Overview: The economy depends primarily on financial assistance from the UK. The local population earns some income from fishing, the rearing of livestock, and from sales of handicrafts. Because there are few jobs, a large proportion of the work force have left to seek employment overseas.

GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): - 1.1% (1986)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $3.2 million; expenditures $2.9 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1984)

Exports: $23.9 thousand (f.o.b., 1984); @m5commodities--fish (frozen skipjack, tuna, salt-dried skipjack), handicrafts; @m5partners--South Africa, UK

Imports: $2.4 million (c.i.f., 1984); @m5commodities--food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts; @m5partners--UK, South Africa

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 9,800 kW capacity; 10 million kWh produced, 1,400 kWh per capita (1988)

Industries: crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fish

Agriculture: maize, potatoes, vegetables; timber production being developed; crawfishing on Tristan da Cunha

Aid: development aid from UK--$1.3 million (1984)

Currency: St. Helenian pound (plural--pounds); 1 St. Helenian pound (LS) = 100 pence

Exchange rates: St. Helenian pounds (LS) per US$1--0.5631 (January 1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817 (1986), 0.7714 (1985); the St. Helenian pound is at par with the British pound

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

NOTE: The information regarding St. Helena on this page is re-published from the 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of St. Helena Economy 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about St. Helena Economy 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.