Statistical information Saint Helena 2024
Saint Helena in the World
Saint Helena - Introduction 2024
top of pageBackground:
Saint Helena is a British Overseas Territory off the coast of Africa in the South Atlantic Ocean, and it consists of Saint Helena, Ascension Island, and the island group of Tristan da Cunha.
Saint Helena: The island was uninhabited when the Portuguese first discovered it in 1502, and the British garrisoned troops on Saint Helena during the 17th century. It acquired fame as the place of Napoleon BONAPARTE's exile from 1815 until his death in 1821, but its importance as a port of call declined after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. During the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa, several thousand Boer prisoners were confined on the island between 1900 and 1903.
Saint Helena is one of the most remote populated places in the world. The British Government committed to building an airport on Saint Helena in 2005. After more than a decade of delays and construction, a commercial air service to South Africa via Namibia was inaugurated in 2017. The weekly service to Saint Helena from Johannesburg via Windhoek in Namibia takes just over six hours (including the refueling stop in Windhoek) and replaces the mail ship that had made a five-day journey to the island every three weeks.
Ascension Island: This barren and uninhabited island was discovered and named by the Portuguese in 1503. The British garrisoned the island in 1815 to prevent a rescue of NAPOLEON from Saint Helena. It served as a provisioning station for the Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron on anti-slavery patrol. The island remained under Admiralty control until 1922, when it became a dependency of Saint Helena. During World War II, the UK permitted the US to construct an airfield on Ascension in support of transatlantic flights to Africa and anti-submarine operations in the South Atlantic. In the 1960s, the island became an important space tracking station for the US. In 1982, Ascension was an essential staging area for British forces during the Falklands War. It remains a critical refueling point in the air-bridge from the UK to the South Atlantic.
The island hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system -- the others are on Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory), Kwajalein (Marshall Islands), and at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US). NASA and the US Air Force also operate a Meter-Class Autonomous Telescope (MCAT) on Ascension as part of the deep space surveillance system for tracking orbital debris, which can be a hazard to spacecraft and astronauts.
Tristan da Cunha: The island group consists of Tristan da Cunha, Nightingale, Inaccessible, and Gough Islands. Tristan da Cunha, named after its Portuguese discoverer (1506), was garrisoned by the British in 1816 to prevent any attempt to rescue NAPOLEON from Saint Helena. Gough and Inaccessible Islands have been designated World Heritage Sites. South Africa leases a site for a meteorological station on Gough Island.
Saint Helena: The island was uninhabited when the Portuguese first discovered it in 1502, and the British garrisoned troops on Saint Helena during the 17th century. It acquired fame as the place of Napoleon BONAPARTE's exile from 1815 until his death in 1821, but its importance as a port of call declined after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. During the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa, several thousand Boer prisoners were confined on the island between 1900 and 1903.
Saint Helena is one of the most remote populated places in the world. The British Government committed to building an airport on Saint Helena in 2005. After more than a decade of delays and construction, a commercial air service to South Africa via Namibia was inaugurated in 2017. The weekly service to Saint Helena from Johannesburg via Windhoek in Namibia takes just over six hours (including the refueling stop in Windhoek) and replaces the mail ship that had made a five-day journey to the island every three weeks.
Ascension Island: This barren and uninhabited island was discovered and named by the Portuguese in 1503. The British garrisoned the island in 1815 to prevent a rescue of NAPOLEON from Saint Helena. It served as a provisioning station for the Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron on anti-slavery patrol. The island remained under Admiralty control until 1922, when it became a dependency of Saint Helena. During World War II, the UK permitted the US to construct an airfield on Ascension in support of transatlantic flights to Africa and anti-submarine operations in the South Atlantic. In the 1960s, the island became an important space tracking station for the US. In 1982, Ascension was an essential staging area for British forces during the Falklands War. It remains a critical refueling point in the air-bridge from the UK to the South Atlantic.
The island hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system -- the others are on Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory), Kwajalein (Marshall Islands), and at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US). NASA and the US Air Force also operate a Meter-Class Autonomous Telescope (MCAT) on Ascension as part of the deep space surveillance system for tracking orbital debris, which can be a hazard to spacecraft and astronauts.
Tristan da Cunha: The island group consists of Tristan da Cunha, Nightingale, Inaccessible, and Gough Islands. Tristan da Cunha, named after its Portuguese discoverer (1506), was garrisoned by the British in 1816 to prevent any attempt to rescue NAPOLEON from Saint Helena. Gough and Inaccessible Islands have been designated World Heritage Sites. South Africa leases a site for a meteorological station on Gough Island.
