Sao Tome and Principe

Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and PrincipeRepublica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe

republicIndependence 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Sao Tome and Principe as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 73 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalSao Tome

Area960 km2

LocationWestern Africa, in the Atlantic Ocean, 340 km off the coast of Gabon

1993

Every edition of Sao Tome and Principe

Populationas each edition published it

133,225 people July 1993 est. · 124,765 in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.63% 1993 est. · 1.39% in 2025

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 16.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

63.02 years 1993 est. · 67.7 yrs in 2025

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.6 children per woman 1993 est. · 5.4 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

64.9 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 61 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$315 1992 est. · $5,500 in 2025

GDP real growth% a year

1.5% 1992 est. · 0.9% in 2025

Geography

Western Africa, in the Atlantic Ocean, 340 km off the coast of Gabon | straddling the equator

13 fields

Land useshare of 960 km2

arable land 1%permanent crops 20%meadows and pastures 1%forest and woodland 75%other 3%

Area

960km2

land area: 960 km2comparative area: slightly less than 5.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

209km

land boundaries: 0 kmMaritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselinesexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

Western Africa, in the Atlantic Ocean, 340 km off the coast of Gabon straddling the equator

Map references

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Climate

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

People

14 fields

Population

133,225

(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 2.63% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth

35.39Death

9.06Net migration

Male · female(1993 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years63.02

61.19 · 64.9

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy57%

73% · 42%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1981)

Labor force

21,096

(1981); most of population engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing; labor shortages on plantations and of skilled workers; 56% of population of working age (1983)

Infant mortality rate

64.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Sao Tomean(s)
adjective:: Sao Tomean

mestico, angolares (descendents of Angolan slaves), forros (descendents of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)

Religions

Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist

Languages

Portuguese (official)

Government

Republic

20 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

54.4%

PCD-GR 54.4%MLSTP 30.5%CODO 5.2%FDC 1.5%other 8.4%

Names

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

Digraph

Type

republic

Capital

Sao Tome

Administrative divisions

2 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Principe, Sao Tome

Independence

12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Constitution

5 November 1975, approved 15 December 1982

Legal system

based on Portuguese law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

Political parties and leaders

Party for Democratic Convergence-Reflection Group (PCD-GR), Daniel Lima Dos Santos DAIO, secretary general;
Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe (MLSTP), Carlos da GRACA;
Christian Democratic Front (FDC), Alphonse Dos SANTOS;
Democratic Opposition Coalition (CODO), leader NA;
other small parties

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Elections

President:: last held 3 March 1991 (next to be held NA March 1996);
results - Miguel TROVOADA was elected without opposition in Sao Tome's first multiparty presidential election
National People's Assembly:: last held 20 January 1991 (next to be held NA January 1996);
results - PCD-GR 54.4%, MLSTP 30.5%, CODO 5.2%, FDC 1.5%, other 8.4%;
seats - (55 total) PCD-GR 33, MLSTP 21, CODO 1;
note - this was the first multiparty election in Sao Tome and Principe

Executive branch

president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch

unicameral National People's Assembly (Assembleia Popular Nacional)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Leaders

Chief of State:: President Miguel TROVOADA (since 4 April 1991)
Head of Government:: Prime Minister Noberto Jose D'Alva COSTA ALEGRE (since 16 May 1992)

Member of

ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Joaquim Rafael BRANCO
chancery:: (temporary) 801 Second Avenue, Suite 603, New York, NY 10017
telephone:: (212) 697-4211

US diplomatic representation

ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the islands

Flag

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;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy

The economy has remained dependent on cocoa since the country gained | independence nearly 15 years ago.

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$315

(1992 est.)

Real growth rate

1.5%

(1992 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 7.1% (1986)

Inflation, consumer prices

27%

(1992 est.)

External debt

$163.6million

(1992)

Budget

Revenues

$10.2 millionExpenditures

$36.8 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $22.5 million (1989)

Overview

The economy has remained dependent on cocoa since the country gained independence nearly 15 years ago. Since then, however, cocoa production has gradually deteriorated because of drought and mismanagement, so that by 1987 output had fallen to less than 50% of its former levels. As a result, a shortage of cocoa for export has created a serious balance-of-payments problem.

Production of less important crops, such as coffee, copra, and palm kernels, has also declined. The value of imports generally exceeds that of exports by a ratio of 4:1. The emphasis on cocoa production at the expense of other food crops has meant that Sao Tome has to import 90% of food needs.

It also has to import all fuels and most manufactured goods. Over the years, Sao Tome has been unable to service its external debt, which amounts to roughly 80% of export earnings. Considerable potential exists for development of a tourist industry, and the government has taken steps to expand facilities in recent years.

The government also implemented a Five-Year Plan covering 1986-90 to restructure the economy and reschedule external debt service payments in cooperation with the International Development Association and Western lenders.