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Sao Tome and Principe

Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe

Portuguese Sao Tomean Dobra (STN) Portuguese civil law
AU, AfCFTA, CPLP, WTO

Sao Tome and Principe is one of Africa's smallest nations (population ~220,000), a two-island country in the Gulf of Guinea. The economy depends on cocoa production (historically the primary export), tourism, fishing, and international aid. Offshore oil and gas potential in the Joint Development Zone (shared with Nigeria) has attracted exploration interest but commercial production has not yet materialized. The country has improved democratic governance with regular peaceful elections. Challenges include extreme small market size, isolation, import dependence, and limited infrastructure. Tourism development centered on eco-tourism and cultural heritage offers growth potential.

Snapshot

Population~0.2 MWorld Bank, 2025
GDP (current USD)$1.0 BWorld Bank, 2025
GDP per Capita$4,084World Bank, 2025
GDP Growth1.03%World Bank, 2025
Inflation (y/y)~11.05%World Bank, 2025
Unemployment9.13%World Bank, ILO modelled estimate, 2025
Internet Use~59.12%World Bank, 2024
Electrification~76.00%World Bank WDI
CPI Score (Rank)44.0/100 (#67)Transparency Intl
HDI (Rank)0.618 (#138)UNDP HDR

World Bank Indicators Compare with another country

GDP (current USD)$981.3 MWorld Bank, 2025
GDP growth (annual)1.03%World Bank, 2025
GDP per capita (USD)$4,084World Bank, 2025
Population, total240,254World Bank, 2025
FDI net inflows (USD)-$16.7 MWorld Bank, 2024
Inflation (consumer prices)11.05%World Bank, 2025
Unemployment (% labour force)9.13%World Bank, 2025
Internet use (% of people)59.12%World Bank, 2024
Trade (% of GDP)46.57%World Bank, 2025

Climate Readiness Full ranking

59out of 100
Established
Climate adaptation readiness for Sao Tome and Principe, from 5 of 5 measured indicators.
Energy access7676.0% · 30% weight
Governance readiness4444 / 100 CPI · 20% weight
Human readiness620.618 HDI · 20% weight
Economic readiness65$4,084, 2025 · 15% weight
Digital readiness3535.0% · 15% weight
This scores climate adaptation readiness (adaptive capacity), following the readiness dimension of the ND-GAIN framework. It is built only from measured values already held on this profile and normalised 0-100. It does not measure emissions or physical climate vulnerability: the platform does not yet hold emissions, hazard-exposure or natural-capital series. Energy access is the single most climate-specific indicator held; the other four are governance, economic, human-development and digital readiness proxies. The economic sub-score is relative to the African countries the platform covers.
How this is computed

Adaptive capacity to absorb climate finance and adapt, following the readiness dimension of the ND-GAIN framework. Built only from measured values already held on each country profile. It is not a measure of emissions or physical climate vulnerability, which the platform does not yet hold.

  • Energy access (30%) — World Bank, access to electricity (% of population). The single most climate and energy specific signal held: SDG 7 and the clean-energy transition.
  • Governance readiness (20%) — Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index (0-100). ND-GAIN governance readiness: the capacity to govern and deploy climate finance. Higher is cleaner.
  • Human readiness (20%) — UNDP, Human Development Index (0-1). ND-GAIN social readiness: the adaptive capacity of the population.
  • Economic readiness (15%) — World Bank, GDP per capita (current US$), latest measured year. ND-GAIN economic readiness: the capacity to finance adaptation. Scored relative to the covered set.
  • Digital readiness (15%) — World Bank, individuals using the Internet (% of population). Information systems for early warning and adaptation.

A country is scored only when at least 4 of the five indicators are held. Sub-scores are weighted and renormalised over the indicators that are present; nothing is estimated for one that is absent.

Country Facts

CapitalSao Tome
RegionCentral Africa
CurrencySao Tomean Dobra (STN)
FX RegimeFixed peg to EUR
Legal SystemPortuguese civil law
Time ZoneAfrica/Sao_Tome

Focus Sectors

Agriculture (cocoa)
Tourism
Fishing
Oil & Gas (potential)
Construction
Telecoms

Regulations & Taxes

Corporate Income Tax25% standard
VAT / Sales Tax15% standard