1986 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1986 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Agriculture
maize, potatoes, vegetables; timber production being developed; crawfishing on Tristan da Cunha
Aid
development aid from UK — 8 million pounds sterling (1982 est.)
Airfields
none on St. Helena; airstrip (Miracle Miles) near Georgetown on Ascension; 1 permanent-surface runway 2,440-3,659 on Tristan da Cunha
Area
122 km2 St. Helena; smaller than Washington, D. C.; 88 km2 Ascension Island; 104 km2 Tristan da Cunha; 243 hectares cultivable land; islands are of volcanic origin and include St. Helena, Ascension Island (no water), and the Tristan da Cunha island group Water
Branches
Executive Council, 12-member elected Legislative Council
Budget
revenue, 5,656,518 pounds sterling; expenditure, 5,681,933 pounds sterling (1981/82)
Capital
Jamestown
Coastline
about 60 km People
Communists
probably none Economy
Elections
general elections held in October Political parties and leaders: St. Helena Labor Party, G. A. O. Thornton; St. Helena Progressive Party, leader unknown
Electric power
1 ,700 kW capacity (1985); 3 million kWh produced (1985), 428 kWh per capita
Exports
fish (frozen skipjack, tuna, saltdried skipjack), handicrafts
Fiscal year
1 April-31 March Communications
Fishing
453 metric ton catch (1982)
Government leader
Francis BAKER, Governor and Commander in Chief (since 1984)
Highways
87 km bitumen sealed roads, 20 km earth roads on St. Helena; 80 km sealed on Ascension; 2.7 km sealed on Tristan da Cunha
Imports
food, drink, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts (198 1/82)
Infant mortality rate
22.37/1,000(1982)
Labor force
large proportifrom employed overseas, particularly on Ascension
Language
English
Legal system
Constitution in effect since 1967; Supreme Court
Limits of territorial waters (claimed)
3 nm (200 nm fishing zone)
Literacy
probably high
Major industries
crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork)
Major trade partners
imports — 59% UK, 29% South Africa
Military manpower
St. Helena Constabulary
Monetary conversion rate
UK currency; 1 pound sterling=US$1.235
Nationality
noun — St. Helenian(s); adjective— St. Helenian
Natural resources
Ascension — sea turtle and sooty tern breeding ground; no minerals
Official name
St. Helena
Organized labor
St. Helena General Workers' Union, 472 members; 10% professional and technical, 9% mangement and clerical, 5% sales, 9% farming and fishing, 6% transport, 17% crafts, 10% service, 1% security, and 33% other Government
Political subdivisions
Ascension and Triston da Cunha are dependencies of St. Helena
Population
7,000 (July 1986), average annual growth rate 1.3%
Ports
Jamestown on St. Helena, Georgetown on Ascension, and St. James Bay
Railroads
none
Religion
Anglican majority; also Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist, and Roman Catho-
Telecommunications
1,500 radio receivers; no television service; wireless service to Cape Town and Ascension; telephones 310 (1982); coaxial cable relay point between South Africa, Portugal, and UK at Ascension Defense Forces Defense is the responsibility of the United Kingdom; United Kingdom Royal Air Force and United States NASA bases on Ascension
Type
British dependent territory
Voting strength
both political parties inactive since 1976