Sao Tome and Principe is a lower-middle-income country with a population of 236K people. The capital and largest city is Sao Tome, with 65.5K residents.
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 189/197 by GDP ($764M) and 138/197 by GDP per capita ($3,245). The top export category is transport & tourism services, while the top import is raw materials & minerals.
Main facts and rankings
Sao Tome
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population |
244055
|
176/197 |
| GDP |
$764M
2024 |
189/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$3,245
2024 |
138/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$6,230
2024 |
151/197 |
| Government debt |
$332M
2024 |
178/185 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
37.3%
2025 |
141/185 |
| Government debt per person |
$1,410
2024 |
133/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$2,715
2025 |
148/197 |
| Land area | 371 sq mi | 172/197 |
| Population density | 635 ppl/mi² | 47/197 |
| Fertility rate | 3.64 | 41/196 |
| Median age | 20.3 years | 163/196 |
| Life expectancy | 70.1 years | 136/197 |
Sao Tome and Principe trends dashboard: time-series charts
Sao Tome and Principe's economy ranked
| Year | GDP |
|---|---|
| 1970 | $37,211,826 |
| 1971 | $37,288,845 |
| 1972 | $41,430,257 |
| 1973 | $56,011,245 |
| 1974 | $57,817,591 |
| 1975 | $60,101,710 |
| 1976 | $52,039,421 |
| 1977 | $49,207,692 |
| 1978 | $55,044,563 |
| 1979 | $65,755,928 |
| 1980 | $81,662,231 |
| 1981 | $83,499,264 |
| 1982 | $80,307,763 |
| 1983 | $75,110,289 |
| 1984 | $78,213,796 |
| 1985 | $82,733,069 |
| 1986 | $115,928,907 |
| 1987 | $115,952,925 |
| 1988 | $99,000,764 |
| 1989 | $98,545,367 |
| 1990 | $119,297,933 |
| 1991 | $107,484,143 |
| 1992 | $94,861,781 |
| 1993 | $125,742,229 |
| 1994 | $131,338,415 |
| 1995 | $103,695,237 |
| 1996 | $135,188,166 |
| 1997 | $91,920,274 |
| 1998 | $72,285,404 |
| 1999 | $77,302,212 |
| 2000 | $76,198,395 |
| 2001 | $75,951,133 |
| 2002 | $85,171,074 |
| 2003 | $102,085,769 |
| 2004 | $114,582,284 |
| 2005 | $136,450,662 |
| 2006 | $142,775,104 |
| 2007 | $149,146,919 |
| 2008 | $188,021,165 |
| 2009 | $200,668,065 |
| 2010 | $190,021,192 |
| 2011 | $226,455,001 |
| 2012 | $229,371,348 |
| 2013 | $267,041,748 |
| 2014 | $293,119,143 |
| 2015 | $259,999,643 |
| 2016 | $292,267,272 |
| 2017 | $322,002,845 |
| 2018 | $383,717,328 |
| 2019 | $412,976,083 |
| 2020 | $471,229,485 |
| 2021 | $524,402,456 |
| 2022 | $540,809,499 |
| 2023 | $678,976,265 |
| 2024 | $764,274,043 |
Sao Tome and Principe's economy ranked
| Year | GDP per capita |
|---|---|
| 1970 | $479 |
| 1971 | $470 |
| 1972 | $511 |
| 1973 | $676 |
| 1974 | $683 |
| 1975 | $693 |
| 1976 | $585 |
| 1977 | $539 |
| 1978 | $587 |
| 1979 | $683 |
| 1980 | $829 |
| 1981 | $830 |
| 1982 | $783 |
| 1983 | $720 |
| 1984 | $735 |
| 1985 | $761 |
| 1986 | $1,043 |
| 1987 | $1,018 |
| 1988 | $847 |
| 1989 | $821 |
| 1990 | $970 |
| 1991 | $855 |
| 1992 | $740 |
| 1993 | $964 |
| 1994 | $990 |
| 1995 | $769 |
| 1996 | $987 |
| 1997 | $662 |
| 1998 | $514 |
| 1999 | $543 |
| 2000 | $529 |
| 2001 | $519 |
| 2002 | $568 |
| 2003 | $664 |
| 2004 | $727 |
| 2005 | $844 |
| 2006 | $862 |
| 2007 | $879 |
| 2008 | $1,082 |
| 2009 | $1,128 |
| 2010 | $1,045 |
| 2011 | $1,220 |
| 2012 | $1,211 |
| 2013 | $1,383 |
| 2014 | $1,490 |
| 2015 | $1,298 |
| 2016 | $1,435 |
| 2017 | $1,556 |
| 2018 | $1,826 |
| 2019 | $1,935 |
| 2020 | $2,167 |
| 2021 | $2,363 |
| 2022 | $2,390 |
| 2023 | $2,941 |
| 2024 | $3,245 |
Sao Tome and Principe's life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 39.1 |
| 1951 | 39.1 |
| 1952 | 39.1 |
| 1953 | 39.1 |
| 1954 | 39.2 |
| 1955 | 39.3 |
| 1956 | 39.5 |
| 1957 | 40.1 |
| 1958 | 41 |
| 1959 | 42.1 |
| 1960 | 43.6 |
| 1961 | 45.2 |
| 1962 | 46.8 |
| 1963 | 48.4 |
| 1964 | 49.7 |
| 1965 | 51.1 |
| 1966 | 52.3 |
| 1967 | 53.4 |
| 1968 | 54.5 |
| 1969 | 55.4 |
| 1970 | 56.3 |
| 1971 | 57 |
| 1972 | 57.4 |
| 1973 | 57.9 |
| 1974 | 58.3 |
| 1975 | 58.6 |
| 1976 | 58.8 |
| 1977 | 59 |
| 1978 | 59.1 |
| 1979 | 59.3 |
| 1980 | 59.4 |
| 1981 | 59.4 |
| 1982 | 59.5 |
| 1983 | 59.7 |
| 1984 | 59.9 |
| 1985 | 60.1 |
| 1986 | 57.6 |
| 1987 | 60.7 |
| 1988 | 60.8 |
| 1989 | 59.7 |
| 1990 | 60.7 |
| 1991 | 60.8 |
| 1992 | 60.7 |
| 1993 | 60.6 |
| 1994 | 60.6 |
| 1995 | 60.5 |
| 1996 | 60.6 |
| 1997 | 60.6 |
| 1998 | 60.8 |
| 1999 | 61 |
| 2000 | 61.2 |
| 2001 | 61.5 |
| 2002 | 61.8 |
| 2003 | 62.2 |
| 2004 | 62.6 |
| 2005 | 62.4 |
| 2006 | 63 |
| 2007 | 63.3 |
| 2008 | 63.4 |
| 2009 | 63.7 |
| 2010 | 63.9 |
| 2011 | 64.1 |
| 2012 | 64.5 |
| 2013 | 64.9 |
| 2014 | 65.5 |
| 2015 | 66 |
| 2016 | 66.6 |
| 2017 | 67.1 |
| 2018 | 67.6 |
| 2019 | 68 |
| 2020 | 68 |
| 2021 | 68 |
| 2022 | 69.2 |
| 2023 | 69.7 |
| 2024 | 69.9 |
| 2025 | 70.1 |
Sao Tome and Principe's population clock and projection
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 68,012 |
| 1961 | 68,707 |
| 1962 | 69,403 |
| 1963 | 70,112 |
| 1964 | 70,865 |
| 1965 | 71,680 |
| 1966 | 72,576 |
| 1967 | 73,596 |
| 1968 | 74,765 |
| 1969 | 76,083 |
| 1970 | 77,626 |
| 1971 | 79,330 |
| 1972 | 81,041 |
| 1973 | 82,798 |
| 1974 | 84,672 |
| 1975 | 86,708 |
| 1976 | 88,922 |
| 1977 | 91,301 |
| 1978 | 93,794 |
| 1979 | 96,252 |
| 1980 | 98,544 |
| 1981 | 100,615 |
| 1982 | 102,508 |
| 1983 | 104,380 |
| 1984 | 106,394 |
| 1985 | 108,658 |
| 1986 | 111,150 |
| 1987 | 113,919 |
| 1988 | 116,939 |
| 1989 | 119,979 |
| 1990 | 122,980 |
| 1991 | 125,697 |
| 1992 | 128,110 |
| 1993 | 130,467 |
| 1994 | 132,732 |
| 1995 | 134,895 |
| 1996 | 136,962 |
| 1997 | 138,922 |
| 1998 | 140,751 |
| 1999 | 142,442 |
| 2000 | 144,018 |
| 2001 | 146,375 |
| 2002 | 149,922 |
| 2003 | 153,814 |
| 2004 | 157,705 |
| 2005 | 161,639 |
| 2006 | 165,638 |
| 2007 | 169,700 |
| 2008 | 173,793 |
| 2009 | 177,853 |
| 2010 | 181,802 |
| 2011 | 185,649 |
| 2012 | 189,439 |
| 2013 | 193,148 |
| 2014 | 196,767 |
| 2015 | 200,291 |
| 2016 | 203,689 |
| 2017 | 206,970 |
| 2018 | 210,187 |
| 2019 | 213,392 |
| 2020 | 217,435 |
| 2021 | 221,961 |
| 2022 | 226,305 |
| 2023 | 230,871 |
| 2024 | 235,536 |
Sao Tome and Principe's birth and fertility rates
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 6.24 |
| 1961 | 6.26 |
| 1962 | 6.28 |
| 1963 | 6.31 |
| 1964 | 6.33 |
| 1965 | 6.35 |
| 1966 | 6.37 |
| 1967 | 6.39 |
| 1968 | 6.42 |
| 1969 | 6.44 |
| 1970 | 6.47 |
| 1971 | 6.49 |
| 1972 | 6.51 |
| 1973 | 6.53 |
| 1974 | 6.53 |
| 1975 | 6.53 |
| 1976 | 6.52 |
| 1977 | 6.5 |
| 1978 | 6.47 |
| 1979 | 6.43 |
| 1980 | 6.39 |
| 1981 | 6.33 |
| 1982 | 6.28 |
| 1983 | 6.22 |
| 1984 | 6.16 |
| 1985 | 6.1 |
| 1986 | 6.05 |
| 1987 | 5.99 |
| 1988 | 5.94 |
| 1989 | 5.88 |
| 1990 | 5.83 |
| 1991 | 5.77 |
| 1992 | 5.7 |
| 1993 | 5.64 |
| 1994 | 5.56 |
| 1995 | 5.55 |
| 1996 | 5.47 |
| 1997 | 5.4 |
| 1998 | 5.3 |
| 1999 | 5.23 |
| 2000 | 5.16 |
| 2001 | 5.1 |
| 2002 | 5.06 |
| 2003 | 5.01 |
| 2004 | 4.96 |
| 2005 | 4.94 |
| 2006 | 4.93 |
| 2007 | 4.96 |
| 2008 | 4.91 |
| 2009 | 4.84 |
| 2010 | 4.77 |
| 2011 | 4.72 |
| 2012 | 4.66 |
| 2013 | 4.58 |
| 2014 | 4.49 |
| 2015 | 4.35 |
| 2016 | 4.2 |
| 2017 | 4.07 |
| 2018 | 3.98 |
| 2019 | 3.9 |
| 2020 | 3.83 |
| 2021 | 3.76 |
| 2022 | 3.7 |
| 2023 | 3.64 |
Sao Tome and Principe's demographics
| Year | Median age, years |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 24.2 |
| 1961 | 24.3 |
| 1962 | 24.1 |
| 1963 | 23.5 |
| 1964 | 22.4 |
| 1965 | 21 |
| 1966 | 19.5 |
| 1967 | 18.5 |
| 1968 | 17.7 |
| 1969 | 17.2 |
| 1970 | 16.9 |
| 1971 | 16.9 |
| 1972 | 17 |
| 1973 | 17 |
| 1974 | 17.1 |
| 1975 | 17.1 |
| 1976 | 17.1 |
| 1977 | 17.2 |
| 1978 | 17.2 |
| 1979 | 17.3 |
| 1980 | 17.3 |
| 1981 | 17.4 |
| 1982 | 17.4 |
| 1983 | 17.4 |
| 1984 | 17.4 |
| 1985 | 17.4 |
| 1986 | 17.4 |
| 1987 | 17.4 |
| 1988 | 17.4 |
| 1989 | 17.4 |
| 1990 | 17.4 |
| 1991 | 17.3 |
| 1992 | 17.3 |
| 1993 | 17.2 |
| 1994 | 17.2 |
| 1995 | 17.3 |
| 1996 | 17.3 |
| 1997 | 17.4 |
| 1998 | 17.5 |
| 1999 | 17.7 |
| 2000 | 17.9 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2002 | 18.1 |
| 2003 | 18.3 |
| 2004 | 18.4 |
| 2005 | 18.5 |
| 2006 | 18.6 |
| 2007 | 18.7 |
| 2008 | 18.7 |
| 2009 | 18.7 |
| 2010 | 18.8 |
| 2011 | 18.9 |
| 2012 | 18.9 |
| 2013 | 18.9 |
| 2014 | 18.9 |
| 2015 | 19 |
| 2016 | 19 |
| 2017 | 19.1 |
| 2018 | 19.3 |
| 2019 | 19.4 |
| 2020 | 19.5 |
| 2021 | 19.7 |
| 2022 | 19.9 |
| 2023 | 20.1 |
| 2024 | 20.3 |
Sao Tome and Principe vs. World: Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to toggle between world maps that display different statistics comparing Sao Tome and Principe with other countries.
