Annual growth of GDP per capita in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Annual growth of GDP per capita was -1.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-1.0%
Change on year
down 79.9%
World rank
193rd
of 212 countries
All-time high
20.2%
in 1977
All-time low
-12.2%
in 1981
Years of data
55
1971–2025
Annual growth of GDP per capita in Sao Tome and Principe, 1971–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
Sao Tome and Principe recorded -1.0% for annual growth of gdp per capita in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 79.9% on the previous year and down 287.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual growth of gdp per capita in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 20.2% in 1977 and was at its lowest, -12.2%, in 1981.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 193rd out of 212 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual growth of GDP per capita in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 3.1% | — |
| 1972 | 0.1% | -95.8% |
| 1973 | -0.6% | -528.9% |
| 1974 | 3.3% | -693.5% |
| 1975 | 2.9% | -13.2% |
| 1976 | -0.9% | -130.7% |
| 1977 | 20.2% | -2366.6% |
| 1978 | 0.2% | -99.2% |
| 1979 | 13.4% | +8137.1% |
| 1980 | -3.4% | -125.3% |
| 1981 | -12.2% | +259.5% |
| 1982 | 1.2% | -109.8% |
| 1983 | -5.6% | -570.8% |
| 1984 | -7.8% | +39.5% |
| 1985 | 7.0% | -189.9% |
| 1986 | -7.9% | -213.1% |
| 1987 | -5.3% | -33.4% |
| 1988 | -0.6% | -88.0% |
| 1989 | 0.5% | -182.2% |
| 1990 | -4.5% | -969.6% |
| 1991 | -1.0% | -78.3% |
| 1992 | -1.2% | +21.3% |
| 1993 | -0.7% | -39.3% |
| 1994 | 0.5% | -162.8% |
| 1995 | 0.4% | -20.1% |
| 1996 | -0.0% | -108.7% |
| 1997 | -0.4% | +1247.2% |
| 1998 | 1.2% | -372.5% |
| 1999 | 1.3% | +9.9% |
| 2000 | -0.7% | -150.7% |
| 2001 | 1.4% | -315.9% |
| 2002 | 0.9% | -34.9% |
| 2003 | 5.6% | +506.8% |
| 2004 | 1.0% | -82.3% |
| 2005 | 4.0% | +308.8% |
| 2006 | 6.2% | +55.2% |
| 2007 | 1.2% | -81.4% |
| 2008 | 3.7% | +221.1% |
| 2009 | 0.9% | -74.7% |
| 2010 | -0.8% | -180.0% |
| 2011 | -0.1% | -84.9% |
| 2012 | 0.9% | -873.6% |
| 2013 | 3.1% | +251.0% |
| 2014 | 3.0% | -4.0% |
| 2015 | -0.2% | -108.3% |
| 2016 | 3.4% | -1486.5% |
| 2017 | 2.5% | -28.0% |
| 2018 | 2.8% | +12.9% |
| 2019 | 0.5% | -82.7% |
| 2020 | 0.7% | +48.6% |
| 2021 | -0.2% | -124.9% |
| 2022 | -1.8% | +882.5% |
| 2023 | -1.6% | -8.1% |
| 2024 | -0.5% | -67.1% |
| 2025 | -1.0% | +79.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.6% | -0.9% | 20.2% | 9 |
| 1980s | -3.4% | -12.2% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.5% | -4.5% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.4% | -0.7% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.5% | -0.8% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.7% | -1.8% | 0.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
- 190 Saint Lucia -0.8% compare
- 191 Luxembourg -0.8% compare
- 192 United States Virgin Islands -0.9% compare
- 194 Afghanistan -1.0% compare
- 195 Qatar -1.1% compare
- 196 Ukraine -1.3% 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)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.8349 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.0358 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 146.29 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), annual 0.8349 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 0.758 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 3,096 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), annual growth rate 19.44 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.8139 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual growth of gdp per capita in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Annual growth of gdp per capita in Sao Tome and Principe was -1.0% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual growth of gdp per capita recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 20.2% in 1977.
- What is the lowest annual growth of gdp per capita recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was -12.2% in 1981.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for annual growth of gdp per capita?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 193rd out of 212 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual growth of gdp per capita rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 287.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual growth of GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This data is adjusted for inflation.