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. 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. The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea promises to attract increased attention to the small island nation.
Population
175,808 (July 2010 est.)
Country comparison to the world:186
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
Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%, other 3.1%, none 19.4% (2001 census)
Languages
Portuguese (official)
Country Name
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
republic
Capital
Name:Sao Tome
Geographic coordinates: 0 12 N, 6 39 E
Time difference:UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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 Bandiera Melo DE MENEZES (since 3 September 2001)
Head of government:Prime Minister Joachim Rafael BRANCO (since 22 June 2008)
Cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister
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Elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 30 July 2006 (next to be held in July 2011); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president
Election results:Fradique DE MENEZES elected president; percent of vote - Fradique DE MENEZES 60%, Patrice TROVOADA 38.5%
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Elections:last held on on 26 March 2006 (next to be held on 21 February 2010)
Election results:percent of vote by party - MDFM-PCD 37.2%, MLSTP 28.9%, ADI 20.0%, NR 4.7%, others 9.2%; seats by party - MDFM-PCD 23, MLSTP 19, ADI 12, NR 1
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National Assembly)
Political Parties and Leaders
Force for Change Democratic Movement or MDFM [Tome Soares da VERA CRUZ]; Independent Democratic Action or ADI [Patrice TROVOADA]; Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD [Rafael BRANCO]; New Way Movement or NR; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Delfim NEVES]; Ue-Kedadji coalition; other small parties
Political pressure groups and leaders
Association of Sao Tome and Principe NGOs or FONG
other: the media
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission:Ambassador Ovidio PEQUENO
Chancery:400 Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022
Telephone:[1] (212) 317-0580
FAX:[1] (212) 935-7348
Diplomatic representation from the US
the US does not have an embassy in 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; red symbolizes the struggle for independence, the two stars represent the two main islands
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
