Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

NA; minimal system local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: 0 televisions: NA

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, National Police

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

$NA, NA% of GDP SAUDI ARABIA

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 33,789; males fit for military service 17,752 (1995 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 25% of GDP; dominant sector of economy, primary source of exports; cash crops - cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, coffee; food products - bananas, papaya, beans, poultry, fish; not self-sufficient in food grain and meat

Budget [time series]

revenues: $10.2 million expenditures: $36.8 million, including capital expenditures of $22.5 million (1989 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 dobra (Db) = 100 centimos

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $8 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $89 million

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 5,000 kW production: 17 million kWh consumption per capita: 105 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

dobras (Db) per US$1 - 129.59 (1 July 1993), 230 (1992), 260.0 (November 1991), 122.48 (December 1988), 72.827 (1987)

Exports [time series]

$5.5 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: cocoa 78%, copra, coffee, palm oil (1992) partners: Netherlands, Germany, China, Portugal

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$237 million (1993)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Imports [time series]

$31.5 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: machinery and electrical equipment 44%, food products 18%, petroleum 11% (1992) partners: Portugal, Japan, Spain, France, Angola

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 1% (1991); accounts for 7% of GDP

Industries [time series]

light construction, shirts, soap, beer, fisheries, shrimp processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

27% (1992 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power parity - $133 million (1993 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$1,000 (1993 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

NA%

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

This small poor island economy has remained dependent on cocoa since independence 20 years ago. Since then, however, cocoa production has gradually declined because of drought and mismanagement, so that by 1987 annual output had fallen from 10,000 tons to 3,900 tons. As a result, a shortage of cocoa for export has created a serious balance-of-payments problem. Production of less important crops, such as coffee, copra, and palm kernels, has also declined. The value of imports generally exceeds that of exports by a ratio of 4:1 or more. The emphasis on cocoa production at the expense of other food crops has meant that Sao Tome has to import 90% of food needs. It also has to import all fuels and most manufactured goods. Over the years, Sao Tome has been unable to service its external debt and has had to depend on concessional aid and debt rescheduling. 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 and to encourage market-based mechanisms, e. g., to facilitate the distribution of imported food. Annual GDP growth is estimated in the 3%-4% range for 1994-96.

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Area [time series]

total area: 960 sq km land area: 960 sq km comparative area: slightly less than 5.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

209 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 1% permanent crops: 20% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 75% other: 3%

Location [time series]

Western Africa, island in the Atlantic Ocean, straddling the equator, west of Gabon

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

fish

Terrain [time series]

volcanic, mountainous

Administrative divisions [time series]

2 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Principe, Sao Tome

Capital [time series]

Sao Tome

Constitution [time series]

approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990

Digraph [time series]

TP

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

Sao Tome and Principe has no embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by First Secretary Domingos AUGUSTO Ferreira, located at 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604, New York, NY 10168, telephone [1] (212) 697-4211

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Miguel TROVOADA (since 4 April 1991); election last held 3 March 1991 (next to be held NA March 1996); results - Miguel TROVOADA was elected without opposition in Sao Tome's first multiparty presidential election head of government: Prime Minister Carlos da GRACA (since 25 October 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National People's Assembly: (Assembleia Popular Nacional) parliament dissolved by President TROVOADA in July 1994; early elections held 2 October 1994; results - MLSTP 27%, PCD-GR 25.5%, ADI 25.5%; seats - (55 total) MLSTP 27, PCD-GR 14, ADI 14

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Country name (Names) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Party for Democratic Convergence-Reflection Group (PCD-GR), Daniel Lima Dos Santos DAIO, secretary general; Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe (MLSTP), Carlos da GRACA; Christian Democratic Front (FDC), Alphonse Dos SANTOS; Democratic Opposition Coalition (CODO), leader NA; Independent Democratic Action (ADI), Gabriel COSTA; other small parties

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the islands

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 40% (female 27,995; male 28,452) 15-64 years: 55% (female 38,846; male 38,619) 65 years and over: 5% (female 3,615; male 2,896) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

34.94 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.7 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

mestico, angolares (descendents of Angolan slaves), forros (descendents of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

62.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

most of population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing; labor shortages on plantations and of skilled workers

Languages [time series]

Portuguese (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 63.65 years male: 61.76 years female: 65.59 years (1995 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1991) total population: 73% male: 85% female: 62%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Sao Tomean(s) adjective: Sao Tomean

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

140,423 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.62% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.44 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Airports [time series]

total: 2 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 300 km paved: 200 km unpaved: 100 km note: roads on Principe are mostly unpaved and in need of repair

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,096 GRT/1,105 DWT

Ports [time series]

Santo Antonio, Sao Tome

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

0 km