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Code: SH | Region: Africa

Introduction

Background

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Saint Helena is a British Overseas Territory off the coast of Africa in the South Atlantic Ocean, and it consists of Saint Helena, Ascension Island, and the island group of Tristan da Cunha. Saint Helena: The island was uninhabited when the Portuguese first discovered it in 1502, and the British garrisoned troops on Saint Helena 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. Saint Helena is one of the most remote populated places in the world. The British Government committed to building an airport on Saint Helena in 2005. After more than a decade of delays and construction, a commercial air service to South Africa via Namibia was inaugurated in 2017. The weekly service to Saint Helena from Johannesburg via Windhoek in Namibia takes just over six hours (including the refueling stop in Windhoek) and replaces the mail ship that had made a five-day journey to the island every three weeks. 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 transatlantic 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. The island hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system -- the others are on Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory), Kwajalein (Marshall Islands), and at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US). NASA and the US Air Force also operate a Meter-Class Autonomous Telescope (MCAT) on Ascension as part of the deep space surveillance system for tracking orbital debris, which can be a hazard to spacecraft and astronauts. Tristan da Cunha: The island group consists of Tristan da Cunha, Nightingale, Inaccessible, and Gough Islands. Tristan da Cunha, named after its Portuguese discoverer (1506), 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

Location

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islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway between South America and Africa; Ascension Island lies 1,300 km (800 mi) northwest of Saint Helena; Tristan da Cunha lies 4,300 km (2,700 mi) southwest of Saint Helena

Geographic coordinates

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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

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Africa

Area

total

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394 sq km

land

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122 sq km Saint Helena Island

water

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0 sq km

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88 sq km Ascension Island, 184 sq km Tristan da Cunha island group (includes Tristan (98 sq km), Inaccessible, Nightingale, and Gough islands)

Area - comparative

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slightly more than twice the size of Washington, D.C.

Land boundaries

total

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0 km

Coastline

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Saint Helena: 60 km Ascension Island: NA Tristan da Cunha (island only): 34 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea

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12 nm

exclusive fishing zone

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200 nm

Climate

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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

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the islands of this group are of volcanic origin 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; terrain 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

highest point

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Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,060 m; Green Mountain on Ascension Island 859 m; Diana's Peak on Saint Helena Island 818 m

lowest point

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Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Natural resources

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fish, lobster

Land use

agricultural land

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30.8% (2022 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 10.3% (2022 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 20.5% (2022 est.)

forest

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5.1% (2022 est.)

other

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64.1% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

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0 sq km (2022)

Population distribution

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Saint Helena: population is concentrated in and around the capital of Jamestown in the northwest, with another significant cluster in the interior Longwood area Ascension: most of the population lives in and around Georgetown Tristan da Cunha: most of the nearly 300 inhabitants live in the northern coastal town of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas

Natural hazards

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active volcanism volcanism: the volcanoes of Tristan da Cunha (2,060 m) and Nightingale Island (365 m) are active

Geography - note

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Saint Helena harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown elsewhere 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 and Society

Population

total

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7,943 (2024 est.)

male

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3,978

female

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3,965

Nationality

noun

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Saint Helenian(s)

adjective

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Saint Helenian

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note: referred to locally as "Saints"

Ethnic groups

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St. Helena 82.1%, UK 7.6%, South Africa 3.6%, Ascension 2.8%, other 3.9% (2021 est.)

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note: data represent population of Saint Helena by country of birth

Languages

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English

Religions

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Anglican 63.2%, unspecified 11.4%, no religion 9%, Jehovah's Witness 3.8%, Baptist 2.3%, Salvation Army 2%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.9%, New Apostolic 1.6%, other Christian 1.4%, other 1.1% (2021 est.)

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note: data represent Saint Helena only

Age structure

0-14 years

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14.3% (male 579/female 556)

15-64 years

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66.5% (male 2,626/female 2,655)

65 years and over

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19.2% (2024 est.) (male 773/female 754)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio

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50.4 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

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21.5 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

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28.9 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

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3.5 (2024 est.)

Median age

total

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45.5 years (2025 est.)

male

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44.8 years

female

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45.4 years

Population growth rate

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0.08% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

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9.31 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

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8.55 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

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Urbanization

urban population

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40.7% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

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1,000 JAMESTOWN (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth

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1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years

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1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years

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0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over

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1.03 male(s)/female

total population

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1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total

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17.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male

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21.7 deaths/1,000 live births

female

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14.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population

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80.9 years (2024 est.)

male

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78.1 years

female

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83.9 years

Total fertility rate

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1.61 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

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0.79 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: total

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total: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

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total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

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total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

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total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

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development threatens wildlife on Saint Helena

Climate

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Land use

agricultural land

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30.8% (2022 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 10.3% (2022 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 20.5% (2022 est.)

forest

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5.1% (2022 est.)

other

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64.1% (2022 est.)

Urbanization

urban population

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40.7% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions

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12,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

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12,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form

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Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha

conventional short form

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none

etymology

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on the feast day of Saint Helena in 1502, Spanish navigator Joao da NOVA (sailing for Portugal) sighted and named the island that now bears the saint's name; da NOVA originally named Ascension "Conception Island" in honor of the Virgin Mary, but Portuguese navigator Afonso de ALBUQUERQUE later found the island on the feast day of the Ascension in 1508 and renamed it; Portuguese explorer Tristao da CUNHA sighted the third island in 1506 and named it after himself (the name was later anglicized)

Government type

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parliamentary democracy

Dependency status

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overseas territory of the UK

Capital

name

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Jamestown

geographic coordinates

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15 56 S, 5 43 W

time difference

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UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology

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founded in 1659 and named after James, Duke of York, who would become King JAMES II of England 

Administrative divisions

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3 administrative areas; Ascension, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha

Legal system

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English common law and local statutes

Constitution

history

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several previous; latest effective 1 September 2009 (St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009)

Citizenship

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see United Kingdom

Suffrage

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18 years of age

Executive branch

chief of state

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King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022)

head of government

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Governor Nigel PHILLIPS (since 13 August 2022)

cabinet

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Executive Council consists of the governor, 3 ex-officio officers, and 5 elected members of the Legislative Council

election/appointment process

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none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch

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note: the constitution order provides for an administrator for Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, appointed by the governor

Legislative branch

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note: the Constitution Order provides for separate Island Councils for both Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

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Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 2 justices); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and judges)

judge selection and term of office

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Court of Appeal and Supreme Court justices appointed by the governor acting upon the instructions from a secretary of state acting on behalf of the British monarch; justices of both courts serve until retirement at age 70, but terms can be extended

subordinate courts

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Magistrates' Court; Small Claims Court; Juvenile Court

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note: appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

Political parties

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none

Diplomatic representation in the US

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none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy

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none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation

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UPU

Independence

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none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday

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Official birthday of King Charles III, celebrated in April or June as designated by the governor (1948)

Flag

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description: blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the right half of the flag; the upper third of the shield depicts a white plover on a yellow field; under the bird is a rocky coastline and a three-masted sailing ship with sails furled and flying an English flag history: the flag has been in use since 1984, when it was commissioned to mark the 150th anniversary of Saint Helena becoming a Crown Colony

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note: the French flag flies at Longwood House (Napoleon's former residence) and Napoleon's (now-empty) tomb on the island, because the French Government has owned the properties since 1858

National symbol(s)

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Saint Helena plover (wire bird)

National coat of arms

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the coat of arms of Saint Helena was officially granted on January 30, 1984; the national bird, the Saint Helena plover (Charadrius sanctaehelenae), is at the top of the shield; the lower part of the shield shows a three-masted sailing ship with the mountainous island to the left; below the shield is a scroll with the motto “Loyal and unshakable;” the crest shows an image of Saint Helena, holding a cross and a flower

National anthem(s)

title

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"God Save the King"

lyrics/music

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unknown

history

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official anthem, as a UK overseas territory

Economy

Economic overview

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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

Agricultural products

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

Industries

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

Exports - partners

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Singapore 33%, USA 16%, Japan 10%, Turkey 10%, Senegal 8% (2023)

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note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports - commodities

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fish, shellfish, natural gas, trucks, construction vehicles (2023)

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note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

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UK 34%, Greece 26%, Spain 16%, South Africa 15%, Namibia 2% (2023)

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note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports - commodities

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refined petroleum, baked goods, plastic products, vehicle parts/accessories, air pumps (2023)

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note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Exchange rates

Currency

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Saint Helena pounds (SHP) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2023

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0.805 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

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0.811 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

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0.727 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

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0.78 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

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0.783 (2019 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification - total population

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100% (2021)

Electricity

installed generating capacity

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5,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption

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6.962 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

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1.5 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

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100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

imports

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70 metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

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85 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions

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4,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

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74 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions

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4,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

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74 (2021 est.)

Broadcast media

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Saint Helena: no local TV station; 2 local radio stations, one of which is relayed to Ascension Island; satellite TV stations rebroadcast terrestrially Ascension Island: no local TV station; 1 local radio station and receives relays of broadcasts from radio station on Saint Helena; broadcasts from the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) available, as well as US military TV Tristan da Cunha: 1 local radio station and receives BFBS TV and radio broadcasts

Internet country code

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.sh

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note: Ascension Island assigned .ac

Internet users

percent of population

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37.6% (2021 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total

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1,000 (2018 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

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17 (2020 est.)

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

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VQ-H

Airports

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2 (2025)

Heliports

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2 (2025)

Ports

total ports

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4 (2024)

large

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medium

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small

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very small

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ports with oil terminals

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key ports

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Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, Georgetown, Jamestown, North Point

Transportation - note

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the new airport on Saint Helena opened for limited operations in 2016, and the first commercial flight took place in 2017; the military airport on Ascension Island is closed to civilian traffic; there is no air connection to Tristan da Cunha and very limited sea connections