World Factbook
São Tomé and Príncipe
Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double-width), and green with two five-pointed black stars in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the left side meaning: green stands for the country's rich vegetation, red for the struggle for independence, and yellow for cocoa, one of the country's main agricultural products; the two stars symbolize the main islands history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement
Capital
name
Sao Tome
etymology
named after Saint THOMAS the Apostle by the Portuguese, who discovered the island on 21 December 1470 (or 1471), the saint's feast day
time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
0 20 N, 6 44 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Sao Tome and Principe
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
approved 5 November 1975
amendment process
proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; the Assembly can propose to the president of the republic that an amendment be submitted to a referendum
Country name
etymology
Sao Tome was named after Saint THOMAS the Apostle by the Portuguese who discovered the island on 21 December 1470 (or 1471), the saint's feast day; Principe is a shortening of the original Portuguese name of "Ilha do Principe" (Isle of the Prince), referring to Prince ALPHONSO of Portugal
local long form
Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe
local short form
Sao Tome e Principe
conventional long form
Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
conventional short form
Sao Tome and Principe
Independence
12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Legal system
mixed system of civil law based on the Portuguese model and customary law
Government type
semi-presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal Justica (consists of 5 judges); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 5 judges, 3 of whom are from the Supreme Court)
subordinate courts
Court of First Instance; Audit Court
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges appointed by the National Assembly; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and elected by the National Assembly for 5-year terms
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president
chief of state
President Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA (since 2 October 2021)
election results
2021: Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA elected president in the second round; percent of vote in the first round - Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA (IDA) 39.5%; Guilherme POSSER DA COSTA (MLSTP-PSD) 20.8%; Delfim NEVES (PCD-GR) 16.9%; Abel BOM JESUS (independent) 3.6%; Maria DAS NEVES (independent) 3.3%; other 15.9%; percent of the vote in second round - Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA 57.5%, Guilherme POSSER DA COSTA 42.5% 2016: Evaristo CARVALHO elected president; percent of vote - Evaristo CARVALHO (ADI) 49.8%, Manuel Pinto DA COSTA (independent) 24.8%, Maria DAS NEVES (MLSTP-PSD) 24.1%
head of government
Prime Minister Américo d'Oliveira DOS RAMOS (since 12 January 2025)
most recent election date
18 July 2021, with a runoff on 5 September 2021
election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president
expected date of next election
2026
National holiday
Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
National color(s)
green, yellow, red, black
Political parties
BASTA Movement Independent Democratic Action or ADI Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD Movement of Independent Citizens of São Tomé and Príncipe - Socialist Party or MCI-PS National Unity Party or PUN
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
55 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
9/25/2022
expected date of next election
September 2026
percentage of women in chamber
14.5%
parties elected and seats per party
Independent Democratic Alliance (ADI) (30); Sao Tome and Principe Liberation Movement/Social Democratic Party (MLSTP - PSD) (18); Movement of Independent Citizens - Socialist Party (MCI - PS) - National Unity Party (PUN) (5); Other (2)
National anthem(s)
title
"Independencia total" (Total Independence)
history
adopted 1975
lyrics/music
Alda Neves DA GRACA do Espirito Santo/Manuel dos Santos Barreto de Sousa e ALMEIDA
National symbol(s)
palm tree
Administrative divisions
6 districts ( distritos , singular - distrito ), 1 autonomous region* ( regiao autonoma ); Agua Grande, Cantagalo, Caue, Lemba, Lobata, Me-Zochi, Principe*
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (212) 317-0580
chancery
122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604 New York, NY 101168
telephone
[1] (212) 317-0533
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant)
email address and website
stp1@attglobal.net Sao Tome and Principe Permanent Mission to the United Nations
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the US Ambassador to Angola is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe
mailing address
2290 Sao Tome Place, Washington DC 20521-2290
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CD, CEMAC, CPLP, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt