External balance on goods and services (current LCU) in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: External balance on goods and services (current LCU) was -4.27 billion current LCU in 2025. ▼ Falling
External balance on goods and services in Sao Tome and Principe, 2008–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, external balance on goods and services in Sao Tome and Principe stood at -4.27 billion current LCU. That is the lowest value across all 18 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 72.3% on the previous year and down 63.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at -1.50 billion current LCU in 2008 and was at its lowest, -4.27 billion current LCU, in 2025.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 104th out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
External balance on goods and services (current LCU) in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | -1.50 billion current LCU | — |
| 2009 | -1.75 billion current LCU | +16.8% |
| 2010 | -2.23 billion current LCU | +27.4% |
| 2011 | -2.57 billion current LCU | +15.6% |
| 2012 | -2.71 billion current LCU | +5.3% |
| 2013 | -2.54 billion current LCU | -6.1% |
| 2014 | -3.09 billion current LCU | +21.5% |
| 2015 | -2.62 billion current LCU | -15.4% |
| 2016 | -2.38 billion current LCU | -9.0% |
| 2017 | -2.73 billion current LCU | +14.7% |
| 2018 | -2.98 billion current LCU | +9.1% |
| 2019 | -3.11 billion current LCU | +4.3% |
| 2020 | -2.80 billion current LCU | -9.8% |
| 2021 | -3.03 billion current LCU | +8.3% |
| 2022 | -3.25 billion current LCU | +7.2% |
| 2023 | -2.91 billion current LCU | -10.5% |
| 2024 | -2.48 billion current LCU | -15.0% |
| 2025 | -4.27 billion current LCU | +72.3% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's -4.27 billion current LCU is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -57.12 billion current LCU, 7% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's -4.27 billion current LCU is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -68.31 billion current LCU, 6% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | -1.62 billion current LCU | -1.75 billion current LCU | -1.50 billion current LCU | 2 |
| 2010s | -2.70 billion current LCU | -3.11 billion current LCU | -2.23 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | -3.12 billion current LCU | -4.27 billion current LCU | -2.48 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
- 101 Eritrea -3.52 billion current LCU
- 102 Guam -3.88 billion current LCU compare
- 103 Solomon Islands -4.05 billion current LCU compare
- 105 Jordan -4.55 billion current LCU
- 106 Seychelles -4.59 billion current LCU compare
- 107 Croatia -4.69 billion current LCU compare
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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 94.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0073 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 29.83 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 85.44 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0053 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 21.78 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0207 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Sao Tome and Principe?
- External balance on goods and services in Sao Tome and Principe was -4.27 billion current LCU in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was -1.50 billion current LCU in 2008.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.27 billion current LCU in 2025.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 104th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 63.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of External balance on goods and services (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The balance of international trade in goods and services is the difference between the exports and imports of goods and services. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.