Main page Compare countries Index countries Index fields

Query:
##ciekawa_strona##

Compare Western Sahara (2004) - Sao Tome and Principe (2003)

Compare Western Sahara (2004) z Sao Tome and Principe (2003)

 Western Sahara (2004)Sao Tome and Principe (2003)
 Western SaharaSao Tome and Principe
Administrative divisions none (under de facto control of Morocco) 2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome


note: Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995
Age structure 0-14 years: NA


15-64 years: NA


65 years and over: NA
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 and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads) cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish
Airports 11 (2003 est.) 2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2004 est.)
total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 8


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)
-
Area total: 266,000 sq km


land: 266,000 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 1,001 sq km


land: 1,001 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative about the size of Colorado more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Background Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed. 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 NA births/1,000 population 41.87 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: NA


expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
revenues: $58 million


expenditures: $114 million, including capital expenditures of $54 million (1993 est.)
Capital none Sao Tome
Climate hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Coastline 1,110 km 209 km
Constitution - approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Western Sahara


former: Spanish Sahara
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 Moroccan dirham (MAD) dobra (STD)
Death rate NA deaths/1,000 population 7.11 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external NA $253.8 million (2000)
Diplomatic representation from the US none 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 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 Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, whose sovereignty remains unresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991 but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals none
Economic aid - recipient NA $200 million in December 2000 under the HIPC program
Economy - overview Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. Incomes and standards of living in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level. 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 83.7 million kWh (2001) 15.81 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 90 million kWh (2001) 17 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 41.2%


hydro: 58.8%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m


highest point: unnamed location 463 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m
Environment - current issues sparse water and lack of arable land deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion
Environment - international agreements party to: none of the selected agreements


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected 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 Arab, Berber 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 Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 9.574 (2003), 11.584 (2002), 11.303 (2001), 10.626 (2000), 9.804 (1999) dobras per US dollar - NA (2002), 8,842.11 (2001), 7,978.17 (2000), 7,118.96 (1999), 6,883.24 (1998)
Executive branch none 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) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities phosphates 62% cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil
Exports - partners Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts 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 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 - NA purchasing power parity - $200 million (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA


industry: NA


services: 40% (1996 est.)
agriculture: 25%


industry: 10%


services: 65% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - NA purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA 4% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 24 30 N, 13 00 W 1 00 N, 7 00 E
Geography - note the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas the smallest country in Africa; the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes and both are fairly mountainous
Highways total: 6,200 km


paved: 1,350 km


unpaved: 4,850 km (1991 est)
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 (2001)
Imports - commodities fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products
Imports - partners Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2000) Portugal 51.4%, Germany 10.1%, UK 7.6%, Belgium 6.3% (2002)
Independence - 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Industrial production growth rate NA NA%
Industries phosphate mining, handicrafts light construction, textiles, soap, beer; fish processing; timber
Infant mortality rate total: NA


male: NA


female: NA
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) NA 9% (2002 est.)
International organization participation none 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 NA sq km 100 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch - Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National Assembly)
Labor force 12,000 NA
Labor force - by occupation animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50% population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing


note: shortages of skilled workers
Land boundaries total: 2,046 km


border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
0 km
Land use arable land: 0.02%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 99.98% (2001)
arable land: 2%


permanent crops: 41%


other: 57% (1998 est.)
Languages Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic 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: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years
total population: 66.28 years


male: 64.79 years


female: 67.82 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 79.3%


male: 85%


female: 62% (1991 est.)
Location Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon
Map references Africa Africa
Maritime claims contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue 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 branches - Army, Navy, Security Police
Military expenditures - dollar figure NA $400,000 (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA 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: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)


adjective: Sahrawi,Sahrawian, Sahraouian
noun: Sao Tomean(s)


adjective: Sao Tomean
Natural hazards hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility NA
Natural resources phosphates, iron ore 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 none NA
Population 267,405 (July 2004 est.) 175,883 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA NA%
Population growth rate NA 3.18% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun) Santo Antonio, Sao Tome
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)
Railways - 0 km
Religions Muslim Christian 80% (Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist)
Sex ratio NA 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 none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: sparse and limited system


domestic: NA


international: country code - 212; tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco
general assessment: adequate facilities


domestic: minimal system


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use about 2,000 (1999 est.) 4,600 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular 0 (1999) 6,942 (1997)
Television broadcast stations NA 2 (2002)
Terrain mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast volcanic, mountainous
Total fertility rate NA children born/woman 5.88 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate NA NA%
Waterways - none
Sitemap: Compare countries listing (map site) | Country listing (map site)
Links: Add to favorites | Information about this website | Stats | Polityka prywatnosci
This page was generated in ##czas## s. Size this page: ##rozmiar_strony## kB.