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| CIA Background Information |
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.
| U.S. State Department Description |
Country Description:
São Tomé and Príncipe is a developing nation, comprising the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, located off the western coast of central Africa. Facilities for tourism are limited, but adequate. Read the Department of State Background São Tomé and Príncipe for additional information.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A passport, visa, and evidence of yellow fever vaccination are required for entry. Visas must be obtained in advance. Travelers can obtain visas and the latest information on entry requirements ... Read this Article
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Sao Tomean(s).
Population (July 2008 est.): 206,178.
Annual growth rate (2008 est.): 3.116%.
Ethnic groups: Mixed African, Portuguese-African.
Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-day Adventist) 80%.
Language: Portuguese (official).
Education: Literacy (census 2001)--68.1%. Years compulsory--to secondary level.
Health: Life expectancy (2008 est.)--68 yrs. Infant mortality rate (2008 est.)--38.36/1,000.
Work ... Read this Article
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Location: Sao Tome and Principe is Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon See Map
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)
Currency (Code): dobra (STD) ...More
Area: total: 1,001 sq km , land: 1,001 sq km , water: 0 sq km ( 1 sq km is approximately 0.4 sq miles or 250 acres)
Area Comparison: more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Elevation Extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m , highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m (1 meter = 3.28 feet)
Population: 206,178 (July 2008 est.)
Unemployment: NA%
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)
Religion: Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%, other 3.1%, none 19.4% (2001 census)
Languages: Portuguese (official)
More Statistics
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| History
The islands were first discovered by Portuguese navigators between 1469 and 1472. The first successful settlement of Sao Tome was established in 1493 by Alvaro Caminha, who received the land as a grant from the Portuguese crown. Principe was settled in 1500 under a similar arrangement. By the mid-1500s, with the help ... Read this Article
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| Geographic Info for Sao Tome Principe : |
Geography
Location: Western Africa; islands straddling the equator in the Gulf of Guinea west of Gabon.
Area: 1,001 sq. km. (386 sq. mi.); about the size of metropolitan Indianapolis, or one-third the size of Rhode Island.
Cities: Capital--Sao Tome. Other cities--Trinidade, Santana, Angolares, Neves, Santo Antonio.
Terrain: Two small, volcanic islands.
Climate: ... Read this Article
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