São Tomé and Príncipe
World Bank name: Sao Tome and Principe
- Capital
- Sao Tome
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 240,000 (2025)
At a glance
- Prices in São Tomé and Príncipe rose 11.1% in 2025, faster than in most countries.
- São Tomé and Príncipe's economy grew 1.0% in 2025, slower than most economies.
- Output per person in São Tomé and Príncipe was US$4,084 in 2025, lower than in most countries.
- 9.1% of São Tomé and Príncipe's labour force had no job in 2025, a higher share than in most countries.
- São Tomé and Príncipe had 240,000 people in 2025: about less than 0.1% of everyone on Earth, the 181st largest population of 217 countries and territories.
- São Tomé and Príncipe had a current account deficit of 9.3% of GDP in 2025, lower than in most countries.
Inflation
2025Consumer prices, change over the year (yearly average)
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | São Tomé and Príncipe | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11.1% | 3.0% |
| 2024 | 14.4% | 3.0% |
| 2023 | 21.3% | 5.7% |
| 2022 | 18.0% | 8.0% |
| 2021 | 8.1% | 3.5% |
| 2020 | 9.8% | 1.9% |
| 2019 | 7.7% | 2.2% |
| 2018 | 7.9% | 2.5% |
| 2017 | 5.7% | 2.3% |
| 2016 | 5.4% | 1.6% |
Economic growth
2025Real GDP, change over the year
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | São Tomé and Príncipe | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.0% | 3.4% |
| 2024 | 1.5% | 3.4% |
| 2023 | 0.4% | 3.2% |
| 2022 | 0.2% | 4.3% |
| 2021 | 1.9% | 5.1% |
| 2020 | 2.6% | −3.8% |
| 2019 | 2.0% | 2.8% |
| 2018 | 4.4% | 3.2% |
| 2017 | 4.1% | 3.3% |
| 2016 | 5.2% | 3.1% |
GDP per person
2025GDP divided by population, in US dollars at current prices
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | São Tomé and Príncipe | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | US$4,084 | US$7,882 |
| 2024 | US$3,503 | US$7,853 |
| 2023 | US$2,991 | US$7,862 |
| 2022 | US$2,390 | US$7,656 |
| 2021 | US$2,363 | US$7,269 |
| 2020 | US$2,167 | US$6,433 |
| 2019 | US$1,935 | US$7,037 |
| 2018 | US$1,826 | US$6,978 |
| 2017 | US$1,556 | US$6,548 |
| 2016 | US$1,435 | US$5,982 |
Unemployment
2025Share of the labour force without a job (ILO modelled estimate)
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | São Tomé and Príncipe | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9.1% | 5.1% |
| 2024 | 9.1% | 5.1% |
| 2023 | 9.0% | 5.2% |
| 2022 | 9.0% | 5.3% |
| 2021 | 9.6% | 6.0% |
| 2020 | 9.7% | 6.4% |
| 2019 | 8.8% | 5.4% |
| 2018 | 8.7% | 5.4% |
| 2017 | 8.8% | 5.6% |
| 2016 | 9.7% | 5.9% |
Population
2025Everyone living in the country, mid-year
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | São Tomé and Príncipe |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 240,000 |
| 2024 | 236,000 |
| 2023 | 231,000 |
| 2022 | 226,000 |
| 2021 | 222,000 |
| 2020 | 217,000 |
| 2019 | 213,000 |
| 2018 | 210,000 |
| 2017 | 207,000 |
| 2016 | 204,000 |
Current account balance, % of GDP
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | São Tomé and Príncipe | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | −9.3% | −0.8% |
| 2024 | −6.3% | −1.3% |
| 2023 | −11.2% | −1.2% |
| 2022 | −18.2% | −3.0% |
| 2021 | −18.2% | −2.4% |
| 2020 | −12.7% | −1.7% |
| 2019 | −21.8% | −2.1% |
| 2018 | −19.6% | −2.9% |
| 2017 | −22.7% | −2.1% |
| 2016 | −21.0% | −2.8% |
No recent World Bank figure for São Tomé and Príncipe: government debt.
About these figures
All numbers are yearly. The world median is the middle value of all countries with a figure for the same year: half of them are above it and half below. Sparklines show São Tomé and Príncipe since 2000 or since its first figure.
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0), updated 2026-10-08. Original sources: Inflation: International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics; Economic growth: national statistical offices and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates; GDP per person: national statistical offices and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates; Unemployment: International Labour Organization, ILO modelled estimates (ILOSTAT); Population: United Nations Population Division (World Population Prospects) and national statistical offices; Current account balance: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments Statistics, with World Bank and OECD data. Yearly figures; recent years are often revised. All sources and terms.