he world, which, at least from the economic point of view, are
becoming further marginalized. Continued financial difficulties in
East Asia, Russia, and many African nations cast a shadow over
short-term global economic prospects. The introduction of the euro as
the common currency of much of Western Europe in January 1999, while
strengthening prospects for an integrated economic powerhouse, poses
serious economic risks because of varying levels of income and
cultural and political differences among the participating nations.
(For specific economic developments in each country of the world in
1999, see the individual country entries.)

GDP: GWP (gross world product) - purchasing power parity - $40.7
trillion (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 3% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,800 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): all countries 25%; developed
countries 1% to 3% typically; developing countries 5% to 60% typically
(1999 est.)
note: national inflation rates vary widely in individual cases, from
stable prices in Japan to hyperinflation in a number of Third World
countries

Labor force: NA

Labor force - by occupation: agricultue NA%, industry NA%, services
NA%

Unemployment rate: 30% combined unemployment and underemployment in
many non-industrialized countries; developed countries typically
4%-12% unemployment (1999 est.)

Industries: dominated by the onrush of technology, especially in
computers, robotics, telecommunications, and medicines and medical
equipment; most of these advances take place in OECD nations; only a
small portion of non-OECD countries have succeeded in rapidly
adjusting to these technological forces; the accelerated development
of new industrial (and agricultural) technology is complicating
already grim environmental problems

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity - production: 12,342.7 billion kWh (1994)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%

Electricity - consumption: 12,342.7 billion kWh (1994)

Exports: $5.6 trillion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities: the whole range of industrial and agricultural
goods and services

Exports - partners: in value, about 75% of exports from the developed
countri