Sao Tome & Principe
Co-operation relations between Portugal and Sao Tome & Principe
General information
Official name: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome & Principe
Capital: São Tomé.
President: Carlos Vila Nova
Prime-Minister: Jorge Lopes Bom Jesus (since December 2018)
Independence Day: 12 July 1975
Districts: The São Tomé island is comprised of 6 districts: Água Grande, Cantagalo, Caué, Lembá, Lobata and Mé-Zóchi; the Autonomous
Príncipe Region contains the district of Pagué
Languages: Portuguese (official) and local languages (Forro, Angolar and Lunguye)
Religion: Catholic (82%)
Geography
Geographical Area: 1001 km2 (Gulf of Guinea, West Africa)
Climate: Equatorial
Demography
Area: 997 k2 (2020, Banco de Portugal)
Population: 219 mil hab. (2020, Banco de Portugal)
Average rate of population growth: 1.66% (2018, CIA, Word Factbook, est)
Life expectancy at birth: 70.2 years (2018, UNDP)
Birth rate: 31.5 per 1,000 inhabitants. (estimated in 2018)
Death rate: 6.7 per 1,000 inhabitants (estimated in 2018)
Literacy rate (adults, 15 and over): 69,5 % (2013, UNDP)
Primary education enrolment rate: 84.9% (2018, IDH-PNUD)
Human development index: 138 position (2018, UNDP)
Economic data
Currency: Dobra (1€= 24 500 STD) paridade fixa desde 1 janeiro 2010.
GNP per Capita: 1 569 USD (2017, AICEP)
Inflation rate: 5.2% (2017, AICEP)
Unemployment rate: 13,0% (2013, INESTP)
Growth rate: 4,0% (2017, AICEP)
Main exports: Cocoa, machinery and equipment, fruit and spices (2017, AICEP)
Exports - Portugal: 81.3 million € (2017, AICEP)
Imports - Portugal: 23.5 million € (2017, AICEP)
Direct Portuguese investment: 2.5 million euro (2017, AICEP)
Other information
Portuguese Embassy in Sao Tome
Ambassador: Rui Carmo
Address: Avenida Marginal 12 de julho
Caixa Postal 173, S. Tomé
Tel.: (+239) 222 11 30 / 222 49 97
Fax: (+258) 222 11 90
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Attaché/Co-operation contact: Paula Pereira
Tel. (+239) 222 497 4
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tomé & Principe in Lisbon
Ambassador: António Quinas do Espírito Santo
Address: Avenida 5 de Outubro, nº 35, 4º Andar
1050-047 Lisboa
Tel.: (+351) 21 846 19 17/8
Fax: (+351) 21 846 18 95
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Current situation
General framework
Strategic Co-operation Programme
Strategic Co-operation Programme (SCP) 2016-2020. Signed by both countries on the 7th of September with a financial envelope of 57.5M€, this new programme involves a greater concentration of funds in the areas of education, health and social protection, extending to military training, police co-operation and justice.
Strategic Co-operation Programme 2016-2020
Indicative Co-operation Programme
Indicative Co-operation Programme Portugal - Sao Tome & Principe 2012-2015
Indicative Co-operation Programme 2012-2015. This programme covers a period of four years (2012--2015). It was signed in Lisbon on the 27th of November 2013 by the Portuguese Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Rui Machete and by the Sao Tome & Principe Minister of Foreign Affairs, Co-operation and Communities. With a financial envelope of €43.5m, this programme is primarily focused on co-operation for good governance, participation and democracy, sustainable development and the fight against poverty.
Indicative Co-operation Programme Portugal - Sao Tome & Principe 2008-2011
Co-operation in Numbers
Portuguese Official Development Assistance to S. Tome & Principe
Fluctuations in Portuguese ODA to Sao Tome and Principe are mostly due to the use of credit lines/concessional loans for electrical and road infrastructure. In 2021, there is a slight increase in part as result of the donation of vaccines and other support in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
The group "Other Social Infrastructure and Services" centralizes the largest share of aid (79%) through projects in the areas of "Education", "Water and Sanitation", and "Health", mainly through the evacuation of patients for treatment in Portugal and assistance regarding the combat the pandemic COVID-19.
Projects