Saint Helena Pound flag

Saint Helena Pound

Saint Helena Pound

Currency Code

SHP

ISO 654

Symbol

SHP

Native: £

Decimal Digits

2

Rounding: 0

Countries

SH

Using this currency

Currency Units

Major Unit

Name: pound

Symbol: £

Minor Unit

Name: penny

Symbol: p

Value: 0.01

Banknotes

Frequently Used

£5£10£20

Coins

Frequently Used

1p2p5p10p20p50p£1£2

Plural Forms

English Plural

Saint Helena pounds

Native Plural

Saint Helena Pounds

Overview

The Saint Helena Pound is the currency of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. It is pegged to the British pound at par and serves one of the world's most remote island territories with a small, aid-dependent economy.

Economy

  • Saint Helena is a member of Associated with UK, Commonwealth (through UK).
  • Main industries include: Construction, Crafts, Fishing, Philatelic sales.
  • Imports are food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts.
  • Major exports include fish, coffee, handicrafts.
  • GDP: $31.1 million (2009 est.).
  • GDP per capita: $7,800 (FY09/10 est.).
  • Unemployment rate: 14% (1998 est.).
  • Inflation rate: 4% (2012 est.).
  • Main trading partners: United Kingdom, South Africa, Namibia.
  • Trade agreements: Through UK agreements, EU agreements (special arrangements).

History

  • Previous currencies used: British pound, East India Company currency.
  • The Saint Helena pound was introduced in 1976, replacing the British pound. It has maintained parity with the British pound throughout its history.
  • 1976: Saint Helena pound introduced
  • 1984: Ascension included in currency union
  • 1998: Tristan da Cunha included
  • 2011: Airport construction begins
  • 2016: First commercial flights to Saint Helena
  • 2017: Regular air service established
  • Exchange rate peg: GBP (1976-present) at 1:1 parity.
  • Currently pegged to GBP at 1 SHP = 1 GBP.

General Information

  • ISO 4217 Code: SHP
  • Symbols: SHP/£
  • Currency Subunits: 100 pence
  • Central Bank: Government of Saint Helena (no central bank)
  • Monetary Policy: Currency board system maintaining GBP parity. Monetary policy follows Bank of England decisions.
  • Bills: 5 SHP, 10 SHP, 20 SHP
  • Coins: 1 penny, 2 pence, 5 pence, 10 pence, 20 pence, 50 pence, 1 pound, 2 pounds
  • USD Exchange Rate: Variable (follows GBP rate)
  • Pegged To: GBP at 1 SHP = 1 GBP
  • Capital: Jamestown
  • Population: 7,925 (2021 est.)
  • Area: 394 km²
  • Languages: English (official)
  • Time Zones: UTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time)
  • Government Type: Parliamentary democracy under constitutional monarchy (British Overseas Territory)
  • Head of Government: Governor (representing British Crown), Chief Minister
  • Independence: British Overseas Territory
  • Ethnic Groups: African descent 50%, White 25%, Chinese 25%
  • Religions: Protestant 75.9%, Roman Catholic 5.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 4%, Other Christian 1.8%, Other 1.1%, None 8.8%, Unspecified 3.2%
  • Literacy Rate: 97% (1987 est.)
  • Transport: Saint Helena Airport, limited road network, RMS St Helena ship service (discontinued), helicopter service to offshore areas
  • Communications: Satellite telecommunications, limited internet access, mobile coverage
  • Energy: Diesel generators 100%, developing wind and solar projects
  • Countries Using This Currency: Saint Helena
  • Data Sources: Central Bank: Government of Saint Helena (no central bank), Economic Data: Saint Helena Government, World Bank estimates, Trade Data: Saint Helena Customs, Demographic Data: Saint Helena Government Statistics, Geographic Data: Saint Helena Meteorological Office, Historical Data: Saint Helena Government archives
  • Last Updated: 2025