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. 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.

Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N 7 00 E

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 1,001 km²
Water: 0 km²
Land: 1,001 km²
Comparative: more than five times the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 209 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 NM
Exclusive economic zone: 200 NM

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

Terrain: volcanic mountainous

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

Natural resources: fish hydropower

Land use
Arable land: 2%
Permanent crops: 41%
Other: 57% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: 100 km² (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

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

Population: 175,883 (July 2003 est.)
Growth rate: 3.18% (2003 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: Sao Tomean
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: Christian 80% (Roman Catholic Evangelical Protestant Seventh-Day Adventist)

Age structure
0-14 years: 47.7% (male 42,480; female 41,411)
15-64 years: 48.3% (male 41,043; female 43,986)
65 years and over: 4% (male 3,197; female 3,766) (2003 est.)

Median age
Total: 16.1 years
Male: 15.5 years
Female: 16.7 years (2002)

Population growth rate: 3.18% (2003 est.)

Birth rate: 41.87 births/1000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate: 7.11 deaths/1000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.93 migrant(s)/1000 population (2003 est.)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.03 male/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male/female
Total population: 0.97 male/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 46.04 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 43.95 deaths/1000 live births (2003 est.)
Male: 48.07 deaths/1000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 66.28 years
Male: 64.79 years
Female: 67.82 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.88 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA%
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 79.3%
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 short form: Sao Tome e Principe
Local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe

Government type: republic

Capital: Sao Tome

Administrative divisions
Note: Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995

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 Fradique DE MENEZES (since 3 September 2001)
Election results: Fradique DE MENEZES elected president in Sao Tome's third multiparty presidential election; percent of vote - NA%
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 29 July 2001 (next to be held NA July 2006); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president
Head of government: Prime Minister Maria das NEVES (since 7 October 2002)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister

Legislative branch
Elections: last held 3 March 2002 (next to be held NA 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

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National Assembly)

Political parties and leaders: 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

International organization participation: ACCT ACP AfDB CEEAC ECA FAO G-77 IBRD ICAO ICCt (signatory) ICRM IDA IFAD IFRCS ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM (observer) ITU NAM OAU UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UPU WCL WHO WIPO WMO WToO WTrO (observer)

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 400 Park Avenue 7th Floor New York NY 10,022 telephone [1] (212) 317-0580
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 28 years ago. Cocoa production has substantially declined in recent years because of drought and mismanagement but strengthening prices brighten prospects for 2003. Sao Tome has to import all fuels most manufactured goods consumer goods and a substantial 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. Sao Tome benefited from $200 million in debt relief in December 2000 under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program. Sao Tome's success in implementing structural reforms has been rewarded by international donors who pledged increased assistance in 2001. 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 that substantial petroleum discoveries are forthcoming in its territorial waters in the oil-rich waters of the Gulf of Guinea; production could begin as early as 2004.

Real gdp growth rate: 4% (2002 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $1200 (2002 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 25%
Industry: 10%
Services: 65% (1999 est.)

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

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

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: NA
By occupation note: shortages of skilled workers

Unemployment rate: NA%

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%

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

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 9% (2002 est.)

Exports: $5.5 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Commodities: cocoa 80% copra coffee palm oil
Partners: Netherlands 30.1% Poland 11.8% Canada 9.7% Germany 7.5% Philippines 7.5% Spain 7.5% Belgium 6.5% France 4.3% Portugal 4.3% (2002)

Imports: $24.8 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Commodities: machinery and electrical equipment food products petroleum products
Partners: Portugal 51.4% Germany 10.1% UK 7.6% Belgium 6.3% (2002)

Debt external: $253.8 million (2000)

Exchange rates: dobras per US dollar - NA (2002) 8,842 (2001) 7,978 (2000) 7,119 (1999) 6,883 (1998)

Electricity
Production: 17 million kWh (2001)
Production by source fossil fuel: 41.2%
Production by source hydro: 58.8%
Production by source other: 0% (2001)
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Consumption: 15.81 million kWh (2001)
Exports: 0 kWh (2001)
Imports: 0 kWh (2001)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 4,600 (2000)
Mobile cellular: 6,942 (1997)

Telephone system
General assessment: adequate facilities
Domestic: minimal system
International: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Internet
Country code: .st
Service providers isps: 1 (2002)
Users: 9,000 (2002)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $400,000 (FY01)
Percent of gdp: 0.8% (FY01)

Airports: 2 (2002)
With paved runways total: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2002)

Railways: 0 km

Waterways: none

Merchant marine
Total: 24 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 78,595 GRT/99,873 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 15, chemical tanker 1, livestock carrier 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 2
Note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Egypt 1, Greece 1, Kenya 1, Portugal 1, Syria 1, Turkey 1 (2002 est.)

Disputes international: none