Languages spoken in Sao Tome & Principe
Sao Tome
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The main languages spoken in Sao Tome and Principe are:
Portuguese - the official language, spoken by ~98.4% of the population.
Forro - the most widely spoken Portuguese-based Creole, ~36.2%.
Cabo Verdian Creole (~8.5%), French (~6.8%), Angolar (~6.6%), and English (~4.9%) are also spoken, along with other Portuguese-based Creoles.
Portuguese is the sole official language of Sao Tome and Principe.
| Geography |
Location: Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the equator, west of Gabon
Map references: Africa
Geography - note: consists of two main islands and several islets, characterized by lush rainforests and volcanic landscapes
| People |
Population: 223,600-244,972 (2023-2026 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.4%
15-64 years: 60.3%
65 years and over: 3.2% (2024 est.)
Median age: 21.2 years (2025 est.)
Nationality:
noun/adjective: Sao Tomean(s)
Religions: Catholic 55.7%, Adventist 4.1%, Assembly of God 3.4%, New Apostolic 2.9%, other 12.7%, none 21.2% (2012 est.)
Languages: Portuguese (official) 98.4%, Forro 36.2%, Cabo Verdian 8.5%, French 6.8%, Angolar 6.6%, English 4.9%, Lunguie 1%, other (including sign language) 2.4% (2012 est.; shares sum to more than 100% due to multiple responses)
Population distribution: Sao Tome, the capital city, has roughly a quarter of the nation''s population; Santo Antonio is the largest town on Principe; the northern areas of both islands have the highest population densities
| Government |
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe
Data code: TP
Government type: semi-presidential republic
National capital: Sao Tome
Independence: 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Background: Portugal discovered and colonized the previously uninhabited islands in the late 15th century, setting up a sugar-based economy that gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century, all grown with African slave labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century; independence was achieved in 1975, though democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s; the country held its first free elections in 1991, but frequent internal wrangling among political parties has precipitated repeated changes in leadership and several failed, non-violent coup attempts (1995, 1998, 2003, 2009)
| Economy |
Economy - overview: low-income island economy; agriculture (cocoa, coffee, palm oil, copra) is the traditional mainstay; faces high unemployment, dependency on a narrow range of exports, and vulnerability to external shocks; potential for diversification through tourism, sustainable fishing, and possible offshore oil exploration
GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.55 billion (2025 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.8% (2025)
GDP - per capita: $6,420 PPP (2025 est.)
Inflation rate: 5.8% (2017 est.)
Industries: light construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish processing, timber
Currency: Sao Tome and Principe dobra (STN)
| Military |
Military branches: Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (FASTP): Army, Coast Guard, Presidential Guard, National Guard (2025)