ndustry, is also important. The economy continues to have a high
unemployment rate of 35%-40% because of an overdependence on the
weather-plagued banana crop as a major export earner. Government progress
toward diversifying into new industries has been relatively unsuccessful.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $171 million (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
3% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$1,500 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.3% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
35%-40% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues $62 million; expenditures $67 million, including capital
expenditures of $21 million (FY90 est.)
Exports:
$65.7 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
bananas, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch, tennis racquets
partners:
UK 43%, CARICOM 37%, US 15%
Imports:
$110.7 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and
fuels
partners:
US 42%, CARICOM 19%, UK 15%
External debt:
$50.9 million (1989)
Industrial production:
growth rate 0% (1989); accounts for 14% of GDP
Electricity:
16,600 kW capacity; 64 million kWh produced, 555 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Agriculture:
accounts for 15% of GDP and 60% of labor force; provides bulk of exports;
products - bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of
cattle, sheep, hogs, goats; small fish catch used locally
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $11 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $81 million
Currency:
1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

*Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Communications

Highways:
1,000 km total; 300 km paved; 400 km improved; 300 km unimproved (est.)
Ports:
Kingstown
Merchant marine:
407 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,388,427 GRT/5,511,325 DWT; includes
3 passenger, 2 passenger-cargo, 222 cargo, 22 container, 19 roll-on/roll-off
cargo, 14 refrigerated cargo, 24 oil tanker, 7 chemical tanker, 4 liquefied
gas, 73 bulk, 13 combination bulk, 2 vehicle carrier, 1 livestock carrier, 1
specialized tanker; note - China owns 3 ships; a flag of convenience
registry
Airports:
total:
6
usable:
6