Background: 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.

Map reference: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area
Total: total area: 960 km²; land:960 km²

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 209 km

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

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

Terrain: volcanic, mountainous

Natural resources: fish

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

Irrigated land: NA km²

Natural hazards: NA

Population: 136,780 (July 1994 est.)
Growth rate: 2.63% (1994 est.)

Nationality: noun:Sao Tomean(s)

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), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)

Languages: Portuguese (official)

Religions: Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist

Population growth rate: 2.63% (1994 est.)

Birth rate: 35.2 births/1000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate: 8.88 deaths/1000 population (1994 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1994 est.)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion

Infant mortality rate: 63.5 deaths/1000 live births (1994 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population:63.33 years; male:61.48 years; female:65.24 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.52 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981); total population:57%; male:73%; female:42%

Country name: conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe; conventional short form: local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe; local short form; Sao Tome e Principe

Government type: republic

Capital: Sao Tome

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

Independence: 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

Constitution: new constitution approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: 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 Noberto Jose D'Alva COSTA ALEGRE (since 16 May 1992)

Legislative branch: Army, Navy, National Police

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

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

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

Economy overview: The economy has remained dependent on cocoa since the country 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 4:1. 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 growth rate: 1.5% (1992 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $450 (1990)

Agriculture products: accounts for 25% of GDP; dominant sector of economy, primary source of exports; cash crops - cocoa (85%), 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: 1% (1991); accounts for 7% of GDP

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)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues:$10.2 million

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $5.4 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
Commodities: cocoa 78%, copra, coffee, palm oil
Partners: Netherlands, Germany, China, Portugal

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

Debt external: $163.6 million (1992)

Exchange rates: dobras (Db) per US$1 - 129.59 (1 July 1993), 230 (1992), 260.0 (November 1991), 122.48 (December 1988), 72.827 (1987), 36.993 (1986)

Electricity
Capacity: 5,000 kW
Production: 10 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 80 kWh (1991)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $N/A, NA% of GDP

Airports: total:2; usable:2; with permanent-surface runways:2; with runways over 3,659 m:0; with runways 2,440-3,659 m:0; with runways 1,220-2,439 m:2

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

Disputes international: none