São Tomé and Príncipe - Tourism and Travel

The Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe consists of a group of islands in the Gulf of Guinea, off the coast of West Africa.

It has a total area of 372 square miles (964 kilometers), and is Africa's smallest country.

São Tomé is the largest island and Príncipe is the second largest.

There are some additional uninhabited islets.

São Tomé Island and Principe Island are covered in mountains in forests.

The climate on these islands is hot and humid.

São Tomé and Príncipe was a Portuguese colony until it became independent in 1975.

The capital of São Tomé and Príncipe is São Tomé City, which is on São Tomé Island.

163,000 people live in São Tomé and Príncipe.

More than 90% of them live on São Tomé Island.

90% of the people are black, and 10% are either Portuguese or Creole.

Portuguese is the official language. Portuguese Creole is also spoken.

Cocoa makes up approximately 90% of export earnings.

All fuel is imported, as is a large amount of food and consumer goods.

São Tomé and Príncipe has a presidential system of government.

The dobra, which is made up of 100 céntimos, is the official currency.