2012 Edition

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. In 2012, three opposition parties combined in a no confidence vote to bring down the majority government of former Prime Minister Patrice TROVOADA. The new government of Prime Minister Gabriel Arcanjo Ferreira DA COSTA is entirely composed of opposition party members with limited experience in governance. The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea promises to attract increased attention to the small island nation.

Area

964 sq km 964 sq km 0 sq km

total

964 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

Atlantic Ocean 0 m Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m

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

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands none of the selected agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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

8.33% 48.96% 42.71% (2005)

arable land

8.33%

other

42.71% (2005)

permanent crops

48.96%

Location

Central Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines 12 nm 200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

fish, hydropower

Terrain

volcanic, mountainous

Age structure

44.4% (male 41,326/ female 39,926) 52.6% (male 47,458/ female 48,808) 3.1% (male 2,588/ female 3,070) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

44.4% (male 41,326/ female 39,926)

15-64 years

52.6% (male 47,458/ female 48,808)

65 years and over

3.1% (male 2,588/ female 3,070) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

37.02 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

13.1% (2009)

Death rate

7.93 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 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)

Health expenditures

7.1% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

3.2 beds/1,000 population (2006)

Infant mortality rate

51.83 deaths/1,000 live births 53.89 deaths/1,000 live births 49.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

49.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

51.83 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Portuguese (official)

Life expectancy at birth

63.49 years 62.27 years 64.74 years (2012 est.)

female

64.74 years (2012 est.)

total population

63.49 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 84.9% 92.2% 77.9% (2001 census)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

77.9% (2001 census)

male

92.2%

total population

84.9%

Major cities - population

SAO TOME (capital) 60,000 (2009)

Major infectious diseases

high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria rabies (2009)

animal contact disease

rabies (2009)

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

malaria

Maternal mortality rate

70 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

17.6 years 17.2 years 18.1 years (2012 est.)

female

18.1 years (2012 est.)

male

17.2 years

total

17.6 years

Nationality

Sao Tomean(s) Sao Tomean

adjective

Sao Tomean

noun

Sao Tomean(s)

Net migration rate

-9.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Physicians density

0.49 physicians/1,000 population (2004)

Population

183,176 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate

1.996% (2012 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 30% of population rural: 19% of population total: 26% of population urban: 70% of population rural: 81% of population total: 74% of population

rural

81% of population

total

74% of population

urban

70% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

11 years 11 years 11 years (2010)

female

11 years (2010)

male

11 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female 0.84 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.84 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.03 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

4.94 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Urbanization

62% of total population (2010) 2.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

2.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

62% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Sao Tome 0 20 N, 6 44 E UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

0 20 N, 6 44 E

name

Sao Tome

time difference

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

Constitution

approved March 1990, effective 10 September 1990

Country name

Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe Sao Tome and Principe Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe Sao Tome e Principe

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

Ambassador Ovidio Manuel Barbosa PEQUENO 1211 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036 [1] (202) 775-2075, 2076 [1] (202) 775-2077

chancery

1211 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Ovidio Manuel Barbosa PEQUENO

FAX

[1] (202) 775-2077

telephone

[1] (202) 775-2075, 2076

Executive branch

President Manuel Pinto DA COSTA (since 3 September 2011) Prime Minister Gabriel Arcanjo Ferreira DA COSTA (since 12 December 2012) Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 July and 7 August 2011 (next to be held in 2016); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president Manuel Pinto DA COSTA elected president in a run-off election; percent of vote - Manuel Pinto DA COSTA 52.9%, Evaristo CARVALHO 47.1%

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister

chief of state

President Manuel Pinto DA COSTA (since 3 September 2011)

election results

Manuel Pinto DA COSTA elected president in a run-off election; percent of vote - Manuel Pinto DA COSTA 52.9%, Evaristo CARVALHO 47.1%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 July and 7 August 2011 (next to be held in 2016); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Gabriel Arcanjo Ferreira DA COSTA (since 12 December 2012)

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; green stands for the country's rich vegetation, red recalls the struggle for independence, and yellow represents cocoa, one of the country's main agricultural products; the two stars symbolize the two main islands uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Government type

republic

Independence

12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CD, CPLP, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National Assembly); Constitutional Court (five judges appointed by the National Assembly for five year terms); Court of First Instance; Audit Court

Legal system

mixed legal system of civil law base on the Portuguese model and customary law

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) last held on 1 August 2010 (next to be held in 2014) percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ADI 26, MLSTP-PSD 21, PCD 7, MDFM 1

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ADI 26, MLSTP-PSD 21, PCD 7, MDFM 1

elections

last held on 1 August 2010 (next to be held in 2014)

National anthem

"Independencia total" (Total Independence) Alda Neves DA GRACA do Espirito Santo/Manuel dos Santos Barreto de Sousa e ALMEIDA adopted 1975

lyrics/music

Alda Neves DA GRACA do Espirito Santo/Manuel dos Santos Barreto de Sousa e ALMEIDA

name

"Independencia total" (Total Independence)

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 the media

other

the media

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$111.5 million $139.9 million (2012 est.)

expenditures

$139.9 million (2012 est.)

revenues

$111.5 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-10.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate

16% (31 December 2009) 28% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

26% (31 December 2012 est.) 26.75% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$85.1 million (2012 est.) -$77.6 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$316.6 million (31 December 2012 est.) $266 million (31 December 2011 est.)

