Communications - note [time series]

Gough Island has a meteorological station

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

1 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.sh

Internet users [time series]

NA

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios [time series]

3,000 (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: can communicate worldwide domestic: automatic network international: HF radiotelephone from Saint Helena to Ascension which is a major coaxial submarine cable relay point between South Africa, Portugal, and UK ; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

2,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

0 (1997)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

0 note: television programs are received in St. Helena via satellite and distributed by cable (2002)

Televisions [time series]

2,000 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

corn, potatoes, vegetables; timber; fish, crawfish (on Tristan da Cunha)

Budget [time series]

revenues: $11.2 million expenditures: $11 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Saint Helenian pound (SHP)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

SHP

Debt - external [time series]

$NA

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$12.6 million (1995); note - $5.3 million from UK (1997)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The economy depends largely on financial assistance from the UK, which amounted to about $5 million in 1997 or almost one-half of annual budgetary revenues. The local population earns income from fishing, the raising of livestock, and sales of handicrafts. Because there are few jobs, 25% of the work force has left to seek employment on Ascension Island, on the Falklands, and in the UK.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

4.65 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - production [time series]

5 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

Saint Helenian pounds per US dollar - 0.6981 (January 2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6047 (1997); note - the Saint Helenian pound is at par with the British pound

Exports [time series]

$704,000 f.o.b. (1995)

Exports - commodities [time series]

fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), coffee, handicrafts

Exports - partners [time series]

South Africa, UK

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $18 million (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $2,500 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$14.434 million c.i.f. (1995)

Imports - commodities [time series]

food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts

Imports - partners [time series]

UK, South Africa

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.2% (1997 est.)

Labor force [time series]

3,500 note: 1,200 work offshore (1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture and fishing 6%, industry (mainly construction) 48%, services 46% (1987 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

14% (1998 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 410 sq km note: includes St. Helena Island, Ascension, and the island group of Tristan da Cunha, which consists of Tristan da Cunha Island, Gough Island, Inaccessible Island, and the three Nightingale Islands water: 0 sq km land: 410 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

Saint Helena - tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade winds; Tristan da Cunha - temperate; marine, mild, tempered by trade winds (tends to be cooler than Saint Helena)

Coastline [time series]

60 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,060 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

NA

Geographic coordinates [time series]

15 56 S, 5 42 W

Geography - note [time series]

harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere else in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 12.9% permanent crops: 0% other: 87.1% (1998 est.)

Location [time series]

islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway between South America and Africa

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Natural hazards [time series]

active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha

Natural resources [time series]

fish

Terrain [time series]

Saint Helena - rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains note: the other islands of the group have a volcanic origin

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Jamestown

Constitution [time series]

1 January 1989

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Helena

Dependency status [time series]

overseas territory of the UK

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor is appointed by the monarch head of government: Governor and Commander in Chief David HOLLAMBY (since NA June 1999) cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, two ex officio officers, and six elected members of the Legislative Council

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

NA

Independence [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ICFTU

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court; Small Debts Court; Juvenile Court

Legal system [time series]

NA

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Legislative Council (16 seats, including the speaker, 3 ex officio and 12 elected members; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 27 June 2001 (next to be held NA June 2005) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 15

National holiday [time series]

Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

none

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

none

Suffrage [time series]

NA years of age

Background [time series]

Uninhabited when first discovered by the Portuguese in 1502, Saint Helena was garrisoned by the British during the 17th century. It acquired fame as the place of Napoleon BONAPARTE's exile, from 1815 until his death in 1821, but its importance as a port of call declined after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Ascension Island is the site of a US Air Force auxiliary airfield; Gough Island has a meteorological station.

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 18.8% (male 698; female 678) 15-64 years: 71.9% (male 2,727; female 2,531) 65 years and over: 9.3% (male 296; female 387) (2002 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

13.26 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.29 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

African descent 50%, white 25%, Chinese 25%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

NA

Infant mortality rate [time series]

21.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages [time series]

English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.2 years female: 80.23 years (2002 est.) male: 74.31 years

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 20 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 97% female: 98% (1987 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Saint Helenian(s) adjective: Saint Helenian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population [time series]

7,317 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.7% (2002 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.53 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Airports [time series]

1 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 158 km (Saint Helena 118 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 0 km) paved: 138 km (Saint Helena 98km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 0 km) unpaved: 20 km (Saint Helena 20 km, Ascension 0 km, Tristan da Cunha 0 km)

Merchant marine [time series]

none (2002 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Georgetown (on Ascension), Jamestown

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

none

Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha