1982 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1982 (Wikisource)
Geography
Area
964 km2 (Sao Tome, 855 km2 and Principe, 109 km2; including small islets of Pedras Tinhosas) WATER
Coastline
estimated 209 km
Limits of territorial waters
12 nm (economic, including fishing, 200 nm)
People and Society
Ethnic divisions
native Sao Tomeans, migrant Cape Verdians, Portuguese
Labor force
most of population engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing; some unemployment, but labor shortages on plantations and for skilled work
Language
Portuguese official
Literacy
estimated at 5%-10%
Nationality
noun—Sao Tomean(s): adjective—Sao Tomean
Population
85,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 1.1%
Religion
Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh Day Adventist
Government
Branches
da Costa heads the government assisted by a cabinet of ministers; elected National Popular Assembly
Capital
Sao Tome
Communists
no Communist party, probably a few Communist sympathizers
Elections
da Costa reelected May 1980 by Popular Assembly; Assembly elections held March-April 1980 Political parties and leaders: Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe (MLSTP), Secretary General Manuel Pinto da Costa
Government leader
President Manuel Pinto DA COSTA Suffrage: universal for age 18 and over
Legal system
based on Portuguese law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Member of
AFDB, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICCO, IDA, IMF, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UPU, WHO, WMO
National holiday
Independence Day, 12 July
Official name
Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
Type
republic established when independence received from Portugal in July 1975; constitution adopted December 1975
Economy
Agriculture
cash crops—cocoa, copra, coconut, coffee, palm oil, bananas
Aid
economic commitments—Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF (1970-79), $579 million; US (FY77-80), $0.6 million
Budget
(1979 est.) revenues $15.7 million, current expenditures $10.4 million, capital expenditures $9.1 million
Electric power
3,000 kW capacity (1980); 10 million kWh produced (1980), 120 kWh per capita
Exports
$26.6 million (f.o.b., 1979); mainly cocoa (90%), copra (7%), coffee, palm oil
Fiscal year
calendar year
Fishing
catch, 1,500 metric tons (1979 est.)
GNP
$40 million (1978); per capita income $490 (1978)
Imports
$15.5 million (f.o.b., 1979); food products, machinery and electrical equipment, fuels
Major industries
food processing on small scale, timber
Major trade partners
main partner, Netherlands; followed by Portugal, US, and West Germany
Monetary conversion rate
38.6 escudos=US$1 (1981)
Communications
Airfields
3 total, 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air
1 major transport aircraft
Ports
1 major (Sao Tome), 1 minor
Telecommunications
minimal system; 900 telephones (1.0 per 100 popl.); 1 AM, 1 FM, and no TV stations; 1 Atlantic Ocean satellite ground station