Sao Tome and Principe

Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe

Africa Sao Tome

Population

223.6K

Area

964 km²

GDP

$764.27M

GDP Per Capita

$5,500

Pop. Density

232/km²

Quick Facts

Currency

DbSão Tomé and Príncipe dobra(STN)

Calling Code

+239

Timezone

UTC

Languages

Portuguese

Driving Side

right

Demonym

Sao Tomean

Background

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.

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.

Historical Trends

GDP (USD)

↑475.8% since 2006

$143M (2006)$822M (2024)

Population

↑42.2% since 2006

165,638 (2006)235,536 (2024)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Latest: 69.7 years

2006: 63.0 years2023: 69.7 years

Data source: World Bank Open Data

Geography17

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

Area - comparative

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

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Coastline

209 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate

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

Terrain

volcanic, mountainous

Elevation

highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Natural resources

fish, hydropower

Land use

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.)

forest

57.5% (2023 est.)

other

0% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

100 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

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

Natural hazards

flooding

Geography - note

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

People & Society36

Population

total: 223,561 (2024 est.)
male: 111,553
female: 112,008

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

Age structure

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)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 65.8 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 60.4 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 5.4 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 18.6 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 21.2 years (2025 est.)
male: 20.4 years
female: 21.2 years

Population growth rate

1.39% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Net migration rate

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

Population distribution

Urbanization

urban population: 76.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

80,000 SAO TOME (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
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
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.4 years (2008/09 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Infant mortality rate

total: 41.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 46.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 39 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 67.7 years (2024 est.)
male: 66 years
female: 69.4 years

Total fertility rate

3.18 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.57 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

urban: 79.3% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 71.1% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 77.3% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 20.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 28.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 22.7% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 14.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.46 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban

urban: 56.8% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 43.2% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 53.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 43.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 56.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 46.5% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

12.4% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 4.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 3.58 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 7.3% (2025 est.)
male: 13.1% (2025 est.)
female: 1.7% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

5.4% (2019 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

53.1% (2019 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 5.4% (2019)
women married by age 18: 28% (2019)
men married by age 18: 3.1% (2019)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 18.1% national budget (2024 est.)

Literacy

total population: 87.4% (2019 est.)
male: 92.5% (2019 est.)
female: 82.8% (2019 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years (2021 est.)
male: 13 years (2021 est.)
female: 13 years (2021 est.)

Government22

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
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

Government type

semi-presidential 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)
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

Administrative divisions

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

Legal system

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

Constitution

history: approved 5 November 1975
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

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 Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA (since 2 October 2021)

head of government

Prime Minister Américo d'Oliveira DOS RAMOS (since 12 January 2025)

cabinet

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

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

most recent election date

18 July 2021, with a runoff on 5 September 2021

election results

2021: 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%

2016: 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%

expected date of next election

2026

Legislative branch

legislature name

National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional)

legislative structure

unicameral

number of seats

55 (all directly elected)

electoral system

proportional representation

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

most recent election date

9/25/2022

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%

expected date of next election

September 2026

Judicial branch

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

Political parties

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604
New York, NY 101168
telephone: [1] (212) 317-0533
FAX: [1] (212) 317-0580
email address and website:
[email protected]

Sao Tome and Principe Permanent Mission to the United Nations

Diplomatic representation from the US

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 20521-2290

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)

Independence

12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

Flag

description: 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

meaning: 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

history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement

National symbol(s)

palm tree

National color(s)

green, yellow, red, black

National anthem(s)

title: "Independencia total" (Total Independence)
lyrics/music: Alda Neves DA GRACA do Espirito Santo/Manuel dos Santos Barreto de Sousa e ALMEIDA
history: adopted 1975

Economy30

Economic overview

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.291 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.279 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.275 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024: 0.9% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 0.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024: $5,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $5,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $5,600 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$764.274 million (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 14.4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 21.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 18% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 12.8% (2024 est.)
industry: 2.9% (2024 est.)
services: 76.6% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

81.4% (2017 est.)

government consumption

17.6% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

33.4% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services

7.9% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-40.4% (2017 est.)

Agricultural products

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

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

3.2% (2024 est.)

Labor force

34,500 (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024: 9.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 9.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 9% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 8.6% (2024 est.)
male: 8% (2024 est.)
female: 9.2% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

55.5% (2017 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017: 40.7 (2017 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.6% (2017 est.)
highest 10%: 32.8% (2017 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2023: 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 1.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget

revenues: $128.767 million (2022 est.)
expenditures: $165.95 million (2022 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016: 93.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2022: -$79.437 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: -$95.248 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2020: -$59.595 million (2020 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022: $96.977 million (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $75.256 million (2021 est.)
Exports 2020: $49.337 million (2020 est.)

Exports - partners

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

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

Imports 2022: $219.322 million (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $201.145 million (2021 est.)
Imports 2020: $160.097 million (2020 est.)

Imports - partners

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

Imports - commodities

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $46.247 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $64.476 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $75.017 million (2021 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023: $327.248 million (2023 est.)

Exchange rates

Currency

dobras (STD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2023

22.658 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

23.29 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

20.71 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

21.507 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

21.885 (2019 est.)

Energy5

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 78% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 80%
electrification - rural areas: 73.7%

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 29,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 47.05 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 40.95 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 93.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 6.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 1,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 8.875 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications6

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 2,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 152,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 87 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.st

Internet users

percent of population: 62% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 6,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)

Transportation4

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

2 (2025)

Merchant marine

total: 25 (2023)
by type: general cargo 15, oil tanker 4, other 6

Ports

total ports

2 (2024)

large

medium

small

very small

ports with oil terminals

key ports

Santo Antonio, Sao Tome

Military & Security5

Military and security forces

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)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 500 active Armed Forces (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

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

Military service age and obligation

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)

Military - note

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)

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