1993 Edition

Area

total area: 960 km2 land area: 960 km2 comparative area: slightly less than 5.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

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

Coastline

209 km

Environment

deforestation; soil erosion

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA km2

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 1% permanent crops: 20% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 75% other: 3%

Location

Western Africa, in the Atlantic Ocean, 340 km off the coast of Gabon straddling the equator

Map references

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources

fish

Terrain

volcanic, mountainous

Birth rate

35.39 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Death rate

9.06 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Ethnic divisions

mestico, angolares (descendents of Angolan slaves), forros (descendents 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

64.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Labor force

21,096 (1981); most of population engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing; labor shortages on plantations and of skilled workers; 56% of population of working age (1983)

Languages

Portuguese (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 63.02 years male: 61.19 years female: 64.9 years (1993 est.)

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1981) total population: 57% male: 73% female: 42%

Nationality

noun: Sao Tomean(s) adjective: Sao Tomean

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Population

133,225 (July 1993 est.)

Population growth rate

2.63% (1993 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist

Total fertility rate

4.6 children born/woman (1993 est.)

Administrative divisions

2 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Principe, Sao Tome

Capital

Sao Tome

Chief of State

President Miguel TROVOADA (since 4 April 1991)

Constitution

5 November 1975, approved 15 December 1982

Digraph

TP

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: Ambassador Joaquim Rafael BRANCO chancery: (temporary) 801 Second Avenue, Suite 603, New York, NY 10017 telephone: (212) 697-4211

Executive branch

president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Flag

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

Head of Government

Prime Minister Noberto Jose D'Alva COSTA ALEGRE (since 16 May 1992)

Independence

12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral National People's Assembly (Assembleia Popular Nacional)

Member of

ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Names

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

National People's Assembly

last held 20 January 1991 (next to be held NA January 1996); results - PCD-GR 54.4%, MLSTP 30.5%, CODO 5.2%, FDC 1.5%, other 8.4%; seats - (55 total) PCD-GR 33, MLSTP 21, CODO 1; note - this was the first multiparty election in Sao Tome and Principe

Political parties and leaders

Party for Democratic Convergence-Reflection Group (PCD-GR), Daniel Lima Dos Santos DAIO, secretary general; Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe (MLSTP), Carlos da GRACA; Christian Democratic Front (FDC), Alphonse Dos SANTOS; Democratic Opposition Coalition (CODO), leader NA; other small parties

President

last held 3 March 1991 (next to be held NA March 1996); results - Miguel TROVOADA was elected without opposition in Sao Tome's first multiparty presidential election

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type

republic

US diplomatic representation

ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the islands

Agriculture

dominant sector of economy, primary source of exports; cash crops - cocoa (85%), coconuts, palm kernels, coffee; food products - bananas, papaya, beans, poultry, fish; not self-sufficient in food grain and meat

Budget

revenues $10.2 million; expenditures $36.8 million, including capital expenditures of $22.5 million (1989)

Currency

1 dobra (Db) = 100 centimos

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $8 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $89 million

Electricity

5,000 kW capacity; 10 million kWh produced, 80 kWh per capita (1991)

Exchange rates

dobras (Db) per US$1 - 230 (1992), 260.0 (November 1991), 122.48 (December 1988), 72.827 (1987), 36.993 (1986)

Exports

$5.5 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: cocoa 85%, copra, coffee, palm oil partners: Germany, Netherlands, China

External debt

$163.6 million (1992)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Imports

$24.5 million (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: machinery and electrical equipment 54%, food products 23%, other 23% partners: Portugal, Germany, Angola, China

Industrial production

growth rate 7.1% (1986)

Industries

light construction, shirts, soap, beer, fisheries, shrimp processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

27% (1992 est.)

National product

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $41.4 million (1992 est.)

National product per capita

$315 (1992 est.)

National product real growth rate

1.5% (1992 est.)

Overview

The economy has remained dependent on cocoa since the country gained independence nearly 15 years ago. Since then, however, cocoa production has gradually deteriorated because of drought and mismanagement, so that by 1987 output had fallen to less than 50% of its former levels. As a result, a shortage of cocoa for export has created a serious balance-of-payments problem. Production of less important crops, such as coffee, copra, and palm kernels, has also declined. The value of imports generally exceeds that of

of other food crops has meant that Sao Tome has to import 90% of food needs. It also has to import all fuels and most manufactured goods. Over the years, Sao Tome has been unable to service its external debt, which amounts to roughly 80% of export earnings. Considerable potential exists for development of a tourist industry, and the government has taken steps to expand facilities in recent years. The government also implemented a Five-Year Plan covering 1986-90 to restructure the economy and reschedule external debt service payments in cooperation with the International Development Association and Western lenders.

exports by a ratio of 4

1. The emphasis on cocoa production at the expense

Unemployment rate

NA%

Airports

total: 2 usable: 2 with permanent-surface runways : 2 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 2

Highways

300 km (two-thirds are paved); roads on Principe are mostly unpaved and in need of repair

Merchant marine

1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,096 GRT/1,105 DWT

Ports

Sao Tome, Santo Antonio

Telecommunications

minimal system; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 2 FM, no TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Branches

Army, Navy, National Police

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 31,326; fit for military service 16,507 (1993 est.)