Trade in services in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Trade in services was 20.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Trade in services in Sao Tome and Principe, 1974–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Sao Tome and Principe recorded 20.8% for trade in services in 2024.
That represents a change of down 6.3% on the previous year and down 60.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, trade in services in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 56.1% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 5.8%, in 1976.
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 104th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Trade in services in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 6.5% | — |
| 1975 | 6.2% | -4.2% |
| 1976 | 5.8% | -6.5% |
| 1977 | 10.2% | +75.7% |
| 1978 | 12.8% | +26.2% |
| 1979 | 15.9% | +24.1% |
| 1980 | 11.4% | -28.2% |
| 1981 | 12.3% | +7.9% |
| 1982 | 14.9% | +21.0% |
| 1983 | 12.0% | -19.3% |
| 1984 | 15.4% | +27.9% |
| 1985 | 13.1% | -15.2% |
| 1986 | 12.6% | -3.9% |
| 1987 | 8.8% | -29.7% |
| 1988 | 10.0% | +13.7% |
| 1989 | 13.2% | +31.4% |
| 1990 | 10.6% | -19.4% |
| 1997 | 22.1% | +107.8% |
| 1998 | 22.6% | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 31.5% | +39.5% |
| 2000 | 34.2% | +8.5% |
| 2001 | 26.7% | -22.0% |
| 2002 | 24.4% | -8.6% |
| 2003 | 22.3% | -8.4% |
| 2004 | 21.9% | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 14.8% | -32.5% |
| 2006 | 18.3% | +23.7% |
| 2007 | 17.0% | -7.2% |
| 2008 | 16.5% | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 14.6% | -11.5% |
| 2010 | 19.8% | +35.5% |
| 2011 | 22.0% | +10.8% |
| 2012 | 18.5% | -15.7% |
| 2013 | 31.6% | +70.5% |
| 2014 | 52.7% | +66.8% |
| 2015 | 56.1% | +6.4% |
| 2016 | 50.9% | -9.3% |
| 2017 | 44.1% | -13.2% |
| 2018 | 38.2% | -13.5% |
| 2019 | 29.7% | -22.2% |
| 2020 | 16.7% | -43.7% |
| 2021 | 19.8% | +18.2% |
| 2022 | 43.1% | +118.0% |
| 2023 | 22.2% | -48.6% |
| 2024 | 20.8% | -6.3% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 20.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 13.8%, 1.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 20.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.9%, 1.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 9.6% | 5.8% | 15.9% | 6 |
| 1980s | 12.4% | 8.8% | 15.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 21.7% | 10.6% | 31.5% | 4 |
| 2000s | 21.1% | 14.6% | 34.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.4% | 18.5% | 56.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.5% | 16.7% | 43.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
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 trade in services in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Trade in services in Sao Tome and Principe was 20.8% in 2024, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest trade in services recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 56.1% in 2015.
- What is the lowest trade in services recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.8% in 1976.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for trade in services?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 104th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is trade in services rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 60.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Trade in services (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Total trade in services includes services provided by residents to non-residents plus 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.