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: Southern Africa, island in the South Atlantic Ocean, west of Angola, about two-thirds of the way from South America to Africa

Geographic coordinates

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total area total: 410 km²
Land: 410 km²
Comparative: slightly more than 2.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Note: includes Ascension, Gough Island, Inaccessible Island, Nightingale Island, and Tristan da Cunha

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 60 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

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
Arable land: 7%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 7%
Forest and woodland: 3%
Other: 83%

Irrigated land: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK


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Population: 6,762 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 0.31% (1995 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Saint Helenian(s)
Adjective: Saint Helenian

Ethnic groups: NA

Languages: English

Religions: Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.31% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 9.5 births/1000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 6.43 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: NA
Current issues natural hazards: active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha
Current issues international agreements: NA

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 36.1 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.07 years
Male: 73.01 years
Female: 76.89 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.13 children born/woman (1995 est.)

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: age 20 and over can read and write (1987)
Total population: 97%
Male: 97%
Female: 98%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Saint Helena

Government type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: Jamestown

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

Dependent areas

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen, 10 June 1989 (second Saturday in June)

Constitution: 1 January 1989

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 A. N. HOOLE (since NA 1991)
Cabinet: Executive Council

Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislative Council: elections last held July 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (15 total, 12 elected) independents 15

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: ICFTU

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (dependent territory of the UK)
From 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 Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship

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 raising of livestock, and sales of handicrafts. Because there are few jobs, a large proportion of the work force has left to seek employment overseas.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita: $NA

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), fishing

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 2,516
By occupation professional technical and related workers: 8.7%
By occupation managerial administrative and clerical: 12.8%
By occupation salespeople: 8.1%
By occupation farmer fishermen etc.: 5.4%
By occupation craftspersons production process workers: 14.7%
By occupation others: 50.3% (1987)

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: $11.2 million
Expenditures: $11 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92/93)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

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: $27,400 (f.o.b., FY92/93)
Commodoties: fish (frozen and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), handicrafts
Partners: South Africa, UK

Imports: $9.8 million (c.i.f., FY92/93)
Commodoties: 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: Saint Helenian pounds (#S) per US$1 - 0.6350 (January 1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6033 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990; note - the Saint Helenian pound is at par with the British pound


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Electricity
Capacity: 9,800 kW
Production: 10 million kWh
Production consumption per capita: NA kWh (1993)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system: 550 telephones; automatic network
Local: NA
Intercity: HF radio links to Ascension, then into worldwide submarine cable and satellite networks
International: major coaxial submarine cable relay point between South Africa, Portugal, and UK at Ascension; 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations

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 paved runways over 3047 m: 1

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: none

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs