Compare Akrotiri (2006) - Sao Tome and Principe (2001)

Akrotiri (2006)

Sao Tome and Principe (2001)

Administrative divisions

-

2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome

note:
Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995

Age structure

-

0-14 years:
47.7% (male 39,857; female 38,859)

15-64 years:
48.28% (male 38,430; female 41,246)

65 years and over:
4.02% (male 3,034; female 3,608) (2001 est.)

Agriculture - products

-

cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish

Airports

-

2 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

-

total:
2

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1 (2000 est.)

Area

total: 123 sq km

note: includes a salt lake and wetlands

total:
1,001 sq km

land:
1,001 sq km

water:
0 sq km

Area - comparative

about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC

more than five times the size of Washington, DC

Background

By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers - Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The southernmost and smallest of these is the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Western Sovereign Base Area.

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.

Birth rate

-

42.74 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Budget

-

revenues:
$58 million

expenditures:
$114 million, including capital expenditures of $54 million (1993 est.)

Capital

name: Episkopi Cantonment; also serves as capital of Dhekelia

geographic coordinates: 34 40 N, 32 51 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Sao Tome

Climate

temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)

Coastline

56.3 km

209 km

Constitution

Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council 1960, effective 16 August 1960

approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990

Country name

conventional long form: Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area

conventional short form: Akrotiri

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

Currency

-

dobra (STD)

Death rate

-

7.54 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Debt - external

-

$268 million (2000)

Dependency status

overseas territory of UK; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus

-

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

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 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604, New York, NY 10168, telephone [1] (212) 317-0533

Disputes - international

-

none

Economic aid - recipient

-

$200 million in December 2000 under the HIPC program

Economy - overview

Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Akrotiri. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

This small poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence 25 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 significant 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. 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, but economic growth has remained sluggish. Sao Tome is also optimistic that significant 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. At the same time, progress in the economic reform program has attracted international financial institutions' support, and GDP growth will likely rise to at least 4% in 2001-02.

Electricity - consumption

-

15.8 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

-

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

-

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

-

17 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

-

fossil fuel:
41.18%

hydro:
58.82%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)

Elevation extremes

-

lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m

Environment - current issues

shooting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon vultures is on the base

deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion

Environment - international agreements

-

party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements

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)

Exchange rates

-

dobras per US dollar - 2390.04 (December 2000), 7,119.0 (1999), 6,883.2 (1998), 4,552.5 (1997), 2,203.2 (1996)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)

head of government: Administrator Air Vice-Marshal Richard LACEY (since 26 April 2006); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defence

elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is appointed by the monarch

chief of state:
President Miguel TROVOADA (since 4 April 1991)

head of government:
Prime Minister Guilherma Posser da COSTA (since 30 December 1998)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 30 June and 21 July 1996 (next to be held NA July 2001); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president

election results:
Miguel TROVOADA reelected president in Sao Tome's second multiparty presidential election; percent of vote - Miguel TROVOADA 52.74%, Manuel Pinto da COSTA 47.26%

Exports

-

$3.2 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

-

cocoa 90%, copra, coffee, palm oil

Exports - partners

-

Netherlands 18%, Germany 9%, Portugal 9% (1998)

Fiscal year

-

calendar year

Flag description

the flag of the UK is used

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

GDP

-

purchasing power parity - $178 million (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

-

agriculture:
23%

industry:
19%

services:
58% (1997 est.)

GDP - per capita

-

purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-

3% (2000 est.)

Geographic coordinates

34 37 N, 32 58 E

1 00 N, 7 00 E

Geography - note

British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus

-

Highways

-

total:
320 km

paved:
218 km

unpaved:
102 km (1996)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

-

lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%

Imports

-

$40 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

-

machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products

Imports - partners

-

Portugal 42%, US 20%, South Africa 6% (1998)

Independence

-

12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Industrial production growth rate

-

NA%

Industries

-

light construction, textiles, soap, beer; fish processing; timber

Infant mortality rate

-

48.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-

5% (2000 est.)

International organization participation

-

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

-

2 (2000)

Irrigated land

-

100 sq km (1993 est.)

Judicial branch

-

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National Assembly)

Labor force

-

NA

Labor force - by occupation

-

population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing

note:
shortages of skilled workers

Land boundaries

total: 47.4 km

border countries: Cyprus 47.4 km

0 km

Land use

-

arable land:
2%

permanent crops:
36%

permanent pastures:
1%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
61% (1993 est.)

Languages

English, Greek

Portuguese (official)

Legal system

the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply

based on Portuguese legal system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

-

unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held 8 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2003)

election results:
percent of vote by party - MLSTP-PSD 56%, PCD 14.5%, ADI 29%; seats by party - MLSTP-PSD 31, ADI 16, PCD 8

Life expectancy at birth

-

total population:
65.59 years

male:
64.15 years

female:
67.07 years (2001 est.)

Literacy

-

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
73%

male:
85%

female:
62% (1991 est.)

Location

peninsula on the southwest coast of Cyprus

Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon

Map references

Middle East

Africa

Maritime claims

-

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM

Merchant marine

-

total:
39 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 130,843 GRT/149,048 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 3, cargo 21, chemical tanker 1, container 3, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 1 (2000 est.)

Military - note

Akrotiri has a full RAF base, Headquarters for British Forces on Cyprus, and Episkopi Support Unit

-

Military branches

-

Army, Navy, Security Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure

-

$1 million (FY94)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

-

1.5% (FY94)

Military manpower - availability

-

males age 15-49:
34,205 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

-

males age 15-49:
18,043 (2001 est.)

National holiday

-

Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

Nationality

-

noun:
Sao Tomean(s)

adjective:
Sao Tomean

Natural hazards

-

NA

Natural resources

-

fish, hydropower

Net migration rate

-

-3.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

-

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]; Democratic Renovation Party [Armindo GRACA]; other small parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

-

NA

Population

no indigenous inhabitants

note: approximately 1,300 military personnel are on the base; there are another 5,000 British citizens who are families of military personnel or civilian staff on both Akrotiri and Dhekelia; Cyprus citizens work on the base, but do not live there

165,034 (July 2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

-

NA%

Population growth rate

-

3.18% (2001 est.)

Ports and harbors

-

Santo Antonio, Sao Tome

Radio broadcast stations

FM 1

note: British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1 and Radio 2 service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia (2006)

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

-

38,000 (1997)

Railways

-

0 km

Religions

-

Christian 80% (Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist)

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:
0.84 male(s)/female

total population:
0.97 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Suffrage

-

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

-

general assessment:
adequate facilities

domestic:
minimal system

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

-

3,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

-

6,942 (1997)