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Sao Tome and Principe

STPSub-Saharan Africa Lower middle incomeCapital: Sao Tome
Economy
Fiscal
People
Health
Education
Trade
Energy / Env
Tech
Governance
Equality
Infra
Labor
63/80 indicators · percentile vs world (IMF / WB / WHO)underover
GDP
$1
2027▲ 9.9%
Population
235,536
2024▲ 2.0%
GDP per Capita
$4,947
2027▲ 7.8%
Life Expectancy
69.7 years
2023▲ 0.7%
Sao Tome and Principe in world space2000–2023
1k10k100k505560657075808590GDP per capita (USD, log)Life expectancy (years)20002023
192 countries · log scale on X world Sao Tome and Principe· trajectory line: 1980 → today
▶About Sao Tome and Principe

Sao Tome and Principe's GDP is $1.13B (2026), with a population of 235,536, and GDP per capita of $4,591. Key indicators include real GDP growth of 4.7%, inflation at 7.0%, government debt at 45.4% of GDP, life expectancy of 69.7 years. Data sourced from the IMF World Economic Outlook and World Bank World Development Indicators.

Located in Sub-Saharan Africa, this island nation experienced a GDP growth rate of 4.7% in 2026, with a total GDP of $1.125 billion. The GDP per capita stands at $4,590.682, reflecting the lower middle income status. The economy faces challenges such as an inflation rate of 7.0% and an unemployment rate of 9.132% in 2025. The primary sectors driving the economy include agriculture, particularly cocoa production, and tourism, which are crucial for economic stability and growth. The population is approximately 235,536 as of 2024. Life expectancy is 69.718 years as of 2023. The society is characterized by a blend of African and Portuguese cultural influences, with Portuguese being the official language. The country faces social challenges, including healthcare and education improvements, to enhance the overall quality of life for its citizens.

▶Economy23 indicators · 2021–2027 · IMF / WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
GDP (Current USD, Billions)$12027▲ 9.9%IMF
Real GDP Growth (%)3.9%2027▼ 17.0%IMF
GDP per Capita (USD)$4,9472027▲ 7.8%IMF
GDP, PPP (Billions Intl $)$22027▲ 5.7%IMF
GDP per Capita, PPP (Intl $)$6,9962027▲ 3.6%IMF
Share of World GDP, PPP (%)0.00%2027▲ 0.0%IMF
GNI (Current USD)$821.5M2024▲ 17.8%WB
GNI per Capita (USD)$2,8502024▲ 10.0%WB
GNI per Capita, PPP (USD)$6,2402024▲ 0.5%WB
Industry Value Added (% of GDP)2.8%2024▲ 2.2%WB
Services Value Added (% of GDP)80.3%2024▲ 3.5%WB
Agriculture Value Added (% of GDP)12.5%2024▼ 7.2%WB
GDP Deflator (%)17.7%2024▼ 25.5%WB
GDP per Person Employed (USD)$41,5222024▼ 1.4%WB
Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP)0.6%2024▲ 2.2%WB
Adjusted Net National Income per Capita (USD)$1,9192021▲ 13.0%WB
Coal Rents (% of GDP)0.00%2021—WB
Mineral Rents (% of GDP)0.00%2021—WB
Oil Rents (% of GDP)0.00%2021—WB
Natural Gas Rents (% of GDP)0.00%2021—WB
Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)1.9%2021▼ 4.8%WB
Forest Rents (% of GDP)1.88%2021▼ 4.8%WB
Industry Value Added (Current USD)$23.3M2024▲ 21.7%WB
▶Fiscal & Monetary15 indicators · 2023–2027 · IMF / WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Inflation, Consumer Prices (%)5.5%2027▼ 21.4%IMF
Govt Gross Debt (% of GDP)41.2%2027▼ 9.3%IMF
Fiscal Balance (% of GDP)3.7%2027▲ 60.9%IMF
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)-3.9%2027▼ 8.3%IMF
Total Investment (% of GDP)19.8%2026▼ 24.5%IMF
Gross National Savings (% of GDP)16.2%2026▼ 29.4%IMF
Inflation, CPI (%, World Bank)14.4%2024▼ 32.5%WB
Real Interest Rate (%)-4.8%2023▼ 361.4%WB
Lending Interest Rate (%)17.8%2023▼ 0.5%WB
Deposit Interest Rate (%)2.3%2023▼ 7.9%WB
Total Reserves incl. Gold (USD)$46.2M2023▼ 28.3%WB
Total Reserves (months of imports)2.62023▼ 13.9%WB
Official Exchange Rate (per USD)22.642024▼ 0.1%WB
PPP Conversion Factor12.762024▲ 14.9%WB
Broad Money (% of GDP)24.0%2023▼ 14.7%WB
▶Trade10 indicators · 2023–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Merchandise Exports (USD)$29.0M2024▲ 20.8%WB
Merchandise Imports (USD)$153.0M2024▼ 16.8%WB
FDI Inflows (% of GDP)-2.0%2024▲ 45.7%WB
FDI Outflows (% of GDP)0.5%2024▼ 10.7%WB
FDI Net Inflows (USD)$-16.7M2024▲ 35.3%WB
Personal Remittances Received (USD)$80.1M2024▼ 18.0%WB
Personal Remittances Received (% of GDP)9.7%2024▼ 31.1%WB
High-Tech Exports (% of manufactured)29.3%2023▲ 452.9%WB
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)5.0%2024▲ 66.8%WB
Current Account Balance (USD)$41.5M2024▲ 98.6%WB
▶External Debt7 indicators · 2023–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
External Debt (% of GNI)42.7%2024▼ 8.0%WB
External Debt Stocks (USD)$326.4M2024▲ 2.5%WB
Total Debt Service (% of GNI)0.6%2024▼ 31.4%WB
Present Value of External Debt (USD)$192.1M2024—WB
Use of IMF Credit (USD)$63.9M2024▲ 4.0%WB
Net ODA Received (% of GNI)12.5%2023▲ 24.5%WB
Net ODA Received (USD)$86.8M2023▲ 57.4%WB
▶Finance1 indicator · 2023 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Domestic Credit to Private Sector (% of GDP)7.8%2023▼ 39.2%WB
▶People23 indicators · 2023–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Population235,5362024▲ 2.0%WB
Population Growth (%)2.0%2024▲ 0.1%WB
Population Density (per km²)2402023▲ 2.0%WB
Surface Area (sq km)9602023▲ 0.0%WB
Land Area (sq km)9602023▲ 0.0%WB
Urban Population (%)68.9%2024▲ 0.4%WB
Urban Population (total)162,2162024▲ 2.4%WB
Rural Population (%)31.1%2024▼ 0.8%WB
Life Expectancy at Birth69.7 years2023▲ 0.7%WB
Life Expectancy, Male66.2 years2023▲ 0.7%WB
Life Expectancy, Female73.7 years2023▲ 0.6%WB
Fertility Rate (births per woman)3.62023▼ 1.4%WB
Birth Rate (per 1,000)28.22023▼ 0.3%WB
Death Rate (per 1,000)5.62023▼ 2.8%WB
Net Migration-6502025▼ 7.6%WB
Population Ages 0–14 (%)37.8%2024▼ 1.2%WB
Population Ages 15–64 (%)58.3%2024▲ 0.7%WB
Population Ages 65+ (%)3.9%2024▲ 0.9%WB
Age Dependency Ratio (%)71.6%2024▼ 1.7%WB
Old-Age Dependency Ratio (%)6.7%2024▲ 0.1%WB
Youth Dependency Ratio (%)64.9%2024▼ 1.9%WB
Mortality Rate, Adult Male (per 1,000)274.82023▼ 3.0%WB
Mortality Rate, Adult Female (per 1,000)146.32023▼ 3.7%WB
▶Labor18 indicators · 2017–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Total Labor Force35,0752025▲ 2.4%WB
Labor Force Participation (%)23.3%2025▼ 0.2%WB
Female Labor Force Participation (%)22.7%2025▼ 0.1%WB
Male Labor Force Participation (%)24.0%2025▼ 0.3%WB
Unemployment (%)9.1%2025▲ 0.8%WB
Female Unemployment (%)9.3%2025▲ 1.1%WB
Male Unemployment (%)9.0%2025▲ 0.5%WB
Youth Unemployment (%)8.8%2025▲ 2.7%WB
Employment in Agriculture (%)12.1%2025▼ 2.1%WB
Employment in Industry (%)22.5%2025▲ 0.2%WB
Employment in Services (%)65.4%2025▲ 0.3%WB
Vulnerable Employment (%)35.0%2025▼ 0.2%WB
Wage & Salaried Workers (% of total)56.0%2025▲ 0.2%WB
Employers (% of total employment)9.0%2025▼ 0.1%WB
Labor Force, Female (% of total)49.4%2025▲ 0.2%WB
Employment to Population Ratio (%)21.2%2025▼ 0.3%WB
