Sao Tome and Principe

Sao Tome and Principe

Introduction

Background

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

Location

Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon

Geographic coordinates

1 00 N, 7 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 964 sq km
country comparison to the world: 185 land:964 sq km
water:0 sq km

Area – comparative

more than five times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

209 km

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea:12 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm

Climate

tropical

hot, humid

one rainy season (October to May)

Terrain

volcanic, mountainous

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m

Natural resources

fish, hydropower

Land use

arable land: 8.33%
permanent crops:48.96%
other:42.71% (2005)

Irrigated land

100 sq km (2008)

Natural hazards

NA

Environment – current issues

deforestation

soil erosion and exhaustion

Environment – international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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 and Society

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 Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)

Languages

Portuguese (official)

Religions

Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%, other 3.1%, none 19.4% (2001 census)

Population

179,506 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185

Age structure

0-14 years: 44.7% (male 40,777/female 39,386)
15-64 years:52.2% (male 46,114/female 47,509)
65 years and over:3.2% (male 2,634/female 3,086) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 17.5 years
male:17.1 years
female:18 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.052% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46

Birth rate

38.03 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16

Death rate

8.18 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95

Net migration rate

-9.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209

Urbanization

urban population: 62% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:2.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

SAO TOME (capital) 60,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years:0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.86 male(s)/female
total population:1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 53.21 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 43 male:55.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female:51.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 63.11 years
country comparison to the world: 175 male:61.93 years
female:64.33 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.08 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18

Health expenditures

7.1% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 77

Physicians density

0.49 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
country comparison to the world: 125

Hospital bed density

3.2 beds/1,000 population (2006)
country comparison to the world: 68

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 89% of population
rural: 88% of population
total: 89% of population
unimproved:
urban: 11% of population
rural: 12% of population
total: 11% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 30% of population
rural: 19% of population
total: 26% of population
unimproved:
urban: 70% of population
rural: 81% of population
total: 74% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS – deaths

NA

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases:bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease:malaria
animal contact disease:rabies (2009)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

13.1% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 59

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:84.9%
male:92.2%
female:77.9% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years
male:11 years
female:11 years (2010)

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

Government type

republic

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

Independence

12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

Constitution

approved March 1990, effective 10 September 1990

Legal system

mixed legal system of civil law base on the Portuguese model and customary law

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Manuel Pinto DA COSTA (since 3 September 2011)
head of government:Prime Minister Joaquim Rafael BRANCO (since 22 June 2008)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term)

election last held on 17 July and 7 August 2011 (next to be held in 2016)

prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president
election results:Manuel PINTO DA COSTA elected president in a run-off election

percent of vote – Manuel PINTO DA COSTA 52.9%, Evaristo CARVALHO 47.1%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats

members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections:last held on 1 August 2010 (next to be held in 2014)
election results:percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – ADI 26, MLSTP-PSD 21, PCD 7, MDFM 1

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National Assembly)

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, AOSIS, AU, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, 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, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ovidio Manuel Barbosa PEQUENO
chancery:1211 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:[1] (202) 775-2075, 2076
FAX:[1] (202) 775-2077

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

green stands for the country’s rich vegetation, red recalls the struggle for independence, and yellow represents cocoa, one of the country’s main agricultural products

the two stars symbolize the two main islands
note:uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

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

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 and Principe 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 and Principe 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, the government 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. Potential exists for the development of petroleum resources in Sao Tome and Principe’s territorial waters in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea, which are being jointly developed in a 60-40 split with Nigeria, but any actual production is at least several years off. The first production licenses were sold in 2004, though a dispute over licensing with Nigeria delayed the country’s receipt of more than $20 million in signing bonuses for almost a year.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$311 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212 $297.8 million (2009 est.)
$286.3 million (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$196 million (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

4.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82 4% (2009 est.)
5.8% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$1,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193 $1,700 (2009 est.)
$1,700 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 15%
industry:23.3%
services:61.6% (2010 est.)

Labor force

52,490 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 188

Labor force – by occupation

note: population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing

shortages of skilled workers

Unemployment rate

NA%

Population below poverty line

54% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:NA%

Investment (gross fixed)

44.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4

Budget

revenues: $36.16 million
expenditures:$43.14 million (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

18.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

14.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214 17% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

16% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 5 28% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

20% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5 32% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$16.46 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189 $18.41 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$77.3 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188 $67.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$16.17 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187 $15.97 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Agriculture – products

cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans

poultry

fish

Industries

light construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish processing, timber

Industrial production growth rate

7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58

Electricity – production

41 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205

Electricity – consumption

38.13 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136

Oil – consumption

1,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135

Oil – imports

889 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198

Current account balance

-$73.2 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73 -$48.9 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$13.5 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210 $9.7 million (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil

Exports – partners

Netherlands 47.6%, Belgium 17.4%, France 5.9%, Thailand 4.9% (2010)

Imports

$99.65 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210 $79.6 million (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products

Imports – partners

Portugal 61%, Malaysia 7.4%, Netherlands 5.3%, Gabon 4.6% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$46.8 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172 $38.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$185.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179 $318 million (2002 est.)

Exchange rates

dobras (STD) per US dollar -
19,641 (2010)
16,209 (2009)
14,900 (2008)
13,700 (2007)
12,050 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

2 (2010)
country comparison to the world:207

Airports – with paved runways

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:1 (2010)

Roadways

total: 320 km
country comparison to the world: 203 paved:218 km
unpaved:102 km (2000)

Merchant marine

total: 3
country comparison to the world: 138 by type:bulk carrier 1, cargo 2
foreign-owned:1 (Greece 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Sao Tome

Military

Military branches

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 (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 39,182
females age 16-49:39,845 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 27,310
females age 16-49:29,279 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 2,076
female:2,003 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

0.8% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 147

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

Disputes – international

none