Our Economic Impact

Global Salaries and Benefits	$4.2 billion	$3.4 billion	$3.0 billion*
Shareowner Dividends	$3.1 billion	$2.9 billion	$2.7 billion
Local Capital Expenditures	$1.6 billion	$1.4 billion	$0.9 billion
Goods Purchased	$10.4 billion	$8.2 billion	$8.2 billion
Income before Income Taxes	$7.9 billion	$6.6 billion	$6.7 billion
Income Taxes	$1.9 billion	$1.5 billion	$1.8 billion

Coca-Cola is a global business operating in more than 200 countries. Our associates are members of thousands of local communities and represent many cultures. We believe we have a responsibility to support economic success and continued growth of the communities in which we operate. Our business depends on sustainable communities, and we are in a unique position to be a positive force.

The total indirect economic impacts of the Coca-Cola system are significantly greater than the figures we present in this report. With our bottling partners, our beverages are produced in more than 800 plants around the world. In addition, our bottling partners employ hundreds of thousands of people around the world and are committed to supporting community investment programs.

Our global business stimulates job creation throughout our value cycle. We contribute to the economic success of each community by employing local people; paying taxes to governments; paying suppliers for goods, services and capital equipment; and supporting community investment programs. Past independent studies on the economic impact of our business in Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe have consistently shown that for every job in the Coca-Cola system, an average of 10 more jobs are supported in local communities. One recent study showed that in South Africa, one job in the Coca-Cola system indirectly supported 16 additional jobs throughout our value cycle.

Small, independent retailers form the backbone of our business in many parts of the world. Our system helps these small retailers and vendors build their businesses and become our business partners. Learn more, go there »

We often help small businesses get off the ground with an initial injection of support -- in the form of equipment and training -- and then we work with them as business partners and suppliers. From our pushcart programs in Vietnam, which have helped more than 4,000 retailers establish their businesses to date, to our Manual Distribution Centers in East Africa (see case study), we continuously work to provide local economic opportunity.