Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

33,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: minimal system international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

2,200 (1986 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (1992 est.)

Televisions [time series]

NA

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $58 million expenditures: $114 million, including capital expenditures of $54 million (1993 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 dobra (Db) = 100 centimos

Debt - external [time series]

$250 million (1995 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

This small poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence over 20 years ago. However, cocoa production has substantially declined because of drought and mismanagement. The resulting shortage of cocoa for export has created a persistent balance-of-payments problem. Sao Tome has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a significant amount of food. Over the years, it 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, but economic growth has remained sluggish.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

6,000 kW (1991)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

NA kWh

Electricity - production [time series]

12 million kWh (1991)

Exchange rates [time series]

dobras (Db) per US$1 - 2,500 (November 1996), 1,610 (May 1995), 129.59 (1 July 1993), 230 (1992), 260.0 (November 1991)

Exports [time series]

total value: $7.8 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: cocoa 85%-90%, copra, coffee, palm oil partners: Netherlands 75.7%, Germany 1.2%, Portugal 1.1%

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $149 million (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture : 28% industry: 14% services: 58% (1994 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1995 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2.6% (1995 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value : $26.2 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products partners: Portugal 32.2%, France 16.8%, Belgium 6.6%, Japan, Angola

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

38% (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

most of population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing; there are shortages of skilled workers

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Area [time series]

total: 960 sq km land: 960 sq km water : 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

more than five times the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

209 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification

Geographic coordinates [time series]

1 00 N, 7 00 E

Irrigated land [time series]

100 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 2% permanent crops: 36% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland : NA% other: 61% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Western Africa, island in the Gulf of Guinea, 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 hazards [time series]

NA

Natural resources [time series]

fish

Terrain [time series]

volcanic, mountainous

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990

Country name [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

Data code [time series]

TP

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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 [time series]

Sao Tome and Principe does not have an 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) head of government: Prime Minister Raul Wagner BRAGANCA NETO (since 20 November 1996) 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; election last held 30 June and 15 July 1996 (next to be held in 2001); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president election results : Miguel TROVOADA reelected president in Sao Tome's second multiparty presidential election; percent of vote - NA

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

International organization participation [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, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the National Peoples Assembly

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: parliament dissolved by President TROVOADA in July 1994; early elections held 2 October 1994 (next to be held October 1998) election results: percent of vote by party - MLSTP 49%, PCD-GR 25.5%, ADI 25.5%; seats by party - MLSTP 27, PCD-GR 14, ADI 14

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Sao Tome

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

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

Party for Democratic Convergence-Reflection Group or PCD-GR [Armindo AGUIAR, secretary general]; Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe or MLSTP [Francisco Fortunas PIRES]; Christian Democratic Front or FDC [Alphonse Dos SANTOS]; Democratic Opposition Coalition or CODO; Independent Democratic Action or ADI [Carlos NEVES]; other small parties

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Security Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$NA

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

NA%

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 36,127 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males: 18,898 (1997 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 40% (male 29,815; female 29,307) 15-64 years: 55% (male 40,830; female 41,056) 65 years and over : 5% (male 3,053; female 3,804) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

33.77 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.4 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

60.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

Portuguese (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 64.09 years male : 62.15 years female: 66.08 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Sao Tomean(s) adjective: Sao Tomean

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

147,865 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.54% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth : 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.22 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none SAUDI ARABIA

Airports [time series]

2 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total : 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total : 310 km paved: 211 km unpaved: 99 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total : 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,096 GRT/1,105 DWT (1996 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Santo Antonio, Sao Tome

Railways [time series]

0 km