São Tomé and Príncipe
island sovereign state in Africa
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São Tomé and Príncipe is an African island nation that became independent on July 12, 1975. [1] The country has a population of approximately 204,000 people as of 2017. [2] Its total land area is about 1,000 square kilometers. It operates on Greenwich Mean Time, using UTC±00:00 with the timezone identifier Africa/Sao_Tome. [3]
World Factbook
CIA reference data · 4 sections
Geography
Location
Central Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, just north of the Equator, west of Gabon
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Terrain
volcanic, mountainous
Natural resources
fish, hydropower
People & Society
Languages
Portuguese 98.4% (official), Forro 36.2%, Cabo Verdian 8.5%, French 6.8%, Angolar 6.6%, English 4.9%, Lunguie 1%, other (including sign language) 2.4%; other Portuguese-based Creoles are also spoken (2012 est.)
Religions
Catholic 55.7%, Adventist 4.1%, Assembly of God 3.4%, New Apostolic 2.9%, Mana 2.3%, Universal Kingdom of God 2%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, other 6.2%, none 21.2%, unspecified 1% (2012 est.)
Government
Government type
semi-presidential republic
Independence
12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday
Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Legal system
mixed system of civil law based on the Portuguese model and customary law
Economy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.291 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$5,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
0.9% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
14.4% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
9.2% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
Pakistan 54%, Germany 11%, Netherlands 7%, France 5%, UAE 3% (2023)
Imports - partners
Portugal 35%, Angola 13%, Gabon 11%, Japan 8%, China 6% (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook · public domain (US gov work, 17 USC §105) · fetched 2026-05-06
Key Facts
- Member of: United Nations[3], African Union[4], International Bank for Reconstruction and Development[5], International Development Association[6], International Finance Corporation[7], Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency[8], International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes[9], African Development Bank[10], Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States[11], Alliance of Small Island States[12], Community of Portuguese Language Countries[13], Interpol[14], Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons[15], UNESCO[16]
- Country: São Tomé and Príncipe[17]
- Located in or next to body of water: Atlantic Ocean[18]
- Head of government: Américo Ramos[19]
- Continent: Africa[20]
- Instance of: sovereign state[21], island country[22], country[23], archipelagic state[24], parliamentary republic[25], biosphere reserve[26]
- Head of state: Carlos Vila Nova[27]
- Capital: São Tomé[28]
- Official language: Portuguese[29]
- Currency: São Tomé and Príncipe dobra[30]
- Shares border with: Gabon[31], Equatorial Guinea[32], Nigeria[33]
- Top-level Internet domain: .st[34]
- Anthem: Independência total[35]
- Contains the administrative territorial entity: Príncipe Autonomous Region[36], Água Grande[37], Cantagalo[38], Caué[39], Lembá[40], Lobata[41], Mé-Zóchi[42]
- Flag: flag of São Tomé and Príncipe[43]
- Legislative body: Asamblea Nacional de Santo Tomé y Príncipe[44]
- Executive body: government of São Tomé and Príncipe[45]
- Coat of arms: Coat of arms of São Tomé and Príncipe[46]
- Part of: Portuguese-speaking African countries[47]
- Commons category: São Tomé and Príncipe[48]
- Located in time zone: UTC±00:00[49], Africa/Sao_Tome[50]
Why It Matters
São Tomé and Príncipe has Wikipedia articles in 30 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[51] It is known by 73 alternative names across languages and contexts.[52]