Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
3 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
6,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
1 state-owned TV station; 2 state-owned radio stations; 7 independent local radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available
Communications: Internet country code
.st
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
59.12% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
1 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
2,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
87 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
152,000 (2023 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
plantains, oil palm fruit, taro, bananas, fruits, cocoa beans, yams, coconuts, cassava, vegetables (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$165.95 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$128.767 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$81.3 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$103.9 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$68.7 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$61.5 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$73.1 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$75.1 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$90.0 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$59.595 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$95.248 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$79.437 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
$20.9 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$41.5 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$286.9 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$327.248 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
22.6430 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
dobras (STD) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
18.4500 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
18.4664 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
22.0906 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
22.1489 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
21.7411 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
20.7509 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
21.8847 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
21.5071 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
20.7104 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
23.2904 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
22.6584 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
22.6430 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, cocoa beans, vehicle parts/accessories, palm oil, aircraft parts (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$49.337 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$75.256 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$96.977 million (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
7.9% (2017 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
17.6% (2017 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
81.4% (2017 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-40.4% (2017 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
33.4% (2017 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0% (2017 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
12.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
2.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
76.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$6,242 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$764.274 million (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$1.470 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
40.7 (2017 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
32.8% (2017 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.6% (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
ships, refined petroleum, rice, electric generating sets, cars (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$160.097 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$201.145 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$219.322 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
3.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
5.25% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
5.43% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
5.69% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
7.87% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
7.72% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
9.82% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
8.14% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
18.01% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
21.26% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
14.35% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
34,500 (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
55.50% (2017 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
93.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$636.2 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$635.2 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$676.2 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$711.2 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$993.4 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$1.119 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$1.272 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$1.275 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$1.279 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$1.291 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
1.54% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
5.18% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
4.11% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
4.38% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
2.01% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
2.62% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
1.90% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
0.17% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
0.37% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
1.10% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$3,233 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$3,172 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$3,320 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$3,436 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$4,655 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$5,145 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$5,733 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$6,034 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$6,150 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$26.6 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$26.8 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$20.0 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$8.6 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
1.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
$80.1 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$72.9 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$63.2 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$59.0 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$43.7 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$47.1 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$75.3 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$75.017 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$64.476 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$46.247 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$58.8 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
8.84% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
9.68% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
9.56% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
8.96% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
9.03% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
9.06% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
9.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
8% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
8.6% (2024 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
73.7%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
78% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
80%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
93.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
6.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
47.05 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
29,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
40.95 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
8.875 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
1,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
146,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
146,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Environment: Environmental issues
deforestation and illegal logging; soil erosion and exhaustion; inadequate sewage treatment in cities; biodiversity
Environment: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
44.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 4.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 39.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
57.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
0% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
29 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
2.18 billion cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
25.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
600,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
14.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
68.87% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
25,600 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
16.9% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
more than five times the size of Washington, D.C.
Geography: Area: land
964 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
209 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
1 00 N, 7 00 E
Geography: 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
Geography: Irrigated land
100 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: total
0 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
44.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 4.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 39.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
57.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
0% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
flooding
Geography: 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
Geography: Terrain
volcanic, mountainous
Government: Administrative divisions
6 districts ( distritos , singular - distrito ), 1 autonomous region* ( regiao autonoma ); Agua Grande, Cantagalo, Caue, Lemba, Lobata, Me-Zochi, Principe*
Government: 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
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
0 20 N, 6 44 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Sao Tome and Principe
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: 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
Government: Constitution: history
approved 5 November 1975
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Sao Tome and Principe
Government: Country name: 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: Country name: local long form
Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe
Government: Country name: local short form
Sao Tome e Principe
Government: 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
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2290 Sao Tome Place, Washington DC 20521-2290
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604 New York, NY 101168
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
stp1@attglobal.net Sao Tome and Principe Permanent Mission to the United Nations
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (212) 317-0580
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (212) 317-0533
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA (since 2 October 2021)
Government: Executive branch: 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%
Government: Executive branch: 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
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2026
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Américo d'Oliveira DOS RAMOS (since 12 January 2025)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
18 July 2021, with a runoff on 5 September 2021
Government: 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: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: 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)
Government: 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)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Court of First Instance; Audit Court
Government: Legal system
mixed system of civil law based on the Portuguese model and customary law
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
September 2026
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
9/25/2022
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
55 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: 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)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
14.5%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
4 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1975
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Alda Neves DA GRACA do Espirito Santo/Manuel dos Santos Barreto de Sousa e ALMEIDA
Government: National color(s)
green, yellow, red, black
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Government: National symbol(s)
palm tree
Government: 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
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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.
Military and Security: 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: 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: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 500 active Armed Forces (2023)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the FASTP is lightly armed and has a small inventory of mostly older weapons and equipment (2023)
Military and Security: 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)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
36.4% (male 41,337/female 40,106)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
60.3% (male 67,101/female 67,775)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
3.2% (2024 est.) (male 3,115/female 4,127)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
4.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
3.58 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
25.87 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
3.1% (2019)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
5.4% (2019)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
28% (2019)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
5.4% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
5.77% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
53.1% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
5.84 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
5.4 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
18.6 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
65.8 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
60.4 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 71.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 77.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 79.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 28.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 22.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 20.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
5% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
18.1% national budget (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
5.03% (2023 est.)
People and Society: 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)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.57 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
7.8% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
14.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
2.9 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
39 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
46.1 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
41.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
73.9 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
66.4 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
82.8% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
92.5% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
87.44% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
80,000 SAO TOME (capital) (2018)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
75 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
21.2 years
People and Society: Median age: male
20.4 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
19.4 years (2008/09 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Sao Tomean
People and Society: Net migration rate
-6.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
12.4% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.46 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
235,536 (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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
People and Society: Population growth rate
1.39% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
112,008
People and Society: Population: male
111,553
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 43.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 53.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 56.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 56.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 46.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 43.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
13 years (2021 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
13 years (2021 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
13 years (2021 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.99 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.75 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
1.7% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
13.1% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
7.3% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
3.60 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
68.87% (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
2 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
S9
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 15, oil tanker 4, other 6
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
25 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Santo Antonio, Sao Tome
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
0
Transportation: Ports: small
0
Transportation: Ports: total ports
2 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
2
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.