World Facts Index
 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 of Sao Tome
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Location:
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Western Africa, islands in
the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon |
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Coordinates:
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1 00 N, 7 00 E |
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Area:
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total: 1,001 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1,001 sq km |
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Area comparative:
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more than five times the
size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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209 km |
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Maritime claims:
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measured from claimed
archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; hot, humid; one
rainy season (October to May) |
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Terrain:
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volcanic, mountainous |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m |
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Natural resources:
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fish, hydropower |
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Environment current issues:
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deforestation; soil erosion
and exhaustion |
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Geography - note:
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the smallest country in
Africa; the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes
and both are fairly mountainous
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Population of Sao Tome
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Population:
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206,178 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 47.5% (male 46,478/female 45,302)
15-64 years: 48.8% (male 45,631/female 48,661)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 3,368/female 3,973) |
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Median age:
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16.2 years |
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Growth rate:
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3.15% |
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Infant mortality:
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41.83 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 67.31 years
male: 65.73 years
female: 68.95 years |
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Fertility rate:
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5.62 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Sao Tomean(s)
adjective: Sao Tomean |
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Ethnic groups:
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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) |
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Religions:
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Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New Apostolic 2%,
Adventist 1.8%, other 3.1%, none 19.4% |
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Languages:
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Portuguese (official) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 79.3%
male: 85%
female: 62%
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Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Democratic
Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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Sao Tome |
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Administrative divisions:
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2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome
note: Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995 |
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Independence:
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12 July 1975 (from Portugal) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 12 July (1975) |
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Constitution:
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approved March 1990; effective 10 September
1990 |
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Legal system:
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based on Portuguese legal system and
customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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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); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by
the president. |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55
seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the
National Assembly) |
Economy
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.
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GDP:
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$256 million (2007 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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6% |
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GDP per capita:
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$1,200 |
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GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 16.7%
industry: 14.8%
services: 68.4% |
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Inflation rate:
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15.2% |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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population mainly engaged
in subsistence agriculture and fishing
note: shortages of skilled workers |
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Budget:
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revenues: $26.39 million
expenditures: $59.48 million |
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Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 41.2%
hydro: 58.8%
other: 0% |
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Industries:
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light construction,
textiles, soap, beer; fish processing; timber |
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Agriculture:
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cocoa, coconuts, palm
kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans;
poultry; fish |
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Exports:
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cocoa 80%, copra, coffee,
palm oil |
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Export partners:
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Netherlands 64.3%, Belgium 10.1%, Germany 3.2% |
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Imports:
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machinery and electrical
equipment, food products, petroleum products |
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Import partners:
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UK 92.5%, Portugal 3.8%, US 1.3% |
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Currency:
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dobra (STD) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |