Sao+Tome+and+Principe

Sao Tome and Principe is located in West Africa, Islands of in the Gulf of Guinea, Straddling the Equator, West of Gabon. The climate is tropical, hot, humid. The islands were first discovered by Portuguese navigators between 1469 and 1472. By the late 1950s when other emerging nations across the African continent were demanding independence a small group of Sao Tomeans had formed the Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe which eventually established its base in nearby Gabon. The Government type is republic. The president is Miguel Trovoada, Prime Minister is Raul Wagner Conceicao Braganca Neto. Had foreign relations with Angola, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo. Has a very small Military that includes Army, Coast Gaurd, Presidential Gaurd and National Gaurd. Sao Tome and Principe is a very poor island that is dependant on coco. The demographic features of the population are population density, ethnicity, education levels, health of the population, economic status, and religious affiliations. The educational system has a shortage of classrooms, insufficiently trained and underpaid teachers, inadequate textbooks and materials, high rates of repetition, poor educational planning and management, and a lack of community involvement in school management. Most people who live in Sao Tome and Principe speek Portuguese. 70.3% of people are catholic. Has a population of 140,000.
 * Sao Tome and Principe **

Popular Airways: ** TAP portugal, Air Angola, Aero Contractors, STP-Airways
 * Tourist Information:
 * Hotels: ** Miramar Holtel, Omali Lodge Luxuary Hotel, Bom Bom Island Resort, Club Santana, Pestana Equador Island Resort.
 * Things to do: ** Beaches, Bird Watching, Boat Trips, Boca de Inferno, Casata Sao Nicolau, Fishing, Plantation Houses, Sao Sebastiao Museum, Illuhe das Rolas, Pico de Sao Tome, Praia Jale and Sea Turtles, Sucba Diving, Wale Watching.

1493- Sao Tome and Principe was established by Álvaro Caminha 1522 and 1573- Sao Tome and Príncipe were taken over and administered by the Portuguese 1641- the Dutch captured and occupied Sao Tome for seven years, razing over 70 sugar mills 1800- coffee and cocoa, were introduced 1908- São Tomé had become the world's largest producer of cocoa which still is the country's most important crop 1953- seven hundred African laborers were killed in a clash with their Portuguese rulers 1974- their representatives met with the MLSTP in Algiers and worked out an agreement for the transfer of sovereignty 1990- Sao Tome became one of the first African countries to embrace democratic reform and changes to the constitution 1994- the MLSTP won a plurality of seats in the Assembly 2002- Parliamentary elections were held in March 2003- the army seized power for one week 2006- the cohabition period ended
 * Time Line: **

**Location:** Western Africa, Islands in the Gulf of Guinea, Straddling the Equator, West of Gabon. **Area:** water - 0 sq km land - 964 sq km country comparison to the world 191 total 964 sq km. More then 5 times the size of Washington DC **Borders:** South Atlantic Ocean. **Climate:** tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May) **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) **Government Type:** replibic **Agriculture Products:** cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish **Imports:** $88 million (2008 est.) country comprasion of the world: 208 $65 million (2008 est.) **Religion:** Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%, other 3.1%, none 19.4% (2001 census)Terrain: volcanic, mountainous **Natural Resources:** fish, hydropower **Land Use: arable land:** 8.33% permanent crops: 48.96% other: 42.71% (2005) **Natural Hazards:** NA **Enviormental Issues:** deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion **Languages:** Portuguese (official) **Capital:** name: Sao Tome geographic coordinates: 0 12 N, 6 39 E time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) Military Expenditures **: 0.8% of GDP (2006) **Industries:** light construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish processing, timber **Currency/Exchange Rate:** dobras (STD) per US dollar - 14,900 (2008 est.), 13,700 (2007), 12,050 (2006), 9,900.4 (2005), 9,902.3 (2004) **Population:** 212,679 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 187 **Net Migration Rate:** -1.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 136 **Life Expectancy:** total population: 68.32 years country comparison to the world: 149 male: 66.65 years female: 70.04 years (2009 est.) **Independence:** 12 July 1975 (from Portugal) **Internet Acess:** country code .st, internet hosts 1,355, internet users 23,000.
 * Suffrage: **18 years of age; universal
 * GDP Per Capita: ** $1,300 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 205 $1,300 (2007 est.) $1,300 (2006 est.) //note:// data are in 2008 US dollars
 * Leader: ** Joaquim Rafael Branco**
 * Education: ** The educational system has a shortage of classrooms, insufficiently trained and underpaid teachers, inadequate textbooks and materials, high rates of repetition, poor educational planning and management, and a lack of community involvement in school management.
 * Population Growth Rate: ** 3.18% (2004 est.)
 * Infant Mortality Rate: ** 23% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 210 18% (2007 est.)
 * Literacy: ** definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 84.9% male: 92.2% female: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">77.9% (2001 census)
 * Unemployment: ** NA
 * Exports: ** $8 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: <span class="category_data">211 $7 million (2007 est.)


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