Self-Employed (% of total)44.0%2025▼ 0.2%WB
NEET Youth (% not in education/employment)43.8%2017—WB
▶Education16 indicators · 2014–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Education Spending (% of GDP)5.0%2023▼ 3.2%WB
Education Spending (% of govt expenditure)18.1%2024▼ 1.4%WB
Adult Literacy Rate (%)87.4%2019—WB
Youth Literacy Rate (%)95.5%2019—WB
Primary School Enrollment (%)110.4%2017—WB
Secondary School Enrollment (%)90.4%2017—WB
Primary Completion Rate (%)85.1%2017—WB
Lower Secondary Completion Rate (%)74.9%2017—WB
Primary School Teachers1,1932017—WB
Secondary School Teachers9362016—WB
Pupil-Teacher Ratio, Primary312017—WB
Pupil-Teacher Ratio, Secondary252016—WB
Expenditure per Student, Primary (% of GDP/cap)55.8%2014—WB
Pupil-Teacher Ratio (Primary)92.72016—WB
Education Spending, Secondary (% of govt)22.6%2014—WB
Education Spending, Tertiary (% of govt)9.6%2014—WB
▶Health40 indicators · 2019–2024 · WHO
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Health Spending (% of GDP)5.8%2023▼ 0.0%WHO
Health Spending per Capita (USD)$1712023▲ 23.0%WHO
Government Health Spending (% of GDP)2.1%2023▼ 7.7%WHO
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending (% of total)16.7%2023▲ 9.6%WHO
Physicians (per 1,000 people)0.52022—WHO
Nurses & Midwives (per 1,000)2.22022—WHO
Hospital Beds (per 1,000)2.92019—WHO
Infant Mortality (per 1,000 live births)13.92023▼ 4.8%WHO
Neonatal Mortality (per 1,000)6.82023▼ 4.2%WHO
Maternal Mortality (per 100,000)752023▼ 8.5%WHO
Under-5 Mortality, Female (per 1,000)12.52023▼ 4.6%WHO
Under-5 Mortality, Male (per 1,000)15.32023▼ 4.4%WHO
Cause of Death, Communicable (%)31.0%2019—WHO
Cause of Death, Non-Communicable (%)57.6%2019—WHO
Cause of Death, Injury (%)11.4%2019—WHO
Measles Immunization (% of children)87.0%2024▲ 0.0%WHO
DPT Immunization (% of children)87.0%2024▲ 0.0%WHO
Tuberculosis Incidence (per 100,000)872024▲ 19.2%WHO
Stunting, Children Under 5 (%)11.7%2019—WHO
Overweight, Children Under 5 (%)4.5%2019—WHO
Smoking Prevalence, Males (%)13.7%2022▲ 1.5%WHO
Smoking Prevalence, Females (%)2.0%2022▲ 0.0%WHO
Suicide Mortality Rate (per 100,000)0.92021▲ 3.6%WHO
Alcohol Consumption (liters per capita)4.82020▼ 4.4%WHO
Maternal Deaths52023▼ 7.1%WHO
Tuberculosis Incidence (per 100K)872024▲ 19.2%WHO
Malaria Deaths (estimated)12024—WHO
Malaria Incidence (per 1K at risk)30.12024▲ 195.9%WHO
DTP3 Immunization Coverage (%)87%2024▲ 0.0%WHO
Measles Immunization Coverage (%)87%2024▲ 0.0%WHO
Hepatitis B Immunization Coverage (%)87%2024▲ 0.0%WHO
Physicians (total)52022▼ 5.7%WHO
Nursing & Midwifery Personnel222022—WHO
Dentists (total)4402022—WHO
Pharmacists (total)502022▲ 127.3%WHO
Child Wasting (<5 years, %)4.1%2019—WHO
Child Underweight (<5 years, %)5.4%2019—WHO
Universal Health Coverage Index602023▲ 0.0%WHO
Road Traffic Death Rate (per 100K)262021—WHO
Health Expenditure per Capita (WHO, USD)$1712023▲ 23.0%WHO
▶Energy & Environment14 indicators · 2020–2024 · WB / WHO
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
CO₂ Emissions (tonnes per capita)0.62024▼ 0.6%WB
CO₂ Emissions (total kilotonnes)02024▲ 1.4%WB
Renewable Electricity Output (%)6.1%2021▲ 3.7%WB
Renewable Energy Consumption (%)42.5%2022▲ 4.2%WB
Access to Electricity (%)81.3%2023▲ 4.2%WB
Access to Clean Fuels for Cooking (%)4.6%2023▲ 9.5%WB
PM2.5 Air Pollution (µg/m³)27.32020▲ 26.2%WB
Forest Area (%)52.1%2023▼ 1.2%WB
Forest Area (sq km)5002023▼ 1.2%WB
