The donation largely exceeded the hopes of the conference organisers, who had hoped merely to raise 3.8 billion dollars to fund the first stage of rebuilding following January's massive earthquake.
The most generous donors were the European Union and the United States.
Catherine Ashton, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, announced the EU's pledge of €1.235 billion, equivalent to over $1.6 billion. This comes on top of the €295 million that the EU has already contributed in humanitarian aid, and adds to the €650 million that citizens from all across Europe have provided from their own pockets.
The US committed to donating $1.15 billion.
"I speak here today for the European Union – for all 27 member states, our institutions and our citizens," Ashton told the conference, chaired by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
"Food and water have now reached people. But there is a long journey ahead. And this is what bring us together today: a commitment to build a better future for the next generations," the HR stated.
Haitian President René Preval said the outcome of the donor conference had shown that his country was not alone after January's devastating earthquake.
But UN humanitarian aid chief John Holmes said the best sign that a recovery was underway in Haiti would be an upturn in private investment.
"There need to be real investments that are really sustainable," Holmes told the Associated Press. "Given half a chance this country can recover."
The effort to attract private investment is being led by former US President Bill Clinton, the UN special envoy to Haiti.
One example of the private sector's commitment is the Coca-Cola Company's unveiling of a $7.5 million, five-year project to foster mango production by means of developing a new Odwalla juice product called Haiti Hope Mango Lime-Aid. All proceeds will be reinvested to help growers.
