Map of Sao Tome and Principe

Sao Tome and Principe is an island nation located in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western coast of Africa, close to the equator. The nearest nation to Sao Tome and Principe is Gabon, which is part of continental Africa, and the islands are located 225 to 250 kilometers (140 to 155 miles) off the coast. Sao Tome and Principe is made up of two archipelagos, with the two major islands being Sao Tome and Principe. The islands of Sao Tome and Principe have an area of 1,001 square kilometers (372 square miles), making it the second smallest country in Africa after Seychelles.

Sao Tome and Principe were discovered by Portuguese explorers Joao de Santarem and Pedro Escobar around 1470, who found that they were uninhabited. The Portuguese settled the islands as trade bases, and eventually became Portuguese crown colonies in 1522 and 1573 (first Sao Tome and then Principe), though they sent their “undesirables” from Portugal to colonize. The Portuguese cultivated sugar and began importing slaves to work on the islands, beginning to plant coffee and cocoa in the rich volcanic soils. Sao Tome and Principe gained independence from Portugal on July 12, 1975.

Today, the country has a population estimated at about 183,176, which primarily live on Sao Tome, with about 6,000 living on Principe. The population is made up of various ethnic groups, including Mestiços, who are mixed Portuguese and Africans from Benin, Gabon, and Congo, as well as Angolans, Europeans (mainly Portuguese and Sephardi Jews), and Asians, including Macanese people from Macau. Sao Tome and Principe is a predominantly Christian nation. The official language of Sao Tome and Principe is Portuguese, but there are four national languages: Portuguese, Forro, Angolar, and Principense, which are creoles based on Portuguese. French is also widely spoken as a second language in Sao Tome and Principe.

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Last Updated On : March 13, 2013