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.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes
Geography
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
88 sq km Ascension Island, 184 sq km Tristan da Cunha island group (includes Tristan (98 sq km), Inaccessible, Nightingale, and Gough islands)
comparison ranking: total 203
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 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: 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.)
arable land: 10.3% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
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 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
active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha
volcanism: the island volcanoes of Tristan da Cunha (2,060 m) and Nightingale Island (365 m) experience volcanic activity; Tristan da Cunha erupted in 1962 and Nightingale in 2004
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
People and Society
Population
total: 7,943 (2024 est.)
male: 3,978
female: 3,965
comparison rankings: total 223; female 223; male 224
Nationality
noun: Saint Helenian(s)
adjective: Saint Helenian
note: referred to locally as “Saints”
Ethnic groups
St. Helena 82.1%, UK 7.6%, South Africa 3.6%, Ascension 2.8%, other 3.9% (2021 est.)
note: data represent population of Saint Helena by country of birth
Languages
English
Religions
Protestant 69.4% (includes Anglican 63.2%, Baptist 2.3%, Salvation Army 2%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.9%), Jehovah’s Witness 3.8%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, New Apostolic 1.6%, other Christian 1.4%, other 1.1%, none 9%, unspecified 11.4% (2021 est.)
note: data represent Saint Helena only
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)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 50.4 (2024 est.) NA
youth dependency ratio: 21.5 (2024 est.) NA
elderly dependency ratio: 28.9 (2024 est.) NA
potential support ratio: 3.5 (2024 est.) NA
Median age
total: 45.1 years (2024 est.)
male: 44.8 years
female: 45.4 years
comparison ranking: total 21
Population growth rate
0.1% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 186
Birth rate
9.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 196
Death rate
8.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 80
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 90
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 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
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: 18.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 21.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.2 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 86
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 80.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 78.1 years
female: 83.9 years
comparison ranking: total population 50
Total fertility rate
1.61 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 181
Gross reproduction rate
0.78 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
NA
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 99.1% of population
unimproved:
urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0.9% of population (2020)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020)
Literacy
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Environment
Environment – current 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.)
arable land: 10.3% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
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.)
Government
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
note: the constitution order provides for an administrator for Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, appointed by the governor
Legislative branch
note: the Constitution Order provides for separate Island Councils for both Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
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
note: appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
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, April or June as designated by the governor
Flag description
blue with the UK flag in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the upper third of the shield depicts a white plover on a yellow field; the rest of the shield depicts a rocky coastline and a three-masted sailing ship with sails furled and flying an English flag
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
note: as an overseas territory of the UK, “God Save the King” is official (see United Kingdom)
Economy
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)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
fish, shellfish, natural gas, trucks, construction vehicles (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports – partners
UK 34%, Greece 26%, Spain 16%, South Africa 15%, Namibia 2% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
refined petroleum, baked goods, plastic products, vehicle parts/accessories, air pumps (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Exchange rates
Saint Helena pounds (SHP) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
0.805 (2023 est.)
0.811 (2022 est.)
0.727 (2021 est.)
0.78 (2020 est.)
0.783 (2019 est.)
Energy
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.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 4; consumption 210; installed generating capacity 210
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.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
12,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 12,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 215
Energy consumption per capita
(2019)
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 4,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 74 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 205
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 4,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 74 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 223
Broadcast media
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
.sh; note – Ascension Island assigned .ac
Internet users
percent of population: 37.6% (2021 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 1,000 (2018 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 208
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
VQ-H
Airports
2 (2025)
comparison ranking: 195
Heliports
2 (2025)
comparison ranking: 122
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 and Security
Military – note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
