1987 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1987 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Climate
tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade winds
Coastline
60 km
Comparative area
almost twice the size of Washington, D. C.
Environment
very few perennial streams
Land use
7% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 7% meadows and pastures; 3% forest and woodland; 83% other
Special notes
Ascension is major relay station for cables running between Europe and South Africa
Terrain
rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains
Territorial sea
3 nm
Total area
310 km?; land area: 310 km?
People and Society
Infant mortality rate
22.37/1,000 (1982)
Labor force
large proportion employed overseas
Language
English
Literacy
probably high
Nationality
noun—St. Helenian(s); adjective—St. Helenian
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
Population
8,524 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 2.54%
Religion
Anglican majority; also Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, and Roman Catholic
Government
Administrative divisions
Ascension and Triston da Cunha are dependencies of St. Helena
Branches
Executive Council, 12-member elected Legislative Council
Capital
Jamestown
Communists
probably none
Elections
general elections held in October 1984 Political parties and leaders: St. Helena Labor Party, G. A. O. Thornton; St. Helena Progressive Party, leader unknown
Government leader
Francis BAKER, Governor and Commander in Chief (since 1984)
Legal system
Constitution in effect since 1967; Supreme Court
Official name
St. Helena
Type
British dependent territory
Voting strength
both political parties inactive since 1976
Economy
Agriculture
maize, potatoes, vegetables; timber production being developed; crawlishing on Tristan da Cunha
Aid
development aid from UK—7.5 million pounds sterling (1984 est.)
Budget
revenue, 5,656,518 pounds sterling; expenditure, 5,681,933 pounds sterling (1981/82)
Electric power
9,800 kW capacity; 8 million kWh produced, 1,140 kWh per capita (1986)
Exports
fish (frozen skipjack, tuna, saltdried skipjack), handicrafts
Fiscal year
1 April-31 March
Fishing
214 metric ton catch (1983)
Imports
food, drink, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts (1981/82)
Major industries
crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork)
Major trade partners
imports—59% UK, 29% South Africa
Monetary conversion rate
UK currency; .70 pound sterling=US$1 (November 1986)
Natural resources
Ascension—sea turtle and sooty tern breeding ground; no minerals
Communications
Airfields
none on St. Helena; airstrip (Miracle Miles) near Georgetown on Ascension; 1 permanent-surface runway 2,440-3,659 on Tristan da Cunha
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
Ports
Jamestown on St. Helena, Georgetown on Ascension, and St. James Bay
Railroads
none
Telecommunications
1,500 radio receivers; no television service; wireless service to Cape Town and Ascension; telephones $10 (1982); coaxial cable relay point between South Africa, Portugal, and UK at Ascension
Military and Security
Military manpower
St. Helena Constabulary