Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
- Background
- 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.
- Location
- 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
- 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: 394 sq km
land: 122 sq km Saint Helena Island
water: 0 sq km - Area - comparative
- slightly more than twice the size of Washington, D.C.
- Land boundaries
- total: 0 km
- Coastline
- Saint Helena: 60 km Ascension Island: NA Tristan da Cunha (island only): 34 km
- Maritime claims
- territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm - 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)
- Terrain
- the islands of this group are of volcanic origin associated with the Atlantic Mid-Ocean Ridge Saint Helena: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plainsAscension: surface covered by lava flows and cinder cones of 44 dormant volcanoes; terrain rises to the eastTristan 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: 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: Atlantic Ocean 0 m - Natural resources
- fish, lobster
- Land use
- agricultural land: 30.8% (2022 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.3% (2022 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 20.5% (2022 est.)
forest: 5.1% (2022 est.)
other: 64.1% (2022 est.) - Irrigated land
- 0 sq km (2022)
- Population distribution
- Saint Helena: population is concentrated in and around the capital of Jamestown in the northwest, with another significant cluster in the interior Longwood areaAscension: most of the population lives in and around GeorgetownTristan da Cunha: most of the nearly 300 inhabitants live in the northern coastal town of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas
- Natural hazards
- active volcanismvolcanism: the volcanoes of Tristan da Cunha (2,060 m) and Nightingale Island (365 m) are active
- Geography - note
- 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
- Population
- total: 7,943 (2024 est.)
male: 3,978
female: 3,965 - Nationality
- noun: Saint Helenian(s)
adjective: Saint Helenian - Ethnic groups
- St. Helena 82.1%, UK 7.6%, South Africa 3.6%, Ascension 2.8%, other 3.9% (2021 est.)
- Languages
- English
- Religions
- 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.)
- Age structure
- 0-14 years: 14.3% (male 579/female 556)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 2,626/female 2,655)
65 years and over: 19.2% (2024 est.) (male 773/female 754) - Dependency ratios
- total dependency ratio: 50.4 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 21.5 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 28.9 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 3.5 (2024 est.) - Median age
- total: 45.5 years (2025 est.)
male: 44.8 years
female: 45.4 years - Population growth rate
- 0.08% (2025 est.)
- Birth rate
- 9.31 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Death rate
- 8.55 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Net migration rate
- 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Population distribution
- Saint Helena: population is concentrated in and around the capital of Jamestown in the northwest, with another significant cluster in the interior Longwood areaAscension: most of the population lives in and around GeorgetownTristan da Cunha: most of the nearly 300 inhabitants live in the northern coastal town of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas
- Urbanization
- urban population: 40.7% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) - Major urban areas - population
- 1,000 JAMESTOWN (capital) (2018)
- Sex ratio
- at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.) - Infant mortality rate
- total: 17.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 21.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.2 deaths/1,000 live births - Life expectancy at birth
- total population: 80.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 78.1 years
female: 83.9 years - Total fertility rate
- 1.61 children born/woman (2025 est.)
- Gross reproduction rate
- 0.79 (2025 est.)
- Drinking water source
- improved: total: total: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.) - Sanitation facility access
- improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
- Environmental issues
- development threatens wildlife on Saint Helena
- 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)
- Land use
- agricultural land: 30.8% (2022 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.3% (2022 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 20.5% (2022 est.)
forest: 5.1% (2022 est.)
other: 64.1% (2022 est.) - Urbanization
- urban population: 40.7% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) - Carbon dioxide emissions
- total emissions: 12,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 12,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- Country name
- conventional long form: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
conventional short form: none
etymology: 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
- parliamentary democracy
- Dependency status
- overseas territory of the UK
- Capital
- name: Jamestown
geographic coordinates: 15 56 S, 5 43 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: founded in 1659 and named after James, Duke of York, who would become King JAMES II of England - Administrative divisions
- 3 administrative areas; Ascension, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha
- Legal system
- English common law and local statutes
- Constitution
- history: several previous; latest effective 1 September 2009 (St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009)
- Citizenship
- see United Kingdom
- Suffrage
- 18 years of age
- Executive branch
- chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022)
head of government: Governor Nigel PHILLIPS (since 13 August 2022)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, 3 ex-officio officers, and 5 elected members of the Legislative Council
election/appointment process: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch - Judicial branch
- highest court(s): 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: 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: Magistrates' Court; Small Claims Court; Juvenile Court - Political parties
- none
- Diplomatic representation in the US
- none (overseas territory of the UK)
- Diplomatic representation from the US
- embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK)
- International organization participation
- UPU
- Independence
- none (overseas territory of the UK)
- National holiday
- Official birthday of King Charles III, celebrated in April or June as designated by the governor (1948)
- Flag
- 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 flaghistory: the flag has been in use since 1984, when it was commissioned to mark the 150th anniversary of Saint Helena becoming a Crown Colony
- National symbol(s)
- Saint Helena plover (wire bird)
- National coat of arms
- 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: "God Save the King"
lyrics/music: unknown
history: official anthem, as a UK overseas territory
- 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
- Agricultural products
- coffee, corn, potatoes, vegetables; fish, lobster; livestock; timber
- Industries
- construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing, collectible postage stamps
- Exports - partners
- Singapore 33%, USA 16%, Japan 10%, Turkey 10%, Senegal 8% (2023)
- Exports - commodities
- fish, shellfish, natural gas, trucks, construction vehicles (2023)
- Imports - partners
- UK 34%, Greece 26%, Spain 16%, South Africa 15%, Namibia 2% (2023)
- Imports - commodities
- refined petroleum, baked goods, plastic products, vehicle parts/accessories, air pumps (2023)
- Exchange rates
- Currency: Saint Helena pounds (SHP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2023: 0.805 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 0.811 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 0.727 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 0.78 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2019: 0.783 (2019 est.)
- Electricity access
- electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
- Electricity
- installed generating capacity: 5,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 6.962 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 1.5 million kWh (2023 est.) - Electricity generation sources
- fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Coal
- imports: 70 metric tons (2022 est.)
- Petroleum
- refined petroleum consumption: 85 bbl/day (2023 est.)
- Telephones - fixed lines
- total subscriptions: 4,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 74 (2021 est.) - Telephones - mobile cellular
- total subscriptions: 4,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 74 (2021 est.) - Broadcast media
- Saint Helena: no local TV station; 2 local radio stations, one of which is relayed to Ascension Island; satellite TV stations rebroadcast terrestriallyAscension 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
- .sh
- Internet users
- percent of population: 37.6% (2021 est.)
- Broadband - fixed subscriptions
- total: 1,000 (2018 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2020 est.)
- Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
- VQ-H
- Airports
- 2 (2025)
- Heliports
- 2 (2025)
- Ports
- total ports: 4 (2024)
large: 1
medium: 1
small: 1
very small: 1
ports with oil terminals: 2
key ports: Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, Georgetown, Jamestown, North Point - Transportation - note
- 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
- Military - note
- defense is the responsibility of the UK