ly dependent on services, which now
account for 60% of GDP. The country continues to derive most of its
foreign exchange from remittances, tourism, and bauxite/alumina.
Jamaica's economy, already saddled with a record of relatively low
growth, was hit hard by Hurricane Ivan in late 2004, and is making a
gradual recovery. But the economy faces serious long-term problems:
high interest rates, increased foreign competition, exchange rate
instability, a sizable merchandise trade deficit, large-scale
unemployment and underemployment, and a high debt burden - the
result of government bailouts to ailing sectors of the economy, most
notably the financial sector in the mid-1990s. Following a strategy
begun in 2004, Jamaica has reduced its public debt to 130% of GDP.
Inflation has declined to 9%. Uncertain economic conditions have led
to increased civil unrest, including gang violence fueled by the
drug trade. The government faces the difficult prospect of having to
achieve fiscal discipline in order to maintain debt payments while
simultaneously attacking a serious and growing crime problem that is
hampering economic growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$12.71 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$8.579 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
2.7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.3%
industry: 33.9%
services: 60.8% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
1.197 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 19.3%
industry: 16.6%
services: 64.1% (2004)

Unemployment rate:
11% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:
19.1% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 30.3% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37.9 (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.1% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
30.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $3.302 billion
expenditures: $3.564 billion; including capital expenditures of
$180.4 million (2006 est.)

Public debt:
129.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, yams, ackees, vegetables;
poultry, goats, milk; crustaceans, mollusks

Industries:
tourism, bauxite/alumina, agro processing, light manufactures, rum,
cement, metal, paper, chemical products, telecommunications