Map of Saint Helena | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
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Background: Saint Helena is a British Overseas Territory consisting of Saint Helena and Ascension Islands, and the island group of Tristan da Cunha.


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Location: islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway between South America and Africa; Ascension Island lies 1,300 km (800 mi) northwest of Saint Helena; Tristan da Cunha lies 4,300 km (2,700 mi) southwest of Saint Helena

Geographic coordinates
Saint Helena: 15 57 S, 5 42 W;

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 394 km²
Land: 122 km² Saint Helena Island
Water:
Comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries
Total: 0 km

Coastline:

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

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

Terrain: the islands of this group are of volcanic origin associated with the Atlantic Mid-Ocean Ridge

Elevation
Highest point: Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,060 m; Green Mountain on Ascension Island 859 m; Diana's Peak on Saint Helena Island 818 m
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Natural resources: fish, lobster

Land use
Agricultural land: 30.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 10.3% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 20.5% (2018 est.)
Forest: 5.1% (2018 est.)
Other: 64.1% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 km² (2022)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha

Geography
Note: Saint Helena harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown elsewhere in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns; Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha is the highest island mountain in the South Atlantic and a prominent landmark on the sea lanes around southern Africa


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Population
Distribution: Saint Helena - population is concentrated in and around the capital Jamestown in the northwest, with another significant cluster in the interior Longwood area; Ascension - largest settlement, and location of most of the population, is Georgetown; Tristan da Cunha - most of the nearly 300 inhabitants live in the northern coastal town of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas: 7,935 (2023 est.)
Note: Saint Helena's Statistical Office estimated the resident population to be 4,439 in 2021; only Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha islands are inhabited, none of the other nearby islands/islets are
Growth rate: 0.11% (2023 est.)
Below poverty line: NA

Nationality
Noun: Saint Helenian(s)
Adjective: Saint Helenian
Note: referred to locally as "Saints"

Ethnic groups: African descent 50%, White 25%, Chinese 25%

Languages: English

Religions: Protestant 75.9% (includes Anglican 68.9, Baptist 2.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.8%, Salvation Army 1.7%, New Apostolic 1.4%), Jehovah's Witness 4.1%, Roman Catholic 1.2%, other 2.5% (includes Baha'i), unspecified 0.8%, none 6.1%, no response 9.4% (2016 est.)
Note: data represent Saint Helena only

Demographic profile: The vast majority of the population of Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha live on Saint Helena. Ascension has no indigenous or permanent residents and is inhabited only by persons contracted to work on the island (mainly with the UK and US military or in the space and communications industries) or their dependents, while Tristan da Cunha - the main island in a small archipelago - has fewer than 300 residents. The population of Saint Helena consists of the descendants of 17th century British sailors and settlers from the East India Company, African slaves, and indentured servants and laborers from India, Indonesia, and China. Most of the population of Ascension are Saint Helenians, Britons, and Americans, while that of Tristan da Cunha descends from shipwrecked sailors and Saint Helenians.

Age structure
0-14 years: 14.48% (male 586/female 563)
15-64 years: 66.87% (male 2,640/female 2,666)
65 years and over: 18.65% (2023 est.) (male 753/female 727)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 68.6 NA
Youth dependency ratio: 23.6 NA
Elderly dependency ratio: 45.1 NA
Potential support ratio: 2.2 (2021) NA

Median age
Total: 44.7 years (2023 est.)
Male: 44.5 years
Female: 44.9 years

Population growth rate: 0.11% (2023 est.)

Birth rate: 9.3 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate: 8.2 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution: Saint Helena - population is concentrated in and around the capital Jamestown in the northwest, with another significant cluster in the interior Longwood area; Ascension - largest settlement, and location of most of the population, is Georgetown; Tristan da Cunha - most of the nearly 300 inhabitants live in the northern coastal town of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas

Urbanization
Urban population: 40.7% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 1,000 JAMESTOWN (capital) (2018)

Environment
Current issues: development threatens unique biota on Saint Helena

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 18.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 22.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 14.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 80.7 years (2023 est.)
Male: 77.8 years
Female: 83.7 years

Total fertility rate: 1.61 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA

Drinking water source
Improved urban: NA
Improved rural: NA
Improved total: 99.1% of population
Unimproved urban: NA
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: 0.9% of population (2020)

Current health expenditure: NA

Physicians density: NA

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban:
Unimproved urban:

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA

Education expenditures: NA

Literacy
Total population: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Conventional short form: none
Etymology: Saint Helena was discovered in 1502 by Galician navigator Joao da NOVA, sailing in the service of the Kingdom of Portugal, who named it "Santa Helena"; Ascension was named in 1503 by Portuguese navigator Afonso de ALBUQUERQUE who sighted the island on the Feast Day of the Ascension; Tristan da Cunha was discovered in 1506 by Portuguese explorer Tristao da CUNHA who christened the main island after himself (the name was subsequently anglicized)

