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Background: 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. The first free elections were held in 1991.
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Common Name: Sao Tome Principe
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Local Official Name: Sao Tome e Principe
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Abbreviated Name: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
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Official Name: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe
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Official Script Name: Sao Tome And Principe
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Local Common Name: Sao Tome Principe
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Former Name: Sao Tome And Principe
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Territory of: NA
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Head of State: President Fradique DE MENEZES
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Government Type: republic
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Independence: 1975 July 12 (from Portugal)
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Constitution: approved 1990 March; effective 1990 September 10
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National Holiday: Independence Day, 12 July
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International Organization Participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, 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
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Administrative Divisions: 2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome
note: Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995
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Dependent Areas: NA
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Legal System: based on Portuguese legal system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage: 18 years of age years
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Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches: Executive Branch:
chief of state: President Fradique DE MENEZES (since 3 September 2001)
election results: Fradique DE MENEZES elected president in Sao Tome's third multiparty presidential election; percent of vote - NA%
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
head of government: Prime Minister Gabriel Arcanjo Ferreira DA COSTA (since 8 April 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister
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
Judicial Branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National Assembly)
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Party 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
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International Disputes: NA
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Illicit Drugs: NA
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Location of Sao Tome Principe: Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon
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Continent: Africa
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Land Area Total: 1,001 sq km
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Region: Western African |
Land Area Land: 1,001 sq km
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Capitol City: Sao Tome
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Land Area Water: 0 sq km
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Current:
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Latitude: 001 00 N
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Border Boundary Land: 0 km
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Longitude: 007 00 E
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Border Boundary Coastline: 209 km
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Arable Land: 2.00 %
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Pastures: 0.00 %
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Crops: 41.00 %
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Woodlands and Forests: 0.00
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Highest Elevation: 2,024 m
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Location: Pico de Sao Tome
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Lowest Elevation: 0 m
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Location: Atlantic Ocean
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Largest City in Sao Tome Principe: Sao Tome
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Sao Tome Largest City Population: 66,000
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Threatened Species: 0
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Environmental Issues: deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion
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Environmental 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
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Irrigated Land: 100
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Bordering Countries: NA
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Natural Resources: fish, hydropower
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Geographical Terrain: volcanic, mountainous
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Comparative Area of Sao Tome Principe: more than five times the size of Washington, DC
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Sao Tome Principe's Geography: the smallest country in Africa; the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes and both are fairly mountainous
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Click Here for detailed information about the weather conditions in Sao Tome Principe.
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General Climate: tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
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Natural Hazards: NA
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Economic Overview: This small poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence 26 years ago. However, cocoa production has substantially declined because of drought and mismanagement. The resulting shortage of cocoa for export has created a persistent balance-of-payments problem. 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 have 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 also optimistic that substantial petroleum discoveries are forthcoming in its territorial waters in the oil-rich waters of the Gulf of Guinea. Corruption scandals continue to weaken the economy.
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GDP: $189,000,000 USD
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Currency: dobra
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GDP per Capita: $1,200 USD
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Currency Code: STD
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GDP Growth Rate: 4.00 %
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One $USD Equals: %fincurrencyequals% STD
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Currency Exchange Rate History: dobras per US dollar - 9,009.1 (December 2001), 8,842.1 (2001), 7,978.2 (2000), 7,119.0 (1999), 6,883.2 (1998), 4,552.5 (1997)
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GDP of Agriculture: 25.00 %
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GDP of Industry: 10.00 %
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GDP of Services: 65.00 % |
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Inflation Rate: 7.00 % |
Population in Poverty: 0.00 %
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Unemployment Rate: 0.00 %
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Tourism: 5,000.00 visitors each year
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Consumption by lowest 10%: 0.00 %
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Budget Revenue in USD: $58,000,000 USD
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Consumption by upper 10%: 0.00 %
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Budget Expenditures in USD: $114,000,000 USD
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Electricity Production: 17,000,000 kWh
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Electricity Exports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Consumption: 15,810,000 kWh
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Electricity Imports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Production by Source:
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Fossil Fuel Electricity Production: 41.18%
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Nuclear Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Hydro Electricity Production: 58.82%
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Other Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Oil Production: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Production: 0 cu m
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Oil Consumption: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Consumption: 0 cu m
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Oil Exports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Exports: 0 cu m
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Oil Imports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Imports: 0 cu m
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Proven Oil Reserves: 0 barrels
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Proven Natural Gas Reserves: 0 cu m
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External Debt: $253,800,000 USD |
Received in economic aid: $200,000,000 USD
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Donated in economic aid: $0 USD
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Agricultural Products: cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish
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Primary Industries: light construction, textiles, soap, beer; fish processing; timber
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Industrial Growth Rate: 0.00 %
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Import Amount in USD: $40,000,000 USD - machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products
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Import Partners: Portugal 43%, France 15.7%, UK 13.7%
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Export Amount in USD: $4,100,000 USD - cocoa 90%, copra, coffee, palm oil
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Export Partners: Portugal 33.3%, Netherlands 8.3%, Spain 8.3%
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GINI Index: 0.00%
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Labor Force Number of People: 0
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Labor Force by Occupations: population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing
note: shortages of skilled workers
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Radio Broadcast Stations: 6 |
Number of People with Radios: 38,000 |
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Television Broadcast Stations: 2 |
Number of People with Televisions: 23,000 |
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Number of People with Mainline Telephones: 3,000 |
Number of People with Mobile Phones: 6,942 |
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Internet Service Providers: 2 |
Internet Users: 6,500 |
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Internet Country Code: .st |
Newspapers: 0 |
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Two Letter Country Code: ST |
Weights and Measures: |
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Phone Country Code: +239 |
Electricity Voltage: Volts |
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Telephone Systems: general assessment: adequate facilities
domestic: minimal system
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
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Highways: 218 km |
Railways: 0 km
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Gas And Oil Pipelines: 0 km |
Waterways: 0 km
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Airports: 2 |
Heliports: 0
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Motor Vehicles: 0 per 1,000 people |
CO2 Emissions: 0 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Per capita CO2 emissions: 0.00 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Merchant Marines: total: 41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 169,991 GRT/245,996 DWT
ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 23, chemical tanker 1, container 3, livestock carrier 1, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 1
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
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Ports and Harbors: Santo Antonio, Sao Tome
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Population: 170,372 people type - nationality |
Birth Rate: 42.30 births per 1,000 people |
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Population Density: 149.00 people per sq km |
Death Rate: 7.32 deaths per 1,000 people |
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Population Growth: 3.18% per year |
Fertility Rate per Women: 5.95 babies born per woman |
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Population Male 0-14: 41,159 |
Population Female 0-14: 40,125 |
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Population Male 15-64: 39,701 |
Population Female 15-64: 42,586 |
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Population Male 65+: 3,115 |
Population Female 65+: 3,686 |
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Population 0-14: 47.70% |
Literacy Rate: 79.30% |
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Population 15-64: 48.30% |
Literacy rate of Males: 85.00% |
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Population 65+: 4.00% |
Literacy rate of Females: 62.00% |
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Population that is Male: 48.50
% |
Population that is Female: 51.50% |
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Life expectancy at birth in years: 65.93 years |
Infant mortality rate - baby deaths per 1000 births: 47.50 Babies die per 1,000 births |
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Life expectancy at birth for Males: 64.47 years |
Life expectancy at birth for Females: 67.45 years |
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Rate of AIDS/HIV infection: 0.00%
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Number of people living with AIDS or HIV: 0
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Number of people who died of AIDS: 0 |
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Disease Risk:
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Diseases:
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Net Migration Rate per 1,000 people: -3.15
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Nationality: SAO TOMEAN
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Ethnic Groups: 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)
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Primary Language: Portuguese
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Other Languages: Portuguese (official)
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Primary Religion: Christian
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Other Religions: Christian 80% (Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist)
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Branches: Army, Navy, Security Police
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Manpower Fit to Serve: NA years
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Manpower Available: 35,524 People
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Manpower Fit to Serve: 18,727 People
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Amount of Manpower Available each Year: 0 People per year
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Expenditures: $400,000 USD per year
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Expenditures as a Percentage of GDP: 0.80
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Note: Phrasebase uses a variety of sources when compiling the facts and information presented above. This information is continually updated throughout the year.
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Sao Tome Principe Spa and Resort Directory
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