Yet, despite its economic problems, the District has higher per-capita income than any state in the nation.
In the Washington area, where almost half the region's population lives, per-capita income has hit $26,000.
Its per-capita income was the third highest in the nation with $51,358.
"The per-capita income is 198 percent above the state average," she said.
The county ranks 18th of the state's 21 in per-capita income, down from 13th 30 years ago.
Per-capita income might decline to $2,700 from $3,600 in 1993.
For the Caribbean as a whole, average per-capita income is $1,950 a year.
Indeed, in per-capita income all the top states except Minnesota are below the national average.
According to the Government, annual per-capita income has increased from $290 to $1,690 in the last decade.
Iraq, unfortunately, is well below those levels, with a per-capita income of between $1,500 and $2,400.