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São Tomé & Príncipe: capital, population, area and flag

São Tomé & Príncipe is a country in Middle Africa (Africa). Its capital is São Tomé. The population is about 240K (#174 of 193) and the area is about 960 km² (#170 of 193).

Key facts

Capital
São Tomé
Region
Africa / Middle Africa
Population
240,254 (2025) #174 of 193
Total area
960 km² (2024) #170 of 193
Population density
245.4 people/km² (2024) #42 of 193
GDP (total)
$981M (2025) #181 of 189
GDP per capita
$4,084 (2025) #129 of 189
Life expectancy
69.9 years (2024) #132 of 193
Distance from Japan
13,718 km #32 of 192
Area compared with Japan
about 1/390 that of Japan
Population compared with Japan
about 1/510 that of Japan
Main languages
Portuguese
Currency
São Tomé & Príncipe Dobra (STN)
Calling code
+239
Time zone (capital)
UTC+0
Time difference from Japan (standard time)
9 h behind Japan
Driving side
Right
Capital location
0.34°N 6.73°E

Population of São Tomé & Príncipe, 1950–2100 (Japanese)
See past estimates, future projections and the population pyramid in the World Population Time Machine.

Map of São Tomé & Príncipe

Map of São Tomé & Príncipe

Capital: São Tomé

Neighbors by land

São Tomé & Príncipe has no land borders with other countries.

Top rankings

São Tomé & Príncipe is in the top 10 for:

São Tomé & Príncipe in world rankings

How São Tomé & Príncipe compares with other countries, indicator by indicator. Click an indicator to see the full ranking.

