São Tomé and Príncipe

In brief

São Tomé and Príncipe is a country in Central Africa. Its capital is São Tomé. With 240,254 inhabitants in 2025, it ranks 175th in the world by population, out of the 195 countries recognised by the UN. Its area is 964 km². An island nation, São Tomé and Príncipe has no land border.

GDP per capita stands at $4,084 (2025), 129th in the world. Life expectancy at birth is 69.9 years (2024). 69% of the population lives in cities.

History of São Tomé and Príncipe

Uninhabited when the Portuguese arrived around 1470, the islands became sugar colonies worked by slaves in the 16th century and, in the early 20th century, one of the world’s leading cocoa producers, thanks to forced labour. The Batepá massacre of 1953 left a lasting mark. The country has been independent since 12 July 1975 and adopted multi-party politics in 1990.

Geography of São Tomé and Príncipe

Two volcanic islands in the Gulf of Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, covered in rainforest. The equator crosses the islet of Rolas, south of São Tomé. Pico Cão Grande, a needle of lava rising above the forest, is one of its most famous landscapes.

Map of São Tomé and Príncipe

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Flag of São Tomé and Príncipe

The flag of São Tomé and Príncipe is red, green and yellow. Its official proportions are 1:2 (height to width).

• Green53%
• Yellow32%
• Red12%
• Black2%

Share of the flag’s surface taken by each colour.

What the flag stands for

Green, yellow and green, with a red triangle and two black stars, one for each island. Green evokes the vegetation, yellow the sun and cocoa, red the struggle for independence.

Sources: Wikipedia, articles “São Tomé and Príncipe” and “Flag of São Tomé and Príncipe”.

See also: flags with a star.

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Economy and society