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Aid, poverty & equality · Sub-Saharan Africa · Lower-middle income
São Tomé and Príncipe: poverty, inequality and aid
Extreme poverty is 13.0% (2017), 42nd of 151 in the world and 37th of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty, $4.20/day is 30.5% (2017), 39th of 151 in the world and 35th of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty, $8.30/day is 70.0% (2017), 43rd of 151 in the world and 35th of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Undernourishment
São Tomé and PríncipeSub-Saharan AfricaLower-middle incomeWorld
Women in parliament
São Tomé and PríncipeSub-Saharan AfricaLower-middle incomeWorld
13 indicators
Aid, poverty & equality: São Tomé and Príncipe in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme povertyExtreme poverty, $3.00 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 13.0%2017 | 42/151 | 37/44 | 17.3% | 18.9% | · | −4.3 ppsince 2000 | 45.0% | 12.4% | 10.1% | |
| Poverty, $4.20/dayPoverty at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 30.5%2017 | 39/151 | 35/44 | 36.3% | 39.8% | · | −5.8 ppsince 2000 | 63.2% | 26.9% | 18.2% | |
| Poverty, $8.30/dayPoverty at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 70.0%2017 | 43/151 | 35/44 | 78.2% | 83.0% | · | −8.2 ppsince 2000 | 88.6% | 76.8% | 46.2% | |
| National poverty ratePoverty at national poverty lines, % of population | 55.5%2017 | 11/145 | 9/45 | · | · | · | — | — | — | — | |
| Gini indexGini index of income inequality | 40.72017 | 34/151 | 16/44 | 32.1 | 30.8 | · | +27%since 2000 | — | — | — | |
| Top 10% income shareIncome share held by the richest 10% | 32.8%2017 | 27/151 | 15/44 | 24.5% | 24.2% | · | +8.3 ppsince 2000 | — | — | — | |
| Bottom 20% income shareIncome share held by the poorest 20% | 6.4%2017 | 105/151 | 28/44 | 8.0% | 8.4% | · | −1.6 ppsince 2000 | — | — | — | |
| UndernourishmentPrevalence of undernourishment, % of population | 23.0%2024 | 18/167 | 13/44 | 15.5%2001 | 16.4% | 15.6% | +5.3 ppsince 2014 | 22.3% | 12.1% | 8.1% | |
| Food insecurityModerate or severe food insecurity, % of population | 54.6%2022 | 29/155 | 24/38 | · | · | 54.6% | — | — | 41.8% | 28.0% | |
| Women in parliamentSeats held by women in national parliament, % | 14.5%2025 | 151/190 | 37/46 | 9.1% | 18.2% | 23.6% | −3.6 ppsince 2015 | 27.0% | 23.6% | 27.2% | |
| Net ODA receivedNet official development assistance received, US$ | $86.8m2023 | 119/145 | 45/48 | $34.9m | $47.1m | $93.1m | +62%since 2013 | $64.8bn | $59.2bn | $259bn | |
| ODA, % of GNINet ODA received, % of GNI | 11.5%2023 | 22/139 | 9/47 | 50.0% | 24.9% | 19.6% | −8.4 ppsince 2013 | 3.1% | 0.9% | 0.2% | |
| ODA per personNet ODA received per capita, US$ | $3762023 | 17/145 | 1/48 | $243 | $259 | $428 | +35%since 2013 | $51.5 | $20.6 | $32.2 |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- Extreme poverty−4.3 pp13.0% in 2017
- Poverty, $4.20/day−5.8 pp30.5% in 2017
- Poverty, $8.30/day−8.2 pp70.0% in 2017
Worse than ten years ago
- Gini index+27%40.7 in 2017
- Top 10% income share+8.3 pp32.8% in 2017
- Bottom 20% income share−1.6 pp6.4% in 2017
- Undernourishment+5.3 pp23.0% in 2024
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
São Tomé and Príncipe and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with São Tomé and Príncipe. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | São Tomé and Príncipe | Nigeria | Gabon | Equatorial Guinea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme poverty | 13.0%2017 | 41.8%2022 | 3.8%2017 | 8.8%2022 |
| Poverty, $4.20/day | 30.5%2017 | 64.0%2022 | 8.0%2017 | 21.5%2022 |
| Poverty, $8.30/day | 70.0%2017 | 92.9%2022 | 32.9%2017 | 58.1%2022 |
| National poverty rate | 55.5%2017 | 56.2%2022 | 33.4%2017 | 50.7%2022 |
| Gini index | 40.72017 | 33.92022 | 38.02017 | 38.52022 |
| Top 10% income share | 32.8%2017 | 26.3%2022 | 27.7%2017 | 29.1%2022 |
| Bottom 20% income share | 6.4%2017 | 7.5%2022 | 6.0%2017 | 6.4%2022 |
| Undernourishment | 23.0%2024 | 22.2%2024 | 23.3%2024 | — |
| Food insecurity | 54.6%2022 | 76.5%2024 | — | — |