Saint Helena

This article is about the tropical island in the South Atlantic. For the British Overseas Territory encompassing it, see Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. For its namesake, see Helena, mother of Constantine I. For other uses, see Saint Helena (disambiguation).

Saint Helena
Constituent part of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Flag Coat of arms
Motto:  "Loyal and Unshakeable"
Anthem: "God Save the King"
Unofficial anthem: "My Saint Helena Island"
Map of Saint Helena
Location of Saint Helena in the southern Atlantic Ocean (United Kingdom in orange)
Sovereignty	United Kingdom
Overseas territory	Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Colonial charter	1656 (1656)
Crown colony	22 April 1834 (22 April 1834)
Current constitution	1 September 2009 (1 September 2009)
Capital	Jamestown 15°56′S 05°43′W
Largest city	Half Tree Hollow 15°56′0″S 5°43′12″W
Official languages	English
Demonym(s)	Saint Helenian Helenian Saint (informally)
Government	Self-governing dependency under a constitutional monarchy
• Monarch	Charles III
• Governor	Nigel Phillips
• Chief Minister	Rebecca Cairns-Wicks
Legislature	Legislative Council
Government of the United Kingdom
• Minister	Stewart Wood
Area
• Total	121.8 km2 (47.0 sq mi)
Highest elevation	820 m (2,690 ft)
Population
• 2021 census	4,439
• Density	36.5/km2 (94.5/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	2023 estimate
• Total	£39.4 million (US$49.48 million)
• Per capita	£9,210 (US$11,570)
Currency	Pound sterling Saint Helena pound (£) (SHP)
Time zone	UTC±00:00 (GMT)
Driving side	Left
Calling code	+290
ISO 3166 code	SH-HL
Internet TLD	.sh

Saint Helena (/ˌsɛnt (h)ɪˈliːnə, ˌsɪnt-, sənt-/, US: /ˌseɪnt-/; US: /ˌseɪnt ˈhɛlənə/ ) is a volcanic tropical island located in the South Atlantic Ocean, west of Africa. The nearest countries geographically are Angola and Namibia. The island is about 1,860 km (1,160 mi) west of Angola, 3,280 km (2,040 mi) east of Brazil and South America, and 4,000 km (2,500 mi) east of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is one of the three constituent parts of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, a British overseas territory.

Saint Helena measures about 16 by 8 km (10 by 5 mi) with a population of 4,439 in the 2021 census. It was named after Saint Helena (c. AD 246/248–330), the mother of the Roman emperor Constantine I. It is one of the most remote major islands in the world and was uninhabited until the 16th century, when discovered by the Portuguese explorers en route around the continent of Africa in 1502. For about the next four centuries, the island was an important stopover for ships between Europe and Asia sailing around the African continent, before the opening of the shortcut Suez Canal in 1869.

The primary method of reaching Saint Helena is by its airport. It is also served by cargo ships.

Saint Helena is known for being the site of the second period of exile of Napoleon Bonaparte, from his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 until his death six years later.