Compare Paracel Islands (2002) - Sao Tome and Principe (2001)

Paracel Islands (2002)

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

1 (2001)

2 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

total:
2

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

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

Area

total: NA sq km

land: NA sq km

water: 0 sq km

total:
1,001 sq km

land:
1,001 sq km

water:
0 sq km

Area - comparative

NA

more than five times the size of Washington, DC

Background

This archipelago is surrounded by productive fishing grounds and by potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932, French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island; maintenance was continued by its successor, Vietnam. China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. The islands are claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.

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

-

Sao Tome

Climate

tropical

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

Coastline

518 km

209 km

Constitution

-

approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990

Country name

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Paracel Islands

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)

Diplomatic representation from the US

-

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

-

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

occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam

none

Economic aid - recipient

-

$200 million in December 2000 under the HIPC program

Economy - overview

China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.

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: South China Sea 0 m

highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 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, 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:
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

-

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

16 30 N, 112 00 E

1 00 N, 7 00 E

Geography - note

composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group

-

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

0 sq km (1998 est.)

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

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0%

permanent crops: 0%

other: 100% (1998 est.)

arable land:
2%

permanent crops:
36%

permanent pastures:
1%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
61% (1993 est.)

Languages

-

Portuguese (official)

Legal system

-

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

Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines

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

Map references

Southeast Asia

Africa

Maritime claims

NA

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

occupied by China

-

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

typhoons

NA

Natural resources

none

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: there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2002 est.)

165,034 (July 2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

-

NA%

Population growth rate

-

3.18% (2001 est.)

Ports and harbors

small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded

Santo Antonio, Sao Tome

Radio broadcast stations

-

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)