tional integration.
They have moved to implement the structural reforms needed to
modernize the economy and to produce more competitive, export-driven
industries. Vietnam's membership in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)
and entry into force of the US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement in
December 2001 have led to even more rapid changes in Vietnam's trade
and economic regime. Vietnam's exports to the US doubled in 2002 and
again in 2003. Vietnam joined the World Trade Organization in
January 2007. This should provide an important boost to the economy
and should help to ensure the continuation of liberalizing reforms.
Among other benefits, accession will allow Vietnam to take advantage
of the phase out of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, which
eliminated quotas on textiles and clothing for WTO partners on 1
January 2005. Agriculture's share of economic output has continued
to shrink, from about 25% in 2000 to 20% in 2006. Deep poverty,
defined as a percent of the population living under $1 per day, has
declined significantly and is now smaller than that of China, India,
and the Philippines. Vietnam is working to promote job creation to
keep up with the country's high population growth rate. However,
high levels of inflation have prompted Vietnamese authorities to
tighten monetary and fiscal policies. Hanoi is targeting an economic
growth rate between 7.5 and 8% over the next five years.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$258.6 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$48.26 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
7.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 20.1%
industry: 41.8%
services: 38.1% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
44.58 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 56.8%
industry: 37%
services: 6.2% (July 2005)

Unemployment rate:
2% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:
19.5% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 29.9% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.1 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.5% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
32.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $15.42 billion
expenditures: $16.63 billion; including capital expenditures of $1.8
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
47.5% of GDP (2006 e