Discover Fascinating Sao Tome and Principe Facts

Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Sao Tome and Principe.

Sao Tome and Principe

Background

🌍 A Glimpse into the History of Sao Tome and Principe! 📖
The enchanting islands of Sao Tome and Principe were discovered by Portugal back in the late 15th century! Initially, they were uninhabited, but soon after, a thriving sugar-based economy sprouted. 🌱
By the 19th century, this blossomed into the cultivation of coffee and cocoa, which are deliciously famous! ☕🍫

The journey to independence was a significant milestone, achieved in 1975. However, it wasn't until the late 1980s that the country embraced democratic reforms. 🗳️ The first free elections took place in 1991, marking an important moment in their history! 🎉

Year of Independence

1975

First Free Elections Year

1991

Late 15th Century Discovery

1480s

Exports - commodities

🌍 Did you know that Sao Tome and Principe has some really interesting exports? Here’s a look at what they send out into the world!

  1. Cocoa Beans 🍫: These delicious beans are one of the most famous exports from the islands! Sao Tome and Principe is known for its high-quality cocoa.
  2. Palm Oil 🌴: Another important export, palm oil is widely used in cooking and many products we use every day.
  3. Gas Turbines ⚙️: Yes, Sao Tome and Principe also exports gas turbines, essential for powering machinery and producing energy!
  4. Integrated Circuits 💻: These tiny but powerful components play a huge role in electronics, showcasing the country's tech capabilities.
  5. Coconut Oil 🥥: This versatile oil is not only used in cooking but also in beauty products, making it quite popular!

Isn't it cool how much variety there is in what they export? 🌟

Number of Exported Commodities

5

Exports - partners

🌍 Let's dive into the exciting world of exports from São Tomé and Príncipe! In 2022, these are the top partners that helped boost the country's economy through trade:

  • 🇳🇱 Netherlands: 26% of exports
  • 🇫🇷 France: 11% of exports
  • 🇧🇪 Belgium: 11% of exports
  • 🇵🇹 Portugal: 8% of exports
  • 🇦🇴 Angola: 6% of exports

It's fascinating to see how interconnected our world is! 🌐 Each of these countries plays a vital role in the exports from São Tomé and Príncipe, showcasing the diversity and reach of its trade relationships. 📈✨

Top Export Partner

Netherlands (26%)

Percentage Exports to France

11%

Percentage Exports to Belgium

11%

Percentage Exports to Portugal

8%

Percentage Exports to Angola

6%

Export Partners of São Tomé and Príncipe (2022)

Capital

🏛️ The capital city of Sao Tome and Principe is Sao Tome! This vibrant city is filled with beautiful sights and rich history, making it the perfect place to explore the culture of this island nation. 🌴✈️

Imports - commodities

Sao Tome and Principe imports a variety of essential commodities, which play a crucial role in the daily lives of its people. The main imports include refined petroleum for energy, ships for transportation, electric generating sets to keep the lights on, rice for nourishment, and cars for getting around. 🚚⚓⚡🍚🚗 Each of these commodities contributes to the economy and is vital for the country's progress!

Key Imported Commodities

refined petroleum, ships, electric generating sets, rice, cars

Climate

🌞 Sao Tome and Principe's Climate: This beautiful island nation enjoys a tropical climate, perfect for those who love hot and humid weather! 🌴 There is one rainy season from October to May, which keeps the lush greenery vibrant and flourishing. It's a paradise for nature lovers! 🌧️

Executive branch

🇸🇹 In São Tomé and Príncipe, the chief of state is the President, currently Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA, who has been in office since 2 October 2021. On the other hand, the head of government is the Prime Minister, Patrice TROVOADA, serving since 11 November 2022. This means that there's a new leadership approach since VILA NOVA took charge just a bit over two years ago! Let's see how the leadership continues to shape the beautiful nation of São Tomé and Príncipe.

Date Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA took office

2 October 2021

Date Patrice TROVOADA took office

11 November 2022

Legislative branch

In Sao Tome and Principe, the legislative branch consists of a single chamber known as the National Assembly. 🏛️ This Assembly has a total of 55 seats! Each representative plays a key role in creating laws and shaping the country's future. 📜✨

Total Seats in National Assembly

55

Natural resources

Sao Tome and Principe is blessed with some important natural resources 🌊⚡. Among them, fish is a vital resource that supports local economies and food supply. Additionally, the country harnesses hydropower, which is essential for clean energy! 🇸🇹 This combination of resources plays a significant role in the wellbeing and sustainability of the island nation, providing sustenance and power to its people.

Natural resources available

Fish, Hydropower

Economic overview

🌴 Welcome to Sao Tome and Principe, a lower middle-income Central African island economy! 🌍 But things aren't all sunny. The country has faced some significant challenges lately. For instance, cocoa production, which is vital for the economy, is falling due to droughts ☔ and mismanagement. Additionally, the government holds a whopping 90% of the land! 🏞️

And that's not all! There’s a joint oil venture with Nigeria that could be a big opportunity. However, the country also carries a high debt, partly due to fuel subsidies. 🚀 Finally, tourism took a massive hit thanks to COVID-19, leaving the economy feeling pretty gutted. 💔

Percentage of land owned by the government

90%

Economic classification

Lower middle-income

Government type

In Sao Tome and Principe, the government is a semi-presidential republic! 🌍✨ This means that they have a president and a prime minister, sharing the powers to lead the country. It's an interesting mix of different government styles that helps keep everything balanced! ⚖️

Government Structure

Semi-Presidential Republic

Ethnic groups

In the beautiful islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, a vibrant mix of cultures and heritages can be found! Here's a sneak peek at the ethnic groups that add color to this tropical paradise:

  • Mestico 🌍
  • Angolares: Descendants of Angolan slaves who call these islands home.
  • Forros: Proud descendants of freed slaves.
  • Servicais: Contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cabo Verde, bringing their skills and traditions.
  • Tongas: The next generation, children of servicais who were born right on the islands.
  • Europeans: Mainly Portuguese, contributing to the island's rich history.
  • Asians: Mostly Chinese, adding an extra layer of diversity!

This blend of backgrounds creates a tapestry of traditions and stories that shape the identity of São Tomé and Príncipe! 🎉

Ethnic groups present

7

Religions

In Sao Tome and Principe, the religious landscape is quite diverse! 🌍 Here's how the population identifies with various 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% ❓

It's fascinating to see that over half of the population identifies as Catholic, while a significant portion (21.2%) doesn't follow any religion at all! Let's take a closer look at this data visually.

Percentage of population identifying as Catholic

55.7%

Percentage of population that identifies as None

21.2%

Least represented religion

1.2% (Jehovah's Witness)

Religious Composition of Sao Tome and Principe

Languages

In São Tomé and Príncipe, the main language spoken is Portuguese, with a whopping 98.4% of the population using it! 🗣️✨ But that's not all! The islanders also speak several other fascinating languages:

  • Forro: 36.2%
  • Cabo Verdian: 8.5%
  • French: 6.8%
  • Angolar: 6.6%
  • English: 4.9%
  • Lunguie: 1%
  • Others (including sign language): 2.4%

This colorful mix of languages reflects the rich culture and history of the islands! 🌍💬

Percentage of population that speaks Portuguese

98.4%

Percentage of population that speaks Forro

36.2%

Percentage of population that speaks Cabo Verdian

8.5%

Percentage of population that speaks French

6.8%

Percentage of population that speaks Angolar

6.6%

Percentage of population that speaks English

4.9%

Percentage of population that speaks Lunguie

1%

Percentage of population that speaks other languages

2.4%

Language Distribution in São Tomé and Príncipe

Imports - partners

🌍 Let’s take a look at the import partners for the beautiful island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe! In 2022, the country had some interesting trading relationships! Here’s how their imports break down by partner country:

