Natural resources of São Tomé and Príncipe
Oil, gas, minerals, forests and water in São Tomé and Príncipe: what it produces, how it ranks in the world, who mines it and what it earns. Every figure is from an official source and is updated when the source is.
Resource rents, share of GDP (2021)
1.9 %
Resources, share of goods exports (2025)
1.0 %
Forest, share of land (2024)
57.6 %
Source: World Bank; UN Comtrade; U.S. Energy Information Administration. Last checked 24 October 2026.
What natural resources earn
Natural resource rents were 1.9% of GDP in 2021, with forests and timber the largest part. That ranks São Tomé and Príncipe 47th of 54 African countries. See all 54.
View the data as a table
| Period | Forests |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 4.0 % |
| 2011 | 3.8 % |
| 2012 | 3.8 % |
| 2013 | 3.3 % |
| 2014 | 3.0 % |
| 2015 | 3.4 % |
| 2016 | 3.3 % |
| 2017 | 3.2 % |
| 2018 | 2.3 % |
| 2019 | 2.0 % |
| 2020 | 2.0 % |
| 2021 | 1.9 % |
| 2022 | Not published |
| 2023 | Not published |
| 2024 | Not published |
| 2025 | Not published |
| 2026 | Not published |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Forest, share of land (2024)
57.6 %
Arable land, share of land (2024)
4.2 %
Renewable fresh water per person (2022)
9,633 m³
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Method and sources
Oil, gas and coal output and coal reserves are from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Oil and gas proved reserves are the EIA figures republished by Our World in Data; oil is converted from cubic metres to barrels at the standard factor. World production, reserves and ranks are from the U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries, ranked among the countries USGS names. The full list of commodities and the companies that mine them are from the USGS Minerals Yearbook country tables, which run a few years behind. Rents, land and water are from the World Bank, and export shares from UN Comtrade. Nothing is estimated by us. Figures last checked on 24 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What natural resources does São Tomé and Príncipe have?
The World Bank puts natural resource rents at 1.9% of GDP in 2021, mostly from forests and timber.
Does São Tomé and Príncipe produce oil?
The U.S. Energy Information Administration records no meaningful crude oil production for São Tomé and Príncipe in 2025.
What is São Tomé and Príncipe's most valuable natural resource?
By export earnings, oil, gas and coal: 1% of goods exports in 2025, according to UN Comtrade.
How much do natural resources contribute to São Tomé and Príncipe's economy?
Natural resource rents, the value of resources extracted minus the cost of extracting them, were 1.9% of GDP in 2021. That ranks São Tomé and Príncipe 47th of 54 African countries.