Gross capital formation in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Gross capital formation was 8.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Gross capital formation in Sao Tome and Principe, 2008–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross capital formation in Sao Tome and Principe is 8.7%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 26.3% on the previous year and down 39.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross capital formation in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 25.7% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 6.2%, in 2023.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 180th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
Gross capital formation in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 18.8% | — |
| 2009 | 21.3% | +13.6% |
| 2010 | 25.7% | +20.5% |
| 2011 | 22.4% | -12.7% |
| 2012 | 16.6% | -26.3% |
| 2013 | 17.1% | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 16.2% | -5.2% |
| 2015 | 14.6% | -10.3% |
| 2016 | 13.1% | -10.0% |
| 2017 | 15.3% | +16.8% |
| 2018 | 13.8% | -10.1% |
| 2019 | 12.0% | -12.9% |
| 2020 | 11.8% | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 10.3% | -12.9% |
| 2022 | 8.3% | -19.4% |
| 2023 | 6.2% | -25.2% |
| 2024 | 6.9% | +11.5% |
| 2025 | 8.7% | +26.3% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 8.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 24.2%, 36% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 8.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 20.1%, 43% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 20.1% | 18.8% | 21.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 16.7% | 12.0% | 25.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.7% | 6.2% | 11.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
- 177 Ghana 9.9% compare
- 178 Central African Republic 9.3% compare
- 179 Zimbabwe 8.8% compare
- 181 Yemen 6.2% compare
- 182 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 5.9% compare
- 183 South Sudan 5.8% 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)
- 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 gross capital formation in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Gross capital formation in Sao Tome and Principe was 8.7% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest gross capital formation recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 25.7% in 2010.
- What is the lowest gross capital formation recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.2% in 2023.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for gross capital formation?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 180th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gross capital formation rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.9%. 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 Gross capital formation (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Gross capital formation includes acquisitions less disposals of produced assets for purposes of fixed capital formation, inventories or valuables. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.