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Compare Paracel Islands (2003) - Sao Tome and Principe (2003)

Compare Paracel Islands (2003) z Sao Tome and Principe (2003)

 Paracel Islands (2003)Sao Tome and Principe (2003)
 Paracel IslandsSao Tome and Principe
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 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 - cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish
Airports 1 (2002) 2 (2002)
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 The Paracel Islands are 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 Taiwan and Vietnam. 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 - 41.87 births/1,000 population (2003 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 - 7.11 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external - $253.8 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 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 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 - 15.81 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production - 17 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 41.2%


hydro: 58.8%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
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 - NA (2002), 8,842.11 (2001), 7,978.17 (2000), 7,118.96 (1999), 6,883.24 (1998)
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 - NA (2001)
Exports - commodities - cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil
Exports - partners - 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 - 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 - $200 million (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector - agriculture: 25%


industry: 10%


services: 65% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate - 4% (2002 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 (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Imports - NA (2001)
Imports - commodities - machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products
Imports - partners - Portugal 51.4%, Germany 10.1%, UK 7.6%, Belgium 6.3% (2002)
Independence - 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Industrial production growth rate - NA%
Industries - light construction, textiles, soap, beer; fish processing; timber
Infant mortality rate - 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) - 9% (2002 est.)
International organization participation - 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) - 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 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: 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: 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: 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 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: 36,905 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 19,443 (2003 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 - -2.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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 2003 est.)
175,883 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line - NA%
Population growth rate - 3.18% (2003 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)
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 (2003 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)
Television broadcast stations - 2 (2002)
Terrain mostly low and flat volcanic, mountainous
Total fertility rate - 5.88 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate - NA%
Waterways none none
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