mber 1998, led to sturdy GDP growth averaging nearly 6% in
1999-2004. Major concerns continue to be the sizable trade deficit
and foreign debt. A key short-term objective remains the reduction
of poverty with the help of international donors.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.778 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 17.7%
industry: 15%
services: 67.3% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
90,000
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel
(2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 27%, industry 18%, services 55% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:
12.9% (2003)

Population below poverty line:
33% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.9% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
33.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $244.5 million
expenditures: $300 million, including capital expenditures of $70
million (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:
bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber;
garments

Industries:
garment production, food processing, tourism, construction

Industrial production growth rate:
4.6% (1999)

Electricity - production:
117 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 59.9%
hydro: 40.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
108.8 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA

Oil - imports:
NA

Current account balance:
$-115 million (2004 est.)

Exports:
$401.4 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood

Exports - partners:
US 37.2%, UK 26.8%, Jamaica 4.6% (2004)

Imports:
$579.9 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco

Imports - partners:
US 30.1%, Mexico 12%, Guatemala 7.4%, Cuba 7.2%, China 4.2%, Japan
4.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$111.1 million (2004 est.)

De