Introduction
Background
Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th century, the islands' sugar-based economy gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century - all grown with African plantation slave labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century. While independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. The country held its first free elections in 1991, but frequent internal wrangling between the various political parties precipitated repeated changes in leadership and two failed coup attempts in 1995 and 2003. In 2012, three opposition parties combined in a no confidence vote to bring down the majority government of former Prime Minister Patrice TROVOADA. The new government of Prime Minister Gabriel Arcanjo Ferreira DA COSTA is entirely composed of opposition party members with limited experience in governance. New oil discoveries in the Gulf of Guinea may attract increased attention to the small island nation.
Geography
Location
Central Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, just north of the Equator, west of Gabon
Geographic coordinates
1 00 N, 7 00 E
Area (sq km)
total: 964 sq km
land: 964 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative (sq km)
more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries (km)
0 km
Coastline (km)
209 km
Maritime claims
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Terrain
volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes (m)
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m
Natural resources
fish, hydropower
Land use (%)
arable land: 9.06%
permanent crops: 40.62%
other: 50.31% (2011)
Irrigated land (sq km)
97 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards
NA
Environment - current issues
deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
the smallest country in Africa; the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes and both are mountainous
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Sao Tomean(s)
adjective: Sao Tomean
Ethnic groups (%)
mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), forros (descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cabo Verde), tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese), Asians (mostly Chinese)
Languages (%)
Portuguese 98.4% (official), Forro 36.2%, Cabo Verdian 8.5%, French 6.8%, Angolar 6.6%, English 4.9%, Lunguie 1%, other (including sign language) 2.4%
note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census (2012 est.)
Religions (%)
Catholic 55.7%, Adventist 4.1%, Assembly of God 3.4%, New Apostolic 2.9%, Mana 2.3%, Universal Kingdom of God 2%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, other 6.2%, none 21.2%, unspecified 1% (2012 est.)
Population
190,428 (July 2014 est.) evolution and prospects (1950-2100)
Age structure (%)
0-14 years: 43.5% (male 42,170/female 40,750)
15-24 years: 19.8% (male 19,085/female 18,573)
25-54 years: 30.3% (male 28,232/female 29,410)
55-64 years: 3.5% (male 3,010/female 3,612)
65 years and over: 3% (male 2,523/female 3,063) (2014 est.)
Median age (years)
total: 17.8 years
male: 17.3 years
female: 18.2 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate (%)
1.89% (2014 est.)
Birth rate (births/1,000 population)
35.12 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Death rate (deaths/1,000 population)
7.45 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Net migration rate (migrant(s)/1,000 population)
-8.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Urbanization (%)
urban population: 62.7% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 3.01% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population
SAO TOME (capital) 64,000 (2011)
Sex ratio (male(s)/female)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Maternal mortality rate (deaths/100,000 live births)
70 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
Infant mortality rate (deaths/1,000 live births)
total: 49.16 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 51.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 47.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth (years)
total population: 64.22 years
male: 62.94 years
female: 65.53 years (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate (children born/woman)
4.67 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Health expenditures (% of GDP)
7.7% of GDP (2011)
Physicians density (physicians/1,000 population)
0.49 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
Hospital bed density (beds/1,000 population)
2.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Drinking water source (% of population)
improved: urban: 98.9% of population
rural: 93.6% of population
total: 97% of population
unimproved: urban: 1.1% of population
rural: 6.4% of population
total: 3% of population (2012 est.)
Sanitation facility access (% of population)
improved: urban: 40.8% of population
rural: 23.3% of population
total: 34.4% of population
unimproved: urban: 59.2% of population
rural: 76.7% of population
total: 65.6% of population (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%)
1% (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
1,400 (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
100 (2012 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2013)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate (%)
9.5% (2008)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight (%)
14.4% (2009)
Education expenditures (% of GDP)
9.5% of GDP (2010)
Literacy (%)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 69.5%
male: 80.3%
female: 60.1% (2008 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) (years)
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2012)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe
local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe
local short form: Sao Tome e Principe
Government type
republic
Capital
name: Sao Tome
geographic coordinates: 0 20 N, 6 44 E
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome
Independence
12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday
Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Constitution
approved 5 November 1975; revised several times, last in 2003 (2012)
Legal system
mixed legal system of civil law base on the Portuguese model and customary law
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Manuel Pinto DA COSTA (since 3 September 2011)
head of government: Prime Minister Gabriel Arcanjo Ferreira DA COSTA (since 12 December 2012)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 July and 7 August 2011 (next to be held in 2016); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president
election results: Manuel Pinto DA COSTA elected president in a run-off election; percent of vote - Manuel Pinto DA COSTA 52.9%, Evaristo CARVALHO 47.1%
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 1 August 2010 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ADI 26, MLSTP-PSD 21, PCD 7, MDFM 1
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 5 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 5 judges, 3 of which are from the Supreme Court)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the National Assembly; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president of the republic and elected by the National Assembly for 5-year terms
subordinate courts: Court of First Instance; Audit Court
Political parties and leaders
Force for Change Democratic Movement or MDFM [Fradigue Bandeira Melo DE MENEZES]
Independent Democratic Action or ADI [Patrice TROVOADA]
Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD [Aurelio MARTINS]
Party for Democratic Convergence-Reflection Group or PCD-GR [Leonel Mario D'ALVA]
other small parties
Political pressure groups and leaders
Association of Sao Tome and Principe NGOs or FONG
other: the media
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CD, CPLP, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos Filomeno Azevedo AGOSTINHO das Neves (since 3 December 2013)
chancery: 1211 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 775-2075, 2076
FAX: [1] (202) 775-2077
Diplomatic representation from the US
the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the Ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the islands
Flag description
three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width), and green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; green stands for the country's rich vegetation, red recalls the struggle for independence, and yellow represents cocoa, one of the country's main agricultural products; the two stars symbolize the two main islands
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
National anthem
name: "Independencia total" (Total Independence)
lyrics/music: Alda Neves DA GRACA do Espirito Santo/Manuel dos Santos Barreto de Sousa e ALMEIDA
note: adopted 1975
Economy
Economy - overview
This small, poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence in 1975. Cocoa production has substantially declined in recent years because of drought and mismanagement. Sao Tome and Principe has to import fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a substantial amount of food, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in global commodity prices. Over the years, it has had difficulty servicing its external debt and has relied heavily on concessional aid and debt rescheduling. Sao Tome and Principe benefited from $200 million in debt relief in December 2000 under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program, which helped bring down the country's $300 million debt burden. In August 2005, the government signed on to a new 3-year IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) program worth $4.3 million. In April 2011 the country completed a Threshold Country Program with The Millennium Challenge Corporation to help increase tax revenues, reform customs, and improve the business environment. Considerable potential exists for development of a tourist industry, and the government has taken steps to expand facilities in recent years. The government also has attempted to reduce price controls and subsidies. Potential exists for the development of petroleum resources in Sao Tome and Principe's territorial waters in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea, which are being jointly developed in a 60-40 split with Nigeria, but any actual production is at least several years off. The first production licenses were sold in 2004, though a dispute over licensing with Nigeria delayed the country's receipt of more than $20 million in signing bonuses for almost a year. Maintaining control of inflation, fiscal discipline, and increasing flows of foreign direct investment into the oil sector are the major economic problems facing the country.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$421 million (2013 est.)
$402.4 million (2012 est.)
$387.8 million (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$311 million (2013 est.)
GDP - real growth rate (%)
4.5% (2013 est.)
4% (2012 est.)
4.9% (2011 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$2,200 (2013 est.)
$2,200 (2012 est.)
$2,300 (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (%)
agriculture: 13.7%
industry: 19.5%
services: 66.8% (2013 est.)
Labor force
52,490 (2007)
Labor force - by occupation (%)
note: population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing; shortages of skilled workers
Unemployment rate (%)
NA%
Population below poverty line (%)
66.2% (2009 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share (%)
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget
revenues: $83.94 million
expenditures: $120.3 million (2013 est.)
Taxes and other revenues (% of GDP)
27% of GDP (2013 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) (% of GDP)
-11.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
Public debt (% of GDP)
65.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
75.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) (%)
8.7% (2013 est.)
