1994 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1994 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Administrative divisions
2 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Principe, Sao Tome
Agriculture
accounts for 25% of GDP; 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
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
Area
total area: 960 sq km land area: 960 sq km comparative area: slightly less than 5.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Birth rate
35.2 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Branches
Army, Navy, National Police
Budget
revenues: $10.2 million expenditures: $36.8 million, including capital expenditures of $22.5 million (1989 est.)
Capital
Sao Tome
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Coastline
209 km
Constitution
new constitution approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990
Currency
1 dobra (Db) = 100 centimos
Death rate
8.88 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures
$NA, NA% of GDP
Digraph
TP
Diplomatic representation in US
Sao Tome and Principe has no 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) 697-4211
Economic aid
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $8 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $89 million
Electricity
capacity: 5,000 kW production: 10 million kWh consumption per capita: 80 kWh (1991)
Environment
current issues: deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change
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)
Exchange rates
dobras (Db) per US$1 - 129.59 (1 July 1993), 230 (1992), 260.0 (November 1991), 122.48 (December 1988), 72.827 (1987), 36.993 (1986)
Executive branch
chief of state: President Miguel TROVOADA (since 4 April 1991); election 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 head of government: Prime Minister Noberto Jose D'Alva COSTA ALEGRE (since 16 May 1992) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister
Exports
$5.4 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: cocoa 78%, copra, coffee, palm oil partners: Netherlands, Germany, China, Portugal
External debt
$163.6 million (1992)
Fiscal year
calendar year
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
Highways
total: 300 km paved: 200 km unpaved: 100 km note: roads on Principe are mostly unpaved and in need of repair
Imports
$31.5 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: machinery and electrical equipment 44%, food products 18%, petroleum 11% partners: Portugal, Japan, Spain, France, Angola
Independence
12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Industrial production
growth rate 1% (1991); accounts for 7% of GDP
Industries
light construction, shirts, soap, beer, fisheries, shrimp processing
Infant mortality rate
63.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
27% (1992 est.)
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
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)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 1% permanent crops: 20% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 75% other: 3%
Languages
Portuguese (official)
Legal system
based on Portuguese law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
unicameral
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 63.33 years male: 61.48 years female: 65.24 years (1994 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1981) total population: 57% male: 73% female: 42%
Location
Western Africa, in the Atlantic Ocean, 340 km off the coast of Gabon straddling the equator
Manpower availability
males age 15-49 32,560; fit for military service 17,136
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
Member of
ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Merchant marine
1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,096 GRT/1,105 DWT
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
(Assembleia Popular Nacional) elections 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
National product
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $50 million (1990)
National product per capita
$450 (1990)
National product real growth rate
1.5% (1992 est.)
Nationality
noun: Sao Tomean(s) adjective: Sao Tomean
Natural resources
fish
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 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 exports by a ratio of 4:1. The emphasis on cocoa production at the expense 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.
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
Population
136,780 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate
2.63% (1994 est.)
Ports
Sao Tome, Santo Antonio
Religions
Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Telecommunications
minimal system; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 2 FM, no TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Terrain
volcanic, mountainous
Total fertility rate
4.52 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Type
republic
Unemployment rate
NA%
US diplomatic representation
ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the islands