Economy—overview: The economy has traditionally depended on the growing and processing of sugarcane; decreasing world prices have hurt the industry in recent years. Tourism, export-oriented manufacturing, and offshore banking activity have assumed larger roles. Most food is imported. The government has undertaken a program designed to revitalize the faltering sugar sector. It is also working to improve revenue collection in order to better fund social programs. In 1997 some leaders in Nevis were urging separation from Saint Kitts on the basis that Nevis was paying far more in taxes than it was receiving in government services, but the vote on cessation failed in August 1998. In late September 1998, Hurricane Georges caused approximately $445 million in damages.

GDP: purchasing power parity—$235 million (1997 est.)

GDP—real growth rate: 6.3% (1997 est.)

GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$6,000 (1997 est.)

GDP—composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.5%
industry: 22.5%
services: 72% (1996)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11.3% (1997)

Labor force: 18,172 (June 1995)

Labor force—by occupation: services 69%, manufacturing 31%

Unemployment rate: 4% (1997 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $64.1 million
expenditures: $73.3 million, including capital expenditures of $10.4 million (1997 est.)

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

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity—production: 81 million kWh (1996)

Electricity—production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity—consumption: 81 million kWh (1996)

Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture—products: sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish

Exports: $43.7 million (1997)

Exports—commodities: machinery, food, electronics, beverages and tobacco

Exports—partners: US 68.5%, UK 22.3%, Caricom nations 5.5% (1995 est.)

Imports: $129.6 million (1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery, manufactures, food, fuels

Imports—partners: US 42.4%, Caricom nations 17.2%, UK 11.3% (1995 est.)

Debt—external: $56 million (1995 est.)

Economic aid—recipient: $5.5 million (1995)

Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1—2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)

Fiscal year: calendar year