2021 Edition

Background

Portugal discovered and colonized the uninhabited 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 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 four 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 in 2014, legislative elections returned him to the office. President Evaristo CARVALHO, of the same political party as Prime Minister TROVOADA, was elected in September 2016, marking a rare instance in which the positions of president and prime minister are held by the same party. Prime Minister TROVOADA resigned at the end of 2018 and was replaced by Jorge BOM JESUS. Carlos Vila NOVA was elected president in early September 2021 and was inaugurated 2 October 2021. New oil discoveries in the Gulf of Guinea may attract increased attention to the small island nation.

Area

land

964 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

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

50.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 9.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 40.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 1% (2018 est.)

forest

28.1% (2018 est.)

other

21.2% (2018 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

note

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

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

39.77% (male 42,690/female 41,277)

15-24 years

21.59% (male 23,088/female 22,487)

25-54 years

31.61% (male 32,900/female 33,834)

55-64 years

4.17% (male 4,095/female 4,700)

65 years and over

2.87% (male 2,631/female 3,420) (2020 est.)

Birth rate

28.94 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

5.4% (2019)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

49.7% (2019)

Current Health Expenditure

6.3% (2018)

Death rate

6.33 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Demographic profile

Sao Tome and Principe’s youthful age structure – more than 60% of the population is under the age of 25 – and high fertility rate ensure future population growth. Although Sao Tome has a net negative international migration rate, emigration is not a sufficient safety valve to reduce already high levels of unemployment and poverty. While literacy and primary school attendance have improved in recent years, Sao Tome still struggles to improve its educational quality and to increase its secondary school completion rate. Despite some improvements in education and access to healthcare, Sao Tome and Principe has much to do to decrease its high poverty rate, create jobs, and increase its economic growth.The population of Sao Tome and Principe descends primarily from the islands’ colonial Portuguese settlers, who first arrived in the late 15th century, and the much larger number of African slaves brought in for sugar production and the slave trade. For about 100 years after the abolition of slavery in 1876, the population was further shaped by the widespread use of imported unskilled contract laborers from Portugal’s other African colonies, who worked on coffee and cocoa plantations. In the first decades after abolition, most workers were brought from Angola under a system similar to slavery. While Angolan laborers were technically free, they were forced or coerced into long contracts that were automatically renewed and extended to their children. Other contract workers from Mozambique and famine-stricken Cape Verde first arrived in the early 20th century under short-term contracts and had the option of repatriation, although some chose to remain in Sao Tome and Principe.Today’s Sao Tomean population consists of mesticos (creole descendants of the European immigrants and African slaves that first inhabited the islands), forros (descendants of freed African slaves), angolares (descendants of runaway African slaves that formed a community in the south of Sao Tome Island and today are fishermen), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (locally born children of contract laborers), and lesser numbers of Europeans and Asians.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5.4

potential support ratio

18.4 (2020 est.)

total dependency ratio

81

youth dependency ratio

75.6

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 88.4% of population

improved: total

total: 96.8% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 11.6% of population

unimproved: total

total: 3.2% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

Education expenditures

5.9% of GDP (2019)

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)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2020)

Hospital bed density

2.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

41.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

male

48.72 deaths/1,000 live births

total

45.3 deaths/1,000 live births

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%; note - shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; other Portuguese-based Creoles are also spoken (2012 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

68.36 years (2021 est.)

male

65.14 years

total population

66.72 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

89.5% (2018)

male

96.2%

total population

92.8%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

malaria and dengue fever

water contact diseases

schistosomiasis

Major urban areas - population

80,000 SAO TOME (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio

130 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

female

19.7 years (2020 est.)

male

18.9 years

total

19.3 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.4 years (2008/09 est.)

note

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Nationality

adjective

Sao Tomean

noun

Sao Tomean(s)

Net migration rate

-7.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

12.4% (2016)

Physicians density

0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population

213,948 (July 2021 est.)

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

Population growth rate

1.5% (2021 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: 35.3% of population

improved: total

total: 49.1% of population

improved: urban

urban: 54.4% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 64.7% of population

unimproved: total

total: 50.9% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 45.6% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

13 years (2015)

male

12 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.03 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.97 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.87 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.77 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.69 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

NA (2012 est.)

male

NA

total

20.8%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

75.1% of total population (2021)

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

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

amendments

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; revised several times, last in 2006

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 the Prince of Portugal to whom duties on the island's sugar crop were paid

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 Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe

mailing address

2290 Sao Tome Place, Washington DC  20521-2290

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

675 Third Avenue, Suite 1807, New York, NY 10017

chief of mission

Ambassador Carlos Filomeno Azevedo Agostinho das NEVES (since 3 December 2013)

email address and website

rdstppmun@gmail.com

FAX

[1] (212) 651-8117

telephone

[1] (212) 651-8116

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 the second round - Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA (IDA) 57.5%, Guilherme POSSER DA COSTA (MLSTP-PSD) 42.5%; note - VILA NOVA is scheduled to take office 29 September 2021 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%; note - first round results for CARVALHO were revised downward from just over 50%, prompting the 7 August runoff; however, on 1 August 2016 DA COSTA withdrew from the runoff, citing voting irregularities, and CARVALHO was declared the winner

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 18 July 2021 and runoff on 5 September 2021 (next to be held in 2026); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president 

head of government

Prime Minister Jorge BOM JESUS (since 3 December 2018)

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

note

note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

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 courts

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

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - ADI 41.8%, MLSTP/PSD 40.3%, PCD-GR 9.5%, MCISTP 2.1%, other 6.3%; seats by party - ADI 25, MLSTP-PSD 23, PCD-MDFM-UDD 5, MCISTP 2; composition - men 45, women 10, percent of women 18.2%

elections

last held on 7 October 2018 (next to be held in October 2022)

National anthem

lyrics/music

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

name

"Independencia total" (Total Independence)

note

note: adopted 1975

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

National symbol(s)

palm tree; national colors: green, yellow, red, black

Political parties and leaders

Force for Democratic Change Movement or MDFM [Fradique Bandeira Melo DE MENEZES]Independent Democratic Action or ADI [vacant]Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD [Aurelio MARTINS]Party for Democratic Convergence-Reflection Group or PCD-GR [Leonel Mario D'ALVA]other small parties

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

plantains, oil palm fruit, coconuts, taro, bananas, fruit, cocoa, yams, cassava, maize

Budget

expenditures

112.4 million (2017 est.)

revenues

103 million (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2016

-$23 million (2016 est.)

Current account balance 2017

-$32 million (2017 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 31 December 2016

$308.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Debt - external 31 December 2017

$292.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)

Economic overview

The economy of São Tomé and Príncipe is small, based mainly on agricultural production, and, since independence in 1975, increasingly dependent on the export of cocoa beans. Cocoa production has substantially declined in recent years because of drought and mismanagement. Sao Tome depends heavily on imports of food, fuels, most manufactured goods, and consumer goods, and changes in commodity prices affect the country’s inflation rate. Maintaining control of inflation, fiscal discipline, and increasing flows of foreign direct investment into the nascent oil sector are major economic problems facing the country. In recent years the government has attempted to reduce price controls and subsidies. In 2017, several business-related laws were enacted that aim to improve the business climate.São Tomé and Príncipe has had difficulty servicing its external debt and has relied heavily on concessional aid and debt rescheduling. 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. In 2016, Sao Tome and Portugal signed a five-year cooperation agreement worth approximately $64 million, some of which will be provided as loans. In 2017, China and São Tomé signed a mutual cooperation agreement in areas such as infrastructure, health, and agriculture worth approximately $146 million over five years.Considerable potential exists for development of tourism, and the government has taken steps to expand tourist facilities in recent years. Potential also exists for the development of petroleum resources in São Tomé and Príncipe's territorial waters in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea, some of which are being jointly developed in a 60-40 split with Nigeria, but production is at least several years off.Volatile aid and investment inflows have limited growth, and poverty remains high. Restricteded capacity at the main port increases the periodic risk of shortages of consumer goods. Contract enforcement in the country’s judicial system is difficult. The IMF in late 2016 expressed concern about vulnerabilities in the country’s banking sector, although the country plans some austerity measures in line with IMF recommendations under their three year extended credit facility. Deforestation, coastal erosion, poor waste management, and misuse of natural resources also are challenging issues.

Exchange rates

currency

dobras (STD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

18,466 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

22,091 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2015

22,149 (2015 est.)

Exchange rates 2016

21,797 (2016 est.)

Exchange rates 2017

22,689 (2017 est.)

Exports

Exports 2018

$100 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Exports 2019

$70 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Exports 2020

$50 million note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)

Exports - commodities

gas turbines, cocoa beans, aircraft parts, iron products, chocolate (2019)

Exports - partners

Singapore 30%, Switzerland 24%, France 11%, Poland 7%, Belgium 7%, United States 5% (2019)

Fiscal year

calendar year

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

11.8% (2017 est.)

industry

14.8% (2017 est.)

services

73.4% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$0 (2018 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2000

32.1 (2000 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017

56.3 (2017 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

Imports 2018

$200 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Imports 2019

$190 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Imports 2020

$160 million note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, rice, flavored water, postage stamps (2019)

Imports - partners

Portugal 41%, Angola 17%, China 8% (2019 )

Industrial production growth rate

5% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

5.7% (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

7.8% (2018 est.)

Labor force

72,600 (2017 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

26.1%

industry

21.4%

services

52.5% (2014 est.)

Population below poverty line

66.7% (2017 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

93.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

88.4% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2010 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$840 million note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$860 million note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$890 million note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2015

3.8% (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2016

4.2% (2016 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2017

3.9% (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2010 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2018

$4,000 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$4,000 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$4,100 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016

$61.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$58.95 million (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

26.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2016

12.6% (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate 2017

12.2% (2017 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

NA (2012 est.)

male

NA

total

20.8%

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018)

Electricity - consumption

61.38 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

88% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

11% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

18,100 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

66 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

25% (2019)

electrification - total population

71% (2019)

electrification - urban areas

87% (2019)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

1,027 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1.15 (2020 est.)

total

2,512 (2020)

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

Internet country code

.st

Internet users

percent of population

29.93% (2019 est.)

total

65,000 (2020 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line 2 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity 77 telephones per 100 persons (2019)

general assessment

local telephone network of adequate quality with most lines connected to digital switches; mobile cellular superior choice to landland; dial-up quality low; broadband expensive (2018)

international

country code - 239; landing points for the Ultramar GE and ACE submarine cables from South Africa to over 20 West African countries and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1.24 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

2,720 (2020)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

79.49 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

174,203 (2020)

Airports

total

2 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2019)

total

2

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

S9

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 13, oil tanker 2, other 7 (2021)

total

22

National air transport system

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

1

number of registered air carriers

1 (2020)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Sao Tome

Roadways

paved

230 km (2018)

total

1,300 km (2018)

unpaved

1,070 km (2018)

Maritime threats

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2020, there were 98 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a 24% decrease from the total number of incidents in 2019, it included all three hijackings and 9 of 11 ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2020, a record 130 crew members were kidnapped in 22 separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 95% of kidnappings worldwide; approximately 51% of all incidents of piracy and armed robbery are taking place off Nigeria, which is a decrease from the 71% in 2019 and an indication pirates are traveling further to target vessels; Nigerian pirates are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2021-002 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 9 January 2021, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea.”

Military - note

the FASTP is one of the smallest militaries in Africa and consists of only a few companies of ground troops and a few small patrol boats; as of 2021, it did not have an air force

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 (2021)

Military and security service personnel strengths

the FASTP has approximately 4-500 personnel (2020)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the FASTP is lightly and poorly armed (2020)

Military service age and obligation

18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service; 17 is the legal minimum age for voluntary service (2019)

Disputes - international

none

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

0.12 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

0.04 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

25.66 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate

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

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international 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

Land use

agricultural land

50.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 9.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 40.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 1% (2018 est.)

forest

28.1% (2018 est.)

other

21.2% (2018 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

malaria and dengue fever

water contact diseases

schistosomiasis

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

1.9% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

2.18 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

25.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

600,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

14.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

75.1% of total population (2021)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

25,587 tons (2014 est.)