ected members of the Legislative Council

Legislative branch:
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

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court; Small Debts Court; Juvenile Court

Political parties and leaders:
none

Political pressure groups and leaders:
none

International organization participation:
ICFTU, 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 shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship

Economy Saint Helena

Economy - overview:
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.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $18 million (1998 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
NA

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,500 (1998 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: NA

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.)

Labor force:
3,500
note: 1,200 work offshore (1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture and fishing 6%, industry (mainly construction) 48%,
services 46% (1987 est.)

Unemployment rate:
14% (1998 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $11.2 million
expenditures: $11 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(FY92/93)

Agriculture - products:
corn, potatoes, vegetables; timber; fish, crawfish (on Tristan da
Cunha)

Industries:
construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing

Industrial production growth rate:
NA

Electricity