategy to further extend identification coverage.
Particular groups identified as requiring targeted support include poorer households, residents in remote or insecure areas, women facing cultural obstacles to registering births, deportees, and individuals displaced due to insecurity. “Without valid ID or civil registration, people struggle to enroll in school, receive social assistance, open bank or mobile money accounts, find formal employment, and take part in civic and political life,” said Alexandre Amard, a digital specialist at the World Bank and co-author of the report.
The report warns that gaps in the identification system may weaken the effectiveness of social protection programs and exclude low-income households from participating in the digital economy. It notes that weak connections between civil registration, identification, and statistical databases further complicate the task of generating accurate population estimates for policymaking.
While national identification cards are officially free, the report highlights challenges such as informal fees and indirect costs—such as transportation and time lost due to multiple visits—that can impede the enrollment process. Recommended actions include relocating services closer to rural and insecure communities, simplifying late birth registration, supporting single mothers in registering births, and ensuring sufficient supplies at enrollment centers.
The World Bank advises the Haitian government to pursue long-term funding, mass enrollment campaigns, and stronger legal frameworks encompassing data protection and cybersecurity. “Investing in the ID ecosystem is not only a matter of fulfilling a basic right but also a strategic opportunity to foster inclusive and sustainable access to jobs in Haiti,” stated Anne Lucie Lefebvre, the World Bank Group’s country manager for Haiti.
The report’s recommendations are structured around three primary pillars: inclusion, system design, and governance. The World Bank asserts that implementing these measures can help Haiti move towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Target 16.9, which aims for legal identity for all, including birth registration.
To enhance access to public services, social protection, financial mechanisms, and economic opportunities for a larger segment of the population, sustained commitment and coordinated action will be essential, the report concludes.
