Page last updated on January 28, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 two failed coup attempts in 1995 and 2003. In 2012, three opposition parties combined in a no confidence vote to bring down the majority government of former Prime Minister Patrice TROVOADA. The new government of Prime Minister Gabriel Arcanjo Ferreira DA COSTA is entirely composed of opposition party members with limited experience in governance. The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea promises to attract increased attention to the small island nation.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Central Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, just north of the Equator, west of Gabon
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 00 N, 7 00 E
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Africa
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 964 sq km
country comparison to the world: 185
land: 964 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
209 km
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
fish, hydropower
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 9.06%
permanent crops: 40.62%
other: 50.31% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
97 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion
Environment - international agreements:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
the smallest country in Africa; the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes and both are mountainous
People and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Sao Tomean(s)
adjective: Sao Tomean
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Portuguese (official)
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Catholic 55.7%, Evangelical 5.7%, Adventist 4.1%, New Apostolic 2.9%, other 5%, none 21.2%, undeclared 1% (2012 est.)
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
186,817 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 44% (male 41,791/female 40,381)
15-24 years: 19.6% (male 18,552/female 18,054)
25-54 years: 30% (male 27,448/female 28,667)
55-64 years: 3.4% (male 2,863/female 3,452)
65 years and over: 3% (male 2,550/female 3,059) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 81.8 %
youth dependency ratio: 75.6 %
elderly dependency ratio: 6.1 %
potential support ratio: 16.3 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 17.6 years
male: 17.2 years
female: 18.1 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.94% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
36.05 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.68 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-8.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 62.7% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 3.01% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
SAO TOME (capital) 60,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.83 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
19.4
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2009 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
70 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 89
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 50.48 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 42
male: 52.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 48.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 63.86 years
country comparison to the world: 177
male: 62.61 years
female: 65.14 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.81 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
38.4% (2008/09)
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.7% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 69
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.49 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Major infectious diseases:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2013)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9.5% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 132
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
14.4% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 53
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 69.5%
male: 80.3%
female: 60.1% (2008 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2010)
Child labor - children ages 5-14:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total number: 3,235
percentage: 8 % (2006 est.)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe
local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe
local short form: Sao Tome e Principe
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
republic
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: Sao Tome
geographic coordinates: 0 20 N, 6 44 E
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome
note: Principe has had self government since 29 April 1995
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
approved 5 November 1975; revised several times, last in 2003 (2012)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mixed legal system of civil law base on the Portuguese model and customary law
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of state: President Manuel Pinto DA COSTA (since 3 September 2011)
head of government: Prime Minister Gabriel Arcanjo Ferreira DA COSTA (since 12 December 2012)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 July and 7 August 2011 (next to be held in 2016); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president
election results: Manuel Pinto DA COSTA elected president in a run-off election; percent of vote - Manuel Pinto DA COSTA 52.9%, Evaristo CARVALHO 47.1%
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 1 August 2010 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ADI 26, MLSTP-PSD 21, PCD 7, MDFM 1
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 5 judges, 3 of which are from the Supreme Court)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the National Assembly; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president of the republic and elected by the National Assembly for 5-year terms
subordinate courts: Court of First Instance; Audit Court
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Force for Change Democratic Movement or MDFM [Tome Soares da VERA CRUZ]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Association of Sao Tome and Principe NGOs or FONG
other: the media
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CD, CPLP, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos Filomeno Azevedo AGOSTINHO das Neves (since 3 December 2013)
chancery: 1211 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 775-2075, 2076
FAX: [1] (202) 775-2077
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the Ambassador to Gabon, currently Charge d'Affaires Dante PARADISO, is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the islands
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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; green stands for the country's rich vegetation, red recalls the struggle for independence, and yellow represents cocoa, one of the country's main agricultural products; the two stars symbolize the two main islands
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: "Independencia total" (Total Independence)
lyrics/music: Alda Neves DA GRACA do Espirito Santo/Manuel dos Santos Barreto de Sousa e ALMEIDA
note: adopted 1975
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
