Sao Tome and Principe

SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

A. THE COUNTRY

The Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe is two larger and
several smaller islands in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western
equatorial coast of Africa.  Government is a multiparty democracy.  The
economy is agriculturally based (subsistence and plantation).  Cocoa
accounts for 95% of exports, which makes this country vulnerable to
market fluctuations.  Oil speculation in the Gulf of Guinea holds forth
great economic potential.  Economic reform and privatization are aimed
at reducing the significant debt and spurring growth.

B. THE PEOPLE

The population is ~168,000 and official language Portuguese and three
Creole dialects.  ~76% are Mesticos/Forros (descendents of Portuguese
colonists and African slaves), ~24% Other groups.

C. RELIGIONS AND CHRISTIANITY/PENTECOSTALISM

~87.55% claim to be Christian, ~7.45% Ethnoreligionist, ~3.5% Muslim,
~1.4% Non-religious, ~0.1% Baha’i.
In the Christian category:
~73.16% are Catholic (usually mixed with deep-seated African Spiritist
beliefs), ~9.12% Independent, ~4.18% Protestant.
Evangelicals represent ~4.2% of the population.
Charismatics represent ~11% and of those ~2.7% are Pentecostals.

Donna Siemens

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org

Operation World, Jason Mandryk. Colorado Springs: Biblica Publishing, 2010.