Sao Tome and Principe

Semi-Presidential RepublicPop236KGDP (PPP)$1.3BCI56Beta CP0.0→Beta

Some figures reconciled across multiple sources via Civica's methodology (v0.2 BETA). Methodology →

Sao Tome and Principe

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Overview

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.

Geography

Area

Land: 964 sq km
Water: 0 sq km
Total: 964 sq km

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Terrain: volcanic, mountainous

Land Use

Other: 0% (2023 est.)
Forest: 57.5% (2023 est.)
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.)

Location: Central Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, just north of the Equator, west of Gabon
Coastline: 209 km

Elevation

Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m

Irrigated land: 100 sq km (2012)
Map references: Africa

Land Boundaries

Total: 0 km

Maritime Claims

Note: note: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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
Natural resources: fish, hydropower
Area comparative: more than five times the size of Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 7 00 E
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 & Society

Literacy

Male: 92.5% (2019 est.)
Female: 82.8% (2019 est.)
Total population: 87.4% (2019 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.)
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.)

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
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 25.87 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.84 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 20.4 years
Total: 21.2 years (2025 est.)
Female: 21.2 years

Population

Male: 111,553
Total: 223,561 (2024 est.)
Female: 112,008

Nationality

Noun: Sao Tomean(s)
Adjective: Sao Tomean

Tobacco Use

Male: 13.1% (2025 est.)
Total: 7.3% (2025 est.)
Female: 1.7% (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 76.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 2.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 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)

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)

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)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 65.8 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 60.4 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 18.6 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 5.4 (2024 est.)

Physician density: 0.46 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

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.)

Net migration rate: -6.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density: 2.9 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.18 children born/woman (2025 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.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 46.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 41.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 39 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 1.39% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.57 (2025 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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 66 years
Female: 69.4 years
Total population: 67.7 years (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 75 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 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.)

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

Beer: 0.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 3.58 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 4.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Major urban areas population: 80,000 SAO TOME (capital) (2018)
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 12.4% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.4 years (2008/09 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15 49): 53.1% (2019 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 5.4% (2019 est.)

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

Male: 13 years (2021 est.)
Total: 13 years (2021 est.)
Female: 13 years (2021 est.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

ExecutiveLegislative

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

Capital

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

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

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

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
Local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe
Local short form: Sao Tome e Principe
Conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
Conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe

Independence: 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Legal system: mixed system of civil law based on the Portuguese model and customary law
Government type: semi-presidential republic

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)
Subordinate courts: Court of First Instance; Audit 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

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%
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
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

National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
National color(s): green, yellow, red, black
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

Legislative Branch

Term in office: 4 years
Number of seats: 55 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Legislature name: National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional)
Scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative structure: unicameral
Most recent election date: 9/25/2022
Expected date of next election: September 2026
Percentage of women in chamber: 14.5%
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)

National Anthem(s)

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

National symbol(s): palm tree
Administrative divisions: 6 districts (distritos, singular - distrito), 1 autonomous region* (regiao autonoma); Agua Grande, Cantagalo, Caue, Lemba, Lobata, Me-Zochi, Principe*

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Fax: [1] (212) 317-0580
Chancery: 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604
New York, NY 101168
Telephone: [1] (212) 317-0533
Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
Email address and website: stp1@attglobal.net

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 organisations: 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)
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Legislature

SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE · LEGISLATURE

National Assembly

55 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

Majority line

Largest party

Independent Democratic Action

Parties

All political parties2 parties · 55 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Leaders

Current

CN
Carlos Vila Nova
- Head of StateSince 2021
AR
Américo Ramos
- Head of GovernmentSince 2025

Economy

Budget

Note: 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
Revenues: $128.767 million (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $165.95 million (2022 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $49.337 million (2020 est.)

Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2020: $49.337 million (2020 est.)
Exports 2021: $75.256 million (2021 est.)
Exports 2022: $96.977 million (2022 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $160.097 million (2020 est.)

Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2020: $160.097 million (2020 est.)
Imports 2021: $201.145 million (2021 est.)
Imports 2022: $219.322 million (2022 est.)

Industries: light construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish processing, timber
Labor force: 34,500 (2024 est.)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled): 93.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2016: 93.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Remittances

Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2021: 2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022: 1.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

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.)

