Overview: The economy consists primarily of subsistence agriculture and fishing. Tourism provides some foreign exchange, although the remote location of Palau and a shortage of suitable facilities has hindered development. The government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US.

GDP: $31.6 million, per capita $2,260; real growth rate NA% (1986)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: 20% (1986)

Budget: revenues $6.0 million; expenditures NA, including capital expenditures of NA (1986)

Exports: $0.5 million (f.o.b., 1986); commodities--NA; partners--US, Japan

Imports: $27.2 million (c.i.f., 1986); commodities--NA; partners--US

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 16,000 kW capacity; 22 million kWh produced, 1,550 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: tourism, craft items (shell, wood, pearl), some commercial fishing and agriculture

Agriculture: subsistence-level production of coconut, copra, cassava, sweet potatoes

Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $2 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $62.6 million

Currency: US currency is used

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September

NOTE: The information regarding Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the on this page is re-published from the 1990 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the Economy 1990 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the Economy 1990 should be addressed to the CIA.