d band toward the hoist side; the flag of
France is used for official occasions

Economy
-------

Economic overview: The economy depends on agriculture, tourism,
light industry, and services. It is also dependent upon France for
large subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most
tourists from the US. In addition, an increasingly large number of
cruise ships visit the islands. The traditionally important
sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by other crops, such as
bananas (which now supply about 50% of export earnings), eggplant,
and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops are cultivated for
local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still dependent on
imported food, which comes mainly from France. Light industry
consists mostly of sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods
and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the
young.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.7 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: NA%

GDP per capita: $9,200 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 9%
services: 85% (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1990)

Labor force: 129,700
by occupation: agriculture 15%, industry 20%, services 65% (1993)

Unemployment rate: 31.3% (1995)

Budget:
revenues: $395 million
expenditures: $407 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995)

Industries: construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 320,000 kW
production: 650 million kWh
consumption per capita: 1,421 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: bananas, sugarcane, tropical fruits and vegetables;
cattle, pigs, goats

Exports: $130 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: bananas, sugar, rum
partners: France 70%, Martinique 17% (1991)

Imports: $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
commodities: foodstuffs, fuels, vehicles, clothing and other
consumer goods, construction materials
partners: France 60%, EC, US, Japan (1991)

External debt: $NA

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
note: substantial annual French subsidies

Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.0056 (January
1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992),
5.6421 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Transportation
--------------

Railways:
total: NA km; privately owned, narrow-gauge p