Sao Tome and Principe
Introduction
Background
Portugal discovered and colonized the uninhabited islands in the late 15th century, setting up a sugar-based economy that gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century - all grown with African plantation slave labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century. While independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. The country held its first free elections in 1991, but frequent internal wrangling between the various political parties precipitated repeated changes in leadership and four failed, non-violent coup attempts in 1995, 1998, 2003, and 2009. In 2012, three opposition parties combined in a no confidence vote to bring down the majority government of former Prime Minister Patrice TROVOADA, but in 2014, legislative elections returned him to the office. President Evaristo CARVALHO, of the same political party as Prime Minister TROVOADA, was elected in September 2016, marking a rare instance in which the positions of president and prime minister are held by the same party. Prime Minister TROVOADA resigned at the end of 2018 and was replaced by Jorge BOM JESUS. Carlos Vila NOVA was elected president in early September 2021 and was inaugurated 2 October 2021. New oil discoveries in the Gulf of Guinea may attract increased attention to the small island nation.
Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Geography
Location
Central Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, just north of the Equator, west of Gabon
Geographic coordinates
1 00 N, 7 00 E
Map references
Africa
Area - comparative
more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Coastline
209 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Terrain
volcanic, mountainous
Elevation
highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources
fish, hydropower
Land use
agricultural land: 50.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 9.1% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 40.6% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 1% (2018 est.)
forest: 28.1% (2018 est.)
other: 21.2% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
100 sq km (2012)
Population distribution
Sao Tome, the capital city, has roughly a quarter of the nation's population; Santo Antonio is the largest town on Principe; the northern areas of both islands have the highest population densities as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards
flooding
Geography - note
the second-smallest African country (after the Seychelles); the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes and both are mountainous
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Sao Tomean(s)
adjective: Sao Tomean
Ethnic groups
Mestico, Angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), Forros (descendants of freed slaves), Servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cabo Verde), Tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese), Asians (mostly Chinese)
Languages
Portuguese 98.4% (official), Forro 36.2%, Cabo Verdian 8.5%, French 6.8%, Angolar 6.6%, English 4.9%, Lunguie 1%, other (including sign language) 2.4%; note - shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; other Portuguese-based Creoles are also spoken (2012 est.)
Religions
Catholic 55.7%, Adventist 4.1%, Assembly of God 3.4%, New Apostolic 2.9%, Mana 2.3%, Universal Kingdom of God 2%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, other 6.2%, none 21.2%, unspecified 1% (2012 est.)
Demographic profile
Sao Tome and Principe’s youthful age structure – more than 60% of the population is under the age of 25 – and high fertility rate ensure future population growth. Although Sao Tome has a net negative international migration rate, emigration is not a sufficient safety valve to reduce already high levels of unemployment and poverty. While literacy and primary school attendance have improved in recent years, Sao Tome still struggles to improve its educational quality and to increase its secondary school completion rate. Despite some improvements in education and access to healthcare, Sao Tome and Principe has much to do to decrease its high poverty rate, create jobs, and increase its economic growth.
The population of Sao Tome and Principe descends primarily from the islands’ colonial Portuguese settlers, who first arrived in the late 15th century, and the much larger number of African slaves brought in for sugar production and the slave trade. For about 100 years after the abolition of slavery in 1876, the population was further shaped by the widespread use of imported unskilled contract laborers from Portugal’s other African colonies, who worked on coffee and cocoa plantations. In the first decades after abolition, most workers were brought from Angola under a system similar to slavery. While Angolan laborers were technically free, they were forced or coerced into long contracts that were automatically renewed and extended to their children. Other contract workers from Mozambique and famine-stricken Cape Verde first arrived in the early 20th century under short-term contracts and had the option of repatriation, although some chose to remain in Sao Tome and Principe.
Today’s Sao Tomean population consists of mesticos (creole descendants of the European immigrants and African slaves that first inhabited the islands), forros (descendants of freed African slaves), angolares (descendants of runaway African slaves that formed a community in the south of Sao Tome Island and today are fishermen), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (locally born children of contract laborers), and lesser numbers of Europeans and Asians.
Age structure
0-14 years: 39.77% (male 42,690/female 41,277)
15-24 years: 21.59% (male 23,088/female 22,487)
25-54 years: 31.61% (male 32,900/female 33,834)
55-64 years: 4.17% (male 4,095/female 4,700)
65 years and over: 2.87% (male 2,631/female 3,420) (2020 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 81
youth dependency ratio: 75.6
elderly dependency ratio: 5.4
potential support ratio: 18.4 (2020 est.)
Median age
total: 19.3 years
male: 18.9 years
female: 19.7 years (2020 est.)
Population distribution
Sao Tome, the capital city, has roughly a quarter of the nation's population; Santo Antonio is the largest town on Principe; the northern areas of both islands have the highest population densities as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization
urban population: 75.1% of total population (2021)
rate of urbanization: 2.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
80,000 SAO TOME (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
19.4 years (2008/09 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29
Maternal mortality ratio
130 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62Infant mortality rate
total: 45.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 48.72 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 41.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 66.72 years
male: 65.14 years
female: 68.36 years (2021 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
49.7% (2019)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 88.4% of population
total: 96.8% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 11.6% of population
total: 3.2% of population (2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure
6.3% (2018)
Physicians density
0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density
2.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 54.4% of population
rural: 35.3% of population
total: 49.1% of population
unimproved: urban: 45.6% of population
rural: 64.7% of population
total: 50.9% of population (2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
<1,000 (2020)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
<100 (2020)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 96.2%
female: 89.5% (2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2015)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 20.8%
male: NA
female: NA (2012 est.)
Environment
Environment - current issues
deforestation and illegal logging; soil erosion and exhaustion; inadequate sewage treatment in cities; biodiversity preservation
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 25.66 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 0.12 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.04 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Land use
agricultural land: 50.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 9.1% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 40.6% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 1% (2018 est.)
forest: 28.1% (2018 est.)
other: 21.2% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 75.1% of total population (2021)
rate of urbanization: 2.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources
forest revenues: 1.9% of GDP (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 25,587 tons (2014 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 14.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 600,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 25.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources
2.18 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe
local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe
local short form: Sao Tome e Principe
etymology: Sao Tome was named after Saint THOMAS the Apostle by the Portuguese who discovered the island on 21 December 1470 (or 1471), the saint's feast day; Principe is a shortening of the original Portuguese name of "Ilha do Principe" (Isle of the Prince) referring to the Prince of Portugal to whom duties on the island's sugar crop were paid
Government type
semi-presidential republic
Capital
name: Sao Tome
geographic coordinates: 0 20 N, 6 44 E
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: named after Saint Thomas the Apostle
Administrative divisions
6 districts (distritos, singular - distrito), 1 autonomous region* (regiao autonoma); Agua Grande, Cantagalo, Caue, Lemba, Lobata, Me-Zochi, Principe*
Independence
12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday
Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Constitution
history: approved 5 November 1975
amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; the Assembly can propose to the president of the republic that an amendment be submitted to a referendum; revised several times, last in 2006
Legal system
mixed legal system of civil law based on the Portuguese model and customary law
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Sao Tome and Principe
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA (since 2 October 2021)
head of government: Prime Minister Jorge BOM JESUS (since 3 December 2018)
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 18 July 2021 and runoff on 5 September 2021 (next to be held in 2026); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president
election results:
2021: Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA elected president in the second round; percent of vote in the first round - Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA (IDA) 39.5%; Guilherme POSSER DA COSTA (MLSTP-PSD) 20.8%; Delfim NEVES (PCD-GR) 16.9%; Abel BOM JESUS (independent) 3.6%; Maria DAS NEVES (independent) 3.3%; other 15.9%; percent of the vote in the second round - Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA (IDA) 57.5%, Guilherme POSSER DA COSTA (MLSTP-PSD) 42.5%; note - VILA NOVA is scheduled to take office 29 September 2021
2016: Evaristo CARVALHO elected president; percent of vote - Evaristo CARVALHO (ADI) 49.8%, Manuel Pinto DA COSTA (independent) 24.8%, Maria DAS NEVES (MLSTP-PSD) 24.1%; note - first round results for CARVALHO were revised downward from just over 50%, prompting the 7 August runoff; however, on 1 August 2016 DA COSTA withdrew from the runoff, citing voting irregularities, and CARVALHO was declared the winner
Legislative branch
description: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 7 October 2018 (next to be held in October 2022)
election results: percent of vote by party - ADI 41.8%, MLSTP/PSD 40.3%, PCD-GR 9.5%, MCISTP 2.1%, other 6.3%; seats by party - ADI 25, MLSTP-PSD 23, PCD-MDFM-UDD 5, MCISTP 2; composition - men 45, women 10, percent of women 18.2%
Judicial branch
highest courts: Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal Justica (consists of 5 judges); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 5 judges, 3 of whom are from the Supreme Court)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the National Assembly; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and elected by the National Assembly for 5-year terms
subordinate courts: Court of First Instance; Audit Court
Political parties and leaders
Force for Democratic Change Movement or MDFM [Fradique Bandeira Melo DE MENEZES]
Independent Democratic Action or ADI [vacant]
Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD [Aurelio MARTINS]
Party for Democratic Convergence-Reflection Group or PCD-GR [Leonel Mario D'ALVA]
other small parties
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CD, CEMAC, CPLP, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos Filomeno Azevedo Agostinho das NEVES (since 3 December 2013)
chancery: 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1807, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 651-8116
FAX: [1] (212) 651-8117
email address and website:
rdstppmun@gmail.com
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the US Ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe
mailing address: 2290 Sao Tome Place, Washington DC 20521-2290
Flag description
three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width), and green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; green stands for the country's rich vegetation, red recalls the struggle for independence, and yellow represents cocoa, one of the country's main agricultural products; the two stars symbolize the two main islands
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
National symbol(s)
palm tree; national colors: green, yellow, red, black
National anthem
name: "Independencia total" (Total Independence)
lyrics/music: Alda Neves DA GRACA do Espirito Santo/Manuel dos Santos Barreto de Sousa e ALMEIDA
note: adopted 1975
Economy
Economic overview
The economy of São Tomé and Príncipe is small, based mainly on agricultural production, and, since independence in 1975, increasingly dependent on the export of cocoa beans. Cocoa production has substantially declined in recent years because of drought and mismanagement. Sao Tome depends heavily on imports of food, fuels, most manufactured goods, and consumer goods, and changes in commodity prices affect the country’s inflation rate. Maintaining control of inflation, fiscal discipline, and increasing flows of foreign direct investment into the nascent oil sector are major economic problems facing the country. In recent years the government has attempted to reduce price controls and subsidies. In 2017, several business-related laws were enacted that aim to improve the business climate.
São Tomé and Príncipe has had difficulty servicing its external debt and has relied heavily on concessional aid and debt rescheduling. In April 2011, the country completed a Threshold Country Program with The Millennium Challenge Corporation to help increase tax revenues, reform customs, and improve the business environment. In 2016, Sao Tome and Portugal signed a five-year cooperation agreement worth approximately $64 million, some of which will be provided as loans. In 2017, China and São Tomé signed a mutual cooperation agreement in areas such as infrastructure, health, and agriculture worth approximately $146 million over five years.
Considerable potential exists for development of tourism, and the government has taken steps to expand tourist facilities in recent years. Potential also exists for the development of petroleum resources in São Tomé and Príncipe's territorial waters in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea, some of which are being jointly developed in a 60-40 split with Nigeria, but production is at least several years off.
Volatile aid and investment inflows have limited growth, and poverty remains high. Restricteded capacity at the main port increases the periodic risk of shortages of consumer goods. Contract enforcement in the country’s judicial system is difficult. The IMF in late 2016 expressed concern about vulnerabilities in the country’s banking sector, although the country plans some austerity measures in line with IMF recommendations under their three year extended credit facility. Deforestation, coastal erosion, poor waste management, and misuse of natural resources also are challenging issues.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$890 million note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)
$860 million note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)
$840 million note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2010 dollars
Real GDP growth rate
3.9% (2017 est.)
