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.

While independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s.

Although the first free elections were held in 1991, the political environment has been one of continued instability with frequent changes in leadership and coup attempts in 1995 and 2003.

The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea promises to have a significant impact on the country's economy.

Source: CIA World Fact Book

Population: 199,579 (July 2007 est.)

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Age structure: 0-14 years: 47.3% (male 47,796/female 46,589) 15-64 years: 49% (male 47,386/female 50,412) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 3,383/female 4,013) (2007 est.)

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Median age: total: 16.2 years male: 15.7 years female: 16.8 years (2007 est.)

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Population growth rate: 3.13% (2007 est.)

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Birth rate: 39.72 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Death rate: 6.28 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Net migration rate: -2.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.026 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.843 male(s)/female total population: 0.976 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

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Infant mortality rate: total: 40.54 deaths/1,000 live births male: 42.42 deaths/1,000 live births female: 38.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

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Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.64 years male: 66.03 years female: 69.3 years (2007 est.)

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Total fertility rate: 5.53 children born/woman (2007 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA

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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

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HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

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Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria (2007)

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Nationality: noun: Sao Tomean(s) adjective: 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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Religions: Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%, other 3.1%, none 19.4% (2001 census)

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Languages: Portuguese (official)

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Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 84.9% male: 92.2% female: 77.9% (2001 census)

This small, poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence in 1975. Cocoa production has substantially declined in recent years because of drought and mismanagement, but strengthening prices helped boost export earnings in 2003. Sao Tome has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a substantial amount of food. Over the years, it has had difficulty servicing its external debt and has relied heavily 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, which helped bring down the country's $300 million debt burden. In August 2005, Sao Tome signed on to a new 3-year IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) program worth $4.3 million. 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 optimistic about the development of petroleum resources in its territorial waters in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea, which are being jointly developed in a 60-40 split with Nigeria. The first production licenses were sold in 2004, though a dispute over licensing with Nigeria delayed Sao Tome's receipt of more than $20 million in signing bonuses for almost a year. Real GDP growth exceeded 4% in 2006, as a result of increases in public expenditures and oil-related capital investment.

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GDP (purchasing power parity): $278 million (2006 est.)

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GDP (official exchange rate): $71.38 million (2005 est.)

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GDP - real growth rate: 4.4% (2006 est.)

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GDP - per capita (PPP): $1,200 (2003 est.)

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GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 16.6% industry: 15.3% services: 68.1% (2006 est.)

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Labor force: 35,050 (1991)

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Labor force - by occupation: note: population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing; shortages of skilled workers

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Unemployment rate: NA%

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Population below poverty line: 54% (2004 est.)

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Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

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Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (2006 est.)

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Investment (gross fixed): 35.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

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Budget: revenues: $102.1 million expenditures: $61.43 million; including capital expenditures of $54 million (2006 est.)

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Agriculture - products: cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish

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Industries: light construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish processing, timber

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Industrial production growth rate: NA%

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Electricity - production: 18 million kWh (2004)

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Electricity - consumption: 16.74 million kWh (2004)

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Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2004)

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Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2004)

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Oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

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Oil - consumption: 660 bbl/day (2004 est.)

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Oil - exports: NA bbl/day

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Oil - imports: NA bbl/day

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Oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl

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Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2004 est.)

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Current account balance: -$24.4 million (2006 est.)

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Exports: $9.773 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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Exports - commodities: cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil

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Exports - partners: Netherlands 42.1%, Belgium 16.7%, South Korea 9%, Portugal 8.2% (2006)

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Imports: $48.87 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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Imports - commodities: machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products

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Imports - partners: Portugal 48.7%, France 19.7%, US 5.1%, Belgium 4.8% (2006)

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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $25.47 million (2006 est.)

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Debt - external: $318 million (2002)

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Economic aid - recipient: $200 million in December 2000 under the HIPC program

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Currency (code): dobra (STD)

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Exchange rates: dobras per US dollar - 12,050 (2006), 9,900.4 (2005), NA 9,902.3 (2004), 9,347.6 (2003), 9,088.3 (2002)

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Fiscal year: calendar year