Country name conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Helena Background 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.Location islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway between South America and Africa Area total: 410 sq km
note: includes Saint 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 slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC Coastline 60 km 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
note: the other islands of the group have a volcanic origin Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Queen Mary"s Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,060 m 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 7,367 (July 2003 est.) Age structure 0-14 years: 18.9% (male 704; female 685)
15-64 years: 71.6% (male 2,732; female 2,545)
65 years and over: 9.5% (male 309; female 392) (2003 est.) Median age total: 34.2 years
male: 34.4 years
female: 33.9 years (2002) Sex ratio at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.) Nationality noun: Saint Helenian(s)
adjective: Saint Helenian Ethnic groups African descent 50%, white 25%, Chinese 25% Religions Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic Languages English Internet country code .sh Literacy definition: age 20 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 98% (1987 est.) Government type NA National holiday Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926) Legal system NA International organization participation ICFTU Economy - overview 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. Exports - partners US 23.7%, Japan 20.5%, Netherlands 16%, Tanzania 15.4%, Spain 6.4%, UK 5.1%, Indonesia 4.5% (2002) Currency Saint Helenian pound (SHP) Currency code SHP Exchange rates Saint Helenian pounds per US dollar - 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), Airports 1 (2002) Airports - with paved runways total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002) Airports - with unpaved runways Disputes - international none |
