Overview: The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services. It is also dependent upon France for large subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists from the US. In addition, an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the islands. The traditionally important sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of export earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops are cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still dependent on imported food, which comes mainly from France. Light industry consists mostly of sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young.

GDP: $1.1 billion, per capita $3,300; real growth rate NA% (1987)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (1988)

Unemployment rate: 38% (1987)

Budget: revenues $254 million; expenditures $254 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1989)

Exports: $153 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--bananas, sugar, rum; partners--France 68%, Martinique 22% (1987)

Imports: $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1988); commodities--vehicles, foodstuffs, clothing and other consumer goods, construction materials, petroleum products; partners--France 64%, Italy, FRG, US (1987)

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 171,500 kW capacity; 441 million kWh produced, 1,290 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism

Agriculture: cash crops--bananas and sugarcane; other products include tropical fruits and vegetables; livestock--cattle, pigs, and goats; not self-sufficient in food

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $4 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $7.9 billion

Currency: French franc (plural--francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.1307 (January 1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261 (1986), 8.9852 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

NOTE: The information regarding Guadeloupe on this page is re-published from the 1991 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Guadeloupe Economy 1991 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Guadeloupe Economy 1991 should be addressed to the CIA.