Computer, communications and other services (%) … imports in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Computer, communications and other services (%) … imports was 77.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Computer, communications and other services in Sao Tome and Principe, 1974–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of commercial service imports.
Analysis
In 2025, computer, communications and other services in Sao Tome and Principe stood at 77.7%. That is the highest value across all 46 years on record.
That represents a change of up 65.0% on the previous year and up 184.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, computer, communications and other services in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 77.7% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 1986.
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 6th of 198 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Computer, communications and other services (%) … imports in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | % of commercial service imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 23.3% | — |
| 1975 | 11.4% | -50.9% |
| 1976 | 13.6% | +19.6% |
| 1977 | 5.9% | -56.9% |
| 1978 | 1.5% | -74.1% |
| 1979 | 3.4% | +126.0% |
| 1980 | 3.8% | +11.6% |
| 1981 | 3.7% | -3.5% |
| 1982 | 4.6% | +23.0% |
| 1983 | 3.5% | -22.5% |
| 1984 | 3.0% | -16.1% |
| 1985 | 2.4% | -17.9% |
| 1986 | 0.6% | -77.0% |
| 1987 | 2.6% | +368.3% |
| 1988 | 3.5% | +31.8% |
| 1989 | 5.4% | +54.6% |
| 1990 | 4.1% | -22.7% |
| 1997 | 19.2% | +363.2% |
| 1998 | 17.2% | -10.4% |
| 1999 | 15.1% | -12.3% |
| 2000 | 14.0% | -7.2% |
| 2001 | 13.6% | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 12.2% | -10.0% |
| 2003 | 11.2% | -8.2% |
| 2004 | 11.1% | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 2.8% | -75.1% |
| 2006 | 4.5% | +61.9% |
| 2007 | 2.9% | -34.4% |
| 2008 | 1.1% | -63.6% |
| 2009 | 1.3% | +18.0% |
| 2010 | 1.5% | +17.8% |
| 2011 | 3.2% | +118.4% |
| 2012 | 3.9% | +19.8% |
| 2013 | 47.7% | +1130.2% |
| 2014 | 43.3% | -9.3% |
| 2015 | 27.4% | -36.8% |
| 2016 | 31.4% | +14.8% |
| 2017 | 28.1% | -10.6% |
| 2018 | 33.9% | +20.9% |
| 2019 | 32.0% | -5.7% |
| 2020 | 26.0% | -18.7% |
| 2021 | 20.4% | -21.4% |
| 2022 | 69.0% | +237.4% |
| 2023 | 53.3% | -22.8% |
| 2024 | 47.1% | -11.5% |
| 2025 | 77.7% | +65.0% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 77.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 27.1%, 2.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 77.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 32.0%, 2.4× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Computer, communications and other services (%) … imports in Sao Tome and Principe changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +1130.2% | 3.9% | 47.7% |
| 1987 | +368.3% | 0.6% | 2.6% |
| 1997 | +363.2% | 4.1% | 19.2% |
| 2022 | +237.4% | 20.4% | 69.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 9.9% | 1.5% | 23.3% | 6 |
| 1980s | 3.3% | 0.6% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.9% | 4.1% | 19.2% | 4 |
| 2000s | 7.5% | 1.1% | 14.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.2% | 1.5% | 47.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.9% | 20.4% | 77.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
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)
- Commercial service imports 231.13 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is computer, communications and other services in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Computer, communications and other services in Sao Tome and Principe was 77.7% in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest computer, communications and other services recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 77.7% in 2025.
- What is the lowest computer, communications and other services recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 1986.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for computer, communications and other services?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 6th out of 198 countries with data for 2025.
- Is computer, communications and other services rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 184.2%. 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 Computer, communications and other services (% of commercial service imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 46 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Computer, communications and other services include such activities as international telecommunications, and postal and courier services; computer data; news-related service transactions between residents and nonresidents; construction services; royalties and license fees; miscellaneous business, professional, and technical services; and personal, cultural, and recreational services. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of service imports which are commercial services provided by non-residents to residents.