Imports of goods and services in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Imports of goods and services was 33.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Imports of goods and services in Sao Tome and Principe, 2008–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2025, imports of goods and services in Sao Tome and Principe stood at 33.3%.
That represents a change of up 16.0% on the previous year and down 57.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 85.7% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 28.7%, in 2024.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 129th 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.
Imports of goods and services in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 63.5% | — |
| 2009 | 62.4% | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 73.9% | +18.4% |
| 2011 | 75.1% | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 72.3% | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 67.3% | -6.9% |
| 2014 | 85.7% | +27.3% |
| 2015 | 79.0% | -7.9% |
| 2016 | 68.5% | -13.3% |
| 2017 | 65.8% | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 58.2% | -11.6% |
| 2019 | 50.9% | -12.6% |
| 2020 | 38.1% | -25.2% |
| 2021 | 42.8% | +12.6% |
| 2022 | 45.3% | +5.8% |
| 2023 | 32.7% | -27.8% |
| 2024 | 28.7% | -12.3% |
| 2025 | 33.3% | +16.0% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 33.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 41.9%, 80% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 33.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.0%, 1.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 62.9% | 62.4% | 63.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 69.7% | 50.9% | 85.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.8% | 28.7% | 45.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
- 126 Nepal 33.7% compare
- 127 Norway 33.7% compare
- 128 Central African Republic 33.6% compare
- 130 Madagascar 32.9% compare
- 131 Spain 32.8% compare
- 132 Costa Rica 32.6% 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 imports of goods and services in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Imports of goods and services in Sao Tome and Principe was 33.3% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 85.7% in 2014.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.7% in 2024.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for imports of goods and services?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 129th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 57.8%. 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 Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to residents. 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.