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Compare Faroe Islands (2004) - Sao Tome and Principe (2005)

Compare Faroe Islands (2004) z Sao Tome and Principe (2005)

 Faroe Islands (2004)Sao Tome and Principe (2005)
 Faroe IslandsSao Tome and Principe
Administrative divisions none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 49 municipalities 2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome


note: Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995
Age structure 0-14 years: 21.6% (male 5,056; female 5,041)


15-64 years: 64.6% (male 15,975; female 14,187)


65 years and over: 13.7% (male 2,877; female 3,526) (2004 est.)
0-14 years: 47.6% (male 45,145/female 44,007)


15-64 years: 48.6% (male 43,996/female 47,011)


65 years and over: 3.9% (male 3,333/female 3,918) (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish
Airports 1 (2003 est.) 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Area total: 1,399 sq km


land: 1,399 sq km


water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
total: 1,001 sq km


land: 1,001 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative eight times the size of Washington, DC more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Background The population of the Faroe Islands is largely descended from Viking settlers who arrived in the 9th century. The islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century. A high degree of self-government was attained in 1948. 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 13.89 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 40.8 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget revenues: $488 million


expenditures: $484 million, including capital expenditures of $21 million (1999)
revenues: $27.94 million


expenditures: $43.91 million, including capital expenditures of $54 million (2004 est.)
Capital Torshavn Sao Tome
Climate mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Coastline 1,117 km 209 km
Constitution 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution) approved March 1990, effective 10 September 1990
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Faroe Islands


local long form: none


local short form: Foroyar
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 Danish krone (DKK) -
Death rate 8.68 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 6.68 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external $64 million (1999) $318 million (2002)
Dependency status part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948 -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) 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 (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) 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 Faroese are considering proposals for full independence; Denmark dispute with Iceland over the Faroe Islands fisheries median line boundary of 200 nm; Denmark disputes with Iceland, the UK, and Ireland the Faroe Islands claim extending its continental shelf boundary beyond 200 nm none
Economic aid - recipient $135 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (1998) $200 million in December 2000 under the HIPC program
Economy - overview The Faroese economy has had a strong performance since 1994, mostly as a result of increasing fish landings and high and stable export prices. Unemployment is falling and there are signs of labor shortages in several sectors. The positive economic development has helped the Faroese Home Rule Government produce increasing budget surpluses, which in turn help to reduce the large public debt, most of it owed to Denmark. However, the total dependence on fishing makes the Faroese economy extremely vulnerable, and the present fishing efforts appear in excess of what is a sustainable level of fishing in the long term. Oil finds close to the Faroese area give hope for deposits in the immediate Faroese area, which may eventually lay the basis for a more diversified economy and thus lessen dependence on Danish economic assistance. Aided by a substantial annual subsidy (15% of GDP) from Denmark, the Faroese have a standard of living not far below the Danes and other Scandinavians. This small poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence in 1975. Cocoa production has substantially declined in recent years because of drought and mismanagement, but strengthening prices helped boost export earnings in 2003. Sao Tome has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a substantial amount of food. Over the years, it has had difficulty servicing its external debt and has relied heavily 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, but lacking a formal poverty reduction program with the IMF, it has not benefited from subsequent HIPC debt reductions. Sao Tome's external debt stands at over $300 million. 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 about the development of petroleum resources in its territorial waters in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea. The first production license was sold to a consortium led by US-based oil firms. Much of the 2005 budget is dependent upon the sale of additional production licenses.
Electricity - consumption 149.1 million kWh (2001) 15.81 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - production 160.4 million kWh (2001) 17 million kWh (2002)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m
Environment - current issues NA 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 Scandinavian 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 Danish kroner per US dollar - 6.5877 (2003), 7.89 (2002), 8.323 (2001), 8.083 (2000), 6.976 (1999) dobras per US dollar - 9,900.4 (2004), 9,347.6 (2003), 9,088.3 (2002), 8,842.1 (2001), 7,978.2 (2000)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Birgit KLEIS, chief administrative officer (since 1 November 2001)


head of government: Prime Minister Joannes EIDESGAARD (since 3 February 2004)


cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister


elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held 20 January 2004 (next to be held no later than January 2008)


election results: Joannes EIDESGAARD elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - NA%


note: coalition of Social Democrats, Union Party, and People's Party
chief of state: President Fradique DE MENEZES (since 3 September 2001)


head of government: Prime Minister Maria do Carmo SILVEIRA (since 7 June 2005); Damiao Vaz DE ALMEIDA resigned 2 June 2005


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 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) NA
Exports - commodities fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999) cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil
Exports - partners Denmark 36.7%, UK 32.1%, Netherlands 6.1%, Nigeria 5.6%, Norway 5.4% (2003) Netherlands 35.9%, China 12.3%, Belgium 7.4%, Germany 6.3%, Poland 5.1%, France 4.8%, Thailand 4.1% (2004)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted toward the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) 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 - $1 billion (2001 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 27%


industry: 11%


services: 62% (1999)
agriculture: 16.5%


industry: 15.4%


services: 68.1% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $22,000 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 10% (2001 est.) 6% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates 62 00 N, 7 00 W 1 00 N, 7 00 E
Geography - note archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands the smallest country in Africa; the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes and both are fairly mountainous
Highways total: 463 km


paved: 454 km


unpaved: 9 km (1999)
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
Imports NA (2001) NA
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment 29%, consumer goods 36%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 32%, fuels, fish and salt (1999) machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products
Imports - partners Denmark 52.7%, Norway 22.5%, Iceland 4.7%, Germany 4.2%, UK 4% (2003) Portugal 52.3%, Germany 9.5%, US 6%, Netherlands 4.8%, South Africa 4.3%, Belgium 4.1% (2004)
Independence none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Industrial production growth rate 8% (1999 est.) NA
Industries fishing, fish processing, shipbuilding, construction, handicrafts light construction, textiles, soap, beer; fish processing; timber
Infant mortality rate total: 6.38 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 7.72 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 5.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
total: 43.11 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 45.06 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 41.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 5.1% (1999) 14% (2004 est.)
International organization participation IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UPU ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
Irrigated land 0 sq km (1998 est.) 100 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch none Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National Assembly)
Labor force 24,250 (October 2000) NA
Labor force - by occupation fishing, fish processing, and manufacturing 33%, construction and private services 33%, public services 34% population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing


note: shortages of skilled workers
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 2.14%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 97.86% (2001)
arable land: 6.25%


permanent crops: 48.96%


other: 44.79% (2001)
Languages Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish Portuguese (official)
Legal system Danish based on Portuguese legal system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (32 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 20 January 2004 (next to be held no later than January 2008)


election results: percent of vote by party - Union Party 23.7%, Social Democrats 21.8%, Republican Party 21.7%, People's Party 20.6%, Center Party 5.2%, Independence Party 4.6%; seats by party - Union Party 7, Social Democrats 7, Republican Party 8, People's Party 7, Center Party 2, Independence Party 1


note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 20 November 2001 (next to be held 8 February 2005); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 1, Union Party 1
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 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: 79.05 years


male: 75.6 years


female: 82.51 years (2004 est.)
total population: 66.99 years


male: 65.43 years


female: 68.59 years (2005 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA


note: probably the same as Denmark proper
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 79.3%


male: 85%


female: 62% (1991 est.)
Location Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon
Map references Europe Africa
Maritime claims territorial sea: 3 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines


territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 24,051 GRT/11,998 DWT


by type: cargo 3, container 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea/passenger 1


foreign-owned: Denmark 2, Norway 1, United Kingdom 1


registered in other countries: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 79,490 GRT/97,077 DWT


by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 11, chemical tanker 2


foreign-owned: 2 (Egypt 1, Greece 1) (2005)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of Denmark Sao Tome and Principe's army is a tiny force with almost no resouces at its disposal and would be wholly ineffective operating unilaterally; infantry equipment is considered simple to operate and maintain but may require refurbishment or replacement after 25 years in tropical climates; poor pay and conditions have been a problem in the past, as has alleged nepotism in the promotion of officers, as reflected in the 1995 and 2003 coups; these issues are being addressed with foreign assistance as intial steps towards the improvement of the army and its focus on realistic security concerns; command is excersized from the president, through the Minister of Defense, to the Chief of the Armed Forces staff (2005)
Military branches no regular military forces Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (FASTP): Army, Coast Guard, Presidential Guard (2004)
Military expenditures - dollar figure NA $700,000 (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA 0.8% (2004)
National holiday Olaifest, 29 July Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Nationality noun: Faroese (singular and plural)


adjective: Faroese
noun: Sao Tomean(s)


adjective: Sao Tomean
Natural hazards NA NA
Natural resources fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas fish, hydropower
Net migration rate 1.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) -2.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Political parties and leaders Center Party [Jenis A. RANA]; Independence Party [Helena Dam a NEYSTABO]; People's Party [Anfinn KALLSBERG]; Republican Party [Hogni HOYDAL]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Union Party [Lisbeth PETERSEN] 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 46,662 (July 2004 est.) 187,410 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line NA 54% (2004 est.)
Population growth rate 0.66% (2004 est.) 3.16% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors Torshavn, Klaksvik, Tvoroyri, Runavik, Fuglafjordhur Sao Tome
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)
Religions Evangelical Lutheran Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%, other 3.1%, none 19.4% (2001 census)
Sex ratio at birth: 1 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female


total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female


total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: good international communications; good domestic facilities


domestic: digitalization was completed in 1998; both NMT (analog) and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed


international: country code - 298; satellite earth stations - 1 Orion; 1 fiber-optic submarine cable to the Shetland Islands, linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland; fiber-optic submarine cable connection to Canada-Europe cable
general assessment: adequate facilities


domestic: minimal system


international: country code - 239; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 23,000 (2002) 7,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular 30,700 (2002) 4,800 (2003)
Television broadcast stations 3 (plus 43 low-power repeaters) (September 1995) 2 (2002)
Terrain rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast volcanic, mountainous
Total fertility rate 2.22 children born/woman (2004 est.) 5.71 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate 1% (October 2000) NA
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