São Tomé and Príncipe

Country in Africa

In brief

Adults who use tobacco: 8.3% (2024). World rank 23 of 166 (1 = best); in Africa, 16 of 44. Access to safe drinking water: 78% (2024). World rank 173 of 206 (1 = best); in Africa, 23 of 52. Access to clean cooking fuels: 7% (2024). World rank 175 of 192 (1 = best); in Africa, 38 of 54. From 2014 to 2024: children vaccinated against measles 92% → 87%, infant deaths per 1,000 births 16.6 → 9.2, and deaths under age 5 per 1,000 births 25.5 → 13.6.

Education

Adult literacy: 87.4% 2019
Primary school enrolment: 110% 2017
Secondary school enrolment: 90.4% 2017
Higher education enrolment: 12.8% 2015
Public spending on education, share of GDP: 5% 2023

Healthcare

Health spending, share of GDP: 5.8% 2023
Health spending per person: $171 2023
Out-of-pocket health spending, share of total: 16.7% 2023
Doctors per 1,000 people: 0.5 2022
Nurses and midwives per 1,000 people: 2.2 2022
Hospital beds per 1,000 people: 2.9 2019
Children vaccinated against measles: 87% 2024

Public health

Infant deaths per 1,000 births: 9.2 2024
Deaths under age 5 per 1,000 births: 13.6 2024
Maternal deaths per 100,000 births: 75 2023
HIV prevalence, ages 15–49: No data
Diabetes prevalence, ages 20–79: 12.1% 2024
Overweight adults: 42.6% 2022
Adults who use tobacco: 8.3% 2024

Living conditions

Access to safe drinking water: 78% 2024
Access to basic sanitation: 48.7% 2024
Access to clean cooking fuels: 7% 2024