Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in Sao Tome and Principe

Sao Tome and Principe: Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP was 22.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
22.1%
Change on year
down 26.5%
World rank
209th
of 218 countries
All-time high
66.5%
in 2008
All-time low
22.1%
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in Sao Tome and Principe, 2000–2024

2030405060702000201220242000: 43.32001: 40.82002: 42.32003: 472004: 40.12005: 41.82006: 55.32007: 57.72008: 66.52009: 55.32010: 64.72011: 642012: 63.32013: 61.82014: 63.82015: 58.82016: 52.32017: 50.32018: 42.72019: 392020: 32.32021: 35.72022: 40.32023: 30.12024: 22.1

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

In 2024, merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Sao Tome and Principe stood at 22.1%. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 26.5% on the previous year and down 65.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 66.5% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 22.1%, in 2024.

Sao Tome and Principe ranks 209th of 218 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.

Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year

Annual values for Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%) in Sao Tome and Principe, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 43.3%
2001 40.8% -5.8%
2002 42.3% +3.6%
2003 47.0% +11.2%
2004 40.1% -14.6%
2005 41.8% +4.1%
2006 55.3% +32.5%
2007 57.7% +4.2%
2008 66.5% +15.3%
2009 55.3% -16.8%
2010 64.7% +17.0%
2011 64.0% -1.1%
2012 63.3% -1.1%
2013 61.8% -2.4%
2014 63.8% +3.3%
2015 58.8% -7.8%
2016 52.3% -11.0%
2017 50.3% -3.9%
2018 42.7% -15.0%
2019 39.0% -8.8%
2020 32.3% -17.3%
2021 35.7% +10.6%
2022 40.3% +13.0%
2023 30.1% -25.3%
2024 22.1% -26.5%

Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries

  • Sao Tome and Principe's 22.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 56.4%, 39% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
  • Sao Tome and Principe's 22.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 43.1%, 51% of the median. (45 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 49.0% 40.1% 66.5% 10
2010s 56.1% 39.0% 64.7% 10
2020s 32.1% 22.1% 40.3% 5

Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe

  1. 206 Central African Republic 23.8% compare
  2. 207 Kenya 23.5% compare
  3. 208 Niger 22.6% compare
  4. 210 Argentina 22.0% compare
  5. 211 Afghanistan 21.4% compare
  6. 212 United States of America 18.9% compare

See the full ranking of 255 places →

More economy & growth data for Sao Tome and Principe

All data for Sao Tome and Principe →

Frequently asked questions

What is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Sao Tome and Principe?
Merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Sao Tome and Principe was 22.1% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
The highest recorded value was 66.5% in 2008.
What is the lowest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
The lowest recorded value was 22.1% in 2024.
How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp?
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 209th out of 218 countries with data for 2024.
Is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
Over the last ten years it is down 65.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in Sao Tome and Principe. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/merchandise-trade-as-a-proportion-of-gdp-percent/sao-tome-and-principe/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested); please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/merchandise-trade-as-a-proportion-of-gdp-percent/sao-tome-and-principe/">Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in Sao Tome and Principe</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
255 places, 6,196 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed