Africa :: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
(overseas territory of the UK)
page last updated on August 3, 2010
Flag of Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
 
Map of Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Introduction ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Background:
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.
Geography ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Location:
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
Geographic coordinates:
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
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 308 sq km
country comparison to the world: 208
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:
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
Saint Helena: 60 km
Ascension Island: NA
Tristan da Cunha: 40 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Current Weather
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)
Terrain:
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
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,062 m; Green Mountain on Ascension Island 859 m; Mount Actaeon on Saint Helena Island 818 m
Natural resources:
fish, lobster
Land use:
arable land: 12.9%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 87.1% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha, last eruption in 1961
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
Saint Helena harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere else 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
People ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Population:
7,670
country comparison to the world: 225
note: only Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha islands are inhabited (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.1% (male 706/female 679)
15-64 years: 70.2% (male 2,739/female 2,642)
65 years and over: 11.8% (male 438/female 466) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.2 years
male: 38.2 years
female: 38.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.404% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Birth rate:
10.95 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Death rate:
6.91 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Net migration rate:
NA
Urbanization:
urban population: 39% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.049 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.98 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 112
male: 19.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.6 years
country comparison to the world: 43
male: 75.68 years
female: 81.67 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.56 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Saint Helenian(s)
adjective: Saint Helenian
note: referred to locally as "Saints"
Ethnic groups:
African descent 50%, white 25%, Chinese 25%
Religions:
Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic
Languages:
English
Literacy:
definition: age 20 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 98% (1987 est.)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Country name:
conventional long form: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
conventional short form: none
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Jamestown
geographic coordinates: 15 56 S, 5 44 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
3 administrative areas; Ascension, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Constitution:
The Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009, effective 1 September 2009
Legal system:
English common law and statutes supplemented by local statutes
Suffrage:
NA
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor Andrew GURR (since 11 November 2007)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, 3 ex-officio officers, and 5 elected members of the Legislative Council
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:
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 2013)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 12
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: private sector; unions
International organization participation:
UPU, WFTU
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 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
Economy ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Economy - overview:
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$18 million (1998 est.)
country comparison to the world: 224
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,500 (1998 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
2,486
country comparison to the world: 223
note: 1,200 work offshore (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 48%
services: 46% (1987 est.)
Unemployment rate:
14% (1998 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $10.23 million
expenditures: $25.13 million
note: revenue data reflect locally raised revenues only; the budget deficit is resolved by grant aid from the United Kingdom (FY06/07 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.2% (1997 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Agriculture - products:
coffee, corn, potatoes, vegetables; timber; fish, lobster; livestock
Industries:
construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing, philatelic sales
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
8 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Electricity - consumption:
7.44 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Oil - consumption:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Oil - imports:
80 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Exports:
$19 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Exports - commodities:
fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), coffee, handicrafts
Imports:
$45 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
Imports - commodities:
food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Saint Helenian pounds (SHP) per US dollar - 0.6494 (2009), 0.5302 (2008), 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004)
note: the Saint Helenian pound is on par with the British pound
Communications ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,300 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 223
Telephone system:
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)
Radio broadcast stations:
Saint Helena: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Ascension: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (2005)
Television broadcast stations:
0 (3 television channels are received via satellite and distributed by UHF) (2005)
Internet country code:
.sh; note - Ascension Island assigned .ac
Internet hosts:
343 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 178
Internet users:
1,100; note - includes Ascension Island (2008)
country comparison to the world: 213
Communications - note:
South Africa maintains a meteorological station on Gough Island
Transportation ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Airports:
1 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 216
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 198 km (Saint Helena 138 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 20 km)
country comparison to the world: 208
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)
Ports and terminals:
Saint Helena: Jamestown
Ascension Island: Georgetown
Tristan da Cunha: Calshot Harbor
Transportation - note:
there is no air connection to Saint Helena or Tristan da Cunha; an international airport for Saint Helena is in development for 2010
Military ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,575
females age 16-49: 1,591 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 48
female: 47 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Disputes - international:
none

Source: The World Factbook (CIA)