Western hemisphere (American continent taken in the common sense) is a geographical term to identify the half of the terrestrial globe which is west of the meridian (crossing Greenwich in London, England), the other half being the eastern hemisphere.

It is also used to refer specifically to the Americas (or the New World) and adjacent waters, while excluding other territories that lie geographically within the hemisphere (parts of Africa, Europe, Antarctica and Asia); thus, it is sometimes called the American hemisphere.

Therefore, when someone says that Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, it means Haiti is the poorest country in the American continent. For example, Haiti is less poor than some African countries and Afghanistan. However, the lowest ranked country in the Americas (United Nations Human Development Index, 2007) was Nicaragua in 124th position against Haiti in 149th position. Haiti is therefore too below the average for its group. So, if Haiti was still last, but for example at the 127th position, it would be in line with our America group and close to Nicaragua at the 124th position.^e square.

Another benchmark is the 2009 GDP ranking. Haiti with 1300 US $ per year ranks 201st in the world against Nicaragua 168th in the world with 2800 US $ per year. Again, if Haiti's GDP were 2300 $ per year, the country would still occupy the last position in the Americas, but within its group its ranking would be close to the country just above in the list that is Nicaragua.

Another interesting fact is that Haiti continues to drop in the rankings. Note that in 2004, Haiti was ranked 122nd in the world with an annual GDP of 1600 US dollars and Nicaragua 116th with 2200 US $. Arrived in 2009, Nicaragua's GDP increased by 600 $ and Haiti's GDP decreased by 300 $. To put things in perspective on a positive note, it should be noted that any commercial tourism activity of a comparable level with the rest of the Caribbean (around an average of 3-4 million visitors per year) can easily add 1000 $ per year to the GDP of Haiti to bring it to 2300 $ US. Therefore, the public policy of the Haitian state is what keeps this country at the bottom of the barrel.