|
|
Sao Tome NEWS MEDIA
News
Stand
Background: Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th
century, the islands' sugar-based economy gave way to coffee
and cocoa in the 19th century - all grown with 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. Although the first
free elections were held in 1991, the political environment
has been one of continued instability with frequent changes in
leadership and coup attempts in 1995 and 2003. The recent
discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea promises to have a
significant impact on the country's economy.
Population: 156,523
GDP per capita: $719.32 per capita
Capital with population: Sao Tome - 43,420
Largest city with population: Sao Tome - 43,420
|
