2020 Edition

Background

Portugal discovered and colonized the uninhabited Sao Tome and Principe islands in the late 15th century, setting up a sugar-based economy that gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century -- all grown with African 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 among the various political parties precipitated repeated changes in leadership and failed, non-violent coup attempts in 1995, 1998, 2003, and 2009. In 2012, three opposition parties combined in a no-confidence vote to bring down the majority government of former Prime Minister Patrice TROVOADA, but legislative elections returned him to the office two years later. President Evaristo CARVALHO, of the same political party as TROVOADA, was elected in 2016, marking a rare instance in which the same party held the positions of president and prime minister. TROVOADA resigned in 2018 and was replaced by Jorge BOM JESUS. Carlos Vila NOVA was elected president in 2021. TROVOADA began his fourth stint as prime minister in 2022, after his party's victory in legislative elections. 

Area

land

964 sq km

total

964 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

more than five times the size of Washington, D.C.

Climate

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

Coastline

209 km

Elevation

highest point

Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Geographic coordinates

1 00 N, 7 00 E

Geography - note

the second-smallest African country (after the Seychelles); the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes, and both are mountainous

Irrigated land

100 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

44.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 4.2% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 39.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 1% (2023 est.)

forest

57.5% (2023 est.)

other

0% (2023 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

flooding

Natural resources

fish, hydropower

Population distribution

Sao Tome, the capital city, has roughly a quarter of the nation's population; Santo Antonio is the largest town on Principe; the northern areas of both islands have the highest population densities, as shown in this population distribution map

Terrain

volcanic, mountainous

Age structure

0-14 years

36.4% (male 41,337/female 40,106)

15-64 years

60.3% (male 67,101/female 67,775)

65 years and over

3.2% (2024 est.) (male 3,115/female 4,127)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

0.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

4.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

3.58 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

25.87 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

men married by age 18

3.1% (2019)

women married by age 15

5.4% (2019)

women married by age 18

28% (2019)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

5.4% (2019 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

53.1% (2019 est.)

Death rate

5.84 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5.4 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

18.6 (2024 est.)

total dependency ratio

65.8 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

60.4 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 71.1% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 77.3% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 79.3% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 28.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 22.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 20.7% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

18.1% national budget (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups

Mestico, Angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), Forros (descendants of freed slaves), Servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cabo Verde), Tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese), Asians (mostly Chinese)

Gross reproduction rate

1.57 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

7.8% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

14.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.9 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

39 deaths/1,000 live births

male

46.1 deaths/1,000 live births

total

41.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Portuguese 98.4% (official), Forro 36.2%, Cabo Verdian 8.5%, French 6.8%, Angolar 6.6%, English 4.9%, Lunguie 1%, other (including sign language) 2.4%; other Portuguese-based Creoles are also spoken (2012 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

69.4 years

male

66 years

total population

67.7 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

82.8% (2019 est.)

male

92.5% (2019 est.)

total population

87.4% (2019 est.)

Major urban areas - population

80,000 SAO TOME (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio

75 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

21.2 years

male

20.4 years

total

21.2 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.4 years (2008/09 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Sao Tomean

noun

Sao Tomean(s)

Net migration rate

-6.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

12.4% (2016)

Physician density

0.46 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

female

112,008

male

111,553

total

223,561 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

1.39% (2025 est.)

Religions

Catholic 55.7%, Adventist 4.1%, Assembly of God 3.4%, New Apostolic 2.9%, Mana 2.3%, Universal Kingdom of God 2%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, other 6.2%, none 21.2%, unspecified 1% (2012 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 43.2% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 53.5% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 56.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 56.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 46.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 43.2% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

13 years (2021 est.)

male

13 years (2021 est.)

total

13 years (2021 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.75 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

1.7% (2025 est.)

male

13.1% (2025 est.)

total

7.3% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.18 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

76.4% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

6 districts (distritos, singular - distrito), 1 autonomous region* (regiao autonoma); Agua Grande, Cantagalo, Caue, Lemba, Lobata, Me-Zochi, Principe*

Capital

etymology

named after Saint THOMAS the Apostle by the Portuguese, who discovered the island on 21 December 1470 (or 1471), the saint's feast day

geographic coordinates

0 20 N, 6 44 E

name

Sao Tome

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Sao Tome and Principe

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

amendment process

proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; the Assembly can propose to the president of the republic that an amendment be submitted to a referendum

history

approved 5 November 1975

Country name

conventional long form

Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe

conventional short form

Sao Tome and Principe

etymology

Sao Tome was named after Saint THOMAS the Apostle by the Portuguese who discovered the island on 21 December 1470 (or 1471), the saint's feast day; Principe is a shortening of the original Portuguese name of "Ilha do Principe" (Isle of the Prince), referring to Prince ALPHONSO of Portugal

local long form

Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe

local short form

Sao Tome e Principe

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy

the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the US Ambassador to Angola is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe

mailing address

2290 Sao Tome Place, Washington DC 20521-2290

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604 New York, NY 101168

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant)

email address and website

stp1@attglobal.net Sao Tome and Principe Permanent Mission to the United Nations

FAX

[1] (212) 317-0580

telephone

[1] (212) 317-0533

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president

chief of state

President Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA (since 2 October 2021)

election results

2021: Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA elected president in the second round; percent of vote in the first round - Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA (IDA) 39.5%; Guilherme POSSER DA COSTA (MLSTP-PSD) 20.8%; Delfim NEVES (PCD-GR) 16.9%; Abel BOM JESUS (independent) 3.6%; Maria DAS NEVES (independent) 3.3%; other 15.9%; percent of the vote in second round - Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA 57.5%, Guilherme POSSER DA COSTA 42.5% 2016: Evaristo CARVALHO elected president; percent of vote - Evaristo CARVALHO (ADI) 49.8%, Manuel Pinto DA COSTA (independent) 24.8%, Maria DAS NEVES (MLSTP-PSD) 24.1%

election/appointment process

president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president

expected date of next election

2026

head of government

Prime Minister Américo d'Oliveira DOS RAMOS (since 12 January 2025)

most recent election date

18 July 2021, with a runoff on 5 September 2021

Flag

description: three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double-width), and green with two five-pointed black stars in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the left side meaning: green stands for the country's rich vegetation, red for the struggle for independence, and yellow for cocoa, one of the country's main agricultural products; the two stars symbolize the main islands history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement

Government type

semi-presidential 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, CEMAC, 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), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal Justica (consists of 5 judges); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 5 judges, 3 of whom are from the Supreme Court)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges appointed by the National Assembly; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and elected by the National Assembly for 5-year terms

subordinate courts

Court of First Instance; Audit Court

Legal system

mixed system of civil law based on the Portuguese model and customary law

Legislative branch

electoral system

proportional representation

expected date of next election

September 2026

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional)

most recent election date

9/25/2022

number of seats

55 (all directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

Independent Democratic Alliance (ADI) (30); Sao Tome and Principe Liberation Movement/Social Democratic Party (MLSTP - PSD) (18); Movement of Independent Citizens - Socialist Party (MCI - PS) - National Unity Party (PUN) (5); Other (2)

percentage of women in chamber

14.5%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1975

lyrics/music

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

title

"Independencia total" (Total Independence)

National color(s)

green, yellow, red, black

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

National symbol(s)

palm tree

Political parties

BASTA Movement  Independent Democratic Action or ADI  Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD  Movement of Independent Citizens of São Tomé and Príncipe - Socialist Party or MCI-PS  National Unity Party or PUN

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

plantains, oil palm fruit, taro, bananas, fruits, cocoa beans, yams, coconuts, cassava, vegetables (2023)

Budget

expenditures

$165.95 million (2022 est.)

revenues

$128.767 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2020

-$59.595 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

-$95.248 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$79.437 million (2022 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

$327.248 million (2023 est.)

Economic overview

lower middle-income Central African island economy; falling cocoa production due to drought and mismanagement; joint oil venture with Nigeria; government owns 90% of land; high debt, partly from fuel subsidies; tourism gutted by COVID-19

Exchange rates

Currency

dobras (STD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

21.885 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

21.507 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

20.71 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

23.29 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

22.658 (2023 est.)

Exports

Exports 2020

$49.337 million (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$75.256 million (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$96.977 million (2022 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, cocoa beans, vehicle parts/accessories, palm oil, aircraft parts (2023)

Exports - partners

Pakistan 54%, Germany 11%, Netherlands 7%, France 5%, UAE 3% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

7.9% (2017 est.)

government consumption

17.6% (2017 est.)

household consumption

81.4% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-40.4% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

33.4% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

12.8% (2024 est.)

industry

2.9% (2024 est.)

services

76.6% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$764.274 million (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017

40.7 (2017 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

32.8% (2017 est.)

lowest 10%

2.6% (2017 est.)

Imports

Imports 2020

$160.097 million (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$201.145 million (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$219.322 million (2022 est.)

Imports - commodities

ships, refined petroleum, rice, electric generating sets, cars (2023)

Imports - partners

Portugal 35%, Angola 13%, Gabon 11%, Japan 8%, China 6% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

3.2% (2024 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

18% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

21.3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

14.4% (2024 est.)

Labor force

34,500 (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

55.5% (2017 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

93.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$1.275 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$1.279 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$1.291 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

0.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

0.4% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

0.9% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$5,600 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$5,500 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$5,500 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

1.9% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$75.017 million (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$64.476 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$46.247 million (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

9% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

9.1% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

9.2% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

9.2% (2024 est.)

male

8% (2024 est.)

total

8.6% (2024 est.)

Electricity

consumption

47.05 million kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

29,000 kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

40.95 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

73.7%

electrification - total population

78% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

80%

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

93.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

6.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

8.875 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

1,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2023 est.)

total

6,000 (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

1 state-owned TV station; 2 state-owned radio stations; 7 independent local radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available

Internet country code

.st

Internet users

percent of population

62% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

2,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

87 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

152,000 (2023 est.)

Airports

2 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

S9

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 15, oil tanker 4, other 6

total

25 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Santo Antonio, Sao Tome

large

0

medium

0

ports with oil terminals

0

small

0

total ports

2 (2024)

very small

2

Military - note

the FASTP is one of the smallest militaries in Africa and consists of only a few companies of ground troops and some small patrol boats (2024)

Military and security forces

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), Presidential Guard, National Guard (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 500 active Armed Forces (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the FASTP is lightly armed and has a small inventory of mostly older weapons and equipment (2023)

Military service age and obligation

limited information; 18 is the minimum age for compulsory military service (reportedly not enforced) and 17 years of age (with parental permission) for voluntary service (2024)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from petroleum and other liquids

146,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

146,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

deforestation and illegal logging; soil erosion and exhaustion; inadequate sewage treatment in cities; biodiversity

International environmental agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban

Particulate matter emissions

29 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

2.18 billion cubic meters (2022)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

25.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

600,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

14.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

25,600 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

16.9% (2022 est.)