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital
Name: Jamestown
Geographic coordinates: 15 56 S, 5 43 W
Time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: founded in 1659 and named after James, Duke of York, who would become King JAMES II of England (r. 1785-1788)

Administrative divisions: 3 administrative areas; Ascension, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha

Dependent areas

Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday: Official birthday of King Charles III, April or June as designated by the governor

Constitution
History: several previous; latest effective 1 September 2009 (St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009)

Legal system: English common law and local statutes

International law organization participation

Citizenship: see United Kingdom

Suffrage: 18 years of age

Executive branch
Chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022)
Head of government: Governor Nigel PHILLIPS (since 13 August 2022)
Cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, 3 ex-officio officers, and 5 elected members of the Legislative Council
Elections/appointments: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch
Note: the constitution order provides for an administrator for Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, appointed by the governor

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Legislative Council (17 seats including the speaker and deputy speaker; 12 members directly elected in a single countrywide constituency by simple majority vote and 3 ex-officio members - the chief secretary, financial secretary, and attorney general; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections: last held on 13 October 2021 (next to be held in 2025)
Election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - independent 12; composition - men 14, women 3, percent women 17.6%
Note: the Constitution Order provides for separate Island Councils for both Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 2 justices); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice - a nonresident - and NA judges); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
Judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Supreme Court justices appointed by the governor acting upon the instructions from a secretary of state acting on behalf of King CHARLES III; justices of both courts serve until retirement at age 70, but terms can be extended
Subordinate courts: Magistrates' Court; Small Claims Court; Juvenile Court

Political parties and leaders: none

International organization participation: UPU

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (overseas territory of the UK)
From the us embassy: 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 upper third of the shield depicts a white plover (wire bird) on a yellow field; the remainder of the shield depicts a rocky coastline on the left, offshore is a three-masted sailing ship with sails furled but flying an English flag

National symbols: Saint Helena plover (bird)

National anthem
Note: as an overseas territory of the UK, "God Save the King" is official (see United Kingdom)

National heritage


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Economy overview: upper middle-income, British Atlantic Ocean territorial economy; native (but pegged to British pound) currency user on 2 of 3 islands; significant UK financial support; unique land/farming commune structure; military-related economic activity; sport fishing locale

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $31.1 million (2009 est.)

Real gdp growth rate: NA

Real gdp per capita: $7,800 (FY09/10 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: NA
Industry: NA
Services: NA

Agriculture products: coffee, corn, potatoes, vegetables; fish, lobster; livestock; timber

Industries: construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing, collectible postage stamps

Industrial production growth rate: NA

Labor force: 2,486 (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate: 14% (1998 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10%: NA
Highest 10%: NA

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $8.427 million (FY06/07 est.)
Expenditures: $20.7 million (FY06/07 est.)
Note: revenue data reflect only locally raised revenues; the budget deficit is resolved by grant aid from the UK

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate consumer prices: 4% (2012 est.)

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: $19 million (2004 est.)
Partners: United States 47%, Japan 12%, South Korea 10%, France 9%, Australia 5% (2019)
Commodities: crustaceans, fish, integrated circuits, air conditioners, clothing and apparel (2019)

Imports: $20.53 million (2010 est.)
Partners: United Kingdom 65%, South Africa 21% (2019)
Commodities: refined petroleum, cranes, communion wafers, iron sheeting, cars and vehicle parts (2019)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: NA

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification-total population: 100% (2021)
Installed generating capacity: 8,000 kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 6.809 million kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 1.688 million kWh (2019 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Coal
Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 100 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports: 65 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 13,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 13,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 0 Btu/person (2019 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 4,000 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 74 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 4,000 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 74 (2021 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media: Saint Helena has no local TV station; 2 local radio stations, one of which is relayed to Ascension Island; satellite TV stations rebroadcast terrestrially; Ascension Island has no local TV station but has 1 local radio station and receives relays of broadcasts from 1 radio station on Saint Helena; broadcasts from the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) are available, as well as TV services for the US military; Tristan da Cunha has 1 local radio station and receives BFBS TV and radio broadcasts

Internet
Country code: .sh; note - Ascension Island assigned .ac
Users total: 2,287 (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 37.6% (2021 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 1,000 (2018 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2020 est.)


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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: VQ-H

Airports: 2 (2021)
With paved runways: 2
With paved runways note 1: Ascension Island - Wideawake Field (ASI); Saint Helena (HLE)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 198 km (2002) (Saint Helena 138 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 20 km)
Paved: 168 km (2002) (Saint Helena 118 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 10 km)
Unpaved: 30 km (2002) (Saint Helena 20 km, Tristan da Cunha 10 km)

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals
Major seaports: Saint Helena
Saint Helena: Jamestown
Ascension Island: Georgetown
Tristan da Cunha: Calshot Harbor (Edinburgh)


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Disputes international: none identified

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs