24/04/2023
The 2nd smallest Country in Africa by area and population is São Tomé and Príncipe, an island country in the Gulf of Guinea (Western Coast of Central Africa); so, today I share some key highlights about this country
1. The country’s area is estimated 960 Sq.Kms (slightly bigger than Nairobi) and it’s population is estimated as 219,000
2. It has the smallest GDP in the continent, estimated as 526 Million USD (almost equivalent to Lamu County GCP)
3. On the per Capita, its 2021 estimate was 2,360 USD ranking 19th in the continent and was ahead of counties like Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal, Cameroon, Tanzania, Malawi among others
4. The country has a relatively high literacy rate estimated as 93 percent, and ranks 4th highest in the continent
5. Its share of population with access to electricity is estimated 78 percent, which ranks 5th in the continent
6. The county’s life expectancy at birth is estimated as 68 years; and is one of the 6 Portuguese speaking countries in the continent
7. The economy is mainly agro-based, and her main agricultural products includes cocoanuts, palm kernels, cocoa, copra, cinnamon, pepper, bananas, papayas, beans, poultry and fish; but cocoa represents 95 percent of the country’s exports
8. The country has the 2nd largest per capita consumption of plantains in Africa, just behind Uganda with an estimate of 155 kgs/person/year
9. The country ranks 10th in the continent in the production of Plantains, which also happens to be its major staple food; and has the 5th highest yield in the continent
10. Its wine consumption per capita is the highest in Africa, with an estimate of 22 liters/person/year; and when estimated as liters of pure alcohol equivalent, the country still leads in the continent, and ranks 9th globally
11. The Capital of the Country is called Sao Tome (Saint Thomas in English), and is home to nearly 75% of the Population. The country is highly urbanized with 75% of its population classified as urban residents
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