Sao Tome and Principe

<p>Portugal discovered and colonized the uninhabited Sao Tome and Principe islands in the late 15th century, setting up a sugar-based economy that gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century -- all grown with African 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. <br><br>The country held its first free elections in 1991, but frequent internal wrangling among the various political parties precipitated repeated changes in leadership and 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 legislative elections returned him to the office two years later. President Evaristo CARVALHO, of the same political party as TROVOADA, was elected in 2016, marking a rare instance in which the same party held the positions of president and prime minister. TROVOADA resigned in 2018 and was replaced by Jorge BOM JESUS. Carlos Vila NOVA was elected president in 2021. TROVOADA began his fourth stint as prime minister in 2022, after his party's victory in legislative elections. </p>

Land

964 sq km

Total

964 sq km

Water

0 sq km

more than five times the size of Washington, D.C.

tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)

209 km

Africa

Highest point

Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m

Lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

1 00 N, 7 00 E

the second-smallest African country (after the Seychelles); the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes, and both are mountainous

100 sq km (2012)

Total

0 km

Agricultural land

44.8% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 4.2% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 39.6% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 1% (2023 est.)

arable land

4.17%

Forest

57.5% (2023 est.)

Other

0% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

39.58%

No

Central Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, just north of the Equator, west of Gabon

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/9EUppm13RtPX9oF46

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/535880

Africa

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Note

<strong>note: </strong>measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

Territorial sea

12 nm

flooding

fish, hydropower

Sao Tome, the capital city, has roughly a quarter of the nation's population; Santo Antonio is the largest town on Principe; the northern areas of both islands have the highest population densities, as shown in this population distribution map

Middle Africa

volcanic, mountainous

UTC

number of time zones

1

0-14 years

36.4% (male 41,337/female 40,106)

15-64 years

60.3% (male 67,101/female 67,775)

65 years and over

3.2% (2024 est.) (male 3,115/female 4,127)

Beer

0.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

4.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

3.58 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

25.87 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Men married by age 18

3.1% (2019)

Women married by age 15

5.4% (2019)

Women married by age 18

28% (2019)

5.4% (2019 est.)

53.1% (2019 est.)

5.84 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

146 per 1,000

adult male

275 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

5.4 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio

18.6 (2024 est.)

Total dependency ratio

65.8 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

60.4 (2024 est.)

improved total

36.68%

Improved: rural

rural: 71.1% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 77.3% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 79.3% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 28.9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 22.7% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 20.7% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

18.1% national budget (2024 est.)

5 % of GDP

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)

1.57 (2025 est.)

6 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

7.8% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

14.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

2.9 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)

Female

39 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

46.1 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

7 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

41.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

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%; other Portuguese-based Creoles are also spoken (2012 est.)

languages

Portuguese

note

<strong>note:</strong> shares of language sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census

number of languages

1

Female

69.4 years

Male

66 years

Total population

67.7 years (2024 est.)

Female

82.8% (2019 est.)

Male

92.5% (2019 est.)

Total population

87.4% (2019 est.)

80,000 SAO TOME (capital) (2018)

75 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

21.2 years

Male

20.4 years

Total

21.2 years (2025 est.)

19.4 years (2008/09 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29

Adjective

Sao Tomean

Noun

Sao Tomean(s)

-6.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

12.4% (2016)

0.46 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Female

112,008

Male

111,553

Total

223,561 (2024 est.)

1.39% (2025 est.)

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.)

improved total

34.69%

Improved: rural

rural: 43.2% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 53.5% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 56.8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 56.8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 46.5% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 43.2% of population (2022 est.)

Female

13 years (2021 est.)

Male

13 years (2021 est.)

Total

13 years (2021 est.)

0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.75 male(s)/female

At birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Total population

1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

1.7% (2025 est.)

Male

13.1% (2025 est.)

Total

7.3% (2025 est.)

