Compare Akrotiri (2006) - Sao Tome and Principe (2003)

Akrotiri (2006)

Sao Tome and Principe (2003)

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 42,480; female 41,411)

15-64 years: 48.3% (male 41,043; female 43,986)

65 years and over: 4% (male 3,197; female 3,766) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

-

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

Airports

-

2 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

-

total: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)

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. Though the first free elections were held in 1991, the political environment has been one of continued instability with frequent changes in leadership and coup attempts in 1995 and 2003. The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea is likely to have a significant impact on the country's economy.

Birth rate

-

41.87 births/1,000 population (2003 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

-

7.11 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

-

$253.8 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 400 Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022, telephone [1] (212) 317-0580

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 28 years ago. Cocoa production has substantially declined in recent years because of drought and mismanagement, but strengthening prices brighten prospects for 2003. Sao Tome has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a substantial 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. Sao Tome's success in implementing structural reforms has been rewarded by international donors, who pledged increased assistance in 2001. 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. Sao Tome is optimistic that substantial petroleum discoveries are forthcoming in its territorial waters in the oil-rich waters of the Gulf of Guinea; production could begin as early as 2004.

Electricity - consumption

-

15.81 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

-

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

-

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

-

17 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

-

fossil fuel: 41.2%

hydro: 58.8%

nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

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, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, 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 - NA (2002), 8,842.11 (2001), 7,978.17 (2000), 7,118.96 (1999), 6,883.24 (1998)

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 Fradique DE MENEZES (since 3 September 2001)

head of government: Prime Minister Maria das NEVES (since 7 October 2002)

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 29 July 2001 (next to be held NA July 2006); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president

election results: Fradique DE MENEZES elected president in Sao Tome's third multiparty presidential election; percent of vote - NA%

Exports

-

NA (2001)

Exports - commodities

-

cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil

Exports - partners

-

Netherlands 30.1%, Poland 11.8%, Canada 9.7%, Germany 7.5%, Philippines 7.5%, Spain 7.5%, Belgium 6.5%, France 4.3%, Portugal 4.3% (2002)

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 - $200 million (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

-

agriculture: 25%

industry: 10%

services: 65% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

-

purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-

4% (2002 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

the smallest country in Africa; the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes and both are fairly mountainous

Highways

-

total: 320 km

paved: 218 km

unpaved: 102 km (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

-

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Imports

-

NA (2001)

Imports - commodities

-

machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products

Imports - partners

-

Portugal 51.4%, Germany 10.1%, UK 7.6%, Belgium 6.3% (2002)

Independence

-

12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Industrial production growth rate

-

NA%

Industries

-

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

Infant mortality rate

-

total: 46.04 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 48.07 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 43.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-

9% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

-

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

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

-

1 (2002)

Irrigated land

-

100 sq km (1998 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: 41%

other: 57% (1998 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 four-year terms)

elections: last held 3 March 2002 (next to be held NA March 2006)

election results: percent of vote by party - MLSTP 39.6%, Force for Change Democratic Movement 39.4%, Ue-Kedadji coalition 16.2%; seats by party - MLSTP 24, Force for Change Democratic Movement 23, Ue-Kedadji coalition 8

Life expectancy at birth

-

total population: 66.28 years

male: 64.79 years

female: 67.82 years (2003 est.)

Literacy

-

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 79.3%

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: 24 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 78,595 GRT/99,873 DWT

ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 15, chemical tanker 1, livestock carrier 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 2

note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Egypt 1, Greece 1, Kenya 1, Portugal 1, Syria 1, Turkey 1 (2002 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

-

$400,000 (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

-

0.8% (FY01)

Military manpower - availability

-

males age 15-49: 36,905 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

-

males age 15-49: 19,443 (2003 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

-

-2.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Political parties and leaders

-

Democratic Renovation Party [Armindo GRACA]; Force for Change Democratic Movement [leader NA]; 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]; Ue-Kedadji coalition [leader NA]; 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

175,883 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

-

NA%

Population growth rate

-

3.18% (2003 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 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)

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: 0.85 male(s)/female

total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 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

-

4,600 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular

-

6,942 (1997)