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 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 127 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th century, the islands' sugar-based economy gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century - all grown with 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 two failed coup attempts in 1995 and 2003. The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea promises to attract increased attention to the small island nation.
Geography
Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon
18 fieldsLand useshare of 1,001 sq km
Environment - international agreements
- party to:
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
the smallest country in Africa; the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes and both are mountainous
People
22 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2008 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2008 est.)
Male · female
Religions(2001 census)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.94 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.83 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Major infectious diseases
- degree of risk:
- high
- food or waterborne diseases:
- bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
- vectorborne disease:
- malaria (2008)
Ethnic groups
mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), forros (descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)
Government
Republic; President Fradique DE MENEZES (since 3 September 2001); Prime Minister Joachim Rafael BRANCO (since 22 June 2008)
18 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional, 55 seats, elected 26 March 2006one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
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
Capital
- name:
- Sao Tome
- geographic coordinates:
- 0 12 N, 6 39 E
- time difference:
- UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome note: Principe has had self government since 29 April 1995
Legal system
based on Portuguese legal system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Fradique DE MENEZES (since 3 September 2001)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Joachim Rafael BRANCO (since 22 June 2008)
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister
- elections:
- president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
- election last held 30 July 2006 (next to be held July 2011);
- prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president
- election results:
- Fradique DE MENEZES elected president; percent of vote - Fradique DE MENEZES 60%, Patrice TROVOADA 38.5%
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
- elections:
- last held on 26 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2010)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - MDFM-PCD 37.2%, MLSTP 28.9%, ADI 20.0%, NR 4.7%, others 9.2%; seats by party - MDFM-PCD 23, MLSTP 19, ADI 12, NR 1
Political parties and leaders
- Force for Change Democratic Movement or MDFM [Tome Soares da VERA CRUZ];
- Independent Democratic Action or ADI [[Patrice TROVOADA]; Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD [Rafael BRANCO]; New Way Movement or NR; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Delfim NEVES]; Ue-Kedadji coalition; other small parties
Political pressure groups and leaders
Association of Sao Tome and Principe NGOs or FONG; other: the media
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- First Secretary Domingos Augusto FERREIRA
- chancery:
- 400 Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022
- telephone:
- [1] (212) 317-0580
- FAX:
- [1] (212) 935-7348
- consulate(s):
- Atlanta
Diplomatic representation from the US
- the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome and Principe;
- the Ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the islands
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;
- uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy
This small, poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence in 1975.
47 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2007 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
This small, poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence in 1975. Cocoa production has substantially declined in recent years because of drought and mismanagement. Sao Tome has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a substantial amount of food.
Over the years, it has had difficulty servicing its external debt and has relied heavily on concessional aid and debt rescheduling. Sao Tome benefited from $200 million in debt relief in December 2000 under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program, which helped bring down the country's $300 million debt burden.
In August 2005, Sao Tome signed on to a new 3-year IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) program worth $4.3 million. Considerable potential exists for development of a tourist industry, and the government has taken steps to expand facilities in recent years. The government also has attempted to reduce price controls and subsidies.
Sao Tome is optimistic about the development of petroleum resources in its territorial waters in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea, which are being jointly developed in a 60-40 split with Nigeria. The first production licenses were sold in 2004, though a dispute over licensing with Nigeria delayed Sao Tome's receipt of more than $20 million in signing bonuses for almost a year. Real GDP growth exceeded 6% in 2007, as a result of increases in public expenditures and oil-related capital investment.
Labor force - by occupation
note: population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing; shortages of skilled workers
Agriculture - products
- cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans;
- poultry;
- fish
Exchange rates
dobras (STD) per US dollar - 13,700 (2007), 12,050 (2006), 9,900.4 (2005), 9,902.3 (2004), 9,347.6 (2003)
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- local telephone network of adequate quality with most lines connected to digital switches
- domestic:
- combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 20 telephones per 100 persons
- international:
- country code - 239; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Transportation
5 fieldsMerchant marine, 6 ships by typeone square, one ship
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Military
Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (FASTP): Army, Coast Guard of Sao Tome e Principe (Guarda Costeira de Sao Tome e Principe, GCSTP), Presidential Guard (2007)
7 fieldsMilitary branches
Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (FASTP): Army, Coast Guard of Sao Tome e Principe (Guarda Costeira de Sao Tome e Principe, GCSTP), Presidential Guard (2007)
Military - note
- Sao Tome and Principe's army is a tiny force with almost no resources at its disposal and would be wholly ineffective operating unilaterally;
- infantry equipment is considered simple to operate and maintain but may require refurbishment or replacement after 25 years in tropical climates;
- poor pay, working conditions, and alleged nepotism in the promotion of officers have been problems in the past, as reflected in the 1995 and 2003 coups;
- these issues are being addressed with foreign assistance aimed at improving the army and its focus on realistic security concerns;
- command is exercised from the president, through the Minister of Defense, to the Chief of the Armed Forces staff (2005)
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Sao Tome and Principe.” The World Factbook 2008. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/sao-tome-and-principe/2008.