Commercial service imports (current US$) in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Commercial service imports (current US$) was 231.13 million current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Commercial service imports in Sao Tome and Principe, 1974–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, commercial service imports in Sao Tome and Principe stood at 231.13 million current US$. That is the highest value across all 46 years on record.
The figure is up 122.0% on the previous year and up 272.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, commercial service imports in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 231.13 million current US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2.16 million current US$, in 1976.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 179th out of 200 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Commercial service imports (current US$) in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 3.20 million current US$ | — |
| 1975 | 3.02 million current US$ | -5.6% |
| 1976 | 2.16 million current US$ | -28.5% |
| 1977 | 3.94 million current US$ | +82.6% |
| 1978 | 5.26 million current US$ | +33.5% |
| 1979 | 6.88 million current US$ | +30.7% |
| 1980 | 5.61 million current US$ | -18.5% |
| 1981 | 7.36 million current US$ | +31.4% |
| 1982 | 9.29 million current US$ | +26.2% |
| 1983 | 6.54 million current US$ | -29.6% |
| 1984 | 8.77 million current US$ | +34.1% |
| 1985 | 7.63 million current US$ | -13.0% |
| 1986 | 9.71 million current US$ | +27.3% |
| 1987 | 6.96 million current US$ | -28.3% |
| 1988 | 7.13 million current US$ | +2.5% |
| 1989 | 7.41 million current US$ | +3.9% |
| 1990 | 7.98 million current US$ | +7.8% |
| 1997 | 9.40 million current US$ | +17.8% |
| 1998 | 7.33 million current US$ | -22.0% |
| 1999 | 8.43 million current US$ | +15.0% |
| 2000 | 9.14 million current US$ | +8.5% |
| 2001 | 9.50 million current US$ | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 9.46 million current US$ | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 10.76 million current US$ | +13.7% |
| 2004 | 12.21 million current US$ | +13.5% |
| 2005 | 9.71 million current US$ | -20.5% |
| 2006 | 15.72 million current US$ | +61.8% |
| 2007 | 15.23 million current US$ | -3.1% |
| 2008 | 18.91 million current US$ | +24.2% |
| 2009 | 17.29 million current US$ | -8.6% |
| 2010 | 21.60 million current US$ | +24.9% |
| 2011 | 27.47 million current US$ | +27.2% |
| 2012 | 24.36 million current US$ | -11.3% |
| 2013 | 43.48 million current US$ | +78.5% |
| 2014 | 77.18 million current US$ | +77.5% |
| 2015 | 62.03 million current US$ | -19.6% |
| 2016 | 60.45 million current US$ | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 59.29 million current US$ | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 58.97 million current US$ | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 58.01 million current US$ | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 40.68 million current US$ | -29.9% |
| 2021 | 47.18 million current US$ | +16.0% |
| 2022 | 136.79 million current US$ | +190.0% |
| 2023 | 112.28 million current US$ | -17.9% |
| 2024 | 104.11 million current US$ | -7.3% |
| 2025 | 231.13 million current US$ | +122.0% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 231.13 million current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.40 billion current US$, 10% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 231.13 million current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.41 billion current US$, 16% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.08 million current US$ | 2.16 million current US$ | 6.88 million current US$ | 6 |
| 1980s | 7.64 million current US$ | 5.61 million current US$ | 9.71 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.28 million current US$ | 7.33 million current US$ | 9.40 million current US$ | 4 |
| 2000s | 12.79 million current US$ | 9.14 million current US$ | 18.91 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.28 million current US$ | 21.60 million current US$ | 77.18 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 112.03 million current US$ | 40.68 million current US$ | 231.13 million current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
- 176 Belize 324.25 million current US$ compare
- 177 Saint Kitts and Nevis 256.50 million current US$ compare
- 178 Liberia 250.26 million current US$ compare
- 180 Vanuatu 225.06 million current US$ compare
- 181 Bhutan 220.69 million current US$ compare
- 182 Solomon Islands 219.27 million current US$ compare
More private sector data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Merchandise trade 22.5% (2025)
- Food imports 31.8% (2023)
- Manufactures imports 37.1% (2023)
- Merchandise imports 183.00 million current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 98.2% (2023)
- Manufactures exports 1.5% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 38.00 million current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 105.01 million current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 158.17 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0387 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is commercial service imports in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Commercial service imports in Sao Tome and Principe was 231.13 million current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest commercial service imports recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 231.13 million current US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest commercial service imports recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.16 million current US$ in 1976.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for commercial service imports?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 179th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is commercial service imports rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 272.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Commercial service imports (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Commercial service imports are total service imports minus imports of government services not included elsewhere. Imports of services are services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.