Overview: The economy depends primarily on financial assistance from the UK. The local population earns some income from fishing, the rearing of livestock, and sales of handicrafts. Because there are few jobs, a large proportion of the work force has 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); commodities--fish (frozen and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), handicrafts; partners--South Africa, UK

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

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 9,800 kW capacity; 10 million kWh produced, 1,390 kWh per capita (1989)

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

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

Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $184 million

Currency: Saint Helenian pound (plural--pounds); 1 Saint Helenian pound (5S) = 100 pence

Exchange rates: Saint Helenian pounds (5S) per US$1--0.5171 (January 1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817 (1986), 0.7714 (1985); note--the Saint Helenian pound is at par with the British pound

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

NOTE: The information regarding Saint Helena 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 Saint Helena Economy 1991 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Saint Helena Economy 1991 should be addressed to the CIA.