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@Saint Lucia:Economy
Economy-overview: Though foreign investment in manufacturing and information processing in recent years has increased Saint Lucia's industrial base, the economy remains vulnerable due to its heavy dependence on banana production, which is subject to periodic droughts and tropical storms. Indeed, the destructive effect of Tropical Storm Iris in mid-1995 caused the loss of 20% of the year's banana crop. Increased competition from Latin American bananas will probably further reduce market prices, exacerbating Saint Lucia's need to diversify its economy in coming years, e.g., by further expanding tourism, manufacturing, and construction.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$600 million (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 0.8% (1996 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$3,800 (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 10.7% industry: 32.3% services: 57% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: -2.3% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 43,800 by occupation: agriculture 43.4%, services 38.9%, industry and commerce 17.7% (1983 est.)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1996 est.)