Saint Helena - Geography 2024
top of pageLocation: 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; Ascension Island: 7 57 S, 14 22 W; Tristan da Cunha island group: 37 15 S, 12 30 W
Map reference: Africa
Area
Total: 394 km²
Land: 122 km² Saint Helena Island, 88 km² Ascension Island, 184 km² Tristan da Cunha island group (includes Tristan (98 km²), Inaccessible, Nightingale, and Gough islands)
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Country comparison total: 0 km
Land boundaries
Total: 0 km
Coastline:
Saint Helena: 60 km
Ascension Island: NA
Tristan da Cunha (island only): 34 km
Ascension Island: NA
Tristan da Cunha (island only): 34 km
Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Saint Helena: tropical marine; mild, tempered by trade winds
Ascension Island: tropical marine; mild, semi-arid
Tristan da Cunha: temperate marine; mild, tempered by trade winds (tends to be cooler than Saint Helena)
Ascension Island: tropical marine; mild, semi-arid
Tristan da Cunha: temperate marine; mild, tempered by trade winds (tends to be cooler than Saint Helena)
Terrain:
the islands of this group are of volcanic origin associated with the Atlantic Mid-Ocean Ridge
Saint Helena: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains
Ascension: surface covered by lava flows and cinder cones of 44 dormant volcanoes; terrain rises to the east
Tristan da Cunha: sheer cliffs line the coastline of the nearly circular island; the flanks of the central volcanic peak are deeply dissected; narrow coastal plain lies between The Peak and the coastal cliffs
Saint Helena: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains
Ascension: surface covered by lava flows and cinder cones of 44 dormant volcanoes; terrain rises to the east
Tristan da Cunha: sheer cliffs line the coastline of the nearly circular island; the flanks of the central volcanic peak are deeply dissected; narrow coastal plain lies between The Peak and the coastal cliffs
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
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.)
Agricultural land forest: 5.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land 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
Volcanism: the island volcanoes of Tristan da Cunha (2,060 m) and Nightingale Island (365 m) experience volcanic activity; Tristan da Cunha erupted in 1962 and Nightingale in 2004
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
Saint Helena - People 2024
top of pagePopulation
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
Total: 7,943
Male: 3,978
Female: 3,965 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 0.1% (2024 est.)
Nationality
Noun: Saint Helenian(s)
Adjective: Saint Helenian
Note: referred to locally as 'Saints'
Ethnic groups: St. Helena 82.1%, UK 7.6%, South Africa 3.6%, Ascension 2.8%, other 3.9% (2021 est.)
Note: data represent population of Saint Helena by country of birth
Languages: English
Religions: Protestant 69.4% (includes Anglican 63.2%, Baptist 2.3%, Salvation Army 2%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.9%), Jehovah's Witness 3.8%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, New Apostolic 1.6%, other Christian 1.4%, other 1.1%, none 9%, unspecified 11.4% (2021 est.)
Note: data represent Saint Helena only
Demographic profile
Age structure
Age structure
0-14 years: 14.3% (male 579/female 556)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 2,626/female 2,655)
65 years and over: 19.2% (2024 est.) (male 773/female 754)
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: 45.1 years (2024 est.)
Male: 44.8 years
Female: 45.4 years
Population growth rate: 0.1% (2024 est.)
Birth rate: 9.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Death rate: 8.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 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: 1.03 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birth
Maternal mortality ratio
Infant mortality rate
Total: 18.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 21.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 14.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 80.9 years (2024 est.)
Male: 78.1 years
Female: 83.9 years
Total fertility rate: 1.61 children born/woman (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source
Improved urban: NA
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: 0.9% of population (2020)
Unimproved urban: NA
Current health expenditure
Physicians density
Hospital bed density
Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: NA
Improved rural: NA
Improved total: 100% of population
Unimproved urban: NA
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: 0% of population (2020)
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
Saint Helena - Government 2024
top of pageCountry 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)
Elections results: vote - NA; seats - independent 12; composition - men 8, women 6, percent women 42.9%
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
Saint Helena - Economy 2024
top of pageEconomy 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
Real gdp growth rate
Real gdp per capita
Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end use
Gdp composition by sector of origin
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
Labor force
Labor force
Unemployment rate
Youth unemployment
Population below poverty line
Gini index
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Distribution of family income gini index
Budget
Taxes and other revenues
Public debt
Revenue
Fiscal year
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
Partners: US 55%, Netherlands 17%, Singapore 10%, Japan 8%, Senegal 2% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: fish, shellfish, iron alloys, glass working machines, corn (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
Partners: UK 44%, South Africa 25%, US 21%, Czechia 4%, Namibia 2% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: asphalt, baked goods, air pumps, plastic products, iron sheet piling (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Debt external
Stock of direct foreign investment at home
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad
Exchange rates:
Saint Helena pounds (SHP) per US dollar - 0.805 (2023 est.)
0.811 (2022 est.)
0.727 (2021 est.)
0.78 (2020 est.)
0.783 (2019 est.)
0.811 (2022 est.)
0.727 (2021 est.)
0.78 (2020 est.)
0.783 (2019 est.)
Saint Helena - Energy 2024
top of pageElectricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2021)
Installed generating capacity: 8,000 kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 6.963 million kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 1.5 million kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Coal
Imports: 69.9 metric tons (2022 est.)
Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 81 bbl/day (2022 est.)
Crude oil
Refined petroleum
Natural gas
Carbon dioxide emissions: 13,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 13,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: (2019)
Saint Helena - Communication 2024
top of pageTelephones
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
Internet
Broadband fixed subscriptions
Saint Helena - Military 2024
top of pageMilitary expenditures
Military and security forces
Military service age and obligation
Space program
Terrorist groups
Saint Helena - Transportation 2024
top of pageNational air transport system
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VQ-H
Airports: 2 (2024)
Heliports: 2 (2024)
Pipelines
Railways
Roadways
Total: 198 km (Saint Helena 138 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 20 km)
Paved: 168 km (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
Saint Helena - Transnational issues 2024
top of pageDisputes international
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Illicit drugs
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