<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Jamaica<nl>Economy</hdr><body>
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<item><hi format=bold>Overview:</hi> The economy is based on sugar, bauxite, and tourism. In September 1988, Hurricane Gilbert inflicted severe damage on crops and the electric power system, a sharp but temporary setback to the economy. By October 1989 the economic recovery from the hurricane was largely complete, and real growth was up to about 3% for 1989. In 1991, however, growth dropped to 0.2% as a result of the US recession, lower world bauxite prices, and monetary instability. In 1992, growth was 1.2%, supported by a recovery in tourism and stabilization of the Jamaican dollar in the second half of 1992.
<item><hi format=bold>National product:</hi> GDP—purchasing power equivalent—$8 billion (1992 est.)
<item><hi format=bold>National product real growth rate:</hi> 1.2% (1992 est.)
<item><hi format=bold>National product per capita:</hi> $3,200 (1992 est.)
<item><hi format=bold>Agriculture:</hi> accounts for about 7% of GDP, 23% of work force, and 17% of exports; commercial crops—sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, potatoes, vegetables; livestock and livestock products include poultry, goats, milk; not self-sufficient in grain, meat, and dairy products
<item><hi format=bold>Illicit drugs:</hi> transshipment point for cocaine from Central and South America to North America and Europe; illicit cultivation of cannabis; government has an active cannabis eradication program
<item><hi format=bold>Economic aid:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>recipient:</hi> US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.2 billion; other countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.6 billion
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<item><hi format=bold>Currency:</hi> 1 Jamaican dollar (J$)=100 cents
<item><hi format=bold>Exchange rates:</hi> Jamaican dollars (J$) per US$1 -32.758 (31 December 1993), 22.960 (1992), 12.116 (1991), 7.184 (1990), 5.7446 (1989)
<item><hi format=bold>Fiscal year:</hi> 1 April–31 March