GeoRealityMatch
Empty urban square in São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Brazil, with trees and huts.A scenic tropical resort amidst palm trees in Morro de São Paulo, Bahia, Brazil.

São Tomé and Príncipe

Africa · Middle Africa

Medium development

Incomes are low.

Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$3,800national income per person, US dollarsLow
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 374% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 18% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$4.0K$8.0K$6,388 PPP$4,084Inflation, % a year40%0200620102015202020252006, $862 a person, $2,551 at PPP, inflation 23.1%2007, $879 a person, $2,650 at PPP, inflation 18.5%2008, $1,082 a person, $2,802 at PPP, inflation 32%2009, $1,128 a person, $2,846 at PPP, inflation 17%2010, $1,045 a person, $2,859 at PPP, inflation 13.3%2011, $1,220 a person, $2,914 at PPP, inflation 14.3%2012, $1,211 a person, $2,695 at PPP, inflation 10.6%2013, $1,383 a person, $2,946 at PPP, inflation 8.1%2014, $1,490 a person, $3,233 at PPP, inflation 7%2015, $1,298 a person, $3,172 at PPP, inflation 5.2%2016, $1,435 a person, $3,320 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2017, $1,556 a person, $3,436 at PPP, inflation 5.7%2018, $1,826 a person, $3,941 at PPP, inflation 7.9%2019, $1,935 a person, $4,655 at PPP, inflation 7.7%2020, $2,167 a person, $5,145 at PPP, inflation 9.8%2021, $2,363 a person, $5,733 at PPP, inflation 8.1%2022, $2,390 a person, $6,033 at PPP, inflation 18%2023, $2,991 a person, $6,155 at PPP, inflation 21.3%2024, $3,503 a person, $6,274 at PPP, inflation 14.4%2025, $4,084 a person, $6,388 at PPP, inflation 11%$0$4.0K$8.0KInflation, % a year40%0200620102015202020252006, $862 a person, $2,551 at PPP, inflation 23.1%2007, $879 a person, $2,650 at PPP, inflation 18.5%2008, $1,082 a person, $2,802 at PPP, inflation 32%2009, $1,128 a person, $2,846 at PPP, inflation 17%2010, $1,045 a person, $2,859 at PPP, inflation 13.3%2011, $1,220 a person, $2,914 at PPP, inflation 14.3%2012, $1,211 a person, $2,695 at PPP, inflation 10.6%2013, $1,383 a person, $2,946 at PPP, inflation 8.1%2014, $1,490 a person, $3,233 at PPP, inflation 7%2015, $1,298 a person, $3,172 at PPP, inflation 5.2%2016, $1,435 a person, $3,320 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2017, $1,556 a person, $3,436 at PPP, inflation 5.7%2018, $1,826 a person, $3,941 at PPP, inflation 7.9%2019, $1,935 a person, $4,655 at PPP, inflation 7.7%2020, $2,167 a person, $5,145 at PPP, inflation 9.8%2021, $2,363 a person, $5,733 at PPP, inflation 8.1%2022, $2,390 a person, $6,033 at PPP, inflation 18%2023, $2,991 a person, $6,155 at PPP, inflation 21.3%2024, $3,503 a person, $6,274 at PPP, inflation 14.4%2025, $4,084 a person, $6,388 at PPP, inflation 11%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Below-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
69.9years, at birthLow
#134 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
60WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100LowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
26.1PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageHighWHO · 2023
Work and internet
Unemployment rate
9.1%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
A scenic tropical resort amidst palm trees in Morro de São Paulo, Bahia, Brazil.
How it changed

São Tomé and Príncipe's Human Development Index

0.637Medium human development

141st of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 16th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #139Honduras0.645
  2. #140Kiribati0.644
  3. #141São Tomé and Príncipe0.637
  4. #142Timor-Leste0.634
  5. #143Ghana0.628
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 2005

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.535 in 2005 to 0.637 in 2023.

0.500.600.700.6372005201020232005: 0.5352006: 0.5462007: 0.5522008: 0.5572009: 0.5612010: 0.5642011: 0.5692012: 0.5742013: 0.5852014: 0.5962015: 0.6082016: 0.6132017: 0.6172018: 0.6212019: 0.6252020: 0.6282021: 0.6312022: 0.6362023: 0.6370.500.600.702005201020232005: 0.5352006: 0.5462007: 0.5522008: 0.5572009: 0.5612010: 0.5642011: 0.5692012: 0.5742013: 0.5852014: 0.5962015: 0.6082016: 0.6132017: 0.6172018: 0.6212019: 0.6252020: 0.6282021: 0.6312022: 0.6362023: 0.637

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 19 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
69.9 years2024at birthUp 7.5 years from 62.4 years in 2005
Internet users
59%2024of people onlineUp 45 points from 14% in 2006
Urban population
69%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 8 points from 61% in 2006
Births per woman
3.602024births per womanDown 1.34 from 4.94 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
43%2022of energy usedDown 6 points from 49% in 2004
Access to electricity
78%2024of people with electricityUp 22 points from 56% in 2005
Infant mortality
92024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 26 from 35 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.6 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.1 t from 0.6 t in 2005
Forest area
52%2023of land under forestDown 9 points from 61% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Tiny Gulf of Guinea island: safe and stable, with emerging eco-tourism and Portuguese culture. The case against is low incomes, short lives and patchy access to essential health services.

About São Tomé and Príncipe

São Tomé and Príncipe is a small island nation in the Gulf of Guinea off Central Africa, with a colonial Portuguese history, a lush tropical landscape, excellent cocoa plantations, and a peaceful Creole culture that combines African and European roots. The islands are off the map for most travellers, which preserves a quality of quiet and naturalness that is genuinely rare. Those who love cocoa, biodiversity, and real seclusion will find it magical.

Practical facts

  • CapitalSão Tomé
  • LanguagesPortuguese
  • CurrencySão Tomé and Príncipe dobra (STN)
  • Area960 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
Weigh São Tomé and Príncipe against your priorities
Every figure

Everything we hold on São Tomé and Príncipe

Quick answers

What is São Tomé and Príncipe's Human Development Index?

São Tomé and Príncipe's Human Development Index is 0.637 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #141 of 193 by UNDP.

What is life expectancy in São Tomé and Príncipe?

Life expectancy at birth in São Tomé and Príncipe is 69.9 yrs (World Bank), ranked #134 of 195 countries.