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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.st

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

1,069 (2003)

Internet users [time series]

15,000 (2003)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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

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

7,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

4,800 (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (2002)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $27.94 million expenditures: $43.91 million, including capital expenditures of $54 million (2004 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

dobra (STD)

Current account balance [time series]

$-31.5 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$318 million (2002)

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

$200 million in December 2000 under the HIPC program

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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, but lacking a formal poverty reduction program with the IMF, it has not benefited from subsequent HIPC debt reductions. Sao Tome's external debt stands at over $300 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. The first production license was sold to a consortium led by US-based oil firms. Much of the 2005 budget is dependent upon the sale of additional production licenses.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

15.81 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production [time series]

17 million kWh (2002)

Exchange rates [time series]

dobras per US dollar - 9,900.4 (2004), 9,347.6 (2003), 9,088.3 (2002), 8,842.1 (2001), 7,978.2 (2000)

Exports [time series]

$6.7 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil

Exports - partners [time series]

Netherlands 35.9%, China 12.3%, Belgium 7.4%, Germany 6.3%, Poland 5.1%, France 4.8%, Thailand 4.1% (2004)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

$214 million (2003 est.)

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

agriculture: 16.5% industry: 15.4% services: 68.1% (2004 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2003 est.)

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

6% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$41 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products

Imports - partners [time series]

Portugal 52.3%, Germany 9.5%, US 6%, Netherlands 4.8%, South Africa 4.3%, Belgium 4.1% (2004)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

14% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

31.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Labor force [time series]

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Oil - consumption [time series]

700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

Oil - imports [time series]

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

54% (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$29.78 million (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

Geography

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, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

1 00 N, 7 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

100 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 6.25% permanent crops: 48.96% other: 44.79% (2001)

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 territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

Natural resources [time series]

fish, hydropower

Terrain [time series]

volcanic, mountainous

Government

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

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 400 Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022, telephone [1] (212) 317-0580

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Fradique DE MENEZES (since 3 September 2001) head of government: Prime Minister Maria do Carmo SILVEIRA (since 7 June 2005); Damiao Vaz DE ALMEIDA resigned 2 June 2005 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 29 July 2001 (next to be held July 2006); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president election results: Fradique DE MENEZES elected president in Sao Tome's third 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]

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

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 four-year terms) elections: last held 3 March 2002 (next to be held March 2006) election results: percent of vote by party - MLSTP 39.6%, Force for Change Democratic Movement 39.4%, Ue-Kedadji coalition 16.2%; seats by party - MLSTP 24, Force for Change Democratic Movement 23, Ue-Kedadji coalition 8

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

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

Democratic Renovation Party [Armindo GRACA]; Force for Change Democratic Movement [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 [Aldo BANDEIRA]; Ue-Kedadji coalition [leader NA]; other small parties

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

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. 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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

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

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

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

Military - note [time series]

Sao Tome and Principe's army is a tiny force with almost no resouces 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 intial steps towards the improvement of the army and its focus on realistic security concerns; command is excersized from the president, through the Minister of Defense, to the Chief of the Armed Forces staff (2005)

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

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$700,000 (2004)

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

0.8% (2004)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 47.6% (male 45,145/female 44,007) 15-64 years: 48.6% (male 43,996/female 47,011) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 3,333/female 3,918) (2005 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

40.8 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.68 deaths/1,000 population (2005 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)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 43.11 deaths/1,000 live births male: 45.06 deaths/1,000 live births female: 41.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Languages [time series]

Portuguese (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 66.99 years male: 65.43 years female: 68.59 years (2005 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria (2004)

Median age [time series]

total: 16.12 years male: 15.53 years female: 16.71 years (2005 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Sao Tomean(s) adjective: Sao Tomean

Net migration rate [time series]

-2.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Population [time series]

187,410 (July 2005 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.16% (2005 est.)

Religions [time series]

Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%, other 3.1%, none 19.4% (2001 census)

Sex ratio [time series]

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: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.71 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Transportation

Airports [time series]

2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 79,490 GRT/97,077 DWT by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 11, chemical tanker 2 foreign-owned: 2 (Egypt 1, Greece 1) (2005)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Sao Tome