<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Guadeloupe<nl>Economy</hdr><body>
<list>
<item><hi format=bold>Overview:</hi> The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services. It is also dependent upon France for large subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists from the US. In addition, an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the islands. The traditionally important sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of export earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops are cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still dependent on imported food, which comes mainly from France. Light industry consists mostly of sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young.
<item><hi format=bold>Agriculture:</hi> cash crops—bananas, sugarcane; other products include tropical fruits and vegetables; livestock—cattle, pigs, goats; not self-sufficient in food
<item><hi format=bold>Economic aid:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>recipient:</hi> US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $4 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $8.235 billion
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Currency:</hi> 1 French franc (F)=100 centimes
<item><hi format=bold>Exchange rates:</hi> French francs (F) per US$1—5.9205 (January 1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989)
<item><hi format=bold>Fiscal year:</hi> calendar year