Saint Helena Country Report

St. Helena, located roughly halfway between the continents of South America and Africa, is the principal island in the United Kingdom’s South Atlantic overseas territory of St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. Though they are treated as a collective entity, the islands are not geographically related and, indeed, are located at extreme distances from one another. Currently, the vast majority of travel to the island is done via passenger ship from Cape Town, South Africa, or from Ascension. The St. Helena Airport opened in October 2017 to commercial flights following a year-long delay due to concerns over wind shear. St. Helena relies heavily on British aid and subsidies to bolster its economy, which otherwise is dependent upon agriculture and a small but growing tourism sector.

The island has virtually no crime to speak of, and the primary risks to travelers occur as a function of the island’s sheer isolation, namely in terms of risks associated with the limited health infrastructure on the island.

Crime in St. Helena is extremely low, and nothing other than ordinary security precautions are necessary. Protests are rare in St. Helena, though still possible. The terror threat to the UK is significant, but the threat to St. Helena specifically is negligible.

The Saint Helena Airport opened to commercial flights in October 2017 following a delay of more than one year due to concerns over wind shear.

Because of its small size, St. Helena’s limited road network is sufficient, though roads are often narrow.

Basic services such as water, electricity and fuel availability are reliable, but the availability of other items often depends upon supply ships.

St. Helena is an unlikely target for cybercrime, and lower-than-average connectivity underscores its relatively low risk. Island-led defenses are likely quite inadequate, but UK-led defenses will be relatively strong.

The climate varies greatly between the islands due to the large distances between them. The main island of Saint Helena’s climate is generally subtropical with typically mild and dry conditions year round. The little rainfall that does occur is most likely March-August. Ascension lies much further to the north and is therefore generally warmer, again with little rainfall. Tristan Da Cunha to the south is much colder and a lot wetter. Earthquakes are a rare occurrence and storm systems do not typically affect the islands. Due to their small population, there are few concerns over man-made hazards on the islands.

There are no extraordinary disease concerns on the island. Standard medical care is available, but emergencies may require medical evacuation. Most major medications can be found on the island.

St. Helena is an extremely stable and longtime territory of the United Kingdom. Rule of law in St. Helena is strong, with no notable concerns, corruption is low, and sanctions are not a concern.