Overview: The economy depends primarily on financial assistance from the UK. The local population earns some income from fishing, the raising of livestock, and sales of handicrafts. Because there are few jobs, a large proportion of the work force has left to seek employment overseas.

National product: GDP $NA

National product real growth rate: NA%

National product per capita: $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 est.)

Exports: $23,900 (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:
capacity: 9,800 kW
production: 10 million kWh
consumption per capita: 1,390 kWh (1989)

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

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

Economic aid:
recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1992-93), $13.5 million

Currency: 1 Saint Helenian pound (#S) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Saint Helenian pounds (#S) per US$1 - 0.6699 (January 1994), 0.6033 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989); 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 1995 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Saint Helena Economy 1995 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Saint Helena Economy 1995 should be addressed to the CIA.