Sao Tome and Principe

Internet country code

.st

Internet hosts

735 (2006)

Internet users

20,000 (2005)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)

Telephone system

general assessment: adequate facilities domestic: minimal system international: country code - 239; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

7,000 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular

12,000 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

2 (2002)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $26.39 million expenditures: $59.48 million; including capital expenditures of $54 million (2004 est.)

Currency (code)

dobra (STD)

Current account balance

$-20 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$318 million (2002)

Economic aid - recipient

$200 million in December 2000 under the HIPC program

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, but strengthening prices helped boost export earnings in 2003. 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, and is expected to benefit from an additional round of HIPC debt relief in early 2006, to help 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 reached 6% in 2004, and also probably in 2005, as a result of increases in public expenditures and oil-related capital investment.

Electricity - consumption

13.95 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - production

15 million kWh (2003)

Exchange rates

dobras per US dollar - 9,900.4 (2005), (2004), 9,347.6 (2003), 9,088.3 (2002), 8,842.1 (2001)

Exports

$8 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities

cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil

Exports - partners

Netherlands 61.1%, Belgium 9.2%, Turkey 5.5%, South Korea 4% (2005)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$71.38 million

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$214 million (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 16.7% industry: 14.8% services: 68.4% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,200 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$38 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products

Imports - partners

UK 94.2%, Portugal 2.7%, US 1% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

15.2% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

32.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Labor force

35,050

Labor force - by occupation

note: population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing; shortages of skilled workers

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

650 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

54% (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$20 million (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

total: 1,001 sq km land: 1,001 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

more than five times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

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

Coastline

209 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

1 00 N, 7 00 E

Geography - note

the smallest country in Africa; the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes and both are fairly mountainous

Irrigated land

100 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

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

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

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

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

fish, hydropower

Terrain

volcanic, mountainous

Administrative divisions

2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome note: Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995

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)

Constitution

approved March 1990, effective 10 September 1990

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

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

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

Executive branch

chief of state: President Fradique DE MENEZES (since 3 September 2001) head of government: Prime Minister Tome Soares da VERA CRUZ (since 21 April 2006) 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%

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

Government type

republic

Independence

12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National Assembly)

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 26 March 2006 (next to be held March 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - MDFM-PCD 37.2%, MLSTP 28.9%, ADI 20.0%, NR 4.7%, other 9.2%; seats by party - MDFM-PCD 23, MLSTP 19, ADI 12, NR 1

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Renovation Party [Armindo GRACA]; Force for Change Democratic Movement or MDFM; Independent Democratic Action or ADI [Carlos NEVES]; Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD [Manuel Pinto Da COSTA]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Aldo BANDEIRA]; Ue-Kedadji coalition; other small parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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. Although independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. Though the first free elections were held in 1991, the political environment has been one of continued instability with frequent changes in leadership and coup attempts in 1995 and 2003. The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea is likely to have a significant impact on the country's economy.

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 33,438 females age 18-49: 35,279 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 25,950 females age 18-49: 28,660 (2005 est.)

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 and conditions have been a problem in the past, as has alleged nepotism in the promotion of officers, as reflected in the 1995 and 2003 coups; these issues are being addressed with foreign assistance as initial steps towards the improvement of 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)

Military branches

Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (FASTP): Army, Coast Guard, Presidential Guard (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.8% (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Age structure

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) (2006 est.)

Birth rate

40.25 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate

6.47 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

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)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 41.83 deaths/1,000 live births male: 43.74 deaths/1,000 live births female: 39.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Languages

Portuguese (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 67.31 years male: 65.73 years female: 68.95 years (2006 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 79.3% male: 85% female: 62% (1991 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria (2005)

Median age

total: 16.2 years male: 15.6 years female: 16.8 years (2006 est.)

Nationality

noun: Sao Tomean(s) adjective: Sao Tomean

Net migration rate

-2.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population

193,413 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate

3.15% (2006 est.)

Religions

Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%, other 3.1%, none 19.4% (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: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.62 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

2 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Merchant marine

total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 21,527 GRT/29,823 DWT by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 7 foreign-owned: 3 (Egypt 1, Greece 1, Lebanon 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals

Sao Tome

Roadways

total: 320 km paved: 218 km unpaved: 102 km (1999)