Saint Helena
Background: Uninhabited when first discovered by the Portuguese in 1502, the island was garrisoned by the British during the 17th century. It became famous as the place of Napoleon BONAPARTE's exile, from 1815 until his death in 1821.
Location: islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about mid-way between South America and Africa Geographic coordinates: 15 56 S, 5 42 W Map references: Africa Area:
Area - comparative: slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 60 km Maritime claims:
Climate: 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) Terrain:
Saint Helena - rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains
Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: fish Land use:
Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha Environment - current issues: NA Geography - note: harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere else in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns
Population: 7,212 (July 2000 est.) Age structure:
Population growth rate: 0.76% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 13.73 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio:
Infant mortality rate: 23.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
Total fertility rate: 1.53 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality:
Ethnic groups: African descent, white Religions: Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic Languages: English Literacy:
Country name:
Data code: SH Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK Government type: NA Capital: Jamestown Administrative divisions: 1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*; Ascension*, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha* Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK) National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday in June) Constitution: 1 January 1989 Legal system: NA Suffrage: NA years of age Executive branch:
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (15 seats, including the speaker, 3 ex officio and 12 elected members; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: none International organization participation: ICFTU Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Flag 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
Economy - overview: The economy depends largely on financial assistance from the UK, which amounted to about $5 million in 1998. The local population earns 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. GDP: purchasing power parity - $13.9 million (FY94/95 est.) GDP - real growth rate: NA% GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,000 (FY94/95 est.) GDP - composition by sector:
Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% Labor force:
2,416 (1991 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: farmers and fishermen 6%, industry (mainly construction) 48%, services 46% (1987 est.) Unemployment rate: 18% (1996) Budget:
Industries: construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 6 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source:
Electricity - consumption: 6 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: corn, potatoes, vegetables; timber; fish, crawfish (on Tristan da Cunha) Exports: $704,000 (f.o.b., 1995) Exports - commodities: fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), coffee, handicrafts Exports - partners: South Africa, UK Imports: $14.434 million (c.i.f., 1995) Imports - commodities: food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts Imports - partners: UK, South Africa Debt - external: $NA Economic aid - recipient: $12.6 million (1995); note - $5.3 million from UK (1997) Currency: 1 Saint Helenian pound = 100 pence Exchange rates: Saint Helenian pounds per US$1 - 0.6092 (January 2000), 6.180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6047 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995); note - the Saint Helenian pound is at par with the British pound Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Telephones - main lines in use: 2,000 (1994) Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1994) Telephone system:
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 3,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997) Televisions: 2,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA Communications - note: Gough Island has a meteorological station
Railways: 0 km Highways:
Ports and harbors: Georgetown (on Ascension), Jamestown Merchant marine: none (1999 est.) Airports: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways:
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Disputes - international: none |
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