Main page Compare countries Index countries Index fields

Query:
##ciekawa_strona##

Compare Bahamas, The (2002) - Sao Tome and Principe (2001)

Compare Bahamas, The (2002) z Sao Tome and Principe (2001)

 Bahamas, The (2002)Sao Tome and Principe (2001)
 Bahamas, TheSao Tome and Principe
Administrative divisions 21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay, Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nichollstown and Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay 2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome

note:
Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995
Age structure 0-14 years: 29% (male 43,964; female 43,250)


15-64 years: 64.7% (male 95,508; female 98,859)


65 years and over: 6.3% (male 7,948; female 11,000) (2002 est.)
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 citrus, vegetables; poultry cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish
Airports 67 (2001) 2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 30


over 3,047 m: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 12


914 to 1,523 m: 11


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
total:
2

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 34 35


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 9


under 914 m: 3 23 (2002)
-
Area total: 13,940 sq km


land: 10,070 sq km


water: 3,870 sq km
total:
1,001 sq km

land:
1,001 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Connecticut more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Background Arawak Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher Columbus first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492. British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony in 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking and investment management. Because of its geography, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments to the US, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US. 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 18.69 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 42.74 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $918.5 million


expenditures: $956.5 million, including capital expenditures of $106.7 million (FY99/00)
revenues:
$58 million

expenditures:
$114 million, including capital expenditures of $54 million (1993 est.)
Capital Nassau Sao Tome
Climate tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Coastline 3,542 km 209 km
Constitution 10 July 1973 approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990
Country name conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas


conventional short form: The Bahamas
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 Bahamian dollar (BSD) dobra (STD)
Death rate 7.49 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 7.54 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $381.9 million (2000) $268 million (2000)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador J. Richard BLANKENSHIP


embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau


mailing address: local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; stateside address: American Embassy Nassau, P. O. Box 599009, Miami, FL 33159-9009; pouch address: Nassau, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-3370


telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206


FAX: [1] (242) 356-0222
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 chief of mission: Ambassador Joshua SEARS


chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660


FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668


consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
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 none
Economic aid - recipient $9.8 million (1995) $200 million in December 2000 under the HIPC program
Economy - overview The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone accounts for more than 60% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs almost half of the archipelago's labor force. Steady growth in tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts, and residences have led to solid GDP growth in recent years. Manufacturing and agriculture together contribute approximately a tenth of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. Overall growth prospects in the short run rest heavily on the fortunes of the tourism sector, which depends on growth in the US, the source of the majority of tourist visitors. 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 1.432 billion kWh (2000) 15.8 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 1.54 billion kWh (2000) 17 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
fossil fuel:
41.18%

hydro:
58.82%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m
Environment - current issues coral reef decay; solid waste disposal deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected 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 black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3% 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 Bahamian dollars per US dollar - 1.000 (fixed rate pegged to the dollar) 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), represented by Governor General Ivy DUMONT (since NA May 2002)


head of government: Prime Minister Perry CHRISTIE (since 3 May 2002) and Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia PRATT (since 7 May 2002)


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
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 $535.8 million (2000) $3.2 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities fish and crawfish; rum, salt, chemicals; fruit and vegetables (1999) cocoa 90%, copra, coffee, palm oil
Exports - partners US 28.2%, France 16.5%, Germany 14.1%, UK 12.4% (2000) Netherlands 18%, Germany 9%, Portugal 9% (1998)
Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June calendar year
Flag description three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side 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 - $5 billion (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $178 million (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 3%


industry: 7%


services: 90% (1999 est.)
agriculture:
23%

industry:
19%

services:
58% (1997 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $16,800 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 3.5% (2001) 3% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 24 15 N, 76 00 W 1 00 N, 7 00 E
Geography - note strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited -
Heliports 1 (2002) -
Highways total: 2,693 km


paved: 1,546 km


unpaved: 1,147 km (1997)
total:
320 km

paved:
218 km

unpaved:
102 km (1996)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
Illicit drugs transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; offshore financial center -
Imports $1.88 billion (2000) $40 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineral fuels; food and live animals (1999) machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products
Imports - partners US 31.6%, South Korea 18.2%, Italy 17.4%, Japan 5.8% (2000) Portugal 42%, US 20%, South Africa 6% (1998)
Independence 10 July 1973 (from UK) 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Industrial production growth rate NA% NA%
Industries tourism, banking, cement, oil refining and transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe light construction, textiles, soap, beer; fish processing; timber
Infant mortality rate 17.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) 48.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1.5% (2001 est.) 5% (2000 est.)
International organization participation ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer) 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) 19 (2000) 2 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km 100 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; magistrates courts Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National Assembly)
Labor force 156,000 (1999) NA
Labor force - by occupation tourism 40%, other services 50%, industry 5%, agriculture 5% (1995 est.) population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing

note:
shortages of skilled workers
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 0.6%


permanent crops: 0.4%


other: 99% (1998 est.)
arable land:
2%

permanent crops:
36%

permanent pastures:
1%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
61% (1993 est.)
Languages English, Creole (among Haitian immigrants) Portuguese (official)
Legal system based on English common law based on Portuguese legal system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16-member body appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader for five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (40 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 1 May 2002 (next to be held by May 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 50.8%, FNM 41.1%, independents 5.2%; seats by party - PLP 29, FNM 7, independents 4
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: 69.87 years


male: 66.32 years


female: 73.49 years (2002 est.)
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: 98.2%


male: 98.5%


female: 98% (1995 est.)
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
73%

male:
85%

female:
62% (1991 est.)
Location Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Africa
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine total: 1,076 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 31,309,187 GRT/45,859,485 DWT


ships by type: bulk 159, cargo 246, chemical tanker 41, combination bulk 13, combination ore/oil 22, container 80, liquefied gas 28, livestock carrier 2, multi-functional large-load carrier 8, passenger 88, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 178, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 120, roll on/roll off 49, short-sea passenger 16, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 22


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Angola 1, Argentina 1, Australia 4, Belgium 18, Bermuda 1, Canada 5, Chile 1, China 3, Croatia 2, Cuba 3, Cyprus 2, Denmark 27, Ecuador 1, Estonia 2, Finland 9, France 15, Germany 26, Greece 173, Hong Kong 6, India 2, Indonesia 2, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Italy 9, Jamaica 1, Japan 32, Kenya 3, Malaysia 10, Malta 2, Monaco 67, Netherlands 32, New Zealand 2, Norway 237, Panama 2, Philippines 3, Poland 13, Reunion 1, Russia 6, Saudi Arabia 9, Singapore 13, Slovenia 1, South Korea 2, Spain 7, Sweden 12, Switzerland 8, Thailand 1, Trinidad and Tobago 2, Turkey 2, Ukraine 2, United Arab Emirates 10, United Kingdom 107, United States 159, Uruguay 1 (2002 est.)
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 branches Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only), Royal Bahamas Police Force Army, Navy, Security Police
Military expenditures - dollar figure $20 million (FY95/96) $1 million (FY94)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 0.7% (FY99) 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, 10 July (1973) Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Nationality noun: Bahamian(s)


adjective: Bahamian
noun:
Sao Tomean(s)

adjective:
Sao Tomean
Natural hazards hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage NA
Natural resources salt, aragonite, timber, arable land fish, hydropower
Net migration rate -2.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) -3.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders Free National Movement or FNM [Tommy TURNQUEST]; Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE] 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 NA
Population 300,529


note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2002 est.)
165,034 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 0.86% (2002 est.) 3.18% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Freeport, Matthew Town, Nassau Santo Antonio, Sao Tome
Radio broadcast stations AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 215,000 (1997) 38,000 (1997)
Railways 0 km 0 km
Religions Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2% Christian 80% (Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female


total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
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 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: modern facilities


domestic: totally automatic system; highly developed


international: tropospheric scatter and submarine cable to Florida; 3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (1997)
general assessment:
adequate facilities

domestic:
minimal system

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 96,000 (1997) 3,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 6,152 (1997) 6,942 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) 2 (1997)
Terrain long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills volcanic, mountainous
Total fertility rate 2.28 children born/woman (2002 est.) 6.02 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 6.9% (2001 est.) NA%
Waterways none none
Sitemap: Compare countries listing (map site) | Country listing (map site)
Links: Add to favorites | Information about this website | Stats | Polityka prywatnosci
This page was generated in ##czas## s. Size this page: ##rozmiar_strony## kB.