Sao Tome and Principe: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As	República Democrática de São Tomé e Príncipe • Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe • São Tomé e Príncipe
Head Of Government	Prime Minister: Américo d’Oliveira Ramos
Capital	São Tomé
Population	(2026 est.) 213,900
Head Of State	President: Carlos Vila Nova
Form Of Government	multiparty republic with one legislative house (National Assembly [55])
Official Language	Portuguese
Official Religion	none
Official Name	República Democrática de São Tomé e Príncipe (Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe)
Total Area (Sq Km)	1,001
Total Area (Sq Mi)	387
Monetary Unit	dobra (Db)¹
Population Rank	(2026) 190
Population Projection 2030	263,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2026) 554.1
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2026) 213.7
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2022) 68.3% • Rural: (2022) 31.7%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2021) 69.6 years • Female: (2021) 72.8 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2024) 671
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2024) 2,850
¹The dobra was pegged to the euro (€) from January 2010 at a rate of 24,500 dobras = €1.

Photos

Sao Tome and Principe

Map of Sao Tome and Principe in the Gulf of Guinea, showing the political boundaries and main cities on both islands. Sao Tome, the larger island, includes cities such as Sao Tome, Neves, Trindade, Santana, and Porto Alegre. Principe, the smaller island to the northeast, shows Santo Antonio and Infante Don Henrique. An inset locator map in the top left highlights the country's position off the west coast of Central Africa.

cathedral in São Tomé city, Sao Tome and Principe

Map showing the location of Sao Tome and Principe as a small island nation off the west coast of Central Africa in the Gulf of Guinea, with nearby mainland countries labeled, including Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Benin, and Togo.

Map showing the physical features of Sao Tome and Principe, two islands in the Gulf of Guinea off the west coast of Central Africa. Sao Tome, the larger southern island, includes Sao Tome Peak and Rolas Islet, while Principe, the smaller northern island, features Principe Peak and Caroco Islet. An inset locator map highlights the country's position off the coast of Africa.

Sao Tome and Principe

volcanic plugs: Sao Tome and Principe

Sao Tome and Principe

Sao Tome and Principe

Sao Tome and Principe

National anthem of Sao Tome and Principe

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Topics

Africa Atlantic Ocean Central Africa nation-state Gulf of Guinea São Tomé Príncipe Island flag of Sao Tome and Principe Portuguese language Francisco José Tenreiro United States India United Kingdom China Canada Russia Germany Australia Japan France

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Francisco José Tenreiro

African poet

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Africa

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Atlantic Ocean, with depth contours and submarine features

Atlantic Ocean

Cluster of small houses in a village nestled among green hills beside the wide Congo River, with more hills visible in the background, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Central Africa

region, Africa

Accra, Ghana: Gulf of Guinea

Gulf of Guinea

gulf, Atlantic Ocean

Sao Tome and Principe

São Tomé

national capital, Sao Tome and Principe

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Príncipe Island

island, Sao Tome and Principe

Island, New Caledonia.

Islands and Archipelagos

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