2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome

note

Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995

Age structure

0-14 years: 47.5% (male 46,478/female 45,302) 15-64 years: 48.8% (male 45,631/female 48,661) 65 years and over: 3.8% (male 3,368/female 3,973) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

2 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total

2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

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

Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (FASTP)

Army, Coast Guard, Presidential Guard (2004)

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

40.25 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$61.43 million; including capital expenditures of $54 million (2006 est.)

revenues

$102.1 million

Capital

geographic coordinates

0 12 N, 6 39 E

name

Sao Tome

time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 (code)

dobra (STD)

Currency code

STD

Current account balance

$-24.4 million (2006 est.)

Death rate

6.47 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$318 million (2002)

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

chancery

400 Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022

chief of mission

First Secretary Domingos Augusto FERREIRA

telephone

[1] (212) 317-0580

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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 in 1975. Cocoa production has substantially declined in recent years because of drought and mismanagement, but strengthening prices helped boost export earnings in 2003. Sao Tome has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a substantial amount of food. Over the years, it has had difficulty servicing its external debt and has relied heavily 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, which helped bring down the country's $300 million debt burden. In August 2005, Sao Tome signed on to a new 3-year IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) program worth $4.3 million. 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 about the development of petroleum resources in its territorial waters in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea, which are being jointly developed in a 60-40 split with Nigeria. The first production licenses were sold in 2004, though a dispute over licensing with Nigeria delayed Sao Tome's receipt of more than $20 million in signing bonuses for almost a year. Real GDP growth exceeded 4% in 2006, as a result of increases in public expenditures and oil-related capital investment.

Electricity - consumption

16.74 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

18 million kWh (2004)

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, Wetlands

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 - 12,134 (2006), 9,900.4 (2005), NA (2004), 9,347.6 (2003), 9,088.3 (2002)

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; percent of vote - Fradique DE MENEZES 60%, Patrice TROVOADA 38.5%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 30 July 2006 (next to be held July 2011); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Tome Soares da VERA CRUZ (since 21 April 2006)

Exports

$9.773 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil

Exports - partners

Netherlands 61.9%, Belgium 9.3%, Turkey 5.6%, South Korea 4.1% (2005)

FAX

[1] (212) 935-7348

consulate(s)

Atlanta

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

16.6%

industry

15.3%

services

68.1% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,200 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.4% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$71.38 million (2005 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$214 million (2003 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

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

$48.87 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products

Imports - partners

Portugal 47.5%, US 17.3%, Malaysia 6.2%, Belgium 5.3% (2005)

Independence

12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

39.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

43.74 deaths/1,000 live births

total

41.83 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

15% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Internet country code

.st

Internet hosts

735 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2002)

Internet users

20,000 (2005) Transportation Sao Tome and Principe

Investment (gross fixed)

35.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

100 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National Assembly)

Labor force

35,050 (1991)

Labor force - by occupation

note

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

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

8.33%

other

42.71% (2005)

permanent crops

48.96%

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 - MDFM-PCD 37.2%, MLSTP 28.9%, ADI 20.0%, NR 4.7%, other 9.2%; seats by party - MDFM-PCD 23, MLSTP 19, ADI 12, NR 1

elections

last held 26 March 2006 (next to be held March 2010)

Life expectancy at birth

female

68.95 years (2006 est.)

male

65.73 years

total population

67.31 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

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

malaria (2007)

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

35,279 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

33,438

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

28,660 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

25,950

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

16.8 years (2006 est.)

male

15.6 years

total

16.2 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 1, cargo 7

foreign-owned

3 (Egypt 1, Greece 1, Lebanon 1) (2006)

total

8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 21,527 GRT/29,823 DWT

Military - note

Sao Tome and Principe's army is a tiny force with almost no resources at its disposal and would be wholly ineffective operating unilaterally; infantry equipment is considered simple to operate and maintain but may require refurbishment or replacement after 25 years in tropical climates; poor pay and conditions have been a problem in the past, as has alleged nepotism in the promotion of officers, as reflected in the 1995 and 2003 coups; these issues are being addressed with foreign assistance as initial steps towards the improvement of the army and its focus on realistic security concerns; command is exercised from the president, through the Minister of Defense, to the Chief of the Armed Forces staff (2005) Transnational Issues Sao Tome and Principe

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$581,729 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.8% (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

Nationality

adjective

Sao Tomean

noun

Sao Tomean(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

fish, hydropower

Net migration rate

-2.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

660 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Renovation Party [Armindo GRACA]; Force for Change Democratic Movement or MDFM; 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; other small parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

193,413 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

54% (2004 est.)

Population growth rate

3.15% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Sao Tome Military Sao Tome and Principe

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)

Radios

38,000 (1997)

Religions

Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%, other 3.1%, none 19.4% (2001 census)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$25.47 million (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

218 km

total

320 km

unpaved

102 km (1999)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

minimal system

general assessment

adequate facilities

international

country code - 239; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

7,000 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular

12,000 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

2 (2002)

Televisions

23,000 (1997)

Terrain

volcanic, mountainous

Total fertility rate

5.62 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%