External debt as a share of gross national income in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: External debt as a share of gross national income was 42.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External debt as a share of gross national income in Sao Tome and Principe, 2000–2024
Source: World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external debt as a share of gross national income in Sao Tome and Principe is 42.8%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 7.9% on the previous year and down 37.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt as a share of gross national income in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 435.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 42.8%, in 2024.
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 63rd of 121 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.
External debt as a share of gross national income in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 435.8% | — |
| 2001 | 423.6% | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 407.5% | -3.8% |
| 2003 | 341.4% | -16.2% |
| 2004 | 319.4% | -6.5% |
| 2005 | 248.8% | -22.1% |
| 2006 | 238.8% | -4.0% |
| 2007 | 106.0% | -55.6% |
| 2008 | 68.3% | -35.6% |
| 2009 | 76.7% | +12.3% |
| 2010 | 93.7% | +22.2% |
| 2011 | 95.7% | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 84.6% | -11.6% |
| 2013 | 76.4% | -9.8% |
| 2014 | 68.5% | -10.3% |
| 2015 | 89.0% | +29.9% |
| 2016 | 81.6% | -8.3% |
| 2017 | 84.7% | +3.8% |
| 2018 | 66.3% | -21.7% |
| 2019 | 66.8% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 65.7% | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 62.1% | -5.5% |
| 2022 | 52.0% | -16.3% |
| 2023 | 46.4% | -10.7% |
| 2024 | 42.8% | -7.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 266.6% | 68.3% | 435.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 80.7% | 66.3% | 95.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.8% | 42.8% | 65.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
- 60 South Africa 44.8% compare
- 61 Morocco 44.7% compare
- 62 Togo 43.2% compare
- 64 Egypt 42.0% compare
- 65 Papua New Guinea 41.9% compare
- 66 Mauritania 41.8% 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)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 21.93 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.0478 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 195.26 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 37.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3331 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 1,360 current US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 31.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 7.22 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt as a share of gross national income in Sao Tome and Principe?
- External debt as a share of gross national income in Sao Tome and Principe was 42.8% in 2024, according to World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest external debt as a share of gross national income recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 435.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest external debt as a share of gross national income recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.8% in 2024.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for external debt as a share of gross national income?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 63rd out of 121 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external debt as a share of gross national income rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of External debt as a share of gross national income. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
External debt stocks as a proportion of GNI (%).