Statistical information São Tomé and Príncipe 1990
São Tomé and Príncipe in the World
São Tomé and Príncipe - Introduction 1990
top of pageBackground: 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 1990.
São Tomé and Príncipe - Geography 1990
top of pageLocation
Geographic coordinates
Map reference
Area
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 209 km
Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines); Extended economic zone:200 nm; Territorial sea:12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Terrain: volcanic, mountainous
Elevation
Natural resources: fish
Land use
Land use: 1% arable land; 20% permanent crops; 1% meadows and pastures; 75% forest and woodland; 3% other
Irrigated land
Major rivers
Major watersheds area km²
Total water withdrawal
Total renewable water resources
Natural hazards
Geography
Note: located south of Nigeria and west of Gabon near the Equator in the North Atlantic Ocean
São Tomé and Príncipe - People 1990
top of pagePopulation: 124,765 (July 1990), growth rate 3.0% (1990)
Nationality: noun--Sao Tomean(s); adjective--Sao Tomean
Ethnic groups: 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), and Europeans (primarily Portuguese)
Languages: Portuguese (official)
Religions: Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist
Demographic profile
Age structure
Age structure
Dependency ratios
Median age
Population growth rate
Birth rate: 38 births/1000 population (1990)
Death rate: 8 deaths/1000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1990)
Population distribution
Urbanization
Major urban areas
Environment
Current issues: deforestation; soil erosion
Air pollutants
Sex ratio
Mothers mean age at first birth
Maternal mortality ratio
Infant mortality rate: 61 deaths/1000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 64 years male, 67 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 5.4 children born/woman (1990)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
Drinking water source
Current health expenditure
Physicians density
Hospital bed density
Sanitation facility access
Hiv/Aids
Major infectious diseases
Obesity adult prevalence rate
Alcohol consumption
Tobacco use
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
Education expenditures
Literacy: 50% (est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Youth unemployment
São Tomé and Príncipe - Government 1990
top of pageCountry name: conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
Government type: republic
Capital: Sao Tome
Administrative divisions: 2 districts (concelhos, singular--concelho); Principe, Sao Tome
Dependent areas
Independence: 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Constitution: 5 November 1975, approved 15 December 1982
Legal system: based on Portuguese law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participation
Citizenship
Suffrage: universal at age 18
Executive branch: Chief of State--President Dr. Manuel Pinto da COSTA (since 12 July 1975); Head of Government--Prime Minister Celestino Rocha da COSTA (since 8 January 1988)
Legislative branch: Army, Navy
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation
In the us: Ambassador Joaquim Rafael BRANCO; Chancery (temporary) at 801 Second Avenue, Suite 1504, New York, NY 10,017; telephone (212) 697-4,211; US--the US Ambassador in Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the islands
Flag description: 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
National symbols
National anthem
National heritage
São Tomé and Príncipe - Economy 1990
top of pageEconomy overview: The economy has remained dependent on cocoa since the gained independence nearly 15 years ago. Since then, however, cocoa production has gradually deteriorated because of drought and mismanagement, so that by 1987 output had fallen to less than 50% of its former levels. 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 to 1. 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, which amounts to roughly 80% of export earnings. Considerable potential exists for development of a tourist industry, and the government has taken steps to expand facilities in recent years. The government also implemented a Five-Year Plan covering 1986-90 to restructure the economy and reschedule external debt service payments in cooperation with the International Development Association and Western lenders.
Real gdp purchasing power parity
Real gdp growth rate
Real gdp per capita
Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end use
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture products: dominant sector of economy, primary source of exports; cash crops--cocoa (90%), coconuts, palm kernels, coffee; food products--bananas, papaya, beans, poultry, fish; not self-sufficient in food grain and meat
Industries: light construction, shirts, soap, beer, fisheries, shrimp processing
Industrial production growth rate: 7.1% (1986)
Labor force: 21,096 (1981); most of population engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing; labor shortages on plantations and of skilled workers; 56% of population of working age (1983)
Labor force
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemployment
Population below poverty line
Gini index
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Distribution of family income gini index
Budget: revenues $19.2 million; expenditures $25.1 million, including capital expenditures of $19.9 million (1987)
Taxes and other revenues
Public debt
Revenue
Fiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer prices
Central bank discount rate
Commercial bank prime lending rate
Stock of narrow money
Stock of broad money
Stock of domestic credit
Market value of publicly traded shares
Current account balance
Exports: $9.1 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.)
Commodities: cocoa 90%, copra, coffee, palm oil
Partners: FRG, GDR, Netherlands, China
Imports: $17.3 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.)
Commodities: machinery and electrical equipment 59%, food products 32%, fuels 9%
Partners: Portugal, GDR, Angola, China
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Debt external: $95 million (1988)
Stock of direct foreign investment at home
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad
Exchange rates: dobras (Db) per US$1--122.48 (December 1988), 72.827 (1987), 36.993 (1986), 41.195 (1985)
São Tomé and Príncipe - Energy 1990
top of pageElectricity
Capacity: 6,000 kW capacity; 12 million kWh produced, 100 kWh per capita (1989)
Coal
Petroleum
Crude oil
Refined petroleum
Natural gas
Carbon dioxide emissions
Energy consumption per capita
São Tomé and Príncipe - Communication 1990
top of pageTelephones
Telephone system
Broadcast media
Internet
Broadband fixed subscriptions
São Tomé and Príncipe - Military 1990
top of pageMilitary expenditures
Percent of gdp: 1.6% of GDP (1980)
Military and security forces
Military service age and obligation
Space program
Terrorist groups
São Tomé and Príncipe - Transportation 1990
top of pageNational air transport system
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m
Heliports
Pipelines
Railways
Roadways
Waterways
Merchant marine
Ports and terminals
São Tomé and Príncipe - Transnational issues 1990
top of pageDisputes international
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Illicit drugs
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