  • 🇵🇹 Portugal: 35% 🥇
  • 🇦🇴 Angola: 18% 🥈
  • 🇹🇬 Togo: 13% 🥉
  • 🇨🇳 China: 6%
  • 🇮🇹 Italy: 5%

Isn’t it cool to see how different countries help supply goods to São Tomé and Príncipe? Let's dive into a fun pie chart to visualize where most of their imports come from! 🍰

Total Import Percentage

100%

Largest Import Partner

Portugal

Smallest Import Partner

Italy

Import Partners of São Tomé and Príncipe (2022)

Population

🌍 The total population of São Tomé and Príncipe is a cozy 223,561 people! This makes it a small but vibrant community full of culture and charm. 🏝️ Imagine all the friendly faces and the colorful traditions that come together in this beautiful island nation!

Total Population

223,561

Area

🌍 Sao Tome and Principe is a small yet charming island nation with a total area of 964 sq km! Can you imagine living on such a tiny piece of paradise? 🌴

Interestingly, all of this area is land964 sq km. This means there are no significant bodies of water in terms of area, as it measures 0 sq km. It’s all about the land here! 🏞️

Total Area

964 sq km

Land Area

964 sq km

Water Area

0 sq km

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

📈 Exploring the Real GDP of São Tomé and Príncipe 🌍
Let's take a look at how the economy of São Tomé and Príncipe has been growing over the past few years! Here are the estimated figures:

  • In 2021, the Real GDP (purchasing power parity) was $1.272 billion.
  • In 2022, it slightly rose to $1.273 billion.
  • By 2023, it is estimated to be $1.267 billion.

Looks like there's been a little bit of fluctuation in the economy! 📊 Let's visualize this data to see the trends more clearly!

Estimated Real GDP in 2021

$1.272 billion

Estimated Real GDP in 2022

$1.273 billion

Estimated Real GDP in 2023

$1.267 billion

Real GDP of São Tomé and Príncipe Over Time

Real GDP per capita

🌍 Let's explore the Real GDP per capita for Sao Tome and Principe over the past few years! This is a way to understand how much money, on average, each person has in the country, and it gives us an idea about the economy.📈

Here are the numbers we have:

  • 2021: $5,700
  • 2022: $5,600
  • 2023: $5,500

As we can see, the Real GDP per capita has decreased from 2021 to 2023, which can be an important indicator of economic changes in the country. Let's visualize this trend in a chart! 📊

2021 Real GDP per capita

5700

2022 Real GDP per capita

5600

2023 Real GDP per capita

5500

Real GDP per capita over Years

Imports

🌍 Let's explore the imports of São Tomé and Príncipe! Imports are essential for the country to bring in goods it doesn’t produce itself. Here’s how it looked over the past few years:

  • In 2020, imports were $160.097 million.
  • By 2021, they increased to $201.145 million. 📈
  • In 2022, imports rose even more to $219.322 million! 🌟

This shows a steady growth, which is beneficial for the economy as it allows the country to access more resources and products from around the world.

Total Import in 2020

160.097 million USD

Total Import in 2021

201.145 million USD

Total Import in 2022

219.322 million USD

Imports of São Tomé and Príncipe Over Years

Exports

📈 Let's take a look at the exports of São Tomé and Príncipe over the last few years! The country has seen some interesting changes in its export values:

  • 2020: $49.337 million
  • 2021: $75.256 million
  • 2022: $96.977 million

As we can see, the exports have been on the rise! This is great news for the economy of this beautiful island nation! 🌴💰

Total increase in exports from 2020 to 2022

47.640 million USD

Average annual export from 2020 to 2022

73.190 million USD

Exports of São Tomé and Príncipe Over Time

Population growth rate

🌍 Population Growth Rate of São Tomé and Príncipe 📈
The population of the beautiful islands of São Tomé and Príncipe is expected to grow at a rate of 1.42% in 2024! This means more people enjoying the sunny beaches, delicious food, and vibrant culture 🌊🍽️. It's an exciting time for the nation as families grow and communities develop!

Population Growth Rate (2024)

1.42%