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Sao Tome and Principe

Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
Central Africa•AU•Low Income
POPULATION
0M
Public Debt / GDP
39.4%
2025
External Debt / GDP
17.7%
2025
Debt Svc / Revenue
13.2%
2025
Debt Svc / Exports
21%
2025
Interest / Revenue
8.7%
2025

Debt Composition & Creditor Analysis

External vs Domestic Debt

External
Debt
45%
Domestic
Debt
55%

By Creditor Type

Multilateral35%
Bilateral25%
Paris Club15%
Eurobond15%
Other Priv.10%

By Instrument Type

Bonds34.8%
Loans58.1%
Other14.5%

Average Lending Terms (External)

%
6%
Interest
⏱
18yr
Maturity
⏱
6yr
Grace
No active restructuring

CAP Pillar 2: Debt Management Quality

Data Dissemination
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Debt Strategy (MTDS)
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Borrowing Plan
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Domestic Market Dev.
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Comprehensive Debt Analytics

Explore in-depth macroeconomic vulnerability, fiscal sustainability, and sovereign risk indicators for Sao Tome and Principe.

Vulnerability Indicator Explorer

Select an indicator to analyze Sao Tome and Principe's performance against international benchmarks.

39.4%
Current (2025)
-0.2 pp YoY
Within 70% target
Analysis

Sao Tome and Principe's public debt at 39.4% of GDP is below the 70% prudential benchmark, suggesting manageable indebtedness relative to the economy. This provides fiscal space for counter-cyclical spending and public investment.

The most widely used measure of overall indebtedness relative to economic activity. It reflects the government's solvency capability and long-term fiscal space.

Net Financial Flows

Disbursements (Inflows) vs Principal & Interest Repayments (Outflows).

Net Positive Flows

In 2025, Sao Tome and Principe received $0.1B in disbursements while repaying $0.0B — a net inflow of $0.1B. The country is receiving more resources than it is repaying, providing additional financing for development.

Profile of Maturing Debts (2025)

Breakdown of short-term (<1 year), medium-term (1-9 years) and long-term (10+ years) debt liabilities.

Short-Term (<1 yr)
$0.1B
20.0% of total
Medium-Term (1-9 yrs)
$0.2B
40.0% of total
Long-Term (10+ yrs)
$0.2B
40.0% of total
Analysis

Sao Tome and Principe has 20.0% of its debt maturing within one year, exceeding the 15% refinancing risk threshold. This elevated short-term exposure creates significant rollover risk — the government must frequently return to capital markets to refinance, leaving it vulnerable to sudden interest rate spikes or market closure.