This small, poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence in 1975. Cocoa production has substantially declined in recent years because of drought and mismanagement. Sao Tome and Principe has to import fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a substantial amount of food, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in global commodity prices. Over the years, it has had difficulty servicing its external debt and has relied heavily on concessional aid and debt rescheduling. Sao Tome and Principe benefited from $200 million in debt relief in December 2000 under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program, which helped bring down the country's $300 million debt burden. In August 2005, the government signed on to a new 3-year IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) program worth $4.3 million. In April 2011 the country completed a Threshold Country Program with The Millennium Challenge Corporation to help increase tax revenues, reform customs, and improve the business environment. Considerable potential exists for development of a tourist industry, and the government has taken steps to expand facilities in recent years. The government also has attempted to reduce price controls and subsidies. Potential exists for the development of petroleum resources in Sao Tome and Principe's territorial waters in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea, which are being jointly developed in a 60-40 split with Nigeria, but any actual production is at least several years off. The first production licenses were sold in 2004, though a dispute over licensing with Nigeria delayed the country''s receipt of more than $20 million in signing bonuses for almost a year. Maintaining control of inflation, fiscal discipline, and increasing flows of foreign direct investment into the oil sector are the major economic problems facing the country.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$397 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$259.4 million (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2,100 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Gross national saving:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
27.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 132.9%
government consumption: 12.4%
investment in fixed capital: 51.3%
investment in inventories: -1.6%
exports of goods and services: 15.5%
imports of goods and services: -110.5%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 13.9%
industry: 19.4%
services: 66.6% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
light construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish processing, timber
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
52,490 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 189
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
note: population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing; shortages of skilled workers
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA%
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
66.2% (2009 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $88.38 million
expenditures: $116.7 million (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
34.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-10.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Public debt:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
75.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
16% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 4
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
26% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$38.63 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$80.55 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$94.99 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$NA
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-58.7 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$12.2 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Netherlands 33.3%, Belgium 21.8%, Spain 11%, Nigeria 5.6%, US 5.1% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$115.1 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Portugal 63.1%, Gabon 5.4% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$51.59 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$313.3 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
dobras (STD) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
30 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
27.9 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012)
country comparison to the world: 138
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
14,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
57.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
42.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl (1 January 2010 es)
country comparison to the world: 194
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
903.5 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
889 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 199
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
151,600 Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 204
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
122,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 190
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
general assessment: local telephone network of adequate quality with most lines connected to digital switches
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 65 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 239; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2010)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 government-owned TV station; 1 government-owned radio station; 3 independent local radio stations authorized in 2005 with 2 operating at the end of 2006; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.st
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,678 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 165
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
26,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 184
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 206
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 320 km
country comparison to the world: 204
paved: 218 km
unpaved: 102 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 3
country comparison to the world: 139
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 2
foreign-owned: 2 (China 1, Greece 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
major seaport(s): Sao Tome
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (Forcas Armadas de Sao Tome e Principe, FASTP): Army, Coast Guard of Sao Tome e Principe (Guarda Costeira de Sao Tome e Principe, GCSTP); also called "Navy"), Presidential Guard (2013)
Military service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service; 17 is the legal minimum age for voluntary service (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 39,182
females age 16-49: 39,845 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 27,310
females age 16-49: 29,279 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 2,076
female: 2,003 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Sao Tome and Principe's army is a tiny force with almost no resources at its disposal and would be wholly ineffective operating unilaterally; infantry equipment is considered simple to operate and maintain but may require refurbishment or replacement after 25 years in tropical climates; poor pay, working conditions, and alleged nepotism in the promotion of officers have been problems in the past, as reflected in the 1995 and 2003 coups; these issues are being addressed with foreign assistance aimed at improving the army and its focus on realistic security concerns; command is exercised from the president, through the Minister of Defense, to the Chief of the Armed Forces staff (2005)