Arable Land (%)4.2%2023▲ 0.0%WB
Terrestrial Protected Areas (%)0.2%2024▲ 0.0%WB
Marine Protected Areas (%)0.0%2024—WB
Access to Basic Drinking Water (%)78.0%2024▲ 0.3%WHO
Access to Basic Sanitation (%)48.7%2024▲ 0.1%WHO
▶Agriculture11 indicators · 2022–2023 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Agricultural Land (%)44.8%2023▲ 0.0%WB
Cereal Yield (kg per hectare)2,0042023▼ 0.0%WB
Food Production Index (2014–2016=100)107.32022▲ 0.8%WB
Crop Production Index (2014–2016=100)107.42022▲ 1.1%WB
Livestock Production Index (2014–2016=100)1082022▲ 0.2%WB
Land Under Cereal Production (hectares)3932023▲ 1.0%WB
Total Fisheries Production (metric tonnes)5,6482023▼ 1.0%WB
Fertilizer Consumption (kg per hectare)682023▲ 0.0%WB
Prevalence of Undernourishment (%)17.4%2023▲ 4.2%WB
Annual Freshwater Withdrawals (% of internal)1.9%2022▲ 0.0%WB
Cereal Production (metric tons)7872023▲ 0.8%WB
▶Technology9 indicators · 2021–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Internet Users (%)61.5%2023▼ 0.2%WB
Mobile Subscriptions (per 100 people)632023▼ 26.9%WB
Fixed Broadband Subscriptions (per 100)2.52023▲ 23.5%WB
Secure Internet Servers (per million)42.52024▲ 8.9%WB
Patent Applications, Non-Residents142021▲ 0.0%WB
Scientific Journal Articles42022▲ 28.4%WB
High-Technology Exports (USD)$70,9792023▲ 372.4%WB
ICT Service Exports (% of service exports)0.6%2024▼ 68.1%WB
ICT Service Exports (USD)$493,5412024▼ 63.1%WB
▶Infrastructure6 indicators · 2018–2023 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Air Transport, Passengers Carried38,7672023▲ 0.2%WB
Air Transport, Freight (million ton-km)0.82023▼ 3.4%WB
Container Port Traffic (TEU)49,5532019—WB
Logistics Performance Index (1–5)2.652018—WB
Electricity from Oil (%)93.9%2021▼ 0.2%WB
Electricity from Nuclear (%)0.0%2021—WB
▶Gender7 indicators · 2017–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Women in Parliament (%)14.5%2024▲ 0.0%WB
Female Wage & Salaried Workers (%)55.6%2025▲ 0.3%WB
Girls Out-of-School Rate (%)92.3%2017—WB
Adolescent Fertility Rate (per 1,000)86.22023▼ 0.7%WB
Gender Parity Index, Primary91.552017—WB
Gender Parity Index, Secondary1.162017—WB
Gender Parity in Primary Education0.972017—WB
▶Governance10 indicators · 2023 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Control of Corruption0.362023▲ 18.1%WB
Government Effectiveness-0.92023▼ 8.1%WB
Political Stability0.442023▼ 4.3%WB
Regulatory Quality-0.942023▼ 5.6%WB
Rule of Law-0.692023▼ 9.5%WB
Voice & Accountability0.252023▼ 8.8%WB
Control of Corruption (percentile rank)63.2%2023▲ 0.8%WB
Government Effectiveness (percentile rank)17.9%2023▼ 15.6%WB
Rule of Law (percentile rank)25.5%2023▼ 5.3%WB
Political Stability (percentile rank)60.2%2023▲ 0.5%WB
▶Tourism4 indicators · 2016–2018 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
International Tourism, Arrivals33,4002018—WB
Tourism Receipts (USD)$71.9M2018—WB
Tourism Receipts (% of total exports)73.2%2018—WB
International Tourism, Transport Services (USD)$300,0002016—WB
▶Urban Development5 indicators · 2022–2024 · WB / WHO
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Urban Population Growth (%)2.4%2024▲ 2.2%WB
Population in Slums (% of urban)82.4%2022▲ 56.6%WB
Rural Population Growth (%)1.1%2024▼ 8.8%WB
Access to Safely Managed Drinking Water (%)36.7%2024▲ 0.4%WHO
Access to Safely Managed Sanitation (%)34.7%2024▲ 0.1%WHO

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