Between 2.7 million and 3.1 million Haitian adults, roughly one in three, do not have a valid Unique National Identification Card, according to World Bank estimates reported by Le Nouvelliste.

The figures come from a new World Bank Group report, “Diagnostic of ID Ecosystems: Haiti.” About 67% of adults have received the card, and 85% of children under five have had their births registered, Caribbean National Weekly reported.

The gap limits access to financial services, formal jobs and social protection. Wider coverage could help more Haitians receive social assistance, open bank and mobile money accounts, enroll children in school and take part in civic life, the report says.

The card is officially free, but informal fees and indirect costs such as transport, repeat visits and lost income can keep people from completing enrollment, according to the World Bank.

The report calls for predictable financing, clearer roles for the institutions involved and a coordinated national strategy, as well as stronger verification tools so public and private providers can confirm people's identity.