São Tomé and Príncipe's debt
How much São Tomé and Príncipe owes, to whom, and how that compares with the rest of Africa. From IMF and World Bank figures.
Government debt, % of GDP (2025)
59.1 %
Owed abroad by the government, US$ billion (2024)
0.3
Largest creditor: Angola, % of foreign public debt
26.7 %
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Period | São Tomé and Príncipe | Middle African country |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 83.0 | 32.1 |
| 2011 | 86.0 | 28.4 |
| 2012 | 59.6 | 26.4 |
| 2013 | 76.8 | 31.1 |
| 2014 | 92.5 | 36.4 |
| 2015 | 101.1 | 44.1 |
| 2016 | 104.6 | 45.9 |
| 2017 | 92.3 | 48.0 |
| 2018 | 95.9 | 49.2 |
| 2019 | 98.6 | 53.9 |
| 2020 | 91.0 | 56.7 |
| 2021 | 85.1 | 57.2 |
| 2022 | 86.8 | 59.5 |
| 2023 | 73.2 | 60.9 |
| 2024 | 69.0 | 56.8 |
| 2025 | 59.1 | 53.2 |
| 2026 | 55.9 (partial) | 52.5 (partial) |
| 2027 | 54.2 (partial) | 54.2 (partial) |
| 2028 | 52.0 (partial) | 53.0 (partial) |
| 2029 | 49.6 (partial) | 53.1 (partial) |
| 2030 | 46.5 (partial) | 51.7 (partial) |
| 2031 | 43.6 (partial) | 50.7 (partial) |
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Part | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Other governments | 75.7 % | 76% |
| Development banks and funds | 24.3 % | 24% |
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Period | Angola | Portugal | Italy | African Development Bank | Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 32 | 18 | 23 | 3 | 5 |
| 2011 | 32 | 45 | 23 | 5 | 6 |
| 2012 | 32 | 38 | 29 | 5 | 6 |
| 2013 | 32 | 51 | 30 | 6 | 6 |
| 2014 | 49 | 42 | 27 | 6 | 7 |
| 2015 | 63 | 50 | 27 | 5 | 7 |
| 2016 | 68 | 50 | 26 | 6 | 10 |
| 2017 | 82 | 60 | 27 | 9 | 11 |
| 2018 | 82 | 57 | 27 | 13 | 11 |
| 2019 | 87 | 56 | 27 | 17 | 11 |
| 2020 | 87 | 62 | 30 | 22 | 12 |
| 2021 | 87 | 58 | 29 | 21 | 13 |
| 2022 | 68 | 53 | 29 | 20 | 13 |
| 2023 | 68 | 54 | 32 | 20 | 15 |
| 2024 | 68 | 66 | 29 | 19 | 15 |
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Where São Tomé and Príncipe ranks in Africa
- Government debt to GDP: 24th highest of 53.
- Total external debt in dollars: 49th largest of 49.
- Compare São Tomé and Príncipe's debt with its neighbours on the data wall
More on São Tomé and Príncipe
Method and sources
Debt to GDP is the IMF's general government gross debt, which covers domestic and foreign debt of every level of government. Debt owed abroad by the government and debt it guarantees. Excludes IMF credit and private debt that is not guaranteed. WLD is the total. Creditor names are the World Bank's. Figures checked 24 October 2026.
IMF government debt data · World Bank International Debt Statistics
Frequently asked questions
How much does São Tomé and Príncipe owe?
São Tomé and Príncipe government and the debt it guarantees owed $254.5 million to foreign lenders in 2024, according to the World Bank's International Debt Statistics. Counting domestic debt too, government debt was 59.1% of GDP in 2025, according to the IMF.
Who is São Tomé and Príncipe's largest creditor?
Angola, owed $68 million in 2024, 26.7% of the government's foreign debt. Next: Portugal (26.1%), Italy (11.6%) and African Development Bank (7.3%).
How much does São Tomé and Príncipe owe China?
The World Bank records no public debt owed by São Tomé and Príncipe to China in 2024.
What is São Tomé and Príncipe's debt to GDP ratio?
59.1% in 2025: general government gross debt as a share of GDP, from the IMF World Economic Outlook. That is the 24th highest of 53 African countries with a figure.