2008 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2008 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
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. While independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. The country held its first free elections in 1991, but frequent internal wrangling between the various political parties precipitated repeated changes in leadership and two failed coup attempts in 1995 and 2003. The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea promises to attract increased attention to the small island nation.
Geography
Area
total: 1,001 sq km land: 1,001 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Coastline
209 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 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
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 mountainous
Irrigated land
100 sq km (2003)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 8.33% permanent crops: 48.96% other: 42.71% (2005)
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 territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards
NA
Natural resources
fish, hydropower
Terrain
volcanic, mountainous
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 47.1% (male 49,196/female 47,941) 15-64 years: 49.3% (male 49,326/female 52,324) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 3,350/female 4,041) (2008 est.)
Birth rate
39.12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate
5.98 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Education expenditures
NA
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)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Infant mortality rate
total: 38.36 deaths/1,000 live births male: 40.11 deaths/1,000 live births female: 36.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Languages
Portuguese (official)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 68 years male: 66.35 years female: 69.69 years (2008 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 84.9% male: 92.2% female: 77.9% (2001 census)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)
Median age
total: 16.3 years male: 15.8 years female: 16.9 years (2008 est.)
Nationality
noun: Sao Tomean(s) adjective: Sao Tomean
Net migration rate
-1.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Population
206,178 (July 2008 est.)
Population growth rate
3.116% (2008 est.)
Religions
Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%, other 3.1%, none 19.4% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 10 years male: 10 years female: 10 years (2006)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate
5.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome note: Principe has had self government since 29 April 1995
Capital
name: Sao Tome geographic coordinates: 0 12 N, 6 39 E time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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
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
chief of mission: First Secretary Domingos Augusto FERREIRA chancery: 400 Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022 telephone: [1] (212) 317-0580
Executive branch
chief of state: President Fradique DE MENEZES (since 3 September 2001) head of government: Prime Minister Joachim Rafael BRANCO (since 22 June 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister 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 election results: Fradique DE MENEZES elected president; percent of vote - Fradique DE MENEZES 60%, Patrice TROVOADA 38.5%
FAX
[1] (212) 935-7348 consulate(s): Atlanta
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
Government type
republic
Independence
12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National Assembly)
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 popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 26 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - MDFM-PCD 37.2%, MLSTP 28.9%, ADI 20.0%, NR 4.7%, others 9.2%; seats by party - MDFM-PCD 23, MLSTP 19, ADI 12, NR 1
National holiday
Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Political parties and leaders
Force for Change Democratic Movement or MDFM [Tome Soares da VERA CRUZ]; Independent Democratic Action or ADI [[Patrice TROVOADA]; Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD [Rafael BRANCO]; New Way Movement or NR; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Delfim NEVES]; Ue-Kedadji coalition; other small parties
Political pressure groups and leaders
Association of Sao Tome and Principe NGOs or FONG other: the media
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture - products
cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish
Budget
revenues: $63.21 million expenditures: $54.94 million (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate
28% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate
32.4% (31 December 2007)
Currency (code)
dobra (STD)
Currency code
STD
Current account balance
-$55 million (2007 est.)
Debt - external
$318 million (2002)
Economic aid - recipient
$31.9 million in December 2000 under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country Initiative (HIPC) program (2005)
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. 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 6% in 2007, as a result of increases in public expenditures and oil-related capital investment.
Electricity - consumption
16.74 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2007)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production
18 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 41.2% hydro: 58.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Exchange rates
dobras (STD) per US dollar - 13,700 (2007), 12,050 (2006), 9,900.4 (2005), 9,902.3 (2004), 9,347.6 (2003)
Exports
$9 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities
cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil
Exports - partners
Netherlands 23.7%, Belgium 23.7%, France 12.9%, US 5.9%, Portugal 4.1% (2007)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 14.9% industry: 14% services: 71% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$1,600 (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
6% (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$144 million (2007 est.)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$256 million (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$66 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products
Imports - partners
Portugal 62.2%, US 11.6%, Gabon 4.5% (2007)
Industrial production growth rate
7% (2007 est.)
Industries
light construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish processing, timber
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
18% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
36.9% of GDP (2007 est.)
Labor force
35,050 (1991)
Labor force - by occupation
note: population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing; shortages of skilled workers
Market value of publicly traded shares
$NA
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Oil - consumption
660 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports
0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports
659.5 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - production
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - proved reserves
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line
54% (2004 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$34.6 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of domestic credit
$31.84 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of money
$19.99 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money
$33.5 million (31 December 2007)
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Internet country code
.st
Internet hosts
1,355 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
1 (2002)
Internet users
23,000 (2007)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios
38,000 (1997)
Telephone system
general assessment: local telephone network of adequate quality with most lines connected to digital switches domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 20 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 239; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use
7,700 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular
30,100 (2007)
Television broadcast stations
2 (2001)
Televisions
23,000 (1997)
Transportation
Airports
2 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Merchant marine
total: 6 by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 5 foreign-owned: 1 (Greece 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals
Sao Tome
Roadways
total: 320 km paved: 218 km unpaved: 102 km (2000)
Military and Security
Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (FASTP)
Army, Coast Guard of Sao Tome e Principe (Guarda Costeira de Sao Tome e Principe, GCSTP), Presidential Guard (2007)
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49: 42,340 females age 16-49: 43,781 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 33,735 females age 16-49: 36,779 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 2,437 female: 2,394 (2008 est.)
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, working conditions, and alleged nepotism in the promotion of officers have been problems in the past, as reflected in the 1995 and 2003 coups; these issues are being addressed with foreign assistance aimed at improving 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)
Military expenditures
0.8% of GDP (2006)
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008