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NAVIGATION
Saint Helena
GOVERNMENT
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Helena |
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Dependency status:
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overseas territory of the UK |
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Government type:
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NA |
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Capital:
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Jamestown |
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Administrative divisions:
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1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*; Ascension*, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha* |
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Independence:
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none (overseas territory of the UK) |
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National holiday:
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Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926) |
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Constitution:
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1 January 1989 |
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Legal system:
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NA |
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Suffrage:
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NA years of age |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor is appointed by the monarch head of government: Governor and Commander in Chief David HOLLAMBY (since 24 June 1999) cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, two ex officio officers, and six elected members of the Legislative Council |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Legislative Council (16 seats, including the speaker, 3 ex officio and 12 elected members; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 27 June 2001 (next to be held NA June 2005) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 15 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court; Small Debts Court; Juvenile Court |
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Political parties and leaders:
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none |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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none |
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International organization participation:
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ICFTU |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (overseas territory of the UK) |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none (overseas territory of the UK) |
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Flag description:
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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 shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship |
ECONOMY
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Economy - overview:
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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. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $18 million (1998 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $2,500 (1998 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.2% (1997 est.) |
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Labor force:
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3,500
note: 1,200 work offshore (1998 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture and fishing 6%, industry (mainly construction) 48%, services 46% (1987 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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14% (1998 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $11.2 million
expenditures: $11 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92) |
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Industries:
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construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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5 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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4.65 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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200 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001) |
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Agriculture - products:
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corn, potatoes, vegetables; timber; fish, crawfish (on Tristan da Cunha) |
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Exports:
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$704,000 f.o.b. (1995) |
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Exports - commodities:
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fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), coffee, handicrafts |
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Exports - partners:
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South Africa, UK (2000) |
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Imports:
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$14.434 million c.i.f. (1995) |
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Imports - commodities:
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food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts |
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Imports - partners:
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UK, South Africa (2000) |
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Debt - external:
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$NA |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$12.6 million (1995); note - $5.3 million from UK (1997) |
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Currency:
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Saint Helenian pound (SHP) |
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Currency code:
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SHP |
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Exchange rates:
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Saint Helenian pounds per US dollar - 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), |
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Fiscal year:
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1 April - 31 March |