Statistical information Saint Helena 1989

Saint Helena in the World
top of pageBackground: Uninhabited when first discovered by the Portuguese in 1502 the island was garrisoned by the British during the 17th century. It became famous as the place of Napoleon BONAPARTE's exile from 1815 until his death in 1821.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: none
Coastline: 60 km
Maritime claims: Territorial sea:3 nm
Climate: tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade winds
Terrain: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains
ElevationNatural resources: fish; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns; no minerals
Land use: 7% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 7% meadows and pastures; 3% forest and woodland; 83% other
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: Napoleon Bonaparte's place of exile and burial
top of pagePopulation: 7,200 (July 1989), growth rate 0.6% (1989)
Nationality: noun--St. Helenian(s; adjective--St. Helenian
Ethnic groups: NA
Languages: English
Religions: Anglican majority; also Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, and Roman Catholic
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 13 births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: 7 deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: very few perennial streams
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 46 deaths/1000 live births (1989)
Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 75 years female (1989)
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1989)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: NA%, but probably high
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: none
Government type: colony of the UK
Capital: Jamestown
Administrative divisions: 2 dependencies and 1 administrative area*; Ascension*, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha
Dependent areasIndependence: none (colony of the UK)
National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday in June), 10 June 1989
Constitution: 1 January 1967
Legal system: Supreme Court
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: NA
Executive branch: Chief of State Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952; Head of Government Governor and Commander in Chief Francis E. BAKER (since 1984)
Legislative branch: Executive Council, 12-member elected Legislative Council
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participationDiplomatic representationIn the us: none (colony of the UK)
Flag description
: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the St. Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The economy depends primarily on financial assistance from the UK. The local population earns some income from fishing, the rearing of livestock, and from sales of handicrafts. Because there are few jobs, a large proportion of the work force have left to seek employment overseas.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: maize, potatoes, vegetables; timber production being developed; crawfishing on Tristan da Cunha
Industries: crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fish
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $3.2 million; expenditures $2.9 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1984)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 April-31 March
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $23.9 thousand (f.o.b., 1984)
Commodities: --fish (frozen skipjack, tuna, salt-dried skipjack), handicrafts
Partners: --South Africa, UK
Imports: $2.4 million (c.i.f., 1984)
Commodities: --food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts
Partners: --UK, South Africa
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $NA
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: St. Helenian pounds (LS) per US$1--0.5631 (January 1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817 (1986), 0.7714 (1985; the St. Helenian pound is at par with the British pound
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 9,800 kW capacity; 10 million kWh produced, 1,400 kWh per capita (1988)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 2,440-3,659 m on Ascension
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: 1 passenger-cargo ship totaling 3,150 GRT/2,264 DWT
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs