Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region was 3.0% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region in Sao Tome and Principe, 1969–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise exports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region in Sao Tome and Principe is 3.0%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 66.3% on the previous year and down 46.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 48.6% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1990.
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 165th of 203 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 4.8% | — |
| 1970 | 3.8% | -22.2% |
| 1973 | 3.1% | -16.7% |
| 1974 | 2.4% | -24.3% |
| 1975 | 2.9% | +22.5% |
| 1983 | 0.1% | -96.1% |
| 1990 | 0.0% | -93.5% |
| 1991 | 0.0% | +37.4% |
| 1992 | 0.0% | +111.0% |
| 1993 | 7.2% | +33731.1% |
| 1994 | 8.4% | +16.1% |
| 1995 | 5.2% | -37.9% |
| 1996 | 4.3% | -17.4% |
| 1997 | 10.1% | +134.4% |
| 1998 | 6.0% | -40.2% |
| 1999 | 0.2% | -97.2% |
| 2000 | 6.0% | +3538.0% |
| 2001 | 2.6% | -57.4% |
| 2002 | 3.3% | +27.0% |
| 2003 | 2.9% | -12.4% |
| 2004 | 7.8% | +171.5% |
| 2005 | 6.7% | -13.7% |
| 2006 | 4.8% | -28.6% |
| 2007 | 36.2% | +654.8% |
| 2008 | 48.6% | +34.2% |
| 2009 | 26.4% | -45.6% |
| 2010 | 6.7% | -74.6% |
| 2011 | 16.3% | +143.7% |
| 2012 | 9.0% | -44.7% |
| 2013 | 5.7% | -37.4% |
| 2014 | 5.1% | -9.0% |
| 2015 | 3.8% | -25.9% |
| 2016 | 11.2% | +193.4% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | -73.1% |
| 2018 | 3.5% | +16.9% |
| 2019 | 9.7% | +174.9% |
| 2020 | 12.3% | +27.3% |
| 2021 | 8.3% | -32.1% |
| 2022 | 9.0% | +8.3% |
| 2023 | 3.0% | -66.3% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 3.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 26.9%, 11% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 3.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.5%, 18% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +33731.1% | 0.0% | 7.2% |
| 2000 | +3538.0% | 0.2% | 6.0% |
| 2007 | +654.8% | 4.8% | 36.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 1 |
| 1970s | 3.0% | 2.4% | 3.8% | 4 |
| 1980s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1990s | 4.1% | 0.0% | 10.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.5% | 2.6% | 48.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.4% | 3.0% | 16.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.2% | 3.0% | 12.3% | 4 |
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)
- Food exports 98.2% (2023)
- Manufactures exports 1.5% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 38.00 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)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 31.03 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region in Sao Tome and Principe was 3.0% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 48.6% in 2008.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1990.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 165th out of 203 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region (% of total merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to other low- and middle-income economies in the same World Bank region as a percentage of total merchandise exports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data. No figures are shown for high-income economies, because they are a separate category in the World Bank classification of economies.