National Identity
- Official name
- Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
- Official name (in Portuguese)
- República Democrática de São Tomé e Príncipe
- Name etymology
Sao Tome was named after Saint THOMAS the Apostle by the Portuguese who discovered the island on 21 December 1470 (or 1471), the saint's feast day; Principe is a shortening of the original Portuguese name of "Ilha do Principe" (Isle of the Prince), referring to Prince ALPHONSO of Portugal
Sources:- Constitution of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe ↗ - National Assembly of São Tomé and Príncipe
- The World Factbook: São Tomé and Príncipe - CIA
- National emblem
- National flag
Translated from the Presidency of the Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe The flag of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe (D.R.S.T.P.) consists of three horizontal stripes, the outer ones being green and of equal width and the middle one, to which two black five-pointed stars are fixed, yellow and of a width equal to one and a half times each of the others, and of a scarlet triangle whose base is located on the left side of the flag. The height of the triangle is half that of its base.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the Presidency of the Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe The meaning of each of the elements that make up the flag:
Two stars symbolising the islands of the archipelago;
A triangle, expressing equality, red, symbolising the struggle for independence;
The colours yellow, green and red, relating to the liberation movement (the Pan-African colours).
Unofficial translation by WorldometerSource:- presidencia.st ↗ - the Presidency of the Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
- National anthem
- Independência total2:05
- Title (in Portuguese)
- Independência total
- Title (in English, translated)
- Total Independence
- Lyrics
ChorusIndependência total, Glorioso canto do porvo, Independência total, Hino sagrado de combate. Dinamismo Na luta nacional, Juramento eterno No pais soberano de São Tomé e Príncipe.
1Guerrilheiro da guerra sem armas na mão, Chama viva na alma do porvo, Congregando os filhos das ilhas Em redor da Pátria Imortal.
Independência total, total e completa, Costruindo, no progresso e na paz, A nação ditosa da Terra, Com os braços heróicos do povo.
ChorusIndependência total, Glorioso canto do porvo, Independência total, Hino sagrado de combate.
2Trabalhando, lutando, presente em vencendo, Caminhamos a passos gigantes Na cruzada dos povos africanos, Hasteando a bandeira nacional.
Voz do porvo, presente, presente em conjunto, Vibra rijo no coro da esperança Ser herói no hora do perigo, Ser herói no ressurgir do País.
ChorusIndependência total, Glorioso canto do porvo, Independência total, Hino sagrado de combate. Dinamismo Na luta nacional, Juramento eterno No pais soberano de São Tomé e Príncipe.
Source: - Citizens
- Sao Tomeans
- Official name:Constitution of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe ↗ - National Assembly of São Tomé and Príncipe
- Official name, Citizens:The World Factbook: São Tomé and Príncipe - CIA
- Coat of arms:Image credit
- National flag:presidencia.st ↗ - the Presidency of the Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
- National anthem:nationalanthems.info ↗
Geography
- Location
- Central Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, just north of the Equator, west of Gabon
- Total area
- 964 km²
- Land area
- 964 km²
- Water area
- 0.00 km²
- Land borders
- None
- Coastline
- 209 km
- Terrain
Volcanic, mountainous - Highest point
- 2,024 mPico de Sao Tome
- Lowest point
- 0 mAtlantic Ocean
- Climate
Tropical hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May) - Avg. temperature
- 25.7 °C
- Avg. daily range
- 25 to 26.2 °C
- Annual precipitation
- 1,480 mm
Temperature °CMeanDaily rangePrecipitation mmMonthly climate normals Month Avg. high, °C Mean, °C Avg. low, °C Precipitation, mm January 27.1 26.4 25.5 146 February 27.6 26.9 25.9 127 March 28 27.3 26.2 148 April 27.8 27.1 26.2 146 May 26.9 26.4 25.7 143 June 25.2 24.8 24.4 45 July 24.3 23.9 23.6 26 August 24.4 24 23.7 33 September 25 24.7 24.2 74 October 25.7 25.3 24.7 182 November 26.3 25.7 24.9 227 December 26.7 26 25.2 184 Country-wide averages over 1991–2020.
Sources:- The World Factbook: São Tomé and Príncipe - CIA
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Weather
- Loading
- Land use2023
- Arable4.2%Perm. crops39.6%Pasture1.0%Forest57.5%
- Arable land
- 4,000 hectares (4.2%)
- Permanent crops
- 38,000 hectares (39.6%)
- Permanent meadows & pastures
- 1,000 hectares (1.0%)
- Forest
- 55,228 hectares (57.5%)
- Other land
- 0 hectares (0.0%)
Reported categories cover 102.3% of the land area.
Source: - Natural hazards2026
- Epidemics5.7High#70/191Coastal floods2.1Very low#122/191Earthquakes0.1Very low#127/191River floods0.0Very lowTsunamis0.0Very lowTropical cyclones0.0Very lowDrought0.0Very low
Scores out of 10, ranks out of 191 countries.
Source:- INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Location, Land borders, Coastline, Terrain, Highest point, Lowest point, Climate:The World Factbook: São Tomé and Príncipe - CIA
- Climate:Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Land use:FAOSTAT Land Use domain ↗ - FAO
- Natural hazards:INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
Demographics
- Population change2026
- +1.97% per year+4,740 people/yearWorld Rank46thof 237
- Birth rate
- 27.7 per 1,000 population
- Death rate
- 5.4 per 1,000 population
- Net migration rate
- −2.8 per 1,000 population
- 2026
- 19.7 yearsWorld Rank203rdof 237
- Age structure2026
- 0-14 years37.2%15-64 years58.8%65 years +4.0%
- Share aged 65 and over
- 4.0%
- Share aged under 18
- 43.9%
- Total dependency ratio
- 70
- Youth dependency ratio
- 63
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 7
- Sex ratio
- 0.99 male / female
MaleAgeFemalePopulation by age group, % of total population Age Male Female 80+ 0.2% 0.5% 70-79 0.8% 0.9% 60-69 1.8% 2.0% 50-59 3.2% 3.1% 40-49 5.0% 5.1% 30-39 5.6% 5.8% 20-29 8.6% 8.9% 10-19 11.7% 11.6% 0-9 12.7% 12.4% - 2026
- 1.37 above the replacement level for São Tomé and Príncipe ()3.47 births per womanreplacement 2.101234World Rank42ndof 237
- 1.66 daughters per woman0.66 above replacement, long-run each generation larger than the lastreplacement 1.000.511.52
- 2026
- +22.2 per 1,000 populationfor every 1,000 people, 22.2 more births than deaths a year
- 2026
- −2.8 per 1,000 population
- Urbanization2026
- 69.5% live in cities170,291 urban residents
- Largest places2012latest available
- São Tomé, Neves, Santana, TrindadeRankPlacePopulation (2012 census)1São Tomé66,8882Neves8,3913Santana7,4454Trindade6,6855Almas3,9236Pantufo3,3917Guadalupe3,3268Bombom3,0729Santo António2,57610São João dos Angolares2,249Source:
- National Statistics Institute, São Tomé and Príncipe (2012 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution
- Sao Tome, the capital city, has roughly a quarter of the nation's population; Santo Antonio is the largest town on Principe; the northern areas of both islands have the highest population densities.
- Ethnic groups
- Mestiço, Angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), Forros (descendants of freed slaves), Serviçais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique and Cabo Verde), Tongas (children of serviçais born on the islands), European (primarily Portuguese), Asian (mostly Chinese)
- Religions2012
- Catholic55.7%Adventist4.1%Assembly of God3.4%New Apostolic2.9%Mana2.3%Universal Kingdom of God2.0%Jehovah's Witness1.2%Other6.2%None21.2%Unspecified1.0%
- Languages
- Portuguese (Português)
- Population, Population change, Median age, Age structure, Total fertility rate, Net reproduction rate, Natural change, Net migration rate:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Urbanization:UN World Urbanization Prospects ↗
- Largest cities:National Statistics Institute, São Tomé and Príncipe (2012 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution, Ethnic groups, Religions:The World Factbook: São Tomé and Príncipe - CIA
Government & Administration
- Form of state
- RepublicThe President is head of state, elected by direct universal suffrage for five years, with no third consecutive term (Arts. 77, 78, 79).Source:
- Country Overview ↗, Arts. 77, 78, 79
- System of government
- Semi-presidentialA Prime Minister leads the Government, which falls if the National Assembly rejects its programme or a confidence vote, or passes a no-confidence motion by absolute majority (Arts. 109, 117).Source:
- Country Overview ↗, Arts. 109, 117
- Territorial organisation
- Unitary
- Official websites
- Government (in Portuguese)
- President (in Portuguese)
- Capital
- São Tomé80,647 people(2024)
- National holidays
- 12 days in 2026
- ThuJan 1New Year's Day
- SunJan 4Day of King Amador
- MonJan 5Day of King Amador (observed)
- TueFeb 3Martyrs' Day
- FriMay 1Worker's Day
- SunJul 12Independence Day
- MonJul 13Independence Day (observed)
- SunSep 6Armed Forces Day
- MonSep 7Armed Forces Day (observed)
- WedSep 30Agricultural Reform Day
- MonDec 21São Tomé Day
- FriDec 25Christmas Day
Nationwide public holidays only, excluding regional, bank and government-only days.
- Time
- GMTGreenwich Mean TimeUTC+0
- Currency
- São Tomé & Príncipe Dobra (STN)
- Calling code
- +239
- Internet TLD
- .st
- ISO 3166-1 codes
- ST, STP
- Infrastructure
- Passengers carried
- 38,767 by the country's airlines(2023)
- Aircraft departures
- 1,199 by the country's airlines(2023)
- Air freight
- 0.8 million tonne-km(2023)
- Aircraft registration prefix
- S9
Sources:- The World Factbook: São Tomé and Príncipe - CIA
- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- 2025
- 45 / 100World Rank70thof 182Confidence interval
Corruption index score by year Year Score Lower bound Upper bound 2012 42 34 50 2013 42 34 50 2014 42 34 50 2015 42 34 50 2016 46 44 47 2017 46 37 55 2018 46 38 54 2019 46 37.2 54.8 2020 47 38.7 55.3 2021 45 37.1 52.9 2022 45 37.1 52.9 2023 45 37.1 52.9 2024 45 36.2 53.8 2025 45 36.2 53.8 Source:- Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
- Form of state, System of government, Territorial organisation:Country Overview ↗
- National holidays:Open World Holidays Framework (vacanza/holidays) ↗
- Infrastructure:The World Factbook: São Tomé and Príncipe - CIA
- Infrastructure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Corruption Perceptions Index:Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
Economy
- Lower middle income
- GDP growth (real)2026
- +0.4% per yearWorld Rank179thof 195
- GDP per capita (PPP)2026
- GDP per capita (nominal)
- $4,582 (131st in the world)
Source:- 2025
- Services81.4% of GDPIndustry2.2% of GDPAgriculture12.2% of GDPManufacturing0.6%part of industry
- Households
- +101%
- Government
- +10.3%
- Investment
- +8.7%
- Exports
- +13.3%
- Imports
- −33.3%
The shape of the economyGDP by end useSource:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Inflation2026
- 11%up 10.1 percentage points10.1pp from 2025
- Labor force2024
- 34,253 (15% of population)World Rank186thof 187
- Labor force participation2024
- 23.4% of people aged 15+
- Unemployment2024
- 9.1%
- Youth unemployment2024
- 8.6% ages 15 to 24
- Labor productivity2024
- $16.3 per hour worked at PPP
- Budget balance2026
- 1.4% of GDP deficit
- Current account
- 6.1% of GDP, $68 million deficit
Source: - Debt
- Central government debt202443.5% of GDPHousehold debt20234.8% of GDPCompany debt20231.7% of GDP
- Trade2024
- Goods$29.3 million25%
- Services$88.2 million75%
- Total exports
- $117.6 million
- Change from 2023
- up 17.5 percent on the previous year17.5%
Sources:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- The World Factbook: São Tomé and Príncipe - CIA
- Agricultural products2024
- Plantains and cooking bananas, Cocoa beans, Taro, and 5 more
- 1Plantains and cooking bananas99×
- 2Cocoa beans81.8×
- 3Taro59.2×
- 4Oil palm fruit7×
- 5Bananas4.1×
- 6Coconuts (in shell)3.1×
- 7Yams2.6×
- 8Cassava (fresh)0.4×
ProductSource:- FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Industries
- light construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish processing, timber
- Income level, GDP by sector, Trade:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- GDP (nominal), GDP growth (real), GDP per capita (PPP), Inflation, Budget balance:IMF World Economic Outlook ↗
- Labor force, Labor force participation, Unemployment, Youth unemployment, Labor productivity:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- Debt:IMF Global Debt Database ↗
- Trade, Industries:The World Factbook: São Tomé and Príncipe - CIA
- Agricultural products:FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
Cost of Living
Society
- 2023
- 0.637MediumWorld Rank141stof 193São Tomé and PríncipeWorld
Human Development Index by year Year São Tomé and Príncipe World 2005 0.535 0.681 2006 0.546 0.688 2007 0.552 0.694 2008 0.557 0.698 2009 0.561 0.701 2010 0.564 0.707 2011 0.569 0.713 2012 0.574 0.717 2013 0.585 0.721 2014 0.596 0.726 2015 0.608 0.731 2016 0.613 0.735 2017 0.617 0.739 2018 0.621 0.741 2019 0.625 0.745 2020 0.628 0.742 2021 0.631 0.742 2022 0.636 0.752 2023 0.637 0.756 Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- 2017
- 40.7
- Mean years of schooling2023
- 6 years
- Expected for a child today
- 12.9 years
Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Literacy2019
- 87.4% of adults
- Education expenditure2023
- 5% of GDP
- Share of government spending
- 18.3%
Source:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Internet users2024
- 59.1% of the population
- Households with Internet access
- 56.8%
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Mobile subscriptions2024
- 147,061
- Fixed telephone lines
- 1,781
- Fixed broadband
- 3 subscriptions per 100 people
Counts subscriptions, not people.
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Inbound tourists2021latest available
- 15,100 arrivalsdown 57% against 201957% below 2019
- Per resident
- 6.8 arrivals per 100 residents
- $47.5 million(2022)
- $17 million(2022)
- Hotel beds
- 1,958(2018, latest available)
Overnight arrivals by year2010 to 2021A tourist stays at least one night. Arrivals count trips, not people.
Source:- UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- Human Development Index, Mean years of schooling:Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Income inequality (Gini), Education expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Literacy:UIS Data Browser ↗ - UNESCO Institute for Statistics
- Internet users, Mobile subscriptions:ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Inbound tourists:UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
Crime & Safety
- Travel advisory (US)
- Loading
- Active humanitarian crisisAug 2026
- None - no active crisis
- Homicide rate2011
- 3.2 per 100,000 peopleMedium by global standards
- Crime rates
- 6 offence categories
Offence Per 100,000 Count Year Homicide (victims) 3.2 6 2011 Serious assault 2.2 4 2011 Sexual violence 0.0 0 2011 Kidnapping 0.0 0 2011 Theft 10.8 20 2011 Vehicle theft 0.0 0 2011 A low figure can also mean weak recording.
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Prison population2018
- 120.4 per 100,000 people
- Persons held
- 253
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Active humanitarian crisis:INFORM Severity Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Homicide rate, Crime rates, Prison population:UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
Health
- Life expectancy2026
- 70.3 years
- Health expenditure2023
- 5.8% of GDP$171 per person
- Physicians2022
- 0.46 per 1,000 population
- Hospital beds2019
- 2.9 per 1,000 population
- Infant mortality2026
- 10.3 per 1,000 live births
- Maternal mortality2023
- 75 per 100,000 live births
- Alcohol consumption2022
- 5.7 litres of pure alcohol per adult per year
- Tobacco use2015latest available
- 7.5% of adults
- Men
- 12.6%
- Women
- 2.4%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Road traffic deaths2019
- 27.9 per 100,000 population
- Life expectancy, Infant mortality:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Health expenditure, Physicians, Hospital beds, Road traffic deaths:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Maternal mortality:Maternal mortality estimates ↗ - UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group
- Alcohol consumption, Tobacco use:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
Environment
- CO₂ emissions2024
- 0.15 Mt per yearup 1.4 percent on the previous year1.4% from 2023
- CO₂ per capita
- 0.6 t per personWorld Rank166thof 207
- Share of global CO₂
- < 0.01%
- Methane (CH₄)
- 0.08 Mt CO₂-eq
- Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
- 0.02 Mt CO₂-eq
- All greenhouse gases
- 0.25 Mt CO₂-eq
Source:- Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- 2024
- 12.6 µg/m³ of PM2.50.7 years of life expectancy lost against the WHO guidelineMost polluted113thof 236
- WHO guideline
- 5 µg/m³
Source:- Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues
- deforestation and illegal logging
- soil erosion and exhaustion
- inadequate sewage treatment in cities
- biodiversity
Source:- The World Factbook: São Tomé and Príncipe - CIA
- International agreements
- 18 of 20 landmark treaties in forceParty to 49 multilateral environmental agreements
Treaty Standing Joined Climate Paris Agreement in force 2016 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in force 1999 Kyoto Protocol in force 2008 Ozone layer Montreal Protocol in force 2002 Vienna Convention (Ozone Layer) in force 2002 Biodiversity Convention on Biological Diversity in force 1999 CITES in force 2001 Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn) in force 2001 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety not a party Nagoya Protocol in force 2017 Land and heritage Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in force 2006 World Heritage Convention in force 2006 UN Convention to Combat Desertification in force 1998 Chemicals and waste Basel Convention in force 2014 Rotterdam Convention (PIC) in force 2013 Stockholm Convention (POPs) in force 2006 Minamata Convention on Mercury in force 2018 Oceans UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in force 1994 High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) signed 2024, not ratified MARPOL 73/78 in force 1999 Source:- International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
- CO₂ emissions:Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- Air pollution:Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues:The World Factbook: São Tomé and Príncipe - CIA
- International agreements:International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
Food & Water
- No access to safe drinking water2022
- 2.9% of the population
- Renewable water2022
- 2.2 billion m³ per year
- Per person
- 9,633 m³ per year
- Dependency ratio
- 0% originates outside the country
- Annual water withdrawal
- 0 billion m³ per year
- Withdrawn for agriculture
- 63%
- Water stress
- 2% of available freshwater withdrawn
Source:- AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Undernourishment2022
- 15.7% of the population
- Obesity2024
- 17.9% of adults
- Men
- 10.3%
- Women
- 25.4%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children2019
- 5.4% of children under five
- No access to safe drinking water, Renewable water:AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Undernourishment:Food security indicators (FAOSTAT) ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Obesity:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
Energy
- Energy consumption2024
- Per capita
- 11.3 GJ per person
- Share of world total
- < 0.01%
- Supply
- No meaningful productionproduces under 2% of what it consumes, 2024
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Electricity2024
- No electricity trade0.1 TWh generated per year
- Generation
- 0.1 TWh per year
- Consumption
- 0 TWh per year
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal
- No domestic productionconsumes 1,216 b/d in 2024Consumption20241,216 b/d
Oil imports and exports count crude oil only.
- Energy consumption, Electricity, Oil, gas & coal:International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
Defense
- Military personnel2023
- approximately 500active Armed Forces
- Military service2024
- Voluntarycompulsory military service from 18, reportedly not enforced; voluntary 17+ with parental permission; limited information
- Nuclear weapons2026
- None - no nuclear arsenal
- Military personnel, Military service:The World Factbook: São Tomé and Príncipe - CIA
- Nuclear weapons:Status of World Nuclear Forces ↗ - Federation of American Scientists
