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Compare British Virgin Islands (2001) - Sao Tome and Principe (2003)
Compare British Virgin Islands (2001) z Sao Tome and Principe (2003)
| British Virgin Islands (2001) | Sao Tome and Principe (2003) | |
 |  | |
| Administrative divisions | none (overseas territory of the UK) | 2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome
note: Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995 |
| Age structure | 0-14 years:
22.77% (male 2,399; female 2,339) 15-64 years: 72.31% (male 7,741; female 7,309) 65 years and over: 4.92% (male 555; female 469) (2001 est.) |
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 | fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish | cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish |
| Airports | 3 (2000 est.) | 2 (2002) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total:
2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways | total:
1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
- |
| Area | total:
150 sq km land: 150 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the island of Anegada |
total: 1,001 sq km
land: 1,001 sq km water: 0 sq km |
| Area - comparative | about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC | more than five times the size of Washington, DC |
| Background | First settled by the Dutch in 1648, the islands were soon after (1672) annexed by the English. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency. | 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 | 15.18 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) | 41.87 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
| Budget | revenues:
$121.5 million expenditures: $115.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997) |
revenues: $58 million
expenditures: $114 million, including capital expenditures of $54 million (1993 est.) |
| Capital | Road Town | Sao Tome |
| Climate | subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds | tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May) |
| Coastline | 80 km | 209 km |
| Constitution | 1 June 1977 | approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990 |
| Country name | conventional long form:
none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands abbreviation: BVI |
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 | US dollar (USD) | dobra (STD) |
| Death rate | 4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) | 7.11 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
| Debt - external | $36.1 million (1997) | $253.8 million (2000) |
| Dependency status | overseas territory of the UK | - |
| 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 | none |
| Economic aid - recipient | $2.6 million (1995) | $200 million in December 2000 under the HIPC program |
| Economy - overview | The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the national income. An estimated 350,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 1997. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. An estimated 250,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 1997. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the dollar as its currency since 1959. | 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 | 39.1 million kWh (1999) | 15.81 million kWh (2001) |
| Electricity - exports | 0 kWh (1999) | 0 kWh (2001) |
| Electricity - imports | 0 kWh (1999) | 0 kWh (2001) |
| Electricity - production | 42 million kWh (1999) | 17 million kWh (2001) |
| Electricity - production by source | fossil fuel:
100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999) |
fossil fuel: 41.2%
hydro: 58.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001) |
| Elevation extremes | lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Sage 521 m |
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m |
| Environment - current issues | limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchment) | 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 | black 90%, white, Asian | 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 | the US dollar is used | 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), represented by Governor Francis J. SAVAGE (since NA) head of government: Chief Minister Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 15 May 1995) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the Legislative Council elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council |
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 | $6.2 million (2000 est.) | NA (2001) |
| Exports - commodities | rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand | cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil |
| Exports - partners | Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US | 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 | 1 April - 31 March | calendar year |
| Flag description | blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful) | 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 - $311 million (2000 est.) | purchasing power parity - $200 million (2002 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture:
1.8% industry: 6.2% services: 92% (1996 est.) |
agriculture: 25%
industry: 10% services: 65% (1999 est.) |
| GDP - per capita | purchasing power parity - $16,000 (2000 est.) | purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2002 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate | 6% (2000 est.) | 4% (2002 est.) |
| Geographic coordinates | 18 30 N, 64 30 W | 1 00 N, 7 00 E |
| Geography - note | strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico | the smallest country in Africa; the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes and both are fairly mountainous |
| Highways | total:
132 km paved: 132 km unpaved: 0 km (1997) |
total: 320 km
paved: 218 km unpaved: 102 km (1999 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%:
NA% highest 10%: NA% |
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Illicit drugs | transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe | - |
| Imports | $220 million (2000 est.) | NA (2001) |
| Imports - commodities | building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery | machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products |
| Imports - partners | Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US | Portugal 51.4%, Germany 10.1%, UK 7.6%, Belgium 6.3% (2002) |
| Independence | none (overseas territory of the UK) | 12 July 1975 (from Portugal) |
| Industrial production growth rate | 4% (1985) | NA% |
| Industries | tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center | light construction, textiles, soap, beer; fish processing; timber |
| Infant mortality rate | 20.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) | 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) | 2% (2000) | 9% (2002 est.) |
| International organization participation | Caricom (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate) | 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) | 16 (2000) | 1 (2002) |
| Irrigated land | NA sq km | 100 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Judicial branch | Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction | Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National Assembly) |
| Labor force | 4,911 (1980) | NA |
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% | population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing
note: shortages of skilled workers |
| Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
| Land use | arable land:
20% permanent crops: 7% permanent pastures: 33% forests and woodland: 7% other: 33% (1993 est.) |
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 41% other: 57% (1998 est.) |
| Languages | English (official) | Portuguese (official) |
| Legal system | English law | based on Portuguese legal system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Legislative branch | unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, one member from each of 9 electoral districts, four at-large members; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 17 May 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - VIP 7, CCM 1, NDP 5 |
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:
75.64 years male: 74.74 years female: 76.59 years (2001 est.) |
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: 97.8% (1991 est.) male: NA% female: NA% |
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.3% male: 85% female: 62% (1991 est.) |
| Location | Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico | 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 fishing zone:
200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM |
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Merchant marine | total:
1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 70,285 GRT/6,946 DWT ships by type: passenger 1 (2000 est.) |
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 | defense is the responsibility of the UK | - |
| 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 | Territory Day, 1 July | Independence Day, 12 July (1975) |
| Nationality | noun:
British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander |
noun: Sao Tomean(s)
adjective: Sao Tomean |
| Natural hazards | hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October) | NA |
| Natural resources | NEGL | fish, hydropower |
| Net migration rate | 11.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) | -2.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
| Political parties and leaders | Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [Gregory MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL] | 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 | NA |
| Population | 20,812 (July 2001 est.) | 175,883 (July 2003 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | NA% | NA% |
| Population growth rate | 2.22% (2001 est.) | 3.18% (2003 est.) |
| Ports and harbors | Road Town | Santo Antonio, Sao Tome |
| Radio broadcast stations | AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998) | AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002) |
| Radios | 9,000 (1997) | - |
| Railways | 0 km | 0 km |
| Religions | Protestant 86% (Methodist 45%, Anglican 21%, Church of God 7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 2%), Roman Catholic 6%, none 2%, other 6% (1981) | Christian 80% (Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist) |
| Sex ratio | at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.18 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2001 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: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal |
| Telephone system | general assessment:
worldwide telephone service domestic: NA international: submarine cable to Bermuda |
general assessment: adequate facilities
domestic: minimal system international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
| Telephones - main lines in use | 10,000 (1996) | 4,600 (2000) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | NA | 6,942 (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations | 1 (plus one cable company) (1997) | 2 (2002) |
| Terrain | coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly | volcanic, mountainous |
| Total fertility rate | 1.72 children born/woman (2001 est.) | 5.88 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
| Unemployment rate | 3% (1995) | NA% |
| Waterways | none | none |
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