Statistical information Saint Helena 1998

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 pageLocation: islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about mid-way between South America and Africa
Geographic coordinates: 15 56 S, 5 42 W
Map reference:
AfricaAreaTotal: 410 km²
Land: 410 km²
Water: 0 km²
Note: includes Ascension, Gough Island, Inaccessible Island, Nightingale Island, and Tristan da Cunha Island
Comparative: slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 60 km
Maritime claimsExclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Saint Helena_tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade winds; Tristan da Cunha_temperate; marine, mild, tempered by trade winds (tends to be cooler than Saint Helena)
Terrain: Saint Helena_rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains
Note: the other islands of the group have a volcanic origin
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Queen Mary's Peak 2,060 m
Natural resources: fish
Land useArable land: 6%
Permanent crops: NA%
Permanent pastures: 6%
Forests and woodland: 6%
Other: 82% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha
GeographyNote: Napoleon Bonaparte's place of exile and burial (his remains were taken to Paris in 1840; harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere else in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns
top of pagePopulation: 7,091 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 0.76% (1998 est.)
NationalityNoun: Saint Helenian(s)
Adjective: Saint Helenian
Ethnic groups: African descent, white
Languages: English
Religions: Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 20% (male 718; female 694)
15-64 years: 71% (male 2,643; female 2,423)
65 years and over: 9% (male 249; female 364) (July 1998 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 0.76% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 14.1 births/1000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 6.49 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: NA
International agreements party to: NA
International agreements signed but not ratified: NA
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 28.81 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 75.73 years
Male: 72.66 years
Female: 78.96 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (1998 est.)
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 expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 20 and over can read and write
Total population: 97%
Male: 97%
Female: 98% (1987 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Saint Helena
Government type: NA
Capital: Jamestown
Administrative divisions: 1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*; Ascension*, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha*
Dependent areasIndependence: 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 participationCitizenshipSuffrage: NA years of age
Executive branchChief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952): ead of
Government: Governor and Commander in Chief David Leslie SMALLMAN (since NA 1995)
Cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, two ex-officio officers, and six elected members of the Legislative Council
Elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor is appointed by the queen
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (15 seats, including the governor, 2 ex-officio and 12 elected members; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held 9 July 1997 (next to be held NA July 2001)
Election results: percent of vote_NA; seats_independents 15
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ICFTU
Diplomatic representationIn 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 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 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 parityReal gdp growth rate: NA%
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $NA
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: NA%
Industry: NA%
Services: NA%
Agriculture products: maize, potatoes, vegetables; timber production being developed; fishing, including crawfishing on Tristan da Cunha
Industries: crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor forceTotal: 2,416 (1991 est.)
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)
Note: a large proportion of the work force has left to seek employment overseas
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $11.2 million
Expenditures: $11 million, including capital expenditures of $N/A (FY92/93)
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: total value:$704,000 (f.o.b., 1995)
Commodoties: fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), handicrafts
Partners: South Africa, UK
Imports: total value:$14.434 million (c.i.f., 1995)
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 goldDebt external: $NA
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Saint Helenian pounds (£S) per US$1_0.6115 (January 1998), 0.6047 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993; note - the Saint Helenian pound is at par with the British pound
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 4,000 kW (1995)
Production: 6 million kWh (1995)
Consumption per capita: 887 kWh (1995)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 550
Telephone systemDomestic: automatic network; HF radiotelephone from Saint Helena 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; satellite earth stations_2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcast 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 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1 (1997 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailways: 0 km
RoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: none
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs