World Atlas: Sao Tome and Principe. On this page you can see the map, country flag and many detailed information about the people, history and economy of Sao Tome and Principe.
Here you can find online selected information about the geography, inhabitants, government, economy and history of Sao Tome and Principe. Included are selected statistics, an overview map and the detailed map of Sao Tome and Principe. But let's start with the flag of Sao Tome and Principe here:
Sao Tome and Principe - Overview:
What you should know about Sao Tome and Principe? Let's start with this: Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th century, the islands' sugar-based economy gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century - all grown with African plantation slave labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century. While independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. The country held its first free elections in 1991, but frequent internal wrangling between the various political parties precipitated repeated changes in leadership and four failed, non-violent coup attempts in 1995, 1998, 2003, and 2009. In 2012, three opposition parties combined in a no confidence vote to bring down the majority government of former Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada, but in 2014, legislative elections returned him to the office. President Evaristo Carvalho, of the same political party as Prime Minister Trovoada, was elected in September 2016, marking a rare instance in which the positions of president and prime minister are held by the same party. New oil discoveries in the Gulf of Guinea may attract increased attention to the small island nation.
Geography of Sao Tome and Principe
Where on the globe is Sao Tome and Principe? The location of this country is Central Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, just north of the Equator, west of Gabon. Total area of Sao Tome and Principe is 964 sq km, of which 964 sq km is land. So this is quite a small country. How could we describe the terrain of the country? This way: volcanic, mountainous. The lowest point of Sao Tome and Principe is Atlantic Ocean 0 m, the highest point Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m. And the climate is tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May).
Inhabitants of Sao Tome and Principe
Let's take a look how many people live in Sao Tome and Principe. The number is: 201,025 (July 2017 est.). So not so many people live here. Who lives here? mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), forros (descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cabo Verde), tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese), Asians (mostly Chinese). What are the languages in Sao Tome and Principe? 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%. And the 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.). How old are the people in average? 18.4 years. We have to add that this number is the median - so one half of the people is older than this, one half is younger. And what is their life expectancy (at birth)? This: 65.3 years. Where the people live in Sao Tome and Principe? Here: Sao Tome, the capital city, has roughly a quarter of the nation's population; Santo Antonio is the largest town on Principe; the northern areas of both islands have the highest population densities. The major urban areas of Sao Tome and Principe are: SAO TOME (capital) 71,000 (2014).
Government and Economy of Sao Tome and Principe
The capital of Sao Tome and Principe is Sao Tome and the government type semi-presidential republic. Let's take a look at the administrative divisions - 2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome. Regarding the economy of Sao Tome and Principe, important industrial products are light construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish processing, timbe. Important agricultural products are cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish. The most important export commodities are cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil (2010 est.) and the most important export partners are Germany 23.3%, Netherlands 13.8%, Portugal 10%, Angola 6.4%, South Korea 5.2%, Peru 4.5%, Dominican Republic 4.1% (2016). The most important import commodities are machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products and the most important import partners are Portugal 58.8%, Angola 15.2%, China 5.3% (2016). How rich is Sao Tome and Principe and how rich are people in this country? The most important number here is GDP per capita (PPP): $3,200 (2017 est.). This is a very low number. Let's add that this means Gross Domestic Product per person, which is recalculated with respect to the relative cost of local goods and services. And one more important number - population below poverty line: 66.2% (2009 est.).