2000 Edition

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 plantation slave labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century. Although independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. The first free elections were held in 1991.

Area

land

1,001 sq km

total

1,001 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

more than five times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

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

Coastline

209 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

1 00 N, 7 00 E

Irrigated land

100 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

2%

forests and woodland

0%

other

61% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

36%

permanent pastures

1%

Location

Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

fish, hydropower

Terrain

volcanic, mountainous

Age structure

0-14 years: 48% (male 38,588; female 37,624) 15-64 years: 48% (male 37,216; female 39,959) 65 years and over: 4% (male 2,961; female 3,535) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

42.98 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

7.76 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), forros (descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)

Infant mortality rate

50.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Portuguese (official)

Life expectancy at birth

female

66.7 years (2000 est.)

male

63.84 years

total population

65.25 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

62% (1991 est.)

male

85%

total population

73%

Nationality

adjective

Sao Tomean

noun

Sao Tomean(s)

Net migration rate

-3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

159,883 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

3.16% (2000 est.)

Religions

Christian 80% (Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.08 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome

note

Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995

Capital

Sao Tome

Constitution

approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990

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

Data code

TP

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

Sao Tome and Principe does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by First Secretary Domingos Augusto FERREIRA, located at 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604, New York, NY 10168, telephone (212) 317-0533

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister

chief of state

President Miguel TROVOADA (since 4 April 1991)

election results

Miguel TROVOADA reelected president in Sao Tome's second multiparty presidential election; percent of vote - Miguel TROVOADA 52.74%, Manuel Pinto da COSTA 47.26%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 30 June and 21 July 1996 (next to be held NA July 2001); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Guilherma Posser da COSTA (since 30 December 1998)

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; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Government type

republic

Independence

12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the National Assembly

Legal system

based on Portuguese legal system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - MLSTP-PSD 56%, PCD 14.5%, ADI 29%; seats by party - MLSTP-PSD 31, ADI 16, PCD 8

elections

last held 8 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2003)

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democratic Front or FDC ; Democratic Opposition Coalition or CODO [leader NA]; Independent Democratic Action or ADI ; Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD ; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD ; other small parties

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish

Budget

expenditures

$114 million, including capital expenditures of $54 million (1993 est.)

revenues

$58 million

Currency

1 dobra (Db) = 100 centimos

Debt - external

$274 million (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

$57.3 million (1995)

Economy - overview

This small poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence 25 years ago. However, cocoa production has substantially declined because of drought and mismanagement. The resulting shortage of cocoa for export has created a persistent balance-of-payments problem. Sao Tome has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a significant amount of food. Over the years, it has been unable to service its external debt and has had to depend on concessional aid and debt rescheduling. 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, but economic growth has remained sluggish. Sao Tome is also optimistic that significant petroleum discoveries are forthcoming in its territorial waters in the oil-rich waters of the Gulf of Guinea. Corruption scandals continue to weaken the economy.

Electricity - consumption

14 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

15 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

46.67%

hydro

53.33%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

dobras (Db) per US$1 - 7,200.0 (October 1999), 7,104.05 (1998), 4,552.5 (1997), 2,203.2 (1996), 1,420.3 (1995)

Exports

$4.9 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

cocoa 90%, copra, coffee, palm oil (1997)

Exports - partners

Netherlands 51%, Germany 6%, Portugal 6% (1997)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $169 million (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

23%

industry

19%

services

58% (1997 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,100 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.5% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$19.5 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products

Imports - partners

Portugal 26%, France 18%, Angola, Belgium, Japan (1997)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

10.5% (yearend 1999 est.)

Labor force

NA

Labor force - by occupation

population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing

note

shortages of skilled workers

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

50% in the formal business sector (1998 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

38,000 (1997)

Telephone system

domestic

minimal system

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

3,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

NA

Television broadcast stations

2 (1997)

Televisions

23,000 (1997)

Airports

2 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

218 km

total

320 km

unpaved

102 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 4, container 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 3 (1999 est.)

total

9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 43,587 GRT/34,802 DWT

Ports and harbors

Santo Antonio, Sao Tome

Railways

0 km

Military branches

Army, Navy, Security Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1 million (FY94)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.5% (FY94)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 32,933 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 17,391 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

none

SAUDI ARABIA