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.

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

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

Geography
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

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

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

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.)

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

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.)

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

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*

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

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

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

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 growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita: $NA

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%

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

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

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

Debt external: $NA

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

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

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

Airports: 1
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1

Merchant marine: none

Disputes international: none