# Library

ABOUT REFERENCES APPENDICES FAQs CONTACT

Africa :: Sao Tome and Principe

- ## Introduction :: SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

- 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 four failed, non-violent coup attempts in 1995, 1998, 2003, and 2009. In 2012, three opposition parties combined in a no confidence vote to bring down the majority government of former Prime Minister Patrice TROVOADA, but in 2014, legislative elections returned him to the office. New oil discoveries in the Gulf of Guinea may attract increased attention to the small island nation.

- ## Geography :: SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

- 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
  Map references:
  Africa
  Area:
  total: 964 sq km
  land: 964 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 185
  Area - comparative:
  more than five times the size of Washington, DC
  Land boundaries:
  0 km
  Coastline:
  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:
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m
  Natural resources:
  fish, hydropower
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 50.7%
  arable land 9.1%; permanent crops 40.6%; permanent pasture 1%
  forest: 28.1%
  other: 21.2% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  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 :: SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

- 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:
  194,006 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 43.04% (male 42,460/female 41,036)
  15-24 years: 20.03% (male 19,692/female 19,159)
  25-54 years: 30.47% (male 28,985/female 30,125)
  55-64 years: 3.59% (male 3,173/female 3,787)
  65 years and over: 2.88% (male 2,508/female 3,081) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 84.2%
  youth dependency ratio: 78.5%
  elderly dependency ratio: 5.7%
  potential support ratio: 17.6% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 17.9 years
  male: 17.5 years
  female: 18.4 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  1.84% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  Birth rate:
  34.23 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 27
  Death rate:
  7.24 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  Net migration rate:
  -8.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 212
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 65.1% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 3.58% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  SAO TOME (capital) 71,000 (2014)
  Sex ratio:
  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: 0.84 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Maternal mortality rate:
  156 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 88
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 47.88 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 49.85 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 45.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 64.58 years
  male: 63.27 years
  female: 65.92 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 178
  Total fertility rate:
  4.54 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  38.4% (2008/09)
  Health expenditures:
  6.9% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Hospital bed density:
  2.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 98.9% of population
  rural: 93.6% of population
  total: 97.1% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 1.1% of population
  rural: 6.4% of population
  total: 2.9% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 40.8% of population
  rural: 23.3% of population
  total: 34.7% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 59.2% of population
  rural: 76.7% of population
  total: 65.3% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.78% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  1,000 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 119
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  100 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 129
  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:
  10.6% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 132
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  14.4% (2009)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Education expenditures:
  9.5% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 74.9%
  male: 81.8%
  female: 68.4% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 11 years
  male: 11 years
  female: 11 years (2012)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 3,235
  percentage: 8% (2006 est.)

- ## Government :: SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

- 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 2006 (2015)
  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
  Citizenship:
  citizenship by birth: no
  citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Sao Tome and Principe
  dual citizenship recognized: no
  residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
  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 Patrice Emery TROVOADA (since 29 November 2014)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president
  elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 July and 7 August 2011 (next to be held in July 2016); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president
  election results: Manuel Pinto DA COSTA elected president in runoff; percent of vote - Manuel Pinto DA COSTA (independent) 52.9%, Evaristo CARVALHO (ADI) 47.1%
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
  elections: last held on 12 October 2014 (next expected in October 2018)
  election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ADI 33, MLSTP-PSD 16, PCD-GR 5, other 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:
  Democratic Movement of Forces for Change 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 or PCD [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, CEMAC, 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), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, 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: 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1807, New York, NY 10017
  telephone: [1] (212) 651-8116
  FAX: [1] (212) 651-8117
  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 symbol(s):
  palm tree; national colors: green, yellow, red, black
  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 :: SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

- 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 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 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):
  $626 million (2014 est.)
  $599 million (2013 est.)
  $576 million (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 211
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $338 million (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  4.5% (2014 est.)
  4% (2013 est.)
  4.5% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $3,200 (2014 est.)
  $3,000 (2013 est.)
  $2,900 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 185
  Gross national saving:
  -2% of GDP (2014 est.)
  8.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
  14.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 176
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 80.3%
  government consumption: 13.2%
  investment in fixed capital: 45.7%
  investment in inventories: 0%
  exports of goods and services: 11.9%
  imports of goods and services: -51.2%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 18.8%
  industry: 16.1%
  services: 65.2% (2012 est.)
  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:
  4.2% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 69
  Labor force:
  65,000 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Labor force - by occupation:
  note: population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing; shortages of skilled workers
  Unemployment rate:
  13.5% (2014 est.)
  13.7% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Population below poverty line:
  66.2% (2009 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%
  Budget:
  revenues: $87.62 million
  expenditures: $106.2 million (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  25.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -5.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 180
  Public debt:
  69.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
  69.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  7% (2014 est.)
  8.1% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 195
  Central bank discount rate:
  16% (31 December 2009)
  28% (31 December 2008)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  16% (31 December 2014 est.)
  25.93% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 30
  Stock of narrow money:
  $54.91 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $59.57 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 189
  Stock of broad money:
  $133.1 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $120.8 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 192
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $80.91 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $92.9 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 180
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $NA
  Current account balance:
  -$94 million (2014 est.)
  -$71 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 80
  Exports:
  $17.4 million (2014 est.)
  $12.9 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 212
  Exports - commodities:
  cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil (2010 est.)
  Exports - partners:
  Netherlands 25.6%, Belgium 23.6%, Turkey 17.9%, Spain 8.6%, US 6.1%, Germany 5.3% (2014)
  Imports:
  $145.6 million (2014 est.)
  $128.6 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Imports - commodities:
  machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products
  Imports - partners:
  Portugal 65.4%, Gabon 6.1%, China 5.3% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $64.1 million (31 December 2015 est.)
  $63.52 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 168
  Debt - external:
  $234.1 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $214.4 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 188
  Exchange rates:
  dobras (STD) per US dollar -
  18,466 (2014 est.)
  18,466 (2013 est.)
  19,068 (2012 est.)
  17,623 (2011 est.)
  18,499 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

- Electricity - production:
  65 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 204
  Electricity - consumption:
  60.45 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 204
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 205
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 209
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  16,000 kW (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 205
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  75% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 99
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 192
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  25% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 85
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 134
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 199
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 198
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 199
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 137
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  900 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 203
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 137
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  905.6 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 199
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 137
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 201
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 193
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 200
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  137,800 Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 205

- ## Communications :: SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 6,800
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 205
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 128,500
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 67 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  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)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2001)
  Television broadcast stations:
  2 (2001)
  Internet country code:
  .st
  Internet users:
  total: 47,000
  percent of population: 24.7% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186

- ## Transportation :: SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

- Airports:
  2 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 206
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 2
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
  Roadways:
  total: 320 km
  paved: 218 km
  unpaved: 102 km (2000)
  country comparison to the world: 204
  Merchant marine:
  total: 3
  by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 2
  foreign-owned: 2 (China 1, Greece 1) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 138
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Sao Tome

- ## Military :: SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

- 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, National Guard (2015)
  Military service age and obligation:
  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 :: SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

- Disputes - international:
  none

GO TOP