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Labour · Sub-Saharan Africa · Lower-middle income

São Tomé and Príncipe: the labour market

Labour force is 35,075 (2025), 186th of 187 in the world and 47th of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Participation rate is 23.3% (2025), 187th of 187 in the world and 47th of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Women's participation is 22.7% (2025), 172nd of 187 in the world and 45th of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Labour force35,0752025 · world 186/187 · region 47/47Participation rate23.3%2025 · world 187/187 · region 47/47Women's participation22.7%2025 · world 172/187 · region 45/47Employment rate21.2%2025 · world 187/187 · region 47/47
Labour force
São Tomé and Príncipe
010,00020,00030,00040,0001995200020052010201520202025São Tomé and Príncipe35,075
Participation rate
São Tomé and PríncipeSub-Saharan AfricaLower-middle incomeWorld
0%20%40%60%80%1995200020052010201520202025São Tomé and Príncipe23.3%Sub-Saharan AfricaLower-middle incomeWorld
13 indicators

Labour: 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.

IndicatorLatestWorld rankIn region~2000~2010~202010-year changeRegionIncome groupWorldSince 2000
Labour forceLabour force, total35,0752025186/18747/4719,92625,31330,200+26%since 2015527m1.2bn3.7bn
Participation rateLabour force participation, % of 15+23.3%2025187/18747/4724.2%24.0%23.1%−0.7 ppsince 201570.3%58.2%61.0%
Women's participationFemale labour force participation, % of women 15+22.7%2025172/18745/4722.5%22.7%22.6%±0.0 ppsince 201565.2%39.2%48.9%
Employment rateEmployment to population ratio, 15+ (ILO)21.2%2025187/18747/4720.7%20.5%20.9%−0.2 ppsince 201566.3%55.6%58.1%
UnemploymentUnemployment, % of labour force (ILO)9.1%202544/18715/4714.4%14.6%9.7%−1.5 ppsince 20155.7%4.5%4.8%
Female unemploymentFemale unemployment, % of female labour force (ILO)9.3%202556/18717/4717.1%19.3%9.7%−2.7 ppsince 20156.3%4.9%4.9%
Youth unemploymentYouth unemployment, ages 15–24 (ILO)8.8%2025131/18724/4719.6%20.8%9.4%−4.0 ppsince 201510.1%13.1%13.4%
Youth NEET rateYouth not in education, employment or training, %45.5%20175/1703/44···——21.8%—
Wage workersWage and salaried workers, % of total employment56.0%2025119/18711/4750.2%54.1%55.1%+0.6 ppsince 201522.3%29.6%53.6%
Vulnerable employmentVulnerable employment, % of total employment (ILO)35.0%202577/18738/4740.4%36.5%35.9%−0.3 ppsince 201571.0%65.5%42.4%
Jobs in agricultureEmployment in agriculture, % of total employment12.1%2025102/18744/4721.1%15.3%12.6%−1.4 ppsince 201549.3%39.8%25.8%
Jobs in industryEmployment in industry, % of total employment22.5%202561/1874/4722.1%21.8%22.8%+0.3 ppsince 201512.2%22.4%23.7%
Jobs in servicesEmployment in services, % of total employment65.4%202576/1875/4756.7%62.9%64.6%+1.1 ppsince 201538.5%37.8%50.6%
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

Worse than ten years ago

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.

IndicatorSão Tomé and PríncipeNigeriaGabonEquatorial Guinea
Labour force35,0752025117m2025844,1452025737,9772025
Participation rate23.3%202582.5%202551.1%202560.5%2025
Women's participation22.7%202580.7%202541.6%202552.6%2025
Employment rate21.2%202580.0%202540.8%202555.5%2025
Unemployment9.1%20253.1%202520.2%20258.3%2025
Female unemployment9.3%20253.9%202528.6%20259.3%2025
Youth unemployment8.8%20255.3%202536.3%202515.7%2025
Youth NEET rate45.5%201711.9%202420.2%202417.5%2023
Wage workers56.0%202513.8%202567.6%202572.5%2025
Nigeria: labourGabon: labourEquatorial Guinea: labour
Labour in Sub-Saharan Africaall 48 economies rankedLabour: lower-middle-income countries47 economies rankedLabour: world leaderboardstop and bottom countriesSão Tomé and Príncipe: all key statisticscountry profile