Debt External

Note: note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
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

Unemployment Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 9.1%

Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 9% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 9.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 9.2% (2024 est.)

Exports partners: Pakistan 54%, Germany 11%, Netherlands 7%, France 5%, UAE 3% (2023)
Imports partners: Portugal 35%, Angola 13%, Gabon 11%, Japan 8%, China 6% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $6,242

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
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.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 1.1%

Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
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.)

Agricultural products: plantains, oil palm fruit, taro, bananas, fruits, cocoa beans, yams, coconuts, cassava, vegetables (2023)
Exports commodities: crude petroleum, cocoa beans, vehicle parts/accessories, palm oil, aircraft parts (2023)
Imports commodities: ships, refined petroleum, rice, electric generating sets, cars (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled): $41.5M

Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
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.)

GDP (official exchange rate): $764.274 million (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Household consumption: 81.4% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 17.6% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 33.4% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 7.9% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -40.4% (2017 est.)

Population below poverty line: 55.5% (2017 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 14.4%

Note: note: annual % change based on 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.)

Industrial production growth rate: 3.2% (2024 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $1.291 billion (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
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.)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Male: 8% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 8.6% (2024 est.)
Female: 9.2% (2024 est.)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
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.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 2.9% (2024 est.)
Services: 76.6% (2024 est.)
Agriculture: 12.8% (2024 est.)

Note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Lowest 10%: 2.6% (2017 est.)
Highest 10%: 32.8% (2017 est.)

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Gini index coefficient distribution of family income 2017: 40.7 (2017 est.)

Energy

Petroleum

Refined petroleum consumption: 1,000 bbl/day (2023 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 urban areas: 80%
Electrification total population: 78% (2022 est.)

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 8.875 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Electricity Generation Sources

Fossil fuels: 93.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 6.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 62% (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

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions: 2,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Total subscriptions: 152,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 87 (2022 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total: 6,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)

Transport

Ports

Large: 0
Small: 0
Medium: 0
Key ports: Santo Antonio, Sao Tome
Very small: 2
Total ports: 2 (2024)
Ports with oil terminals: 0

Airports: 2 (2025)

Merchant Marine

Total: 25 (2023)
BY type: general cargo 15, oil tanker 4, other 6

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: S9

Environment

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

Land Use

Other: 0% (2023 est.)
Forest: 57.5% (2023 est.)
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.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 76.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 2.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and Recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 25,600 tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 16.9% (2022 est.)

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

Total Water Withdrawal

Municipal: 14.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Industrial: 600,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Agricultural: 25.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Total emissions: 146,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 146,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions: 29 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 2.18 billion cubic meters (2022)

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

Military & 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 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 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)
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 service personnel strengths: approximately 500 active Armed Forces (2023)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of

Civica Index56.0 / 100as of 2024-Q473 / 1902024-Q4

V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.56as of 2024-Q450 / 1702024-Q4

Freedom House StatusPartly Free (83/100)as of 2024-Q4—2024-Q4

Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (50/100)as of 2024—2024

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Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Sao Tome and Principe — vintage 2026-Q1: Sao Tome and Principe factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/sao-tome-and-principe

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Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata

Sao Tome and Principe

Area

Land Use

Elevation

Land Boundaries

Maritime Claims

Literacy

Sex Ratio

Median Age

Population

Nationality

Tobacco Use

Urbanization

Age Structure

Child Marriage

Dependency Ratios

Health Expenditure

Drinking Water Source

Education Expenditure

Infant Mortality Rate

Life Expectancy at Birth

Sanitation Facility Access

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

How power is organised

Capital

Citizenship

Constitution

Country Name

Judicial Branch

Executive Branch

Legislative Branch

National Anthem(s)

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Diplomatic Representation from the US

National Assembly

Current

Carlos Vila Nova

Américo Ramos

Budget

Exports

Imports

Public Debt

Remittances

Exchange Rates

Debt External

Unemployment Rate

Real GDP Per Capita

Real GDP Growth Rate

Current Account Balance

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Household Income or Consumption BY Percentage Share

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Petroleum

Electricity

Electricity Access

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Electricity Generation Sources

Internet Users

Telephones Fixed Lines

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Ports

Merchant Marine

Land Use

Urbanization

Waste and Recycling

Total Water Withdrawal

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

International Environmental Agreements

Cite this page