4.2% (2016 est.)
3.8% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$4,100 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)
$4,000 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)
$4,000 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2010 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$0 (2018 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
7.8% (2018 est.)
5.6% (2017 est.)
5.7% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 11.8% (2017 est.)
industry: 14.8% (2017 est.)
services: 73.4% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 81.4% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 17.6% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 33.4% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 7.9% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -40.4% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
plantains, oil palm fruit, coconuts, taro, bananas, fruit, cocoa, yams, cassava, maize
Industries
light construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish processing, timber
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 26.1%
industry: 21.4%
services: 52.5% (2014 est.)
Population below poverty line
66.7% (2017 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
56.3 (2017 est.)
32.1 (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Budget
revenues: 103 million (2017 est.)
expenditures: 112.4 million (2017 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Current account balance
-$32 million (2017 est.)
-$23 million (2016 est.)
Exports
$50 million note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)
$70 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)
$100 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Exports - partners
Singapore 30%, Switzerland 24%, France 11%, Poland 7%, Belgium 7%, United States 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities
gas turbines, cocoa beans, aircraft parts, iron products, chocolate (2019)
Imports
$160 million note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)
$190 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)
$200 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Imports - partners
Portugal 41%, Angola 17%, China 8% (2019 )
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, rice, flavored water, postage stamps (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$58.95 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$61.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external
$292.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$308.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates
dobras (STD) per US dollar -
22,689 (2017 est.)
21,797 (2016 est.)
22,149 (2015 est.)
22,091 (2014 est.)
18,466 (2013 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 20.8%
male: NA
female: NA (2012 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 71% (2019)
electrification - urban areas: 87% (2019)
electrification - rural areas: 25% (2019)
Electricity - installed generating capacity
18,100 kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204Electricity - from fossil fuels
88% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60Electricity - from nuclear fuels
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
11% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115Electricity - from other renewable sources
1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165Refined petroleum products - consumption
1,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 2,720 (2020)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.24 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 174,203 (2020)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 79.49 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: local telephone network of adequate quality with most lines connected to digital switches; mobile cellular superior choice to landland; dial-up quality low; broadband expensive (2018)
domestic: fixed-line 2 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity 77 telephones per 100 persons (2019)
international: country code - 239; landing points for the Ultramar GE and ACE submarine cables from South Africa to over 20 West African countries and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media
1 government-owned TV station; 1 government-owned radio station; 3 independent local radio stations authorized in 2005 with 2 operating at the end of 2006; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available
Internet users
total: 65,000 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 29.93% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 2,512 (2020)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.15 (2020 est.)
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1
Airports - with paved runways
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2019)
Roadways
total: 1,300 km (2018)
paved: 230 km (2018)
unpaved: 1,070 km (2018)
Merchant marine
total: 22
by type: general cargo 13, oil tanker 2, other 7 (2021)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Sao Tome
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (Forcas Armadas de Sao Tome e Principe, FASTP): Army, Coast Guard of Sao Tome e Principe (Guarda Costeira de Sao Tome e Principe, GCSTP), Presidential Guard, National Guard (2021)
Military and security service personnel strengths
the FASTP has approximately 4-500 personnel (2020)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the FASTP is lightly and poorly armed (2020)
Maritime threats
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2020, there were 98 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a 24% decrease from the total number of incidents in 2019, it included all three hijackings and 9 of 11 ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2020, a record 130 crew members were kidnapped in 22 separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 95% of kidnappings worldwide; approximately 51% of all incidents of piracy and armed robbery are taking place off Nigeria, which is a decrease from the 71% in 2019 and an indication pirates are traveling further to target vessels; Nigerian pirates are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2021-002 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 9 January 2021, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea.”
Military service age and obligation
18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service; 17 is the legal minimum age for voluntary service (2019)
Military - note
the FASTP is one of the smallest militaries in Africa and consists of only a few companies of ground troops and a few small patrol boats; as of 2021, it did not have an air force