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.

Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 7 00 E

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: total:960 km²; land:960 km²; water:0 km²
Comparative: more than five times the size of Washington, DC

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

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

Natural resources: fish

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

Irrigated land: 100 km² (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Population: 147,865 (July 1997 est.)
Growth rate: 2.54% (1997 est.)

Nationality: noun:Sao Tomean(s); adjective:Sao Tomean

Ethnic groups: 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)

Languages: Portuguese (official)

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

Age structure: 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.)

Population growth rate: 2.54% (1997 est.)

Birth rate: 33.77 births/1000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate: 8.4 deaths/1000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1997 est.)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion

Sex ratio: 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.)

Infant mortality rate: 60.2 deaths/1000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population:64.09 years; male:62.15 years; female:66.08 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.22 children born/woman (1997 est.)

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

Country name: 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

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: approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990

Legal system: based on Portuguese legal 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); 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

Legislative branch: 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

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the National Peoples Assembly

International organization participation: 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)

Diplomatic representation
In the us: 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 10,168, telephone [1] (212) 697-4,211
From the us: 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

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: 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.

Real gdp growth rate: 2.6% (1995 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1995 est.)

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

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

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

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

Unemployment rate: NA%

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

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: 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%

Imports: 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

Debt external: $250 million (1995 est.)

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

Electricity
Capacity: 6,000 kW (1991)
Production: 12 million kWh (1991)
Consumption per capita: NA kWh

Telephones: 2,200 (1986 est.)

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

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $N/A
Percent of gdp: NA%

Airports: 2 (1996 est.)
With paved runways: total:2; 1,524 to 2,437 m:1; 914 to 1,523 m:1 (1996 est.)

Railways: 0 km

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

Disputes international: none