Haitian Gourde
Gourde haïtienne
Currency Code
HTG
ISO 332
Symbol
HTG
Native: G
Decimal Digits
2
Rounding: 0
Countries
HT
Using this currency
Currency Units
Major Unit
Name: gourde
Symbol: G
Minor Unit
Name: centime
Symbol:
Value: 0.01
Banknotes
Frequently Used
G10G20G50G100G250G500
Rarely Used
G1G2G5G1000
Coins
Frequently Used
5 centimes20 centimesG0.5G1G5
Plural Forms
English Plural
Haitian gourdes
Native Plural
Gourdes haïtiennes
Overview
The Haitian Gourde is the currency of Haiti, managed by the Bank of the Republic of Haiti. It serves one of the Western Hemisphere's poorest economies, facing significant challenges from political instability and natural disasters.
Economy
- Haiti is a member of OAS, CARICOM, ACS, CELAC.
- Main industries include: Textiles, Sugar refining, Flour milling, Cement, Light assembly using imported parts.
- Haiti is part of the World Trade Organization.
- Imports are food, manufactured goods, machinery, transport equipment, fuels, raw materials.
- Major exports include apparel, manufactures, oils, cocoa, mangoes, coffee.
- GDP: $20.9 billion (2023 est.).
- GDP per capita: $1,815 (2023 est.).
- Unemployment rate: 14.2% (2017 est.).
- Inflation rate: 26.8% (2023 est.).
- Main trading partners: United States, Dominican Republic, Colombia, China, Netherlands, India.
- Trade agreements: HOPE and HELP trade preference programs with US, Various bilateral agreements.
History
- Previous currencies used: Colonial French currency, Various revolutionary currencies.
- The gourde was introduced in 1813, making it one of the oldest currencies in the Western Hemisphere. It has undergone several revaluations and reforms throughout Haiti's tumultuous history.
- 1813: Gourde introduced after independence
- 1870-1915: Various currency instabilities
- 1915-1934: US occupation and monetary reforms
- 1979: Bank of the Republic of Haiti established
- 2010: Earthquake economic devastation
- 2021-present: Political crisis and economic collapse
- Exchange rate peg: Free floating.
General Information
- ISO 4217 Code: HTG
- Symbols: HTG/G
- Currency Subunits: 100 centimes
- Central Bank: Bank of the Republic of Haiti
- Monetary Policy: Flexible exchange rate with limited intervention capacity. Focus on maintaining monetary stability amid severe economic and political challenges.
- Bills: 10 HTG, 20 HTG, 25 HTG, 50 HTG, 100 HTG, 250 HTG, 500 HTG, 1000 HTG
- Coins: 5 centimes, 10 centimes, 20 centimes, 50 centimes, 1 gourde, 5 gourdes
- USD Exchange Rate: Variable (approximately 132-135 HTG per USD)
- Pegged To: None (Floating)
- Capital: Port-au-Prince
- Population: 11,524,165 (2023 est.)
- Area: 27,750 km²
- Languages: French (official), Creole (official)
- Time Zones: UTC-5 (Eastern Standard Time)
- Government Type: Semi-presidential republic
- Head of Government: President (head of state), Prime Minister (head of government)
- Independence: January 1, 1804 (from France)
- Ethnic Groups: Black 95%, Mixed and White 5%
- Religions: Roman Catholic 54.7%, Protestant 28.5%, Voodoo 2.1%, Other 4.6%, None 10.2%
- Literacy Rate: 61.7% (2016 est.)
- Transport: Toussaint Louverture International Airport, limited road network, minimal rail, Caribbean ports
- Communications: Limited telecommunications, 32% internet penetration, mobile network coverage
- Energy: Fossil fuels 89%, Hydroelectric 11%, very limited electricity access
- Countries Using This Currency: Haiti
- Data Sources: Central Bank: Bank of the Republic of Haiti (brh.ht), Economic Data: Haitian Institute of Statistics and Informatics, World Bank, IMF, Trade Data: General Directorate of Customs, Demographic Data: Haitian Institute of Statistics and Informatics, Geographic Data: National Meteorological Service, Historical Data: Bank of the Republic of Haiti archives
- Last Updated: 2025