Value of imports from China as a share of GDP in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Value of imports from China as a share of GDP was 2.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Value of imports from China as a share of GDP in Sao Tome and Principe, 1976–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund (2025); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, value of imports from china as a share of gdp in Sao Tome and Principe stood at 2.8%. That is the highest value across all 37 years on record.
That represents a change of up 135.3% on the previous year and up 105.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, value of imports from china as a share of gdp in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 2.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2002.
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 138th of 198 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Value of imports from China as a share of GDP in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 2.1% | — |
| 1977 | 1.6% | -23.1% |
| 1990 | 0.0% | -99.7% |
| 1991 | 0.1% | +1036.7% |
| 1992 | 0.0% | -52.5% |
| 1993 | 0.3% | +1005.5% |
| 1994 | 0.1% | -59.8% |
| 1995 | 0.2% | +68.6% |
| 1996 | 0.2% | -7.5% |
| 1997 | 0.1% | -38.2% |
| 1998 | 0.1% | -35.2% |
| 1999 | 0.1% | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 0.0% | -68.5% |
| 2001 | 0.0% | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 0.0% | -90.0% |
| 2003 | 0.0% | +1511.1% |
| 2004 | 0.0% | -73.8% |
| 2005 | 0.1% | +485.9% |
| 2006 | 0.2% | +154.3% |
| 2007 | 0.5% | +193.0% |
| 2008 | 0.5% | +7.1% |
| 2009 | 0.7% | +35.4% |
| 2010 | 1.3% | +76.6% |
| 2011 | 1.1% | -18.9% |
| 2012 | 1.1% | +4.7% |
| 2013 | 0.9% | -18.2% |
| 2014 | 1.4% | +49.7% |
| 2015 | 1.8% | +29.2% |
| 2016 | 2.6% | +45.9% |
| 2017 | 2.4% | -7.5% |
| 2018 | 2.3% | -5.2% |
| 2019 | 2.2% | -3.4% |
| 2020 | 1.4% | -34.2% |
| 2021 | 2.3% | +60.8% |
| 2022 | 1.5% | -34.1% |
| 2023 | 1.2% | -21.5% |
| 2024 | 2.8% | +135.3% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 2.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.8%, 58% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 2.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.2%, 67% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Value of imports from China as a share of GDP in Sao Tome and Principe changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +1511.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1991 | +1036.7% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 1993 | +1005.5% | 0.0% | 0.3% |
| 2005 | +485.9% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.9% | 1.6% | 2.1% | 2 |
| 1990s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7% | 0.9% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.8% | 1.2% | 2.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
More economy & growth data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.41 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.35 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 3.83 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0046 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 16.27 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -16.68 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 35.34 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0202 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -70.83 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 27.12 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is value of imports from china as a share of gdp in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Value of imports from china as a share of gdp in Sao Tome and Principe was 2.8% in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund (2025); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest value of imports from china as a share of gdp recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 2.8% in 2024.
- What is the lowest value of imports from china as a share of gdp recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2002.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for value of imports from china as a share of gdp?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 138th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is value of imports from china as a share of gdp rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 105.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (2025); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Value of imports from China as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Value of goods imported from China, including freight and insurance costs, as a percentage of a country’s gross domestic product (GDP).