ology or requiring sizable investment have been discouraged by
a lack of local capital and restrictive Israeli policies. Capital
investment consists largely of residential housing, not productive
assets that would enable local Palestinian firms to compete with
Israeli industry. GDP has been substantially supplemented by
remittances of workers employed in Israel and Persian Gulf states.
Such transfers from the Gulf dropped after Iraq invaded Kuwait in
August 1990. In the wake of the Persian Gulf crisis, many
Palestinians have returned to the West Bank, increasing
unemployment, and export revenues have dropped because of the
decline of markets in Jordan and the Gulf states. The area's
economic situation has worsened since Israel imposed stringent
border restrictions in 1995 and 1996.

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

GDP real growth rate: 3%-4% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $2,500 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 33%
industry: 7%
services: 60% (1995 est., includes Gaza Strip)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% (1995 est.)

Labor force: NA
by occupation: construction 28.2%, agriculture 21.8%, industry
14.5%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 12.6%, other services 22.9%
(1991)
note: excluding Israeli settlers

Unemployment rate: 25%-30% (1995 est.)

Budget: $NA

Industries: generally small family businesses that produce cement,
textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs;
the Israelis have established some small-scale, modern industries in
the settlements and industrial centers

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: NA kW
production: NA kWh
consumption per capita: NA kWh
note: most electricity imported from Israel; East Jerusalem Electric
Company buys and distributes electricity to Palestinians in East
Jerusalem and its concession in the West Bank; the Israel Electric
Company directly supplies electricity to most Jewish residents and
military facilities; at the same time, some Palestinian
municipalities, such as Nabulus and Janin, generate their own
electricity from small power plants

Agriculture: olives, citrus and other fruits, vegetables; beef,
dairy products

Exports: $116 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: olives, fruit, vegetables
partners: Jordan, Israel

Imports: $791 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
commodities: food, cons