10.6% (2012 est.)
Central bank discount rate (%)
16% (31 December 2009)
28% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate (%)
26% (31 December 2013 est.)
26% (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of narrow money
$47.43 million (31 December 2013 est.)
$38.63 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of broad money
$109.9 million (31 December 2013 est.)
$99.74 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of domestic credit
$97.37 million (31 December 2013 est.)
$94.99 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
$NA
Agriculture - products
cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish
Industries
light construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish processing, timber
Industrial production growth rate (%)
4% (2013 est.)
Current account balance
-$59 million (2013 est.)
-$58.7 million (2012 est.)
Exports
$12.1 million (2013 est.)
$12.2 million (2012 est.)
Exports - commodities (%)
cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil
Exports - partners (%)
Netherlands 33.3%, Belgium 21.8%, Spain 11%, Nigeria 5.6%, US 5.1% (2012)
Imports
$112.8 million (2013 est.)
$115.1 million (2012 est.)
Imports - commodities (%)
machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products
Imports - partners (%)
Portugal 63.1%, Gabon 5.4% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$46.6 million (31 December 2013 est.)
$51.59 million (31 December 2012 est.)
External debt ($)
$406.8 million (31 December 2013 est.)
$313.3 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency converter
dobras (STD) per US dollar -
18,702 (2013 est.)
19,068 (2012 est.)
18,499 (2010 est.)
16,209 (2009)
14,900 (2008)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Energy
Electricity - production (kWh)
30 million kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - consumption (kWh)
27.9 million kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - exports (kWh)
0 kWh (2012)
Electricity - imports (kWh)
0 kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity (kW)
14,000 kW (2010 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels (% of total installed capacity)
57.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels (% of total installed capacity)
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants (% of total installed capacity)
42.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources (% of total installed capacity)
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Crude oil - production (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Crude oil - exports (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - imports (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves (bbl)
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption (bbl/day)
904 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports (bbl/day)
889 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Natural gas - production (cu m)
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - consumption (cu m)
0 cu m (2010 est.)
Natural gas - exports (cu m)
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - imports (cu m)
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves (cu m)
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy (Mt)
151,600 Mt (2011 est.)
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use
8,000 (2012)
Telephones - mobile cellular
122,000 (2012)
Telephone system
general assessment: local telephone network of adequate quality with most lines connected to digital switches
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 65 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 239; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2010)
Broadcast media
1 government-owned TV station; 1 government-owned radio station; 3 independent local radio stations authorized in 2005 with 2 operating at the end of 2006; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code
.st
Internet hosts
1,678 (2012)
Internet users
26,700 (2009)
Transportation
Airports
2 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
Roadways (km)
total: 320 km
paved: 218 km
unpaved: 102 km (2000)
Merchant marine
total: 3
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 2
foreign-owned: 2 (China 1, Greece 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Sao Tome
Military
Military branches
Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (Forcas Armadas de Sao Tome e Principe, FASTP): Army, Coast Guard of Sao Tome e Principe (Guarda Costeira de Sao Tome e Principe, GCSTP); also called "Navy"), Presidential Guard (2013)
Military service age and obligation (years of age)
18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service; 17 is the legal minimum age for voluntary service (2012)
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49: 39,182
females age 16-49: 39,845 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 27,310
females age 16-49: 29,279 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 2,076
female: 2,003 (2010 est.)
Military - note
Sao Tome and Principe's army is a tiny force with almost no resources at its disposal and would be wholly ineffective operating unilaterally; infantry equipment is considered simple to operate and maintain but may require refurbishment or replacement after 25 years in tropical climates; poor pay, working conditions, and alleged nepotism in the promotion of officers have been problems in the past, as reflected in the 1995 and 2003 coups; these issues are being addressed with foreign assistance aimed at improving the army and its focus on realistic security concerns; command is exercised from the president, through the Minister of Defense, to the Chief of the Armed Forces (infantry, technical issues) and the Chief of the General Staff (logistics, administration, finances) (2012)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none
Largest cities of Sao Tome and Principe
These are the 50 largest cities of Sao Tome and Principe ordered based on their number of inhabitants.
| # | City | Population |
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