Total debt service in Sao Tome and Principe

Sao Tome and Principe: Total debt service was 3.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
3.5%
Change on year
down 31.7%
World rank
110th
of 120 countries
All-time high
62.8%
in 1989
All-time low
0.0%
in 1977
Years of data
42
1977–2024

Total debt service in Sao Tome and Principe, 1977–2024

02040601977200020241977: 0 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1978: 2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1979: 0.006 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1980: 5.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1981: 15.7 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1982: 20.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1983: 24.6 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1984: 21.8 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1985: 29.8 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1986: 9.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1987: 39.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1988: 21.4 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1989: 62.8 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1990: 34.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1997: 29.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1998: 33.5 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1999: 26.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2000: 25.8 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2001: 28.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2002: 24.6 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2003: 27.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2004: 40.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2005: 26 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2006: 31.7 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2007: 31.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2008: 12 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2009: 9.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2010: 6.3 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2011: 5.3 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2012: 33.7 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2013: 10.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2014: 13.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2015: 2.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2016: 2.6 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2017: 4.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2018: 4.7 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2019: 11.7 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2020: 5 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2021: 3.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2022: 7.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2023: 5.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2024: 3.5 % of exports of goods, services and primary income

Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of exports of goods, services and primary income.

Analysis

The most recent figure for total debt service in Sao Tome and Principe is 3.5%, measured in 2024.

The figure is down 31.7% on the previous year and down 75.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total debt service in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 62.8% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1977.

Sao Tome and Principe ranks 110th of 120 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Total debt service in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year

Annual values for Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income) in Sao Tome and Principe, 1977 to 2024.
Year % of exports of goods, services and primary income Change
1977 0.0%
1978 2.0%
1979 0.0% -99.7%
1980 5.2% +81407.3%
1981 15.7% +202.9%
1982 20.9% +32.9%
1983 24.6% +17.7%
1984 21.8% -11.5%
1985 29.8% +36.8%
1986 9.9% -66.9%
1987 39.2% +298.4%
1988 21.4% -45.5%
1989 62.8% +193.8%
1990 34.9% -44.5%
1997 29.1% -16.6%
1998 33.5% +15.3%
1999 26.9% -19.7%
2000 25.8% -4.0%
2001 28.1% +8.9%
2002 24.6% -12.8%
2003 27.2% +10.8%
2004 40.1% +47.4%
2005 26.0% -35.2%
2006 31.7% +21.9%
2007 31.9% +0.8%
2008 12.0% -62.4%
2009 9.9% -17.6%
2010 6.3% -36.3%
2011 5.3% -15.3%
2012 33.7% +530.9%
2013 10.9% -67.7%
2014 13.9% +27.5%
2015 2.9% -79.4%
2016 2.6% -10.6%
2017 4.1% +58.9%
2018 4.7% +16.5%
2019 11.7% +147.4%
2020 5.0% -57.5%
2021 3.9% -21.9%
2022 7.2% +85.2%
2023 5.1% -29.5%
2024 3.5% -31.7%

Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries

  • Sao Tome and Principe's 3.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 16.6%, 21% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
  • Sao Tome and Principe's 3.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 11.8%, 29% of the median. (44 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Total debt service in Sao Tome and Principe changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1980 +81407.3% 0.0% 5.2%
2012 +530.9% 5.3% 33.7%
1987 +298.4% 9.9% 39.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 0.7% 0.0% 2.0% 3
1980s 25.1% 5.2% 62.8% 10
1990s 31.1% 26.9% 34.9% 4
2000s 25.7% 9.9% 40.1% 10
2010s 9.6% 2.6% 33.7% 10
2020s 4.9% 3.5% 7.2% 5

Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe

  1. 107 Eritrea 4.3% compare
  2. 108 Guinea 3.7% compare
  3. 109 Solomon Islands 3.6% compare
  4. 111 East Timor 3.1% compare
  5. 112 Iraq 3.0% compare
  6. 113 Sudan 3.0% compare

See the full ranking of 132 places →

More economy & growth data for Sao Tome and Principe

All data for Sao Tome and Principe →

Frequently asked questions

What is total debt service in Sao Tome and Principe?
Total debt service in Sao Tome and Principe was 3.5% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
What is the highest total debt service recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
The highest recorded value was 62.8% in 1989.
What is the lowest total debt service recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1977.
How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for total debt service?
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 110th out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
Is total debt service rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
Over the last ten years it is down 75.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Total debt service in Sao Tome and Principe. Statizoid, drawing on International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/total-debt-service-percent-of-exports-of-goods-services-and-primary-income/sao-tome-and-principe/

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About this data

Indicator
Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income)
Unit
% of exports of goods, services and primary income
Source
International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
132 places, 5,268 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

Total debt service to exports of goods, services and primary income. Total debt service is the sum of principal repayments and interest actually paid in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt, interest paid on short-term debt, and repayments (repurchases and charges) to the IMF.