ARCHIVE // SH // 2012

Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha

2012 Edition — territory

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
St. Helena has no local TV station; 2 local radio stations, one of which is relayed to Ascension Island; satellite TV stations rebroadcast terrestrially; Ascension Island has no local TV station, but has 1 local radio station and receives relays of broadcasts from 1 radio station on St. Helena; broadcasts from the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) are available, as well as TV services for the US military; Tristan da Cunha has 1 local radio station and receives BFBS TV and radio broadcasts (2007)
Communications - note [time series]
South Africa maintains a meteorological station on Gough Island
Internet country code [time series]
.sh; note - Ascension Island assigned .ac
Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]
6,729 (2012) country comparison to the world: 141
Internet users [time series]
900 (2009) country comparison to the world: 215
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: can communicate worldwide domestic: automatic digital network international: country code (Saint Helena) - 290, (Ascension Island) - 247; international direct dialing; satellite voice and data communications; satellite earth stations - 5 (Ascension Island - 4, Saint Helena - 1)
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
3,000 (2011) country comparison to the world: 215
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
coffee, corn, potatoes, vegetables; fish, lobster; livestock; timber
Budget [time series]
revenues: $10.34 million expenditures: $25.39 million note: revenue data reflect locally raised revenues only; the budget deficit is resolved by grant aid from the United Kingdom (FY06/07 est.)
Debt - external [time series]
$NA
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
The economy depends largely on financial assistance from the UK, which amounted to about $27 million in FY06/07 or more than twice the level of annual budgetary revenues. The local population earns income from fishing, raising 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.
Exchange rates [time series]
Saint Helenian pounds (SHP) per US dollar - 0.6324 (2012) 0.624 (2011) 0.6472 (2010) 0.6175 (2009) 0.5302 (2008)
Exports [time series]
$19 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 208
Exports - commodities [time series]
fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), coffee, handicrafts
Fiscal year [time series]
1 April - 31 March
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$NA
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$18 million (1998 est.) country comparison to the world: 227
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 (PPP)) [time series]
$2,500 (1998 est.) country comparison to the world: 181
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]
$45 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 218
Imports - commodities [time series]
food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
3.2% (1997 est.) country comparison to the world: 87
Labor force [time series]
2,486 (1998 est.) country comparison to the world: 227
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 6% industry: 48% services: 46% (1987 est.)
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
14% (1998 est.) country comparison to the world: 137
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
15,060 Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 209
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 182
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 119
Crude oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 186
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 185
Electricity - consumption [time series]
7.44 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 215
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 128
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 38
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 198
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 175
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 185
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 131
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
4,000 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 208
Electricity - production [time series]
8 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 215
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 192
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 148
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 188
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 190
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
100 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 211
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 131
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
66.05 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 207
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 194
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 308 sq km country comparison to the world: 209 land: Saint Helena Island 122 sq km; Ascension Island 88 sq km; Tristan da Cunha island group 98 sq km water: 0 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 Ascension Island: tropical marine; mild, semi-arid Tristan da Cunha: temperate marine; mild, tempered by trade winds (tends to be cooler than Saint Helena)
Coastline [time series]
Saint Helena: 60 km Ascension Island: NA Tristan da Cunha: 40 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; Green Mountain on Ascension Island 859 m; Mount Actaeon on Saint Helena Island 818 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
NA
Geographic coordinates [time series]
Saint Helena: 15 57 S, 5 42 W Ascension Island: 7 57 S, 14 22 W Tristan da Cunha island group: 37 15 S, 12 30 W
Geography - note [time series]
Saint Helena harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown elsewhere in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns; Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha is the highest island mountain in the South Atlantic and a prominent landmark on the sea lanes around southern Africa
Irrigated land [time series]
NA
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 12.9% permanent crops: 0% other: 87.1% (2005)
Location [time series]
islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway between South America and Africa; Ascension Island lies 700 nm northwest of Saint Helena; Tristan da Cunha lies 2,300 nm southwest of Saint Helena
Map references [time series]
Africa
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha volcanism: the island volcanoes of Tristan da Cunha (elev. 2,060 m) and Nightingale Island (elev. 365 m) experience volcanic activity; Tristan da Cunha erupted in 1962 and Nightingale in 2004
Natural resources [time series]
fish, lobster
Terrain [time series]
the islands of this group result from volcanic activity associated with the Atlantic Mid-Ocean Ridge Saint Helena: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains Ascension: surface covered by lava flows and cinder cones of 44 dormant volcanoes; ground rises to the east Tristan da Cunha: sheer cliffs line the coastline of the nearly circular island; the flanks of the central volcanic peak are deeply dissected; narrow coastal plain lies between The Peak and the coastal cliffs
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
3 administrative areas; Ascension, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha
Capital [time series]
name: Jamestown geographic coordinates: 15 56 S, 5 43 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution [time series]
the Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009, effective 1 September 2009
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha conventional short form: none
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) head of government: Governor Mark CAPES (since 29 October 2011) note: the constitution order provides for an administrator for Ascension and Tristan da Cunha appointed by the governor Administrator Ascension Island: Colin WELLS (since 27 Ocotber 2011) Administrator Tristan da Cunha: Sean BURNS (since 15 September 2010) cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, 3 ex-officio officers, and 5 elected members of the Legislative Council (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch
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 upper third of the shield depicts a white plover (wire bird) on a yellow field; the remainder of the shield depicts a rocky coastline on the left, offshore is a three-masted sailing ship with sails furled but flying an English flag
Government type [time series]
NA
Independence [time series]
none (overseas territory of the UK)
International organization participation [time series]
UPU
Judicial branch [time series]
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Legal system [time series]
English common law and local statutes
Legislative branch [time series]
unicameral Legislative Council (17 seats, including a speaker and deputy speaker, 12 elected, and three ex officio members; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) note: the Constitution Order provides for separate Island Councils for both Ascension and Tristan da Cunha elections: last held on 4 November 2009 (next to be held in November 2013) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 12
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
note: as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)
National holiday [time series]
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
National symbol(s) [time series]
Saint Helena plover (bird)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
none
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
other: private sector; unions
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age
Introduction
Background [time series]
Saint Helena is a British Overseas Territory consisting of Saint Helena and Ascension Islands, and the island group of Tristan da Cunha. Saint Helena: 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. During the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa, several thousand Boer prisoners were confined on the island between 1900 and 1903. Ascension Island: This barren and uninhabited island was discovered and named by the Portuguese in 1503. The British garrisoned the island in 1815 to prevent a rescue of Napoleon from Saint Helena. It served as a provisioning station for the Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron on anti-slavery patrol. The island remained under Admiralty control until 1922, when it became a dependency of Saint Helena. During World War II, the UK permitted the US to construct an airfield on Ascension in support of trans-Atlantic flights to Africa and anti-submarine operations in the South Atlantic. In the 1960s the island became an important space tracking station for the US. In 1982, Ascension was an essential staging area for British forces during the Falklands War. It remains a critical refueling point in the air-bridge from the UK to the South Atlantic. Tristan da Cunha: The island group consists of the islands of Tristan da Cunha, Nightingale, Inaccessible, and Gough. Tristan da Cunha is named after its Portuguese discoverer (1506); it was garrisoned by the British in 1816 to prevent any attempt to rescue Napoleon from Saint Helena. Gough and Inaccessible Islands have been designated World Heritage Sites. South Africa leases a site for a meteorological station on Gough Island.
Military
Manpower fit for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 1,565 females age 16-49: 1,579 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]
male: 49 female: 48 (2010 est.)
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the UK
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 17.5% (male 689/ female 662) 15-64 years: 69.8% (male 2,724/ female 2,668) 65 years and over: 12.7% (male 495/ female 490) (2012 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
10.48 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 182
Death rate [time series]
6.99 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 131
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
NA
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]
total: 15.8 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 109 male: 18.61 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
Languages [time series]
English
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 78.91 years country comparison to the world: 46 male: 75.98 years female: 81.98 years (2012 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 20 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 97% female: 98% (1987 est.)
Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]
JAMESTOWN (capital) 1,000 (2009)
Median age [time series]
total: 39.4 years male: 39.4 years female: 39.3 years (2012 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Saint Helenian(s) adjective: Saint Helenian note: referred to locally as "Saints"
Net migration rate [time series]
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 105
Population [time series]
7,728 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 227 note: only Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha islands are inhabited
Population growth rate [time series]
0.349% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 163
Religions [time series]
Protestant (Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist), Roman Catholic
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.57 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 181
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 40% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: -0.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
1 (Ascension Island) (2012) country comparison to the world: 235
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2012)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
Saint Helena: Jamestown Ascension Island: Georgetown Tristan da Cunha: Calshot Harbor (Edinburgh)
Roadways [time series]
total: 198 km (Saint Helena 138 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 20 km) country comparison to the world: 209 paved: 168 km (Saint Helena 118 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 10 km) unpaved: 30 km (Saint Helena 20 km, Ascension 0 km, Tristan da Cunha 10 km) (2002)
Transportation - note [time series]
there is no air connection to Saint Helena or Tristan da Cunha; construction on the new international airport for Saint Helena began in 2012 with an estimated completion date of late 2015 or early 2016; the new airport will have a runway of 1,550 m capable of handling B737/A319 size aircraft