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Economy of Sao Tome and Principe vs Tunisia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Sao Tome and Principe has a GDP of $822M compared to $51.3B for Tunisia, ranking 189/197 and 93/197 by economy size, respectively.

Sao Tome and Principe has $533M in government debt (64.8% of GDP), compared to $42.8B (83.4% of GDP) in Tunisia.

Sao Tome and Principe vs Tunisia GDP by year

Sao Tome and Principe
Tunisia
1x
Year GDP, current $
Sao Tome Tunisia
2024 $822,154,621 $51,332,285,657
2023 $690,456,807 $48,205,328,303
2022 $540,809,499 $44,929,920,093
2021 $524,402,456 $47,073,234,359
2020 $471,229,485 $42,491,780,918
2019 $412,976,083 $41,905,642,419
2018 $383,717,328 $42,686,504,460
2017 $322,002,845 $42,163,530,591
2016 $292,267,272 $44,360,072,680
2015 $259,999,643 $45,779,494,042
2014 $293,119,143 $50,271,812,921
2013 $267,041,748 $48,685,446,414
2012 $225,815,132 $47,311,401,813
2011 $226,455,001 $48,123,325,825
2010 $190,021,192 $46,206,091,938
2009 $200,668,065 $43,455,740,497
2008 $188,021,165 $44,859,439,902
2007 $149,146,919 $38,915,353,867
2006 $142,775,104 $34,376,664,601
2005 $136,450,662 $32,272,186,695
2004 $114,582,284 $31,183,885,241
2003 $102,085,769 $27,453,902,261
2002 $85,171,074 $23,141,616,605
2001 $75,951,133 $22,065,832,449
2000 $76,198,395 $21,473,528,161
1999 $77,302,212 $22,943,202,175
1998 $72,285,404 $21,802,893,587
1997 $91,920,274 $20,746,210,354
1996 $135,188,166 $19,587,161,807
1995 $103,695,237 $18,030,876,599
1994 $131,338,415 $15,633,174,304
1993 $125,742,229 $14,608,335,608
1992 $94,861,781 $15,496,708,060
1991 $107,484,143 $13,074,782,609
1990 $119,297,933 $12,290,568,182
1989 $98,545,367 $10,101,851,745
1988 $99,000,764 $10,096,245,762
1987 $115,952,925 $9,696,715,911
1986 $115,928,907 $9,017,806,654
1985 $82,733,069 $8,410,226,053
1984 $78,213,796 $8,254,541,195
1983 $75,110,289 $8,350,582,748
1982 $80,307,763 $8,133,580,052
1981 $83,499,264 $8,428,445,294
1980 $81,662,231 $8,744,134,354
1979 $65,755,928 $7,188,863,904
1978 $55,044,563 $5,968,460,080
1977 $49,207,692 $5,109,324,009
1976 $52,039,421 $4,508,191,942
1975 $60,101,710 $4,328,965,588
1974 $57,817,591 $3,545,868,575
1973 $56,011,245 $2,730,813,385
1972 $41,430,257 $2,237,556,149
1971 $37,288,845 $1,685,162,272
1970 $37,211,826 $1,439,238,095
1969 - $1,289,904,762
1968 - $1,214,666,667
1967 - $1,085,714,286
1966 - $1,040,952,381
1965 - $991,047,619
1964 - $1,025,866,792
1963 - $1,026,737,600
1962 - $880,027,733
1961 - $866,155,429

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/sao-tome-and-principe/tunisia | CC BY

GDP per capita in Sao Tome and Principe vs Tunisia by year

Sao Tome and Principe
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Tunisia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Sao Tome Tunisia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $3,491 $6,242 $4,181 $14,521
2023 $2,991 $6,150 $3,951 $14,041
2022 $2,390 $6,034 $3,707 $13,619
2021 $2,363 $5,733 $3,907 $12,444
2020 $2,167 $5,145 $3,549 $11,918
2019 $1,935 $4,655 $3,529 $12,495
2018 $1,826 $3,941 $3,628 $11,841
2017 $1,556 $3,436 $3,619 $11,289
2016 $1,435 $3,320 $3,848 $10,994
2015 $1,298 $3,172 $4,015 $10,783
2014 $1,490 $3,233 $4,459 $10,947
2013 $1,383 $2,946 $4,370 $10,672
2012 $1,192 $2,653 $4,297 $10,615
2011 $1,220 $2,914 $4,421 $10,436
2010 $1,045 $2,859 $4,292 $10,555
2009 $1,128 $2,846 $4,080 $10,237
2008 $1,082 $2,802 $4,255 $9,975
2007 $879 $2,650 $3,727 $9,479
2006 $862 $2,551 $3,323 $8,729
2005 $844 $2,329 $3,147 $8,117
2004 $727 $2,171 $3,067 $7,672
2003 $664 $2,094 $2,726 $7,098
2002 $568 $1,945 $2,321 $6,715
2001 $519 $1,898 $2,236 $6,593
2000 $529 $1,830 $2,199 $6,279
1999 $543 $1,802 $2,376 $5,930
1998 $514 $1,754 $2,285 $5,579
1997 $662 $1,714 $2,202 $5,333
1996 $987 $1,693 $2,107 $5,040
1995 $769 $1,663 $1,968 $4,686
1994 $990 $1,623 $1,733 $4,555
1993 $964 $1,581 $1,649 $4,401
1992 $740 $1,556 $1,785 $4,292
1991 $855 $1,540 $1,538 $3,975
1990 $970 $1,504 $1,476 $3,780
1989 $821 - $1,239 -
1988 $847 - $1,266 -
1987 $1,018 - $1,245 -
1986 $1,043 - $1,187 -
1985 $761 - $1,135 -
1984 $735 - $1,143 -
1983 $720 - $1,184 -
1982 $783 - $1,177 -
1981 $830 - $1,247 -
1980 $829 - $1,324 -
1979 $683 - $1,113 -
1978 $587 - $946 -
1977 $539 - $830 -
1976 $585 - $752 -
1975 $693 - $741 -
1974 $683 - $624 -
1973 $676 - $493 -
1972 $511 - $415 -
1971 $470 - $320 -
1970 $479 - $280.5 -
1969 - - $257.7 -
1968 - - $248.9 -
1967 - - $228 -
1966 - - $223.8 -
1965 - - $217.3 -
1964 - - $228.5 -
1963 - - $231.9 -
1962 - - $201.4 -
1961 - - $200.7 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/sao-tome-and-principe/tunisia | CC BY

Sao Tome and Principe's GDP per capita is $3,491, ranking 134/197, compared to $4,181 in Tunisia, ranking 129/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Sao Tome and Principe ranks 151st at $6,242, while Tunisia ranks 114th at $14,521.

Economic indicators

Sao Tome Tunisia
Gross domestic product
$822M
2024
$51.3B
2024
GDP rank
189/197
2024
93/197
2024
GDP growth
1.1%
2023-2024
1.61%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$3,491
2024
$4,181
2024
GDP per capita rank
134/197
2024
129/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$6,242
2024
$14,521
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
151/197
2024
114/197
2024
Government debt
$533M
2024
$42.8B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
64.8%
2024
83.4%
2024
Government debt per person
$2,262
2024
$3,487
2024
Government debt per person rank
116/185
2024
94/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,111
2026
$3,951
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$8.3B
2024
Income share by richest 10%
32.8%
2017
27%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
2.6%
2017
3.1%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
24.7%
2024
33.8%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
14.4%
2023-2024
7%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
7.5%
2025
Unemployment rate
6.66%
2017
15.1%
2023
Population
246362
12437803

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Sao Tome and Principe
Spending

Debt
Tunisia
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Sao Tome Tunisia
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 24.7% 64.8% 33.8% 83.4%
2023 23.9% 73.2% 35.7% 84%
2022 27.7% 86.8% 36.5% 83%
2021 25.6% 85.1% 33.2% 79.7%
2020 23.2% 91% 34.5% 77.7%
2019 22.8% 98.6% 29.5% 67.3%
2018 28% 95.9% 28.7% 72.9%
2017 31.9% 92.3% 28.7% 67.1%
2016 38.3% 104.6% 27.2% 58.9%
2015 41.6% 101.1% 27.4% 52.4%
2014 36% 92.5% 27.7% 50.7%
2013 35.5% 76.8% 30.8% 45.6%
2012 50.5% 59.6% 28.3% 49%
2011 53.4% 86% 27.9% 43.3%
2010 51.7% 83% 24% 38.8%
2009 48.6% 70.3% 24.6% 40.3%
2008 30.4% 60.7% 23.7% 41.4%
2007 38.9% 110.1% 23.3% 42.7%
2006 32.5% 283.2% 22.9% 45.7%
2005 43.7% 334% 23% 50%
2004 60.6% 354% 23% 51.6%
2003 51.9% 329% 23.5% 52.6%
2002 44.3% 367% 24.1% 51.6%
2001 52.8% 418% 24% 52.2%
2000 10.7% - 24% 62.9%
1999 - - 24% 61.9%
1998 - - 24.2% 58.2%
1997 - - 24.5% 66.6%
1996 - - 26.7% 66.8%
1995 - - 26.6% 65.6%
1994 - - 25.9% 63.9%
1993 - - 26.7% 63.8%
1992 - - 25.7% 62.1%
1991 - - 27.6% 63.3%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1991–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/sao-tome-and-principe/tunisia | CC BY

In 2024, Sao Tome and Principe's government spending was $203M, accounting for 24.7% of its GDP, while Tunisia spent $17.4B, or 33.8% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 64.8% in Sao Tome and Principe and 83.4% in Tunisia, ranking 69/185 and 40/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Sao Tome and Principe

Tunisia
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Sao Tome Tunisia
2024 0.92% -5.92%
2023 -2.13% -7.03%
2022 -2.24% -6.91%
2021 -1.52% -7.6%
2020 2.94% -9.06%
2019 -0.07% -3.6%
2018 -2.02% -4.27%
2017 -3.11% -5.61%
2016 -5.01% -5.87%
2015 -7.6% -4.95%
2014 -6.27% -3.11%
2013 2.13% -7.05%
2012 -12.3% -4.9%
2011 -13% -3.19%
2010 -12.1% -0.46%
2009 -18% -2.59%
2008 13.6% -0.62%
2007 125.1% -2.47%
2006 18% -2.33%
2005 26.8% -2.59%
2004 -25.1% -2.1%
2003 -15.9% -2.64%
2002 -10.4% -2.55%
2001 -13.5% -2.87%
2000 51.5% -3.22%
1999 - -3.05%
1998 - -2.84%
1997 - -3.7%
1996 - -5.18%
1995 - -4.53%
1994 - -2.87%
1993 - -3.22%
1992 - -3.45%
1991 - -5.25%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1991–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/sao-tome-and-principe/tunisia | CC BY

In 2024, Sao Tome and Principe's government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $7.57M, equivalent to 0.92% of GDP. This compares to Tunisia's deficit of $3.04B, or 5.92% of GDP.

Over the past 25 years, Sao Tome and Principe recorded a fiscal deficit in 17 of those years, while Tunisia ran a deficit in 25 years. On average, Sao Tome and Principe posted an annual surplus equal to 3.63% of GDP, compared to deficit of 4.14% of GDP for Tunisia.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Sao Tome and Principe

Tunisia
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Sao Tome Tunisia
2024 14.4% 7%
2023 21.2% 9.3%
2022 18% 8.3%
2021 8.1% 5.7%
2020 9.8% 5.6%
2019 7.7% 6.7%
2018 7.9% 7.3%
2017 5.7% 5.3%
2016 5.4% 3.6%
2015 6.1% 4.4%
2014 7% 4.6%
2013 8.1% 5.3%
2012 10.6% 4.6%
2011 14.3% 3.2%
2010 13.3% 4.4%
2009 17% 3.5%
2008 32% 4.9%
2007 18.6% 3.4%
2006 23.1% 4.1%
2005 17.2% 2%
2004 13.3% 3.7%
2003 9.8% 2.7%
2002 10.1% 2.7%
2001 9.2% 1.9%
2000 11% 2.8%
1999 11% 2.8%
1998 42.1% 3.1%
1997 69% 3.6%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/sao-tome-and-principe/tunisia | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Sao Tome and Principe has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 15.8%, compared with 4.52% in Tunisia. In 2024, inflation was 14.4% in Sao Tome and Principe and 7% in Tunisia.

Balance of trade

Sao Tome Tunisia
Current account balance
$41.5M
2024
-$775M
2024
Current account balance ranking
74/190
2024
117/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+5.05%
2024
-1.51%
2024
Goods imports
$153M
2024
$18.7B
2024
Goods exports
$29.3M
2024
$8.95B
2024
Service imports
$83M
2024
$3.92B
2024
Service exports
$88.2M
2024
$11.2B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP n/a
56.3%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
10%
2025
50%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Sao Tome Tunisia
Economic freedom 60.6 48.1
Economic freedom ranking 93/197 172/197
Property rights 55.2 55.7
Government integrity 47.2 42.1
Judicial effectiveness 60.8 39.7
Tax burden 88.6 68.5
Government spending 80.6 62.5
Fiscal health 89.5 16
Business freedom 59.9 59.4
Labor freedom 40.8 55.8
Monetary freedom 59.4 72.4
Trade freedom 65 54.6
Investment freedom 50 20
Financial freedom 30 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Sao Tome and Principe
Tunisia
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Sao Tome Tunisia
2026 60.6 48.1
2025 60.4 49.1
2024 60.5 48.8
2023 61.5 52.9
2022 60.3 54.2
2021 55.9 56.6
2020 56.2 55.8
2019 54 55.4
2018 53.6 58.9
2017 55.4 55.7
2016 56.7 57.6
2015 53.3 57.7
2014 48.8 57.3
2013 48 57
2012 50.2 58.6
2011 49.5 58.5
2010 48.8 58.9
2009 43.8 58
2008 - 60.1
2007 - 60.3
2006 - 57.5
2005 - 55.4
2004 - 58.4
2003 - 58.1
2002 - 60.2
2001 - 60.8
2000 - 61.3
1999 - 61.1
1998 - 63.9
1997 - 63.8
1996 - 63.9
1995 - 63.4

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/sao-tome-and-principe/tunisia | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Sao Tome and Principe is 60.6, ranking 93/197, compared to 48.1 for Tunisia, ranking 172/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Sao Tome Tunisia
Services, % of GDP
80.3%
2024
62.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
2.83%
2024
22.6%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
12.5%
2024
9.74%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$671M
2024
$47.7B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$6,240
2024
$14,230
2024
Total reserves including gold
$46.2M
2023
$9.34B
2024
Total reserves ranking
176/177
2023
80/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$20.5M
2024
-$725M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$16.7M
2024
$760M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$3.83M
2024
$34.6M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
0.64%
2024
10.9%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
66.2%
2020
16.6%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP n/a
7.86%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/sao-tome-and-principe/tunisia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1991–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.