Map of Saint Helena | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide19891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023 | 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: islands in the South Atlantic Ocean about mid-way between South America and Africa

Geographic coordinates: 15 56 S 5 42 W

Map reference: Africa

Area
Comparative: slightly more than two times the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 60 km

Maritime claims

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

Elevation

Natural resources: fish

Land use

Irrigated land: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha

Geography
Note: harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere else in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns


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Population: 7,212 (July 2000 est.)
Growth rate: 0.76% (2000 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality

Ethnic groups: African descent white

Languages: English

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

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.76% (2000 est.)

Birth rate: 13.73 births/1000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate: 6.1 deaths/1000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2000 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: NA

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 23.23 deaths/1000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

Total fertility rate: 1.53 children born/woman (2000 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

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name

Government type: NA

Capital: Jamestown

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

Dependent areas

Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)

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

Constitution: 1 January 1989

Legal system: NA

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: NA years of age

Executive branch

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (15 seats including the speaker 3 ex officio and 12 elected members; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: none

International organization participation: ICFTU

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (overseas territory of the UK)
From the us: none (overseas 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 largely on financial assistance from the UK which amounted to about $5 million in 1998. The local population earns 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 ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: corn potatoes vegetables; timber; fish crawfish (on Tristan da Cunha)

Industries: construction crafts (furniture lacework fancy woodwork) fishing

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 2,416 (1991 est.)
By occupation farmers and fishermen: 6%
By occupation industry (mainly construction): 48%
By occupation services: 46% (1987 est.)

Unemployment rate: 18% (1996)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA%

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Current account balance

Inflation rate consumer prices: NA%

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: $704,000 (f.o.b. 1995)
Commodities: fish (frozen canned and salt-dried skipjack tuna) coffee handicrafts
Partners: South Africa UK

Imports: $14.434 million (c.i.f. 1995)
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: $N/A

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Saint Helenian pounds per US$1 - 0.6092 (January 2000) 6.180 (1999) 0.6037 (1998) 0.6047 (1997) 0.6403 (1996) 0.6335 (1995); note - the Saint Helenian pound is at par with the British pound


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Electricity access

Electricity production: 6 million kWh (1998)

Electricity consumption: 6 million kWh (1998)

Electricity exports: 0 kWh (1998)

Electricity imports: 0 kWh (1998)

Electricity installed generating capacity

Electricity transmission distribution losses

Electricity generation sources

Petroleum

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular: 0 (1994)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

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 (1999 est.)

Airports with paved runways

Airports with unpaved runways

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways: 0 km

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs