Country Summary

Background

Saint Helena, Ascension Island, and the island group of Tristan da Cunha were discovered by the Portuguese in the early 1500s. Saint Helena was garrisoned by the British during the 17th century and Napoleon BONAPARTE was exiled and later died there in 1821. The British garrisoned Ascension Island in 1815 to prevent a rescue of NAPOLEON. The island hosts one of four ground antennas that support the Global Positioning System. Tristan da Cunha consists of Tristan da Cunha, Nightingale, Inaccessible, and Gough Islands.

Area

total: 394 sq km
land: 122 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Climate

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)

Natural resources

fish, lobster

Population

7,935 (2023 est.)

Ethnic groups

African descent 50%, White 25%, Chinese 25%

Languages

English

Religions

Protestant 75.9% (includes Anglican 68.9, Baptist 2.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.8%, Salvation Army 1.7%, New Apostolic 1.4%), Jehovah's Witness 4.1%, Roman Catholic 1.2%, other 2.5% (includes Baha'i), unspecified 0.8%, none 6.1%, no response 9.4% (2016 est.)

Population growth rate

0.11% (2023 est.)

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Capital

name: Jamestown

Executive branch

chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022)
head of government: Governor Nigel PHILLIPS (since 13 August 2022)

Legislative branch

description: unicameral Legislative Council (17 seats including the speaker and deputy speaker; 12 members directly elected in a single countrywide constituency by simple majority vote and 3 ex-officio members - the chief secretary, financial secretary, and attorney general; members serve 4-year terms)

Economic overview

upper middle-income, British Atlantic Ocean territorial economy; native (but pegged to British pound) currency user on 2 of 3 islands; significant UK financial support; unique land/farming commune structure; military-related economic activity; sport fishing locale

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$31.1 million (2009 est.)

Real GDP per capita

$7,800 (FY09/10 est.)

Agricultural products

coffee, corn, potatoes, vegetables; fish, lobster; livestock; timber

Industries

construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing, collectible postage stamps

Exports

$19 million (2004 est.)

Exports - partners

United States 47%, Japan 12%, South Korea 10%, France 9%, Australia 5% (2019)

Exports - commodities

crustaceans, fish, integrated circuits, air conditioners, clothing and apparel (2019)

Imports

$20.53 million (2010 est.)

Imports - partners

United Kingdom 65%, South Africa 21% (2019)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cranes, communion wafers, iron sheeting, cars and vehicle parts (2019)

Exchange rates

Saint Helenian pounds (SHP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
0.7836 (2017 est.)
0.6542 (2016 est.)
0.6542 (2015)
0.607 (2014 est.)
0.6391 (2013 est.)