Map of Saint Helena | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background: 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.


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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 60 km

Maritime claims

Climate: tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade winds

Terrain: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains

Elevation

Natural 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 land

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK St. Helena St. Helena St. Helena


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Population: 6,657 (July 1990), growth rate 0.6% (1990)

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 profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

Birth rate: 13 births/1000 population (1990)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1000 population (1990)

Net migration rate: NEGl migrants/1000 population (1990)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: very few perennial streams

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 46 deaths/1000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 75 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (1990)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: NA%, but probably high

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name: conventional long form: none

Government type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: Jamestown

Administrative divisions: 2 dependencies and 1 administrative area*; Ascension*, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha

Dependent areas

Independence: none (dependent territory 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: NA

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: NA

Executive branch: Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952; Head of Government--Governor and Commander in Chief Robert F. STIMSON (since 1987)

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (dependent territory 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 St. Helena St. HelenaSt. Helena

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: The economy depends primarily on financial assistance from the UK. The local population earns some income from fishing, the rearing of livestock, and 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 parity

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture 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 unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues $3.2 million; expenditures $2.9 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1984)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March St. Helena St. Helena St. Helena

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $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 gold

Debt external: $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: St. Helenian pounds (LS) per US$1--0.6055 (January 1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817 (1986), 0.7714 (1985; note--the St. Helenian pound is at par with the British pound


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Electricity
Capacity: 9,800 kW capacity; 10 million kWh produced, 1,390 kWh per capita (1989)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 2,440-3,659 m on Ascension

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: 1 passenger-cargo ship totaling 3,150 GRT/2,264 DWT

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs