Overview: The economy has historically depended on the growing and processing of sugarcane and on remittances from overseas workers. In recent years, tourism and export-oriented manufacturing have assumed larger roles.

GDP: $119 million, per capita $3,240; real growth rate 6% (1988 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (1987)

Unemployment rate: 20-25% (1987)

Budget: revenues $38.5 million; expenditures $45.0 million, including capital expenditures of $15.8 million (1988)

Exports: $30.3 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--sugar, manufactures, postage stamps; partners--US 44%, UK 30%, Trinidad and Tobago 12% (1987)

Imports: $94.7 million (c.i.f., 1988); commodities--foodstuffs, intermediate manufactures, machinery, fuels; partners--US 35%, UK 18%, Trinidad and Tobago 10%, Canada 6%, Japan 4% (1987)

External debt: $27.6 million (1988)

Industrial production: growth rate 5.8% (1986)

Electricity: 15,800 kW capacity; 45 million kWh produced, 1,120 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages

Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GDP; cash crop--sugarcane; subsistence crops--rice, yams, bananas; fishing potential not fully exploited; most food imported

Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $13.6 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $46 million

Currency: East Caribbean dollar (plural--dollars); 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

NOTE: The information regarding St. Kitts and Nevis 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 St. Kitts and Nevis Economy 1990 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about St. Kitts and Nevis Economy 1990 should be addressed to the CIA.