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Trade & investment · Sub-Saharan Africa · Lower-middle income
São Tomé and Príncipe: trade and investment
Exports is 13.3% (2025), 168th of 184 in the world and 38th of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Imports is 33.3% (2025), 122nd of 184 in the world and 20th of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Trade openness is 46.6% (2025), 150th of 184 in the world and 30th of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
13 indicators
Trade & investment: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExportsExports of goods and services, % of GDP | 13.3%2025 | 168/184 | 38/43 | · | 10.8% | 10.6% | −20.4 ppsince 2015 | 27.9% | 23.2% | 29.5% | |
| ImportsImports of goods and services, % of GDP | 33.3%2025 | 122/184 | 20/43 | · | 73.9% | 38.1% | −45.6 ppsince 2015 | 27.9% | 26.3% | 28.5% | |
| Trade opennessTrade, % of GDP | 46.6%2025 | 150/184 | 30/43 | · | 84.7% | 48.7% | −66.1 ppsince 2015 | 55.7% | 46.6% | 68.5% | |
| Current accountCurrent account balance, % of GDP | -9.3%2025 | 158/185 | 34/42 | -26.4% | -46.1% | -12.6% | +17.1 ppsince 2015 | — | — | — | |
| Merchandise exportsMerchandise exports, current US$ | $38.0m2025 | 192/206 | 48/48 | $3.0m | $11.0m | $14.0m | +245%since 2015 | $487bn | $1.1tn | $26.4tn | |
| High-tech exportsHigh-technology exports, % of manufactured exports | 29.3%2023 | 16/170 | 2/39 | · | 2.0%2011 | 10.2% | +14.8 ppsince 2013 | 6.0% | 14.7% | 24.7% | |
| Fuel exportsFuel exports, % of merchandise exports | 0.0%2022 | 155/172 | 33/39 | · | 0.0%2011 | 0.0%2021 | −0.7 ppsince 2012 | 40.9% | 24.8% | 9.5% | |
| Food exportsFood exports, % of merchandise exports | 98.2%2023 | 1/172 | 1/39 | 96.9% | 94.6% | 88.8% | +12.9 ppsince 2013 | 14.6% | 13.8% | 9.0% | |
| Average tariffApplied tariff rate, weighted mean, all products | 10.0%2019 | 36/184 | 19/45 | · | · | 10.0%2019 | — | — | — | — | |
| FDI inflowsForeign direct investment, net inflows, % of GDP | 10.5%2025 | 17/197 | 4/46 | 5.0% | 26.6% | 10.0% | −0.2 ppsince 2015 | 2.1% | 1.5% | 1.4% | |
| RemittancesPersonal remittances received, % of GDP | 3.7%2025 | 68/178 | 17/41 | 0.6% | 3.3% | 1.8% | −4.0 ppsince 2015 | 3.1% | 5.8% | 0.8% | |
| Tourist arrivalsInternational tourist arrivals | 33,4002018 | 183/196 | 40/42 | 7,100 | 8,000 | 33,4002018 | +130%since 2008 | 56.0m | 208m | 2.4bn | |
| Tourism receiptsInternational tourism receipts, current US$ | $71.9m2018 | 149/177 | 25/40 | $9.9m | $11.1m | $71.9m2018 | +834%since 2008 | $34.9bn | $145bn | $1.9tn |
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exports | 13.3%2025 | — | 55.5%2025 | 46.5%2025 |
| Imports | 33.3%2025 | — | 29.4%2025 | 28.4%2025 |
| Trade openness | 46.6%2025 | — | 84.9%2025 | 74.9%2025 |
| Current account | -9.3%2025 | 4.8%2025 | 1.0%2015 | — |
| Merchandise exports | $38.0m2025 | $55.5bn2025 | $11.6bn2025 | $2.6bn2025 |
| High-tech exports | 29.3%2023 | 2.7%2024 | 1.8%2023 | — |
| Fuel exports | 0.0%2022 | 85.9%2025 | 54.0%2023 | — |
| Food exports | 98.2%2023 | 6.4%2025 | 0.9%2023 | — |
| Average tariff | 10.0%2019 | 9.3%2022 | 16.6%2022 | 18.2%2022 |