IndicatorValueYearRank
Geography & nature
Total area960 km²2024#170 of 193
Number of land borders0#155 of 193 tied
Latitude of the capital0.3°#152 of 193
Distance from Japan13,718 km#32 of 192
Forest area (share of land)57.6%2024#36 of 193
Arable land (share of land)4.2%2024#137 of 190
Protected land (share of land)31.7%2025#27 of 192
Agricultural land (share of land)46.1%2024#70 of 192
Average annual rainfall3,200 mm2022#2 of 180
Freshwater resources per person9,633 m³2022#47 of 181
Forest area553 km²2025#163 of 193
Marine protected areas (share of territorial waters)0.0%2025#136 of 153 tied
People & population
Population240,2542025#174 of 193
Population density245.4 people/km²2024#42 of 193
Population growth rate1.98%2025#49 of 193
Urban population (share of people)69.2%2025#78 of 193
Life expectancy69.9 years2024#132 of 193
Fertility rate3.60 births per woman2024#39 of 193
Infant mortality rate9.2 per 1,000 births2024#115 of 192
Birth rate28.1 per 1,000 people2024#38 of 193
Share of people aged 65 and over3.9%2025#145 of 193
Share of children aged 0–1437.5%2025#38 of 193
Life expectancy of women73.9 years2024#123 of 193
Life expectancy of men66.4 years2024#139 of 193
Maternal mortality ratio75 per 100,000 births2023#76 of 192 tied
Death rate (per 1,000 people)5.5 per 1,000 people2024#157 of 193
Under-5 mortality (per 1,000 births)13.6 per 1,000 births2024#101 of 192
Population aged 15–64 (share of population)58.6%2025#157 of 193
Economy
GDP (total)$981M2025#181 of 189
GDP per capita$4,0842025#129 of 189
GDP per capita (PPP)$6,3882025#145 of 185
Economic growth rate1.0%2025#157 of 188
Inflation rate11.0%2025#22 of 179
Unemployment rate9.1%2025#40 of 178
Exports (share of GDP)13.3%2025#154 of 168
Imports (share of GDP)33.3%2025#108 of 168
Agriculture (share of GDP)12.2%2025#59 of 184
Industry (share of GDP)2.2%2025#185 of 185
Services (share of GDP)81.4%2025#3 of 185
Income inequality (Gini index)40.7 (0–100)2017#33 of 149 tied
Goods exports (total)$38M2025#179 of 190
Money sent home by workers abroad (share of GDP)3.7%2025#64 of 170
Women in the labor force (share of women)22.7%2025#164 of 178
Youth unemployment rate8.8%2025#123 of 178
Cereal production796 t2024#164 of 177
Cereal yield (per hectare of farmland)2,004 kg/ha2024#113 of 175
Fish and seafood production (catch + farmed)5,730 t2024#159 of 193
Fish catch (from sea, rivers and lakes)5,730 t2024#147 of 193
Aquaculture (farmed fish and seafood)0 t2024#184 of 193 tied
Livestock production growth (2014–16 = 100)136.1 (2014–16 average = 100)2024#30 of 187
Fertilizer use (per hectare of arable land)55 kg/ha2024#110 of 187
Manufacturing (share of GDP)0.6%2025#177 of 178
Employment in agriculture (share of jobs)12.1%2025#102 of 178
High-technology exports (share of manufactured exports)29.3%2023#15 of 168
Foreign direct investment, inflows (share of GDP)10.5%2025#15 of 187
Development aid received (share of national income)11.5%2023#20 of 132
Labor force (number of people)35,0752025#177 of 178
Reserves of foreign currency and gold$58.8M2024#168 of 169
Daily life & technology
Internet users (share of people)59.1%2024#136 of 186
Mobile phone subscriptions62.4 per 100 people2024#173 of 193
Access to electricity (share of people)77.7%2024#150 of 193
Health spending (share of GDP)5.8%2023#108 of 192
Education spending (share of GDP)5.0%2023#60 of 179
Hospital beds2.9 per 1,000 people2019#62 of 157 tied
Doctors0.46 per 1,000 people2022#139 of 188
Women in parliament (share of seats)14.5%2025#151 of 192 tied
University and college enrollment12.8%2015#139 of 163
Fixed broadband subscriptions3.0 per 100 people2024#135 of 192
Air passengers carried38,7672023#142 of 152
Safe drinking water (share of people)36.7%2024#108 of 136
Safe sanitation (share of people)34.7%2024#98 of 136
Undernourishment (share of people)23.0%2024#18 of 165
Clean cooking fuels (share of people)7.0%2024#175 of 192 tied
Road traffic deaths27.9 per 100,000 people2019#36 of 183
Measles vaccination (share of children)87.0%2024#118 of 192 tied
Secondary school enrollment (gross)90.4%2017#100 of 180
Primary school completion rate85.1%2017#125 of 172
Nurses and midwives (per 1,000 people)2.17 per 1,000 people2022#126 of 190
Tuberculosis cases (per 100,000 people)87 per 100,000 people2024#66 of 191
Health spending per person$1712023#132 of 192
Container port traffic (TEU)49,553 TEU2019#131 of 150
Environment
Renewable electricity (share of power)6.1%2021#148 of 187
CO₂ emissions per person0.6 t CO₂e per person2024#142 of 186
CO₂ emissions (total)0.1 Mt CO₂e2024#178 of 186
Air pollution (PM2.5)15.1 µg/m³2023#117 of 192
Renewable energy (share of final energy use)42.5%2022#56 of 191
Electricity from nuclear power (share of total)0.0%2021#33 of 190 tied
Electricity from hydropower (share of total)5.9%2021#111 of 190
Greenhouse gas emissions (total)0.2 Mt CO₂e2024#177 of 186
Freshwater withdrawal (share of internal resources)1.9%2022#132 of 175
Food & farming
Maize (corn): production796 t2024#148 of 160
Cassava: production1,434 t2024#78 of 92
Yams: production2,274 t2024#44 of 56
Coconuts: production1,924 t2024#75 of 79
Palm oil: production4,870 t2023#40 of 45
Onions: production360 t2024#134 of 139
Cabbages: production846 t2024#127 of 143
Carrots (with turnips): production976 t2024#113 of 129
Lettuce (with chicory): production82 t2024#96 of 102
Green chilies and sweet peppers: production14 t2024#124 of 124
Bananas: production5,374 t2024#90 of 113
Coffee: production7 t2024#73 of 74
Cocoa beans: production4,000 t2024#29 of 58
Beef (cattle meat): production420 t2024#169 of 181
Pork (pig meat): production828 t2024#139 of 164
Chicken meat: production418 t2024#172 of 183
Cow’s milk: production594 t2024#174 of 178
Hen eggs: production191 t2024#164 of 167
Sheep meat (mutton and lamb): production3 t2024#172 of 172
Goat meat: production12 t2024#156 of 164
Skipjack tuna: production134 t2024#57 of 82
Yellowfin tuna: production90 t2024#71 of 82
Bigeye tuna: production141 t2024#52 of 68
Swordfish: production9 t2024#63 of 76
Squids, cuttlefish and octopuses: production20 t2024#84 of 102 tied
Tunas, bonitos and billfishes: production1,625 t2024#88 of 133
Herrings, sardines and anchovies: production40 t2024#96 of 108 tied
Sharks and rays: production5 t2024#117 of 127 tied
Cattle: number of animals1,588 animals2024#179 of 183
Pigs: number of animals42,594 animals2024#123 of 165
Chickens: number of animals168,000 birds2024#177 of 181
Sheep: number of animals3,386 animals2024#169 of 173
Goats: number of animals6,201 animals2024#168 of 180
Horses: number of animals314 animals2024#138 of 143
Donkeys: number of animals48 animals2024#101 of 104
Ducks: number of animals34,000 birds2024#65 of 80
Turkeys: number of animals3,000 birds2024#68 of 71

Questions about São Tomé & Príncipe

What is the capital of São Tomé & Príncipe?

The capital of São Tomé & Príncipe is São Tomé.

What is the population of São Tomé & Príncipe?

São Tomé & Príncipe has a population of about 240K (2025), #174 of 193 among countries.

How big is São Tomé & Príncipe?

São Tomé & Príncipe covers about 960 km², #170 of 193 among countries.

Which continent is São Tomé & Príncipe in?

São Tomé & Príncipe is in Africa, in the region of Middle Africa.

What currency and languages are used in São Tomé & Príncipe?

The currency is the São Tomé & Príncipe Dobra. Main languages: Portuguese.

How does São Tomé & Príncipe compare with Japan in size and population?

The area of São Tomé & Príncipe is about 1/390 that of Japan, and its population is about 1/510 that of Japan.

How far is São Tomé & Príncipe from Japan?

The capital, São Tomé, is about 13,718 km from Tokyo, the capital of Japan, in a straight line.

What is the time difference between São Tomé & Príncipe and Japan?

The capital, São Tomé, is on UTC+0 in standard time: 9 h behind Japan.

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