Overview
Sao Tome and Principe is a Portuguese-speaking island nation consisting of two islands; Sao Tome and Principe, off the north-western coast of Gabon
Sao Tome and Principe is the second-smallest African country in terms of population (the smallest being Seychelles)
The country officially gained independence from Portugal in 1975

Facts

Form of Government
Republic
President is Head of State
President is elected by popular vote for five-year term (eligible for second term)
Prime Minister is Head of Government

Government structure
President, Prime Minister, Council of Ministers appointed by President on proposal of Prime Minister, Unicameral Parliament

Military Statistics
Manpower fit for military service: Males age 16-49: 35,216 and Females age 16-49: 38,329
Expenditures: 0.8% of GDP
Branches: Army, Coast Guard, Presidential Guard

Former Rulers
1975 to 1991 – Manuel Pinto da Costa
1991 to 2001 – Miguel Trovoada

Capital
Sao Tome
Altitude: 10 metres
Population: 56,166 people

Population
Size: 163,000
Life expectancy: 68.3 years
Gender Make-Up: Male – 49.41% and Female – 50.59%

Geography
Area: 1,001sqkm
Land boundaries: n/a

GDP per capita
$1,094

Major Languages
Portuguese (official), Forro, Angolar, Principense

Religious portfolio
Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%, other 3.1%, none 19.4%

National Make-up
Mestico, Angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), Forros (descendants of freed slaves), Servicais (contract labourers from Angola, Mozambique and Cape Verde), Tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (mainly Portuguese)

Natural Resources
Fish, Oil production anticipated

Main exports
Cocoa (80%), Copra, Coffee, Sugar, Bananas, Palm oil

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