Home > Factbook > Countries > Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Country name | conventional long form: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha conventional short form: none etymology: Saint Helena was discovered in 1502 by Galician navigator Joao da NOVA, sailing in the service of the Kingdom of Portugal, who named it "Santa Helena"; Ascension was named in 1503 by Portuguese navigator Afonso de ALBUQUERQUE who sighted the island on the Feast Day of the Ascension; Tristan da Cunha was discovered in 1506 by Portuguese explorer Tristao da CUNHA who christened the main island after himself (the name was subsequently anglicized) |
Dependency status | overseas territory of the UK |
Government type | parliamentary democracy |
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 (r. 1785-1788) |
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, third Monday in April (1926) |
Constitution | history: several previous; latest effective 1 September 2009 (St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order, 2009) |
Legal system | English common law and local statutes |
Citizenship | see United Kingdom |
Suffrage | 18 years of age |
Executive branch | chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Governor Philip RUSHBROOK (since 11 May 2019) cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, 3 ex-officio officers, and 5 elected members of the Legislative Council elections/appointments: 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 | description: unicameral Legislative Council (17 seats including the speaker and deputy speaker; 12 members directly elected in a single countrywide constituency by simple majority vote and 3 ex-officio members - the chief secretary, financial secretary, and attorney general; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 26 July 2017 (next to be held in 2021) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - independent 12; composition - men 14, women 3, percent women 17.6% note: the Constitution Order provides for separate Island Councils for both Ascension and Tristan da Cunha |
Judicial branch | highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 2 justices); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice - a nonresident - and NA judges); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) 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 Queen ELIZABETH II; 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 and leaders | none |
International organization participation | UPU |
Diplomatic representation in the US | none (overseas territory of the UK) |
Diplomatic representation from the US | embassy: 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 symbol(s) | Saint Helena plover (bird) |
National anthem | note: as a territory of the UK, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom) |
Source: CIA World Factbook
This page was last updated on Friday, November 27, 2020