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

Paracel Islands (2002)

Sao Tome and Principe (2002)

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 41,159; female 40,125)

15-64 years: 48.3% (male 39,701; female 42,586)

65 years and over: 4% (male 3,115; female 3,686) (2002 est.)

Agriculture - products

-

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

Airports

1 (2001)

2 (2001)

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 (2002)

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

-

42.3 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Budget

-

revenues: $58 million

expenditures: $114 million, including capital expenditures of $54 million

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

-

7.32 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Debt - external

-

$253.8 million (2000) (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 400 Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022, telephone [1] (212) 317-0580

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 26 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 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 have 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 also optimistic that substantial 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.

Electricity - consumption

-

15.81 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports

-

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports

-

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - production

-

17 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source

-

fossil fuel: 41%

hydro: 59%

nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2000)

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, 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 - 9,009.1 (December 2001), 8,842.1 (2001), 7,978.2 (2000), 7,119.0 (1999), 6,883.2 (1998), 4,552.5 (1997)

Executive branch

-

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

-

$4.1 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

-

cocoa 90%, copra, coffee, palm oil

Exports - partners

-

Portugal 33.3%, Netherlands 8.3%, Spain 8.3% (1999)

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 - $189 million (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

-

agriculture: 25%

industry: 10%

services: 65% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

-

purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-

4% (2001 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

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 (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 43%, France 15.7%, UK 13.7% (1999)

Independence

-

12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Industrial production growth rate

-

NA%

Industries

-

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

Infant mortality rate

-

47.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-

7% (2001 est.)

International organization participation

-

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, 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

0 sq km (1998 est.)

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

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0%

permanent crops: 0%

other: 100% (1998 est.)

arable land: 2%

permanent crops: 41%

other: 57% (1998 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 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: 65.93 years

male: 64.47 years

female: 67.45 years (2002 est.)

Literacy

-

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 79.3%

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: 41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 169,991 GRT/245,996 DWT

ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 23, chemical tanker 1, container 3, livestock carrier 1, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 1

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

occupied by China

-

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: 35,524 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

-

males age 15-49: 18,727 (2002 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

-

-3.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 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: there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2002 est.)

170,372 (July 2002 est.)

Population below poverty line

-

NA%

Population growth rate

-

3.18% (2002 est.)

Ports and harbors

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

Santo Antonio, Sao Tome

Radio broadcast stations

-

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)

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: 0.85 male(s)/female

total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2002 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)