Ascension Island: NA
Tristan da Cunha: 40 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 result from volcanic activity 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; ground 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 extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,060 m; Green
Mountain on Ascension Island 859 m; Mount Actaeon on Saint Helena
Island 818 m
Natural resources:
fish, lobster
Land use:
arable land: 12.9%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 87.1% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha
volcanism: the island volcanoes of Tristan da Cunha (elev. 2,060 m,
6,758 ft) and Nightingale Island (elev. 365 m, 1,197 ft) experience
volcanic activity; Tristan da Cunha erupted in 1962 and Nightingale
in 2004
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
Saint Helena harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere
else 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 ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Population:
7,670
country comparison to the world: 226
note: only Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha islands are
inhabited (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.3% (male 712/female 685)
15-64 years: 70.4% (male 2,744/female 2,629)
65 years and over: 11.4% (male 412/female 455) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.2 years
male: 38.2 years
female: 38.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.404% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Birth rate:
10.95 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Death rate:
6.91 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 111
Urbanization:
urban population: 39% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.049 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.98 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 110
male: 19.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.6 years
country comparison to the world: 45
male: 75.68 years
female: 81.67 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.56 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Saint Helenian(s)
adjective: Saint Helenian
note: referred to locally as "Saints"
Ethnic groups:
African descent 50%, white 25%, Chinese 25%
Religions:
Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic
Languages:
English
Literacy:
definition: age 20 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 98% (1987 est.)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Country name:
conventional long form: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
conventional short form: none
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Jamestown
geographic coordinates: 15 56 S, 5 44 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
3 administrative areas; Ascension, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Constitution:
The Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order
2009, effective 1 September 2009
Legal system:
English common law and statutes supplemented by local statutes
Suffrage:
NA
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor Andrew GURR (since 11 November 2007)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, 3 ex-officio
officers, and 5 elected members of the Legislative Council
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (17 seats, including a speaker and
deputy speaker, 12 elected, and three ex officio members; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
note: the Constitution Order provides for separate Island Councils
for both Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
elections: last held on 4 November 2009 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 12
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: private sector; unions
International organization participation:
UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
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 upper third of the shield depicts a white plover (wire bird) on
a yellow field; the remainder of the shield depicts a rocky
coastline on the left, offshore is a three-masted sailing ship with
sails furled but flying an English flag
National anthem:
note: as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is
official (see United Kingdom)
Economy ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Economy - overview:
The economy depends largely on financial assistance from the UK,
which amounted to about $27 million in FY06/07 or more than twice
the level of annual budgetary revenues. The local population earns
income from fishing, raising 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$18 million (1998 est.)
country comparison to the world: 225
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,500 (1998 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
2,486
country comparison to the world: 223
note: 1,200 work offshore (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 48%
services: 46% (1987 est.)
Unemployment rate:
14% (1998 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.2% (1997 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Agriculture - products:
coffee, corn, potatoes, vegetables; timber; fish, lobster; livestock
Industries:
construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing,
philatelic sales
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
8 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Electricity - consumption:
7.44 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Oil - consumption:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Oil - imports:
80 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Exports:
$19 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Exports - commodities:
fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), coffee,
handicrafts
Imports:
$45 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
Imports - commodities:
food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building
materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Saint Helenian pounds (SHP) per US dollar - 0.6494 (2009), 0.5302
(2008), 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006), 0.5462 (2004)
note: the Saint Helenian pound is on par with the British pound
Communications ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 219
Telephone system:
general assessment: can communicate worldwide
domestic: automatic digital network
international: country code (Saint Helena) - 290, (Ascension Island)
- 247; international direct dialing; satellite voice and data
communications; satellite earth stations - 5 (Ascension Island - 4,
Saint Helena - 1)
Broadcast media:
St. Helena has no local TV station; 2 local radio stations, one of
which is relayed to Ascension Island; satellite TV stations
rebroadcast terrestrially; Ascension Island has no local TV station,
but has 1 local radio station and receives relays of broadcasts from
1 St. Helena radio station; broadcasts from the British Forces
Broadcasting Service (BFBS) are available, as well as TV services
for the US military; Tristan da Cunha has 1 local radio station and
receives BFBS TV and radio broadcasts (2007)
Internet country code:
.sh; note - Ascension Island assigned .ac
Internet hosts:
6,873 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 136
Internet users:
900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 214
Communications - note:
South Africa maintains a meteorological station on Gough Island
Transportation ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 225
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 198 km (Saint Helena 138 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da
Cunha 20 km)
country comparison to the world: 208
paved: 168 km (Saint Helena 118 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da
Cunha 10 km)
unpaved: 30 km (Saint Helena 20 km, Ascension 0 km, Tristan da Cunha
10 km) (2002)
Ports and terminals:
Saint Helena: Jamestown
Ascension Island: Georgetown
Tristan da Cunha: Calshot Harbor (Edinburgh)
Transportation - note:
there is no air connection to Saint Helena or Tristan da Cunha; an
international airport for Saint Helena is in development for 2010
Military ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,575
females age 16-49: 1,591 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 48
female: 47 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 3, 2011
======================================================================
@Saint Kitts and Nevis (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Saint Kitts and Nevis
Background:
Carib Indians occupied the islands for hundreds of years before the
British began settlement in 1623. The islands became an associated
state of the UK with full internal autonomy in 1967. The island of
Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. Saint Kitts and
Nevis achieved independence in 1983. In 1998, a vote in Nevis on a
referendum to separate from Saint Kitts fell short of the two-thirds
majority needed. Nevis continues in its efforts to separate from
Saint Kitts.
Geography ::Saint Kitts and Nevis
Location:
Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way
from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:
17 20 N, 62 45 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km)
country comparison to the world: 211
land: 261 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
135 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal
temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain:
volcanic with mountainous interiors
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m
Natural resources:
arable land
Land use:
arable land: 19.44%
permanent crops: 2.78%
other: 77.78% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
0.02 cu km (2000)
Natural hazards:
hurricanes (July to October)
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
with coastlines in the shape of a baseball bat and ball, the two
volcanic islands are separated by a 3-km-wide channel called The
Narrows; on the southern tip of long, baseball bat-shaped Saint
Kitts lies the Great Salt Pond; Nevis Peak sits in the center of its
almost circular namesake island and its ball shape complements that
of its sister island
People ::Saint Kitts and Nevis
Population:
49,898 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.3% (male 5,397/female 5,138)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 13,231/female 13,196)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 1,326/female 1,843) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.5 years
male: 31.5 years
female: 31.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.838% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Birth rate:
14.23 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Death rate:
7.11 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Net migration rate:
1.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Urbanization:
urban population: 32% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.9 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 153
male: 6.45 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.37 years
country comparison to the world: 96
male: 72.03 years
female: 76.75 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.79 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s)
adjective: Kittitian, Nevisian
Ethnic groups:
predominantly black; some British, Portuguese, and Lebanese
Religions:
Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
Languages:
English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97.8%
male: NA
female: NA (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
9.9% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 6
Government ::Saint Kitts and Nevis
Country name:
conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
conventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevis
former: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
Government type:
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Basseterre
geographic coordinates: 17 18 N, 62 43 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
14 parishes; Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point,
Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland, Saint James
Windward, Saint John Capesterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint Mary
Cayon, Saint Paul Capesterre, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint Peter
Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island,
Trinity Palmetto Point
Independence:
19 September 1983 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
Constitution:
19 September 1983
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General Cuthbert Montraville SEBASTIAN
(since 1 January 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July
1995); Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultation
with the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition
usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy
prime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (14 seats, 3 appointed and 11 popularly
elected from single-member constituencies; members serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held on 25 January 2010 (next to be held by 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
SKNLP 6, CCM 2, PAM 2, NRP 1
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (consisting of a Court of Appeal and
a High Court; based on Saint Lucia; two judges of the Supreme Court
reside in Saint Kitts and Nevis); member of the Caribbean Court of
Justice (CCJ)
Political parties and leaders:
Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Vance AMORY]; Nevis Reformation
Party or NRP [Joseph PARRY]; People's Action Movement or PAM
[Lindsay GRANT]; Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP [Dr.
Denzil DOUGLAS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS,
OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, PetroCaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WHO, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Izben Cordinal WILLIAMS
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636
FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the US
Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Kitts and Nevis
Flag description:
divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black band
bearing two white, five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in
yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red;
green signifies the island's fertility, red symbolizes the struggles
of the people from slavery, yellow denotes year-round sunshine, and
black represents the African heritage of the people; the white stars
stand for the islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis, but can also express
hope and liberty, or independence and optimism
National anthem:
name: "Oh Land of Beauty!"
lyrics/music: Kenrick Anderson GEORGES
note: adopted 1983
Economy ::Saint Kitts and Nevis
Economy - overview:
The economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis is heavily dependent upon
tourism revenues, which has replaced sugar, the traditional mainstay
of the economy until the 1970s. Following the 2005 harvest, the
government closed the sugar industry after decades of losses of 3-4%
of GDP annually. To compensate for employment losses, the government
has embarked on a program to diversify the agricultural sector and
to stimulate other sectors of the economy, such as tourism,
export-oriented manufacturing, and offshore banking. More than
200,000 tourists visited the islands in 2009. Like other tourist
destinations in the Caribbean, St. Kitts and Nevis is vulnerable to
damage from natural disasters and shifts in tourism demand. The
current government is constrained by one of the world's highest
public debt burdens equivalent to roughly 185% of GDP, largely
attributable to public enterprise losses.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$719.5 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
$730.5 million (2009 est.)
$772.7 million (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$562 million (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
-5.5% (2009 est.)
4.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$14,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$14,800 (2009 est.)
$15,700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 25.8%
services: 70.7% (2001)
Labor force:
18,170 (June 1995)
country comparison to the world: 209
Unemployment rate:
4.5% (1997)
country comparison to the world: 42
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Public debt:
185% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 65
6.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.75% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
8.75% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$94.45 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 181
$93.23 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$823.8 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 167
$787.8 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$790.8 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
$782.4 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$648 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 102
$595.2 million (31 December 2008)
$439.7 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish
Industries:
tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
130 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Electricity - consumption:
120.9 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)