GDP per capita
GDP
Life expectancy
Population
Population density
Fertility rate
Median age
Land area
Sao Tome and Principe: National Statistics
Finance
|
Sao Tome
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$653M
2024 |
188/194 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
24.5%
2025 |
124/195 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
5.03%
2023 |
61/193 |
| Armed forces personnel |
1,000
1999 |
169/174 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
+2.56%
2025 |
10/188 |
| Unemployment rate |
8.81%
2017 |
44/196 |
| Services, % of GDP |
76.6%
2024 |
10/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
2.91%
2024 |
193/194 |
| Economic freedom index |
60.4
2025 |
93/197 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
32.8%
2017 |
33/169 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
2.6%
2017 |
103/169 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$46.2M
2023 |
176/177 |
| Personal remittances received |
$10M
2024 |
173/190 |
| International tourist arrivals |
33,400
2018 |
177/188 |
| International tourism as share of exports |
73.2%
2018 |
7/184 |
Energy
|
Sao Tome
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
259.3 kg
2007 |
162/177 |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use |
$10.2
2007 |
129/173 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
0.21 megatons
2023 |
179/187 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
0.93 tons
2023 |
132/187 |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
0%
2007 |
171/176 |
| Renewable energy use share |
42.5%
2022 |
56/193 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
6.06%
2021 |
153/192 |
| Hydroelectric share |
5.85%
2021 |
113/192 |
| Nuclear share |
0%
2021 |
160/192 |
| Electricity access |
81.3%
2023 |
148/195 |
Society
|
Sao Tome
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.003%
2024 |
176/197 |
| Annual migration change |
-604
2024 |
92/196 |
| Urban population |
77%
2024 |
61/195 |
| Male:Female ratio |
50:50
2024 |
N/A |
| Average male height |
5.59 ft
2025 |
129/190 |
| Average female height |
5.24 ft
2025 |
114/190 |
| Quality of life index |
32.1
2025 |
148/197 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
45
2024 |
86/197 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
3.23
2011 |
96/197 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
27.9
2019 |
36/197 |
| Visa free countries |
71
2025 |
141/195 |
| Adult literacy rate |
93.8%
2022 |
117/196 |
| English speaking |
4.9%
2025 |
148/197 |
| People using the Internet |
61.5%
2023 |
132/195 |
Health
|
Sao Tome
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita |
$180.3
2022 |
129/191 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$21.6
2022 |
153/191 |
| Life expectancy |
70.1 years
2025 |
136/197 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
30.9%
2022 |
23/178 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
0.49
2019 |
141/193 |
| Age at first childbirth |
19.4 years
2025 |
125/137 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
75
2023 |
76/193 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births |
13.9
2023 |
102/192 |
| Obesity rate |
17.2%
2022 |
125/189 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
12.1%
2024 |
49/195 |
| Air quality index |
24
2025 |
152/197 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
7.8%
2022 |
150/164 |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
4.79 liters
2020 |
87/186 |
Territory
|
Sao Tome
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.0006%
2025 |
172/197 |
| Land area per capita |
1,574 sq mi
2024 |
151/197 |
| Agricultural land area |
166 sq mi
2025 |
170/194 |
| Forest area |
193.2 sq mi
2025 |
162/196 |
| Roads length |
808 mi
2018 |
155/175 |
Compare Sao Tome and Principe with other countries
Relevant pages:
Sao Tome topic pages:
Facts comparisons
