Edition 2003 — Sao Tome and Principe

Administrative divisions

2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome
note: Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995

Age structure

0-14 years: 47.7% (male 42,480; female 41,411) 15-64 years: 48.3% (male 41,043; female 43,986) 65 years and over: 4% (male 3,197; female 3,766) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

2 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002) Military Sao Tome and Principe

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

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. Though the first free elections were held in 1991, the political environment has been one of continued instability with frequent changes in leadership and coup attempts in 1995 and 2003. The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea is likely to have a significant impact on the country's economy. Geography Sao Tome and Principe

Birth rate

41.87 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures: $114 million, including capital expenditures of $54 million (1993 est.)
revenues: $58 million

Capital

Sao Tome

Climate

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

Coastline

209 km

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

Currency

dobra (STD)

Currency code

STD

Death rate

7.11 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$253.8 million (2000)

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 400 Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022, telephone [1] (212) 317-0580

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Economic aid - recipient

$200 million in December 2000 under the HIPC program

Economy - overview

This small poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence 28 years ago. Cocoa production has substantially declined in recent years because of drought and mismanagement, but strengthening prices brighten prospects for 2003. Sao Tome has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a substantial 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. Sao Tome benefited from $200 million in debt relief in December 2000 under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program. Sao Tome's success in implementing structural reforms has been rewarded by international donors, who pledged increased assistance in 2001. 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. Sao Tome is optimistic that substantial petroleum discoveries are forthcoming in its territorial waters in the oil-rich waters of the Gulf of Guinea; production could begin as early as 2004.

Electricity - consumption

15.81 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

17 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 41.2%
hydro: 58.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

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, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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)

Exchange rates

dobras per US dollar - NA (2002), 8,842.11 (2001), 7,978.17 (2000), 7,118.96 (1999), 6,883.24 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister
chief of state: President Fradique DE MENEZES (since 3 September 2001)
election results: Fradique DE MENEZES elected president in Sao Tome's third multiparty presidential election; percent of vote - NA%
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 29 July 2001 (next to be held NA July 2006); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president
head of government: Prime Minister Maria das NEVES (since 7 October 2002)

Exports

$5.5 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil

Exports - partners

Netherlands 30.1%, Poland 11.8%, Canada 9.7%, Germany 7.5%, Philippines 7.5%, Spain 7.5%, Belgium 6.5%, France 4.3%, Portugal 4.3% (2002)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Sao Tome and Principe

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 Economy Sao Tome and Principe

GDP

purchasing power parity - $200 million (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 25%
industry: 10%
services: 65% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

1 00 N, 7 00 E

Geography - note

the smallest country in Africa; the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes and both are fairly mountainous People Sao Tome and Principe

Government type

republic

Highways

paved: 218 km
total: 320 km
unpaved: 102 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$24.8 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products

Imports - partners

Portugal 51.4%, Germany 10.1%, UK 7.6%, Belgium 6.3% (2002)

Independence

12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female: 43.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 48.07 deaths/1,000 live births
total: 46.04 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.st

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2002)

Internet users

9,000 (2002) Transportation Sao Tome and Principe

Irrigated land

100 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National Assembly)

Labor force

NA

Labor force - by occupation

population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing
note: shortages of skilled workers

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 2%
other: 57% (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 41%

Languages

Portuguese (official)

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 four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - MLSTP 39.6%, Force for Change Democratic Movement 39.4%, Ue-Kedadji coalition 16.2%; seats by party - MLSTP 24, Force for Change Democratic Movement 23, Ue-Kedadji coalition 8
elections: last held 3 March 2002 (next to be held NA March 2006)

Life expectancy at birth

female: 67.82 years (2003 est.)
male: 64.79 years
total population: 66.28 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
female: 62% (1991 est.) Government Sao Tome and Principe
male: 85%
total population: 79.3%

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

Median age

female: 16.7 years (2002)
male: 15.5 years
total: 16.1 years

Merchant marine

convenience: Egypt 1, Greece 1, Kenya 1, Portugal 1, Syria 1, Turkey 1 (2002 est.)
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 15, chemical tanker 1, livestock carrier 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 2
total: 24 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 78,595 GRT/99,873 DWT

Military branches

Army, Navy, Security Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$400,000 (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.8% (FY01) Transnational Issues Sao Tome and Principe

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 36,905 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 19,443 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

Nationality

adjective: Sao Tomean
noun: Sao Tomean(s)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

fish, hydropower

Net migration rate

-2.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Renovation Party [Armindo GRACA]; Force for Change Democratic Movement [leader NA]; Independent Democratic Action or ADI [Carlos NEVES]; Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD [Manuel Pinto Da COSTA]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Aldo BANDEIRA]; Ue-Kedadji coalition [leader NA]; other small parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

175,883 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

3.18% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Santo Antonio, Sao Tome

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)

Radios

38,000 (1997)

Railways