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 and Principe has to import fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a substantial amount of food, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in global commodity prices. Over the years, it has had difficulty servicing its external debt and has relied heavily on concessional aid and debt rescheduling. Sao Tome and Principe 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, the government signed on to a new 3-year IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) program worth $4.3 million. In April 2011 the country completed a Threshold Country Program with The Millennium Challenge Corporation to help increase tax revenues, reform customs, and improve the business environment. 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. Potential exists for the development of petroleum resources in Sao Tome and Principe's territorial waters in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea, which are being jointly developed in a 60-40 split with Nigeria, but any actual production is at least several years off. The first production licenses were sold in 2004, though a dispute over licensing with Nigeria delayed the country's receipt of more than $20 million in signing bonuses for almost a year. Maintaining control of inflation, fiscal discipline, and increasing flows of foreign direct investment into the oil sector, are the major economic problems facing the country.

Exchange rates

dobras (STD) per US dollar - 19,202 (2012 est.) 17,623 (2011 est.) 18,499 (2010 est.) 16,209 (2009) 14,900 (2008)

Exports

$11.9 million (2012 est.) $11.7 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil

Exports - partners

Netherlands 29.4%, Belgium 27.5%, US 8.7%, Italy 4.9%, Nigeria 4.8% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

13.9% 23.7% 62.4% (2012 est.)

agriculture

13.9%

industry

23.7%

services

62.4% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,300 (2012 est.) $2,300 (2011 est.) $2,200 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.5% (2012 est.) 4.9% (2011 est.) 4.5% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$261 million (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$403 million (2012 est.) $385.2 million (2011 est.) $367.4 million (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$121.9 million (2012 est.) $114.4 million (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products

Imports - partners

Portugal 63.8%, US 6%, Gabon 4.7%, France 4% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

7% (2010 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

10.2% (2012 est.) 14.3% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

50.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

Labor force

52,490 (2007)

Labor force - by occupation

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

note

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

66.2% (2009 est.)

Public debt

76.5% of GDP (2012 est.) 74.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$44.7 million (31 December 2012 est.) $51.3 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$80.55 million (31 December 2012 est.) $82.39 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$87.12 million (31 December 2012 est.) $90.89 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$37.51 million (31 December 2012 est.) $34.42 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

42.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

150,300 Mt (2010 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Electricity - consumption

29.76 million kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

57.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

42.9% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

14,000 kW (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

32 million kWh (2009 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

904 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

889 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Broadcast media

1 government-owned TV station; 1 government-owned radio station; 3 independent local radio stations authorized in 2005 with 2 operating at the end of 2006; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code

.st

Internet hosts

1,678 (2012)

Internet users

26,700 (2009)

Telephone system

local telephone network of adequate quality with most lines connected to digital switches combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 65 telephones per 100 persons country code - 239; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

domestic

combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 65 telephones per 100 persons

general assessment

local telephone network of adequate quality with most lines connected to digital switches

international

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

Telephones - main lines in use

8,000 (2011)

Telephones - mobile cellular

115,000 (2011)

Airports

2 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2012)

total

2

Merchant marine

bulk carrier 1, cargo 2 2 (China 1, Greece 1) (2010)

foreign-owned

2 (China 1, Greece 1) (2010)

total

3

Ports and terminals

Sao Tome

Roadways

320 km 218 km 102 km (2000)

total

320 km

unpaved

102 km (2000)

Manpower available for military service

39,182 39,845 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

39,845 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

39,182

Manpower fit for military service

27,310 29,279 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

29,279 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

27,310

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

2,076 2,003 (2010 est.)

female

2,003 (2010 est.)

male

2,076

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 branches

Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (Forcas Armadas de Sao Tome e Principe, FASTP): Army, Coast Guard of Sao Tome e Principe (Guarda Costeira de Sao Tome e Principe, GCSTP); also called "Navy"), Presidential Guard (2011)

Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (Forcas Armadas de Sao Tome e Principe, FASTP)

Army, Coast Guard of Sao Tome e Principe (Guarda Costeira de Sao Tome e Principe, GCSTP); also called "Navy"), Presidential Guard (2011)

Military expenditures

0.8% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Disputes - international

none