1995 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1995 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 410 sq km land area: 410 sq km comparative area: slightly more than 2.3 times the size of Washington, DC note: includes Ascension, Gough Island, Inaccessible Island, Nightingale Island, and Tristan da Cunha
Climate
tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade winds
Coastline
60 km
Environment
current issues: NA natural hazards: active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha international agreements: NA
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 7% forest and woodland: 3% other: 83%
Location
Southern Africa, island in the South Atlantic Ocean, west of Angola, about two-thirds of the way from South America to Africa
Map references
Africa
Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
fish; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns, no minerals
Note
Napoleon Bonaparte's place of exile and burial (the remains were taken to Paris in 1840); harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere else in the world
Terrain
rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate
9.5 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate
6.43 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Ethnic divisions
NA
Infant mortality rate
36.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Labor force
2,516 by occupation: professional, technical, and related workers 8.7%, managerial, administrative, and clerical 12.8%, sales people 8.1%, farmer, fishermen, etc. 5.4%, craftspersons, production process workers 14.7%, others 50.3% (1987)
Languages
English
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 75.07 years male: 73.01 years female: 76.89 years (1995 est.)
Literacy
age 20 and over can read and write (1987) total population: 97% male: 97% female: 98%
Nationality
noun: Saint Helenian(s) adjective: Saint Helenian
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Population
6,762 (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate
0.31% (1995 est.)
Religions
Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic
Total fertility rate
1.13 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*; Ascension*, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha*
Capital
Jamestown
Constitution
1 January 1989
Digraph
SH
Diplomatic representation in US
none (dependent territory of the UK)
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
Flag
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
Independence
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
Legal system
NA
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
Member of
ICFTU
Names
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Helena
National holiday
Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen, 10 June 1989 (second Saturday in June)
Political parties and leaders
none
Suffrage
NA
Type
dependent territory of the UK
US diplomatic representation
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Economy
Agriculture
maize, potatoes, vegetables; timber production being developed; crawfishing on Tristan da Cunha
Budget
revenues: $11.2 million expenditures: $11 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92/93)
Currency
1 Saint Helenian pound (#S) = 100 pence
Economic aid
recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1992-93), $13.5 million
Electricity
capacity: 9,800 kW production: 10 million kWh consumption per capita: NA kWh (1993)
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
Exports
$27,400 (f.o.b., FY92/93) commodities: fish (frozen and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), handicrafts partners: South Africa, UK
External debt
$NA
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
Imports
$9.8 million (c.i.f., FY92/93) commodities: food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts partners: UK, South Africa
Industrial production
growth rate NA%
Industries
crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
-1.1% (1986)
National product
GDP $NA
National product per capita
$NA
National product real growth rate
NA%
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.
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Radio
broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 radios: 1,500
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
Television
broadcast stations: 0 televisions: NA
Transportation
Airports
total: 1 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
Highways
total: NA (mainland 107 km, Ascension NA, Tristan da Cunha NA) paved: 169.7 km (mainland 87 km, Ascension 80 km, Tristan da Cunha 2.70 km) unpaved: NA (mainland 20 km earth roads, Ascension NA, Tristan da Cunha NA)
Merchant marine
none
Ports
Georgetown, Jamestown
Railroads
0 km
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of the UK ________________________________________________________________________ SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS