1996 Edition

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

Location

15 56 S, 5 42 W -- Southern Africa, island in the South Atlantic Ocean, west of Angola, about two-thirds of the way from South America to Africa Flag ----

Area

comparative area

nearly two times the size of Washington, DC

land area

410 sq km

note

includes Ascension, Gough Island, Inaccessible Island, Nightingale Island, and Tristan da Cunha

total area

410 sq km

Climate

tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade winds

Coastline

60 km

Environment

current issues

NA

international agreements

NA

natural hazards

active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha

Geographic coordinates

15 56 S, 5 42 W

Geographic note

Napoleon Bonaparte's place of exile and burial (his remains were taken to Paris in 1840); harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere else in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

7%

forest and woodland

3%

meadows and pastures

7%

other

83%

permanent crops

0%

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

Terrain

rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains

highest point

Queen Mary's Peak 2,060 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Age structure

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

Birth rate

9.39 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

6.33 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

NA

Infant mortality rate

35.14 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

English

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.16 years (1996 est.)

male

73.28 years

total population

75.34 years

Literacy

age 20 and over can read and write (1987 est.)

female

98%

male

97%

total population

97%

Nationality

adjective

Saint Helenian

noun

Saint Helenian(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

6,782 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

0.31% (1996 est.)

Religions

Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic

Sex ratio

all ages

NA male(s)/female

at birth

NA male(s)/female

under 15 years

NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.12 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*; Ascension*, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha*

Capital

Jamestown

Constitution

1 January 1989

Data code

SH

Diplomatic representation in US

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Executive branch

cabinet

Executive Council consists of the governor, three ex-officio officers, and five elected members of the Legislative Council

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (of the UK since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch

head of government

Governor and Commander in Chief David Leslie SMALLMAN (since NA 1995)

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)

International organization participation

ICFTU

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

NA

Legislative branch

unicameral

Legislative Council

elections last held NA July 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (15 total, 12 elected) independents 15

Name of country

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 years of age

Type of government

dependent territory of the UK

US diplomatic representation

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Agriculture

maize, potatoes, vegetables; timber production being developed; crawfishing on Tristan da Cunha

Budget

expenditures

$11 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92/93)

revenues

$11.2 million

Currency

1 Saint Helenian pound (LS) = 100 pence

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic 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.

Electricity

capacity

9,800 kW

consumption per capita

NA kWh (1993)

production

10 million kWh

Exchange rates

Saint Helenian pounds (LS) per US$1 - 0.6535 (January 1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991); 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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP per capita

$NA

GDP real growth rate

NA%

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)

NA%

Labor force

2,416 (1991 est.)

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)

note

a large proportion of the work force has left to seek employment overseas

Unemployment rate

NA%

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios

2,500 (1993 est.)

Telephone system

domestic

automatic network; HF radiotelephone 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; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones

550

Televisions

NA Defense

Airports

total

1

with paved runways over 3 047 m

1 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

180.7 km (mainland 98 km, Ascension 80 km, Tristan da Cunha 2.70 km)

total

NA km (mainland 118 km, Ascension NA km, Tristan da Cunha NA km)

unpaved

NA km (mainland 20 km, Ascension NA km, Tristan da Cunha NA km)

Merchant marine

none

Ports

Georgetown, Jamestown

Railways

0 km