Country Guide • Democratic Republic of Sao Tome And Principe
Sao Tome and Principe are islands located in the Gulf of Guinea off the coast of West Africa. Both islands are of volcanic origin and are characterised by many craters and lava flows.
| Official Name | Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe |
|---|---|
| Area | 963km² (372mile²) |
| Population | 175,883 |
| Continent | Africa |
| Population per mile² | 455 |
| Capital City | São Tomé |
| Religions | 84% Roman Catholic, the remainder follow local native tribal beliefs. |
| Language | Portuguese |
| Government | Republic |
| Currency | Dobra |
| GDP | $200 million |
| GDP per Head | $1,200 |
| Natural Resources | Fish, hydropower |
| Land Use | Arable Land 2% |
| Agriculture | Bananas, cocoa, coconuts, coffee, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, papayas, beans, poultry and fish |
| Industry | Light construction, textiles, soap, beer; fish processing; timber |
| Tourism | These islands provide unspoiled beauty and isolation from the world now rarely found anywhere else. Here you can savour in the richly vegetated jungles, untouched beaches and fabulous old decaying colonial architecture. The history of the islands is dominated by the slave trade and slave-worked plantations. The town of São Tomé is picturesque, with colonial Portuguese architecture and attractive parks |
| Natural Hazards | None |
| Health Risks | Malaria, bilharzia and hepatitis |
| Climate | An equatorial climate with heavy rainfall, high temperatures and humidity. The south of the main island, being mountainous, is wetter than the north. The main dry season is from early June to late September. There is another dry season, the ‘Pequenha Gravana’, from the end of December to the start of February. Average annual rainfall varies from 197 inches on the south west mountain slopes to 394 inches on the northern lowlands. Average temperature ranges in Sao Tome are from 21 - 31°C with the temperature of the interior's higher altitude around 20°C |
| Time | GMT/UTC- No UTC/GMT offset |
| National Days | February 3 Martyrs’ Day. May 1 Labour Day. July 12 Independence Day. September 6 Armed Forces Day. September 30 Agricultural Reform Day |
| Visas | All foreign nationals require a visa to enter São Tomé and Principe. There is currently no São Tomé Honorary Consul in the United Kingdom, but one is due to be appointed shortly. The nearest São Tomé Diplomatic Mission is in Brussels at Square Montgomery, 175 Avenue de Tervuren, 1150 Brussels; (Tel: +32 2 734 89 66) |
| British Embassy | Embassy Details |
Information Only
The content above is for information purposes only and we have tried to ensure that the information is as accurate as possible. We cannot accept any responsibility for any inconvenience, loss or injury as a result of the information above. You should always check and verify any critical information like visas, health and safety and customs with the relevant authorities before you travel since information can change at any time.
