Economy (Saint Helena)
======================


     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 (1970-89),
         $198 million
     Currency:
         Saint Helenian pound (plural - pounds); 1 Saint Helenian pound (#S) = 100
         pence
     Exchange rates:
         Saint Helenian pounds (#S) per US$1 - 0.5799 (March 1992), 0.5652 (1991),
         0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987); note - the Saint Helenian pound
         is at par with the British pound
     Fiscal year:
         1 April - 31 March