cific island
economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Sugar
exports and a growing tourist industry are the major sources of
foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial
activity. Roughly 300,000 tourists visit each year, including
thousands of Americans following the start of regularly scheduled
non-stop air service from Los Angeles. Fiji's growth slowed in 1997
because the sugar industry suffered from low world prices and rent
disputes between farmers and landowners. Drought in 1998 further
damaged the sugar industry, but its recovery in 1999 contributed to
robust GDP growth. Long-term problems include low investment and
uncertain property rights. The political turmoil in Fiji has had a
severe impact with the economy shrinking by 8% in 1999 and over
7,000 people losing their jobs. The interim government's 2001 budget
is an attempt to attract foreign investment and restart economic
activity. The government's ability to manage the budget and fulfill
predictions of 4% growth for 2001 will depend on a return to
stability, a regaining of investor confidence, and the absence of
international sanctions (which could cripple Fiji's sugar and
textile industry).

GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.9 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: -8% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,300 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 16%

industry: 30%

services: 54% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0% (1999 est.)

Labor force: 235,000

Labor force - by occupation: subsistence agriculture 67%, wage
earners 18%, salary earners 15% (1987)

Unemployment rate: 6% (1997 est.)

Budget: revenues: $610 million

expenditures: $501 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 est.)

Industries: tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber,
small cottage industries

Industrial production growth rate: 2.9% (1995)

Electricity - production: 510 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 17.65%

hydro: 82.35%

nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (1999)

Electricity - consumption: 474.3 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1999)

Agriculture - products: sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca),
rice, sweet potatoes,