$Unique_ID{COW03059} $Pretitle{438} $Title{Sao Tome and Principe Statistical Profile of Sao Tome and Principe} $Subtitle{} $Author{Central Intelligence Agency} $Affiliation{United States Government} $Subject{sao tome rate million principe cocoa na population government national} $Date{1990} $Log{National Anthem*71000010.aud Map of Sao Tome and Principe*0305901.scf Flag of Sao Tome and Principe*0305902.scf } Country: Sao Tome and Principe Book: CIA World Factbook Author: Central Intelligence Agency Affiliation: United States Government Date: 1990 [Hear National Anthem] [See Map of Sao Tome and Principe] [See Flag of Sao Tome and Principe] Statistical Profile of Sao Tome and Principe Geography Total area: 960 km2; land area: 960 km2 Comparative area: slightly less than 5.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: none Coastline: 209 km Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines) Extended economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May) Terrain: volcanic, mountainous Natural resources: fish Land use: 1% arable land; 20% permanent crops; 1% meadows and pastures; 75% forest and woodland; 3% other Environment: deforestation; soil erosion Note: located south of Nigeria and west of Gabon at the Equator in the North Atlantic Ocean People Population: 120,993 (July 1989), growth rate 3.0% (1989) Birth rate: 38 births/1,000 population (1989) Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1989) Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1989) Infant mortality rate: 51 deaths/1,000 live births (1989) Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 70 years female (1989) Total fertility rate: 5.4 children born/woman (1989) Nationality: noun--Sao Tomean(s); adjective--Sao Tomean Ethnic divisions: mestico, angolares (descendents of Angolan slaves), forros (descendents of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children oE servicais born on the islands), and Europeans (primarily Portuguese) Religion: Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist Language: Portuguese (official) Literacy: 50% (est.) Labor force: 21,096 (1981); most of population engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing; labor shortages on plantations and of skilled workers; 56% of population of working age (1983) Organized labor: NA Government Long-form name: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe Type: republic Capital: Sao Tome Administrative divisions: 2 districts (concelhos, singular--concelho); Principe, Sao Tome Independence: 12 July 1975 (from Portugal) Constitution: 5 November 1975, approved 15 December 1982 Legal system: based on Portuguese law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1975) Branches: president heads the government assisted by a Cabinet of ministers; unicameral legislature (40-member National People's Assembly), elected for five years Leader: Dr. Manuel Pinto da COSTA, President (since 1975); Celestino Rocha da COSTA, Prime Minister (since 1988) Suffrage: universal for age 18 and over Elections: President da Costa reelected by National People's Assembly in May 1980 and September 1985; National People's Assembly and People's District Assemblies elections last held in 1985 Political parties and leaders: Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe (MLSTP) Marxist-Lennist Party, Manuel Pinto da Costa Member of: AfDB, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Joaquim Rafael BRANCO; Chancery (temporary) at 801 Second Avenue, Suite 1504, New York, NY 10017; telephone (212) 697-4211; US--the US Ambassador in Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the islands Flag: three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width), and green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia Economy Overview: The economy has remained dependent on cocoa since gaining independence nearly 15 years ago. Since then, however, cocoa production has gradually deteriorated because of drought and mismanagement, so that by 1987 output had fallen to less than 50% of its former levels. As a result, a shortage of cocoa for export has created a serious balance-of-payments problem. Production of less important crops, such as coffee, copra, and palm kernels, has also declined. In 1987 the value of imports exceeded that of exports by a ratio of 4 to 1. The emphasis on cocoa production at the expense of other food crops has meant that Sao Tome has to import 90% of food needs. It also has to import all fuels and most manufactured goods. In 1987 Sao Tome was unable to service its external debt, which amounted to 78% of export earnings. Considerable potential exists for development of a tourist industry, and the government has taken steps to expand facilities in recent years. The government has also implemented a Five-Year Plan covering 1986-90 to restructure the economy and reschedule external debt service payments in cooperation with the International Development Association and Western lenders. GDP: $37.9 million, per capita $340; real growth rate 1.8% (1986) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.2% (1986) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $19.2 million; expenditures $25.1 million, including capital expenditures of $19.9 million (1987) Exports: $9.8 million (f.o.b., 1987 est.); commodities--cocoa 90%, copra, coffee, palm oil; partners--NA Imports: $2.6 million (c.i.f., 1987 est.); commodities--machinery and electrical equipment 59%, food products 32%, fuels 9%; partners--Portugal, US, FRG, GDR External debt: $72 million (1985) Industrial production: growth rate 7.1% (1986) Electricity: 6,000 kW capacity; 7 million kWh produced, 60 kWh per capita (1988) Industries: light construction, shirts, soap, beer, fisheries, shrimp processing Agriculture: cocoa, copra, coconuts, coffee, palm oil, bananas Aid: NA Currency: dobra (plural--dobras); 1 dobra (Db) = 100 centimos Exchange rates: dobras (Db) per US$1--35.408 (July 1987), NA (1987), 36.993 (1986), 41.195 (1985) Fiscal year: calendar year Communications Highways: 300 km (two-thirds are paved); roads on Principe are mostly unpaved and in need of repair Ports: Sao Tome, Santo Antonio Civil air: 7 major transport aircraft Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: minimal system; 2,200 telephones; stations--1 AM, 2 FM, no TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean satellite ground station Defense Forces Branches: Army, Navy Military manpower: males 15-49, 26,707; 14,072 fit for military service Military budget: NA