Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha

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

Television broadcast stations

0

Televisions

NA Defense

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 (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 production: 10 million kWh consumption per capita: NA kWh (1993)

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%

Area

total area: 410 sq km land area: 410 sq km comparative area: nearly two 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

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% 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

Terrain

rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Queen Mary's Peak 2,060 m

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

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

International organization participation

ICFTU

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

NA

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

Legislative branch

unicameral

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)

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

total population: 75.34 years male: 73.28 years female: 77.16 years (1996 est.)

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: Saint Helenian(s) adjective: Saint Helenian

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

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 all ages: NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.12 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Airports

total: 1 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Highways

total: NA km (mainland 118 km, Ascension NA km, Tristan da Cunha NA km) paved: 180.7 km (mainland 98 km, Ascension 80 km, Tristan da Cunha 2.70 km) unpaved: NA km (mainland 20 km, Ascension NA km, Tristan da Cunha NA km)

Merchant marine

none

Ports

Georgetown, Jamestown

Railways

0 km