1987 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1987 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Administrative divisions
seven counties
Branches
President heads the government assisted by a cabinet of ministers; unicameral legislature (elected National People’s Assembly)
Capital
Sio Tomé
Communists
no Communist party, probably a few sympathizers Member of; AfDB, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, 1TU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Elections
da Costa reelected by Popular Assembly May 1980 and September 1985; Assembly elections in August and September 1985 Political parties and leaders: Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe (MLSTP), Manuel Pinto da Costa
Government leader
Dr. Manuel Pinto DA COSTA, President (since 1975)
Legal system
based on Portuguese law system and customary law; constitution adopted December 1975 and approved by National People’s Assembly on 15 December 1982; has not accepted compulsory 1CJ jurisdiction
National holidays
Martyr's Day, 4 February; Independence Day, 12 July; Armed Forces Day, first week in September (varies); Farmer’s Day, 30 September
Suffrage
universal for age 18 and over
Type
republic
Economy
Agriculture
cash crops—cocoa, copra, coconuts, coffee, palm oil, bananas
Aid
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF (1970-81), $583 million; US (FY77-85), $3.7 million; Communist countries (1970-85), $23 million
Budget
(1981 est.) central government budget $22.0 million; (1979 est.) revenues, $15.7 million; current expenditures, $10.4 million; capital expenditures, $9.1 million
Electric power
4,300 kW capacity; 3 million kWh produced (1986), 27 kWh per capita (1986)
Exports
$8.8 million (f.0.b., 1981 est.); mainly cocoa (90%), copra (7%), coffee, palm oil
Fiscal year
calendar year
Fishing
catch 4,050 metric tons (1983)
GDP
$30 million (1981 est.); per capita income $260 (1983 est.); average annual growth rate —10% (1981 est.); average inflation rate 10% (1981)
Imports
$20.0 million (f.0.b., 1981 est.); food products, machinery and electrical equipment, fuels
Major industries
light construction, shirts, soap, beer, fisheries, shrimp processing
Major trade partners
main partner Netherlands, followed by Portugal, US, and FRG
Monetary conversion rate
46.2051 dobras=US$1 (December 1984)
Natural resources
agricultural products, fish
Communications
Airfields
2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air
1 major transport aircraft
Highways
300 km, of which two-thirds is paved; roads on Principe are mostly unpaved and in need of repair
Ports
1 major (Sido Tomé), 1 minor
Railroads
none
Telecommunications
minimal system; 2,200 telephones (2.0 per 100 popl.); 1 AM, 2 FM, no TV stations; 1 Atlantic Ocean satellite ground station
Military and Security
Branches
Army, Navy