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1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)
Sao Tome and Principe
    n 1: island nation in the South Atlantic off the west coast of
         Africa; achieved independence from Portugal in 1975; has
         enormous offshore oil reserves [syn: Sao Tome and
         Principe, Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe,
         Sao Tome e Principe, Sao Thome e Principe, St. Thomas
         and Principe]

2. CIA World Factbook 2002
Sao Tome and Principe

   Introduction Sao Tome and Principe
   ----------------------------------
                            Background: 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 plantation
                                        slave labor, a form of which
                                        lingered into the 20th century.
                                        Although independence was achieved
                                        in 1975, democratic reforms were not
                                        instituted until the late 1980s. The
                                        first free elections were held in
                                        1991.
  
   Geography Sao Tome and Principe
   -------------------------------
                              Location: Western Africa, islands in the Gulf
                                        of Guinea, straddling the Equator,
                                        west of Gabon
                Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 7 00 E
                        Map references: Africa
                                  Area: total: 1,001 sq km
                                        water: 0 sq km
                                        land: 1,001 sq km
                    Area - comparative: more than five times the size of
                                        Washington, DC
                       Land boundaries: 0 km
                             Coastline: 209 km
                       Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic
                                        baselines
                                        territorial sea: 12 NM
                                        exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
                               Climate: tropical; hot, humid; one rainy
                                        season (October to May)
                               Terrain: volcanic, mountainous
                    Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
                                        highest point: Pico de Sao Tome
                                        2,024 m
                     Natural resources: fish, hydropower
                              Land use: arable land: 2%
                                        permanent crops: 41%
                                        other: 57% (1998 est.)
                        Irrigated land: 100 sq km (1998 est.)
                       Natural hazards: NA
          Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion and
                                        exhaustion
            Environment - international party to: Biodiversity, Climate
                            agreements: Change, Desertification, Endangered
                                        Species, Environmental Modification,
                                        Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
                                        Protection, Ship Pollution
                                        signed, but not ratified: none of
                                        the selected agreements
                      Geography - note: the smallest country in Africa; the
                                        two main islands form part of a
                                        chain of extinct volcanoes and both
                                        are fairly mountainous
  
   People Sao Tome and Principe
   ----------------------------
                            Population: 170,372 (July 2002 est.)
                         Age structure: 0-14 years: 47.7% (male 41,159;
                                        female 40,125)
                                        15-64 years: 48.3% (male 39,701;
                                        female 42,586)
                                        65 years and over: 4% (male 3,115;
                                        female 3,686) (2002 est.)
                Population growth rate: 3.18% (2002 est.)
                            Birth rate: 42.3 births/1,000 population (2002
                                        est.)
                            Death rate: 7.32 deaths/1,000 population (2002
                                        est.)
                    Net migration rate: -3.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population
                                        (2002 est.)
                             Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
                                        under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
                                        15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
                                        65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/
                                        female
                                        total population: 0.97 male(s)/
                                        female (2002 est.)
                 Infant mortality rate: 47.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
                                        est.)
              Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.93 years
                                        female: 67.45 years (2002 est.)
                                        male: 64.47 years
                  Total fertility rate: 5.95 children born/woman (2002 est.)
      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%
     HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ NA
                                  AIDS:
                     HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
                           Nationality: noun: Sao Tomean(s)
                                        adjective: Sao Tomean
                         Ethnic groups: mestico, angolares (descendants of
                                        Angolan slaves), forros (descendants
                                        of freed slaves), servicais
                                        (contract laborers from Angola,
                                        Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas
                                        (children of servicais born on the
                                        islands), Europeans (primarily
                                        Portuguese)
                             Religions: Christian 80% (Roman Catholic,
                                        Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day
                                        Adventist)
                             Languages: Portuguese (official)
                              Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
                                        and write
                                        total population: 79.3%
                                        male: 85%
                                        female: 62% (1991 est.)
  
   Government Sao Tome and Principe
   --------------------------------
                          Country name: conventional long form: Democratic
                                        Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
                                        conventional short form: Sao Tome
                                        and Principe
                                        local short form: Sao Tome e
                                        Principe
                                        local long form: Republica
                                        Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe
                       Government type: republic
                               Capital: Sao Tome
              Administrative divisions: 2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome
                                        note: Principe has had self-
                                        government since 29 April 1995
                          Independence: 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
                      National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
                          Constitution: approved March 1990; effective 10
                                        September 1990
                          Legal system: based on Portuguese legal system and
                                        customary law; has not accepted
                                        compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
                              Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
                      Executive branch: chief of state: President Fradique
                                        DE MENEZES (since 3 September 2001)
                                        election results: Fradique DE
                                        MENEZES elected president in Sao
                                        Tome's third multiparty presidential
                                        election; percent of vote - NA%
                                        elections: president elected by
                                        popular vote for a five-year term;
                                        election last held 29 July 2001
                                        (next to be held NA July 2006);
                                        prime minister chosen by the
                                        National Assembly and approved by
                                        the president
                                        head of government: Prime Minister
                                        Gabriel Arcanjo Ferreira DA COSTA
                                        (since 8 April 2002)
                                        cabinet: Council of Ministers
                                        appointed by the president on the
                                        proposal of the prime minister
                    Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or
                                        Assembleia Nacional (55 seats;
                                        members are elected by direct,
                                        popular vote to serve four-year
                                        terms)
                                        elections: last held 3 March 2002
                                        (next to be held NA March 2006)
                                        election results: percent of vote by
                                        party - MLSTP 39.6%, Force for
                                        Change Democratic Movement 39.4%,
                                        Ue-Kedadji coalition 16.2%; seats by
                                        party - MLSTP 24, Force for Change
                                        Democratic Movement 23, Ue-Kedadji
                                        coalition 8
                       Judicial branch: Supreme Court (judges are appointed
                                        by the National Assembly)
         Political parties and leaders: Democratic Renovation Party [Armindo
                                        GRACA]; Force for Change Democratic
                                        Movement [leader NA]; Independent
                                        Democratic Action or ADI [Carlos
                                        NEVES]; Movement for the Liberation
                                        of Sao Tome and Principe-Social
                                        Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD
                                        [Manuel Pinto Da COSTA]; Party for
                                        Democratic Convergence or PCD [Aldo
                                        BANDEIRA]; Ue-Kedadji coalition
                                        [leader NA]; other small parties
          Political pressure groups and NA
                               leaders:
             International organization ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA,
                         participation: FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
                                        IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
                                        Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU,
                                        NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
                                        UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
                                        (observer)
   Diplomatic representation in the US: Sao Tome and Principe does not have
                                        an embassy in the US, but does have
                                        a Permanent Mission to the UN,
                                        headed by First Secretary Domingos
                                        Augusto FERREIRA, located at 400
                                        Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY
                                        10022, telephone [1] (212) 317-0580
     Diplomatic representation from the the US does not have an embassy in
                                    US: Sao Tome and Principe; the
                                        Ambassador to Gabon is accredited to
                                        Sao Tome and Principe on a
                                        nonresident basis and makes periodic
                                        visits to the islands
                      Flag description: 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; uses the popular pan-
                                        African colors of Ethiopia
  
   Economy Sao Tome and Principe
   -----------------------------
                    Economy - overview: This small poor island economy has
                                        become increasingly dependent on
                                        cocoa since independence 26 years
                                        ago. However, cocoa production has
                                        substantially declined because of
                                        drought and mismanagement. The
                                        resulting shortage of cocoa for
                                        export has created a persistent
                                        balance-of-payments problem. Sao
                                        Tome has to import all fuels, most
                                        manufactured goods, consumer goods,
                                        and a substantial amount of food.
                                        Over the years, it has been unable
                                        to service its external debt and has
                                        had to depend on concessional aid
                                        and debt rescheduling. Sao Tome
                                        benefited from $200 million in debt
                                        relief in December 2000 under the
                                        Highly Indebted Poor Countries
                                        (HIPC) program. Sao Tome's success
                                        in implementing structural reforms
                                        has been rewarded by international
                                        donors, who have pledged increased
                                        assistance in 2001. 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.
                                        Sao Tome is also optimistic that
                                        substantial petroleum discoveries
                                        are forthcoming in its territorial
                                        waters in the oil-rich waters of the
                                        Gulf of Guinea. Corruption scandals
                                        continue to weaken the economy.
                                   GDP: purchasing power parity - $189
                                        million (2001 est.)
                GDP - real growth rate: 4% (2001 est.)
                      GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,200
                                        (2001 est.)
           GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25%
                                        industry: 10%
                                        services: 65% (1999 est.)
         Population below poverty line: NA%
     Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
                      percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
      Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (2001 est.)
                           Labor force: NA
           Labor force - by occupation: population mainly engaged in
                                        subsistence agriculture and fishing
                                        note: shortages of skilled workers
                     Unemployment rate: NA%
                                Budget: revenues: $58 million
                                        expenditures: $114 million,
                                        including capital expenditures of
                                        $54 million (1993 est.)
                            Industries: light construction, textiles, soap,
                                        beer; fish processing; timber
     Industrial production growth rate: NA%
              Electricity - production: 17 million kWh (2000)
    Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 41.18%
                                        hydro: 58.82%
                                        other: 0% (2000)
                                        nuclear: 0%
             Electricity - consumption: 15.81 million kWh (2000)
                 Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
                 Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
                Agriculture - products: cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels,
                                        copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee,
                                        bananas, papayas, beans; poultry;
                                        fish
                               Exports: $4.1 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
                 Exports - commodities: cocoa 90%, copra, coffee, palm oil
                    Exports - partners: Portugal 33.3%, Netherlands 8.3%,
                                        Spain 8.3% (1999)
                               Imports: $40 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
                 Imports - commodities: machinery and electrical equipment,
                                        food products, petroleum products
                    Imports - partners: Portugal 43%, France 15.7%, UK 13.7%
                                        (1999)
                       Debt - external: $253.8 million (2000)
              Economic aid - recipient: $200 million in December 2000 under
                                        the HIPC program
                              Currency: dobra (STD)
                         Currency code: STD
                        Exchange rates: dobras per US dollar - 9,009.1
                                        (December 2001), 8,842.1 (2001),
                                        7,978.2 (2000), 7,119.0 (1999),
                                        6,883.2 (1998), 4,552.5 (1997)
                           Fiscal year: calendar year
  
   Communications Sao Tome and Principe
   ------------------------------------
           Telephones - main lines in use: 3,000 (1997)
             Telephones - mobile cellular: 6,942 (1997)
                         Telephone system: general assessment: adequate
                                           facilities
                                           domestic: minimal system
                                           international: satellite earth
                                           station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
                                           Ocean)
                 Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
                                   Radios: 38,000 (1997)
            Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
                              Televisions: 23,000 (1997)
                    Internet country code: .st
        Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2000)
                           Internet users: 6,500 (2001)
  
   Transportation Sao Tome and Principe
   ------------------------------------
                              Railways: 0 km
                              Highways: total: 320 km
                                        paved: 218 km
                                        unpaved: 102 km (1996)
                             Waterways: none
                     Ports and harbors: Santo Antonio, Sao Tome
                       Merchant marine: total: 41 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
                                        totaling 169,991 GRT/245,996 DWT
                                        ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 23,
                                        chemical tanker 1, container 3,
                                        livestock carrier 1, petroleum
                                        tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 1, roll
                                        on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 1
                                        note: includes some foreign-owned
                                        ships registered here as a flag of
                                        convenience: Egypt 1, Greece 1,
                                        Kenya 1, Portugal 1, Syria 1, Turkey
                                        1 (2002 est.)
                              Airports: 2 (2001)
         Airports - with paved runways: total: 2
                                        1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
                                        914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2001)
  
   Military Sao Tome and Principe
   ------------------------------
                      Military branches: Army, Navy, Security Police
       Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 35,524 (2002 est.)
    Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 18,727 (2002 est.)
                                service:
          Military expenditures - dollar $400,000 (FY01)
                                 figure:
      Military expenditures - percent of 0.8% (FY01)
                                    GDP:
  
   Transnational Issues Sao Tome and Principe
   ------------------------------------------
                                              Disputes - international: none
  
                                       



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