Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

NA

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios [time series]

38,000 (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

3,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

NA

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (1997)

Televisions [time series]

23,000 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, 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]

$274 million (1998)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$57.3 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

This small poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence 25 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. Sao Tome is also optimistic that significant petroleum discoveries are forthcoming in its territorial waters in the oil-rich waters of the Gulf of Guinea. Corruption scandals continue to weaken the economy.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

14 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

15 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 46.67% hydro: 53.33% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

dobras (Db) per US$1 - 7,200.0 (October 1999), 7,104.05 (1998), 4,552.5 (1997), 2,203.2 (1996), 1,420.3 (1995)

Exports [time series]

$4.9 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

cocoa 90%, copra, coffee, palm oil (1997)

Exports - partners [time series]

Netherlands 51%, Germany 6%, Portugal 6% (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $169 million (1999 est.)

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

agriculture: 23% industry: 19% services: 58% (1997 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $1,100 (1999 est.)

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

1.5% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$19.5 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products

Imports - partners [time series]

Portugal 26%, France 18%, Angola, Belgium, Japan (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

10.5% (yearend 1999 est.)

Labor force [time series]

NA

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

50% in the formal business sector (1998 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 1,001 sq km land: 1,001 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: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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: 0% other: 61% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Western Africa, islands 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, hydropower

Terrain [time series]

volcanic, mountainous

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

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) 317-0533

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Miguel TROVOADA (since 4 April 1991) head of government: Prime Minister Guilherma Posser da COSTA (since 30 December 1998) 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 21 July 1996 (next to be held NA July 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 - Miguel TROVOADA 52.74%, Manuel Pinto da COSTA 47.26%

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]

ACCT, 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, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the National 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: last held 8 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - MLSTP-PSD 56%, PCD 14.5%, ADI 29%; seats by party - MLSTP-PSD 31, ADI 16, PCD 8

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

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

Christian Democratic Front or FDC [Alphonse Dos SANTOS]; Democratic Opposition Coalition or CODO [leader NA]; 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 [Armindo AGUIAR, secretary general]; other small parties

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

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. The first free elections were held in 1991.

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

Army, Navy, Security Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$1 million (FY94)

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

1.5% (FY94)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 32,933 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 17,391 (2000 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 48% (male 38,588; female 37,624) 15-64 years: 48% (male 37,216; female 39,959) 65 years and over: 4% (male 2,961; female 3,535) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

42.98 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.76 deaths/1,000 population (2000 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]

50.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

Portuguese (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 65.25 years male: 63.84 years female: 66.7 years (2000 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]

-3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

159,883 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.16% (2000 est.)

Religions [time series]

Christian 80% (Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.08 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports [time series]

2 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 320 km paved: 218 km unpaved: 102 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 43,587 GRT/34,802 DWT ships by type: cargo 4, container 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 3 (1999 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Santo Antonio, Sao Tome

Railways [time series]

0 km