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. TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes
Geography
Location
Central Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, just north of the Equator, west of Gabon
Geographic coordinates
1 00 N, 7 00 E
Map references
Africa
Area
total : 964 sq km
land: 964 sq km
water: 0 sq km
comparison ranking: total 184
Area – comparative
more than five times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Coastline
209 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Terrain
volcanic, mountainous
Elevation
highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources
fish, hydropower
Land use
agricultural land: 44.8% (2022 est.)
arable land: 4.2% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 39.6% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 1% (2022 est.)
forest: 52.8% (2022 est.)
other: 2.4% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
100 sq km (2012)
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
Natural hazards
flooding
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
People and Society
Population
total: 223,561 (2024 est.)
male: 111,553
female: 112,008
comparison rankings: total 183; female 183; male 183
Nationality
noun: Sao Tomean(s)
adjective: Sao Tomean
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)
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.)
note: shares of language sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census
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.)
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)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 65.8 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 60.4 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 5.4 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 18.6 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 20.8 years (2024 est.)
male: 20.4 years
female: 21.2 years
comparison ranking: total 197
Population growth rate
1.42% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 70
Birth rate
26.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 39
Death rate
6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 155
Net migration rate
-6.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 213
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
Urbanization
urban population: 76.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
80,000 SAO TOME (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
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
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother’s mean age at first birth
19.4 years (2008/09 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29
Maternal mortality ratio
146 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 55
Infant mortality rate
total: 42.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 46.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 39 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 27
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 67.7 years (2024 est.)
male: 66 years
female: 69.4 years
comparison ranking: total population 195
Total fertility rate
3.31 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 41
Gross reproduction rate
1.63 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
49.7% (2019)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 94% of population
total: 98.5% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 6% of population
total: 1.5% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
7.8% of GDP (2021)
14.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
0.46 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density
2.9 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 57.1% of population
rural: 42.8% of population
total: 53.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 42.9% of population
rural: 57.2% of population
total: 46.6% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
12.4% (2016)
comparison ranking: 133
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 4.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 3.58 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 92
Tobacco use
total: 7.3% (2025 est.)
male: 13.1% (2025 est.)
female: 1.7% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 149
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
5.4% (2019)
comparison ranking: 64
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
51.9% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 5.4% (2019)
women married by age 18: 28% (2019)
men married by age 18: 3.1% (2019)
Education expenditure
5% of GDP (2023 est.)
18.1% national budget (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 65
Literacy
total population: 87.4% (2019 est.)
male: 92.5% (2019 est.)
female: 82.8% (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2015)
Environment
Environment – current issues
deforestation and illegal logging; soil erosion and exhaustion; inadequate sewage treatment in cities; biodiversity
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
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Land use
agricultural land: 44.8% (2022 est.)
arable land: 4.2% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 39.6% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 1% (2022 est.)
forest: 52.8% (2022 est.)
other: 2.4% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 76.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 33.75 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 0.12 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.04 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 25,587 tons (2014 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 600,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 30 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
2.18 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
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
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
Government type
semi-presidential republic
Capital
name: Sao Tome
geographic coordinates: 0 20 N, 6 44 E
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
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
Administrative divisions
6 districts (distritos, singular – distrito), 1 autonomous region* (regiao autonoma); Agua Grande, Cantagalo, Caue, Lemba, Lobata, Me-Zochi, Principe*
Legal system
mixed system of civil law based on the Portuguese model and customary law
Constitution
history: approved 5 November 1975
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
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA (since 2 October 2021)
head of government: Prime Minister Américo d’Oliveira DOS RAMOS (since 12 January 2025)
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president
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
most recent election date: 18 July 2021, with a runoff on 5 September 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%
expected date of next election: 2026
Legislative branch
legislature name: National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 55 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 9/25/2022
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%
expected date of next election: September 2026
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
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604
New York, NY 101168
telephone: [1] (212) 317-0533
FAX: [1] (212) 317-0580
email address and website:
[email protected]
Sao Tome and Principe Permanent Mission to the United Nations
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
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)
Independence
12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday
Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Flag description
three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double-width), and green with two black five-pointed stars 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 for the struggle for independence, and yellow for cocoa, one of the country’s main agricultural products; the two stars symbolize the main islands
note: uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
National symbol(s)
palm tree
National color(s)
green, yellow, red, black
National anthem
name: “Independencia total” (Total Independence)
lyrics/music: Alda Neves DA GRACA do Espirito Santo/Manuel dos Santos Barreto de Sousa e ALMEIDA
note: adopted 1975
Economy
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.279 billion (2023 est.)
$1.275 billion (2022 est.)
$1.272 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 206
Real GDP growth rate
0.37% (2023 est.)
0.17% (2022 est.)
1.9% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 183
Real GDP per capita
$5,500 (2023 est.)
$5,600 (2022 est.)
$5,700 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 174
GDP (official exchange rate)
$678.976 million (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
21.3% (2023 est.)
18% (2022 est.)
8.1% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 198
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 13.7% (2023 est.)
industry: 2.8% (2023 est.)
services: 75.9% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 26; industry 215; agriculture 60
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 81.4% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 17.6% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 33.4% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 7.9% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -40.4% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
plantains, oil palm fruit, taro, bananas, fruits, cocoa beans, yams, coconuts, cassava, vegetables (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
light construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish processing, timber
Industrial production growth rate
-2.06% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 182
Labor force
34,500 (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 194
Unemployment rate
9.2% (2024 est.)
9.1% (2023 est.)
9% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 155
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 8.6% (2024 est.)
male: 8% (2024 est.)
female: 9.2% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 141
Population below poverty line
55.5% (2017 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
40.7 (2017 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 39
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.6% (2017 est.)
highest 10%: 32.8% (2017 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
1.47% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.88% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.02% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $128.764 million (2022 est.)
expenditures: $122.193 million (2022 est.)
note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
88.4% of GDP (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 28
Taxes and other revenues
26.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 35
Current account balance
-$79.437 million (2022 est.)
-$95.248 million (2021 est.)
-$59.595 million (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 97
Exports
$96.977 million (2022 est.)
$75.256 million (2021 est.)
$49.337 million (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 212
Exports – partners
Pakistan 54%, Germany 11%, Netherlands 7%, France 5%, UAE 3% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
crude petroleum, cocoa beans, vehicle parts/accessories, palm oil, aircraft parts (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$219.322 million (2022 est.)
$201.145 million (2021 est.)
$160.097 million (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 211
Imports – partners
Portugal 35%, Angola 13%, Gabon 11%, Japan 8%, China 6% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
ships, refined petroleum, rice, electric generating sets, cars (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$46.247 million (2023 est.)
$64.476 million (2022 est.)
$75.017 million (2021 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 194
Debt – external
$327.248 million (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 115
Exchange rates
dobras (STD) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
22.658 (2023 est.)
23.29 (2022 est.)
20.71 (2021 est.)
21.507 (2020 est.)
21.885 (2019 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 78% (2022 est.)
electrification – urban areas: 80%
electrification – rural areas: 73.7%
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 29,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 47.05 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 40.95 million kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 34; consumption 204; installed generating capacity 202
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 93.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 6.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 1,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
146,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 146,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 206
Energy consumption per capita
8.875 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 152
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 2,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 216
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 152,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 87 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 187
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.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 6,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 192
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
S9
Airports
2 (2025)
comparison ranking: 199
Merchant marine
total: 25 (2023)
by type: general cargo 15, oil tanker 4, other 6
comparison ranking: total 141
Ports
total ports: 2 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 0
very small: 2
ports with oil terminals: 0
key ports: Santo Antonio, Sao Tome
Military and Security
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 (2024)
note: the Army and Coast Guard are responsible for external security while the public security police and judicial police maintain internal security; both the public security police and the military report to the Ministry of Defense and Internal Affairs; the judicial police report to the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration, and Human Rights
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
18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service (reportedly not enforced); 17 is the legal minimum age for voluntary service (2023)
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
in November 2022, the FASTP’s headquarters was attacked shortly after the prime minister’s inauguration in what São Tomé authorities described as an attempted coup; in 2024, the governments of Russia and São Tomé and Principe signed a military cooperation agreement, which included training, materiel and logistics support, and information sharing (2024)