3.18 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

2.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

76.4% of total population (2023)

measles

87%

6 districts (<em>distritos</em>, singular - <em>distrito</em>), 1 autonomous region* (<em>regiao autonoma</em>); Agua Grande, Cantagalo, Caue, Lemba, Lobata, Me-Zochi, Principe*

Etymology

named after Saint THOMAS the Apostle by the Portuguese, who discovered the island on 21 December 1470 (or 1471), the saint's feast day

Geographic coordinates

0 20 N, 6 44 E

Name

Sao Tome

Time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/st.svg

Amendment process

proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; the Assembly can propose to the president of the republic that an amendment be submitted to a referendum

History

approved 5 November 1975

alternative spellings

ST, Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, Sao Tome and Principe, República Democrática de São Tomé e Príncipe

Conventional long form

Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe

Conventional short form

Sao Tome and Principe

Etymology

Sao Tome was named after Saint THOMAS the Apostle by the Portuguese who discovered the island on 21 December 1470 (or 1471), the saint's feast day; Principe is a shortening of the original Portuguese name of "Ilha do Principe" (Isle of the Prince), referring to Prince ALPHONSO of Portugal

FIFA code

STP

Local long form

Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe

local long form (por)

República Democrática do São Tomé e Príncipe

Local short form

Sao Tome e Principe

Embassy

the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the US Ambassador to Angola is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe

Mailing address

2290 Sao Tome Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-2290

Chancery

122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604<br>New York, NY 101168

Chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant)

Email address and website

<br>stp1@attglobal.net<br><br>Sao Tome and Principe Permanent Mission to the United Nations

FAX

[1] (212) 317-0580

Telephone

[1] (212) 317-0533

Cabinet

Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president

Chief of state

President Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA (since 2 October 2021)

Election results

<br><em>2021: </em>Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA elected president in the second round; percent of vote in the first round - Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA (IDA) 39.5%; Guilherme POSSER DA COSTA (MLSTP-PSD) 20.8%; Delfim NEVES (PCD-GR) 16.9%; Abel BOM JESUS (independent) 3.6%; Maria DAS NEVES (independent) 3.3%; other 15.9%; percent of the vote in second round - Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA 57.5%, Guilherme POSSER DA COSTA 42.5%<em><br><br><em>2016: </em></em>Evaristo CARVALHO elected president; percent of vote - Evaristo CARVALHO (ADI) 49.8%, Manuel Pinto DA COSTA (independent) 24.8%, Maria DAS NEVES (MLSTP-PSD) 24.1%

Election/appointment process

president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president

Expected date of next election

2026

Head of government

Prime Minister Am&eacute;rico d'Oliveira DOS RAMOS (since 12 January 2025)

Most recent election date

18 July 2021, with a runoff on 5 September 2021

<strong>description:</strong> three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double-width), and green with two five-pointed black stars in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the left side<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> green stands for the country's rich vegetation, red for the struggle for independence, and yellow for cocoa, one of the country's main agricultural products; the two stars symbolize the main islands<br><br><strong>history:</strong> uses the colors of the Pan-African movement

The flag of São Tomé and Príncipe has three horizontal bands of green, yellow (double-width), and green, with two black five-pointed stars in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/st.svg

semi-presidential republic

12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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)

Highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal Justica (consists of 5 judges); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 5 judges, 3 of whom 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 and elected by the National Assembly for 5-year terms

Subordinate courts

Court of First Instance; Audit Court

mixed system of civil law based on the Portuguese model and customary law

Electoral system

proportional representation

Expected date of next election

September 2026

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional)

Most recent election date

9/25/2022

Number of seats

55 (all directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

Independent Democratic Alliance (ADI) (30); Sao Tome and Principe Liberation Movement/Social Democratic Party (MLSTP - PSD) (18); Movement of Independent Citizens - Socialist Party (MCI - PS) - National Unity Party (PUN) (5); Other (2)

Percentage of women in chamber

14.5%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

green, yellow, red, black

Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

palm tree

BASTA Movement <br>Independent Democratic Action or ADI <br>Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD <br>Movement of Independent Citizens of São Tomé and Príncipe - Socialist Party or MCI-PS <br>National Unity Party or PUN

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

plantains, oil palm fruit, taro, bananas, fruits, cocoa beans, yams, coconuts, cassava, vegetables (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Expenditures

$165.95 million (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$128.767 million (2022 est.)

code

STN

name

São Tomé and Príncipe dobra (STN) [Db]

$41.5 million

Current account balance 2020

-$59.595 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

-$95.248 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$79.437 million (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$326.41 million

Debt - external 2023

$327.248 million (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

lower middle-income Central African island economy; falling cocoa production due to drought and mismanagement; joint oil venture with Nigeria; government owns 90% of land; high debt, partly from fuel subsidies; tourism gutted by COVID-19

Currency

dobras (STD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

21.885 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

21.507 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

20.71 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

23.29 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

22.658 (2023 est.)

