The damage from the 1825 French-imposed debt is today estimated at more than 30 billion euros
85% confidence
EconomyHaiti
Omissions
The claim states 'more than 30 billion euros' while Thomas Piketty's specific estimate is 'approximately €30 billion', which could include values slightly below or above this figure.
The range of estimates varies significantly, from approximately €30 billion (Piketty 2025) to €115 billion (upper range of Restitution and Reparations report).
The debt was originally set at 150 million francs in 1825 (later reduced to 90 million) and took Haiti 122 years to repay, ending in 1947.
Sources found were published after the 2025 reference period, though the data refers to historical calculations that would have been available to the MEP by April 2026.
Sources
SecondaryLe Monde (English edition)France owes approximately €30 billion to Haiti (Thomas Piketty estimate, May 2025)
SecondaryNPR - Planet MoneyThomas Piketty estimated in 2020 that France owes Haiti at least $28 billion (approximately €24 billion at 2020 exchange rates)