If you’ve been looking at the Haitian gourde to dollar exchange rate lately, you’ve probably noticed something weird. Most people expect a currency in a country facing "unprecedented crisis"—the phrase every news outlet loves to use—to be in a freefall. You'd think it would look like a cliff dive. But it isn't.
Honestly, the gourde is acting a bit like a ghost. It’s hauntingly stable on paper, even while the ground underneath it feels like it's shifting every single day.
As of January 2026, the official reference rate from the Banque de la République d'Haïti (BRH) is hovering right around 131 gourdes for 1 US dollar. To be exact, recent checks show it at approximately 131.17 HTG to 1 USD. If you’re selling gourdes, you’re looking at about $0.0076 per gourde.
But here is the thing. That "official" number? It’s only half the story.
Why the Haitian Gourde to Dollar Rate Doesn't Move Like You Expect
In a normal economy, if your GDP shrinks for seven years straight—which Haiti’s has—your currency usually turns into confetti. Haiti's real GDP contracted by about 2.7% in 2025. Inflation has been a nightmare, averaging over 28% last year. Yet, the exchange rate hasn't spiraled into the 200s or 300s.
Why? Because the BRH is white-knuckling the steering wheel.
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The central bank has been using a "Staff-Monitored Program" with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which was recently extended through September 2026. Basically, they’ve agreed to keep monetary financing at zero. They aren't just printing money to cover government deficits. They are also sitting on about $1.5 billion in net international reserves. That’s a decent sized war chest for a country this size.
They use that cash to intervene. When the gourde starts to slip too much, the BRH steps in and buys gourdes with dollars to prop it up. It’s an artificial floor. It keeps the "official" rate stable, but it creates a massive disconnect with the reality on the streets of Port-au-Prince.
The Two Markets: Official vs. Reality
If you go to a bank in Pétion-Ville, you might see that 131 rate on the digital board. But try to actually buy a significant amount of dollars at that rate.
Good luck.
Often, there’s a "scarcity." This is where the informal sector—which now makes up roughly 70% of Haiti’s active workforce—takes over. In the streets, the Haitian gourde to dollar rate can look very different. If a local merchant needs USD to import rice or electronics, and the bank says "we're out," they go to the parallel market. There, the rate is whatever the guy with the bag of cash says it is.
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The Remittance Lifeline
There is one massive reason the gourde hasn't totally evaporated: the Diaspora.
Haitians living in Miami, New York, Montreal, and Paris sent back billions of dollars last year. These remittances are the only reason the economy still has a pulse. When that many dollars flow into the country, it creates a constant supply of "greenbacks" that keeps the gourde from losing all its value.
In fact, the World Bank noted that strong remittance inflows actually helped the gourde appreciate slightly—about 1.3%—during parts of the last fiscal year. It’s a paradox. The more people leave because of the security crisis, the more dollars get sent back, which actually helps stabilize the currency they left behind.
What's Changing in 2026?
Two big things are happening right now that could shake up the Haitian gourde to dollar situation.
First, there’s the HELP/HOPE Act. This is a US trade program that lets Haitian-made clothes enter the US duty-free. It was supposed to expire, but in early January 2026, the US House of Representatives passed an extension. This is huge. The textile industry is one of the last "formal" pieces of the economy left. If those factories closed, the demand for gourdes would vanish, and the dollar would become even more of a luxury.
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Second, there is the TPS (Temporary Protected Status) factor. A lot of Haitians in the US are on TPS, which is set for major reviews in early 2026. If tens of thousands of people lose their legal ability to work in the US, the remittance flow could take a hit. Less money sent home means fewer dollars in the system, which puts downward pressure on the gourde.
Real Talk on Inflation
Even if the exchange rate stays at 131, life is getting more expensive. This is because of "imported inflation."
Since Haiti imports almost everything—from fuel to flour—and global prices are high, the stable exchange rate doesn't mean stable prices. If a bag of rice costs $20 USD and the gourde is stable at 131, the price in gourdes is 2,620. If the price of rice globally goes to $25, that same bag now costs 3,275 gourdes. The exchange rate didn't move, but the person buying the rice feels like the gourde lost value.
Actionable Tips for Navigating the Rate
If you're dealing with the Haitian gourde to dollar exchange right now, don't just look at Google's mid-market rate. It's a "lie" in the sense that you can't actually trade at that price.
- Watch the BRH Daily Reports: The central bank posts the "Taux de Référence" every morning. Use this as your baseline, but expect to pay 3-5% more at a commercial bank.
- Avoid Airport Exchanges: This is universal, but in Haiti, the spread (the difference between buying and selling) at the airport is predatory. You’ll lose 10% of your value instantly.
- Hold USD if Possible: In an economy where the local currency is propped up by intervention, the "hard" currency is always safer. Most major transactions in Haiti—rent, cars, appliances—are priced in dollars anyway.
- Check Transfer Apps: Services like Wise or Western Union often have their own internal rates. Sometimes they are better than the banks, sometimes they are worse. You have to check them in real-time.
The gourde is in a weird spot. It’s not "strong," but it’s being held together by a combination of IMF rules, central bank interventions, and the sheer grit of the Diaspora sending money home. Expect the 130-135 range to hold as long as the BRH has reserves, but keep a very close eye on those security updates. If the "informal" economy grows much larger, the official rate might eventually become irrelevant.
To manage your funds effectively, you should prioritize using official banking channels for large transfers to ensure you are getting the closest possible rate to the BRH reference, while keeping a small reserve of US dollars for immediate liquidity in the informal market where gourde pricing can be volatile. Monitoring the weekly BRH "Bons" (interest rates) can also give you a hint: if interest rates on gourde deposits start spiking, it means the bank is getting desperate to keep people from dumping the currency.