Exports 2020

$49.337 million (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$75.256 million (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$96.977 million (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

crude petroleum, cocoa beans, vehicle parts/accessories, palm oil, aircraft parts (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Pakistan 54%, Germany 11%, Netherlands 7%, France 5%, UAE 3% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$-16,681,873

Exports of goods and services

7.9% (2017 est.)

Government consumption

17.6% (2017 est.)

Household consumption

81.4% (2017 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-40.4% (2017 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

33.4% (2017 est.)

Investment in inventories

0% (2017 est.)

Agriculture

12.8% (2024 est.)

Industry

2.9% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

76.6% (2024 est.)

$764.274 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$3,491

56.3 (2017)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017

40.7 (2017 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$821.45 million

$2,850

Highest 10%

32.8% (2017 est.)

Lowest 10%

2.6% (2017 est.)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports 2020

$160.097 million (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$201.145 million (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$219.322 million (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

ships, refined petroleum, rice, electric generating sets, cars (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Portugal 35%, Angola 13%, Gabon 11%, Japan 8%, China 6% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

3.2% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

light construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish processing, timber

14.35%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

18% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

21.3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

14.4% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

34,500 (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

35,075 persons

agriculture

12.06%

industry

22.52%

services

65.42%

55.5% (2017 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt 2016

93.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

$1.47 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$1.275 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$1.279 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$1.291 billion (2024 est.)

1.1%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

0.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

0.4% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

0.9% (2024 est.)

$6,242

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$5,600 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$5,500 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$5,500 (2024 est.)

$80.14 million

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

1.9% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

$46.25 million

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$75.017 million (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$64.476 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$46.247 million (2023 est.)

9.13%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

9% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

9.1% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

9.2% (2024 est.)

Female

9.2% (2024 est.)

Male

8% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

8.6% (2024 est.)

Consumption

47.05 million kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

29,000 kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

40.95 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - rural areas

73.7%

Electrification - total population

78% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas

80%

Fossil fuels

93.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

5.85%

Hydroelectricity

6.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

6.06%

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

8.875 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

1,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

42.5%

per 100 inhabitants

3 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2023 est.)

Total

6,000 (2023 est.)

1 state-owned TV station; 2 state-owned radio stations; 7 independent local radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available

.st

Percent of population

62% (2023 est.)

+239

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions

2,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100

63 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

87 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions

152,000 (2023 est.)

passengers carried

38,767 passengers

registered carrier departures

1,199 departures

2 (2025)

S9

Right

By type

general cargo 15, oil tanker 4, other 6

Total

25 (2023)

Key ports

Santo Antonio, Sao Tome

Large

0

Medium

0

Ports with oil terminals

0

Small

0

Total ports

2 (2024)

Very small

2

STP

the FASTP is one of the smallest militaries in Africa and consists of only a few companies of ground troops and some small patrol boats (2024)

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), Presidential Guard, National Guard (2025)

note

<strong>note:</strong> the Army and Coast Guard are responsible for external security while the public security police and judicial police maintain internal security; both the public security police and the military report to the Ministry of Defense and Internal Affairs; the judicial police report to the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration, and Human Rights

approximately 500 active Armed Forces (2023)

the FASTP is lightly armed and has a small inventory of mostly older weapons and equipment (2023)

limited information; 18 is the minimum age for compulsory military service (reportedly not enforced) and 17 years of age (with parental permission) for voluntary service (2024)

From petroleum and other liquids

146,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

146,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

deforestation and illegal logging; soil erosion and exhaustion; inadequate sewage treatment in cities; biodiversity&nbsp;

Party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified

Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban

29 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

0 % of total land area

0 % of total

2.18 billion cubic meters (2022)

2 % of internal resources

Agricultural

25.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

600,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

14.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

25,600 tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

16.9% (2022 est.)