Merchandise imports in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Merchandise imports was 183.00 million current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports in Sao Tome and Principe, 1960–2025
Source: World Trade Organization (WTO). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, merchandise imports in Sao Tome and Principe stood at 183.00 million current US$.
The figure is up 19.6% on the previous year and up 28.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 196.00 million current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 5.00 million current US$, in 1960.
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 202nd of 206 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.00 million current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 5.00 million current US$ | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 5.00 million current US$ | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 5.00 million current US$ | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 5.00 million current US$ | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 5.00 million current US$ | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 6.00 million current US$ | +20.0% |
| 1967 | 5.00 million current US$ | -16.7% |
| 1968 | 6.00 million current US$ | +20.0% |
| 1969 | 8.00 million current US$ | +33.3% |
| 1970 | 9.00 million current US$ | +12.5% |
| 1971 | 8.00 million current US$ | -11.1% |
| 1972 | 8.00 million current US$ | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 10.00 million current US$ | +25.0% |
| 1974 | 10.00 million current US$ | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 11.00 million current US$ | +10.0% |
| 1976 | 9.00 million current US$ | -18.2% |
| 1977 | 14.00 million current US$ | +55.6% |
| 1978 | 18.00 million current US$ | +28.6% |
| 1979 | 20.00 million current US$ | +11.1% |
| 1980 | 19.00 million current US$ | -5.0% |
| 1981 | 17.00 million current US$ | -10.5% |
| 1982 | 15.00 million current US$ | -11.8% |
| 1983 | 10.00 million current US$ | -33.3% |
| 1984 | 12.00 million current US$ | +20.0% |
| 1985 | 10.00 million current US$ | -16.7% |
| 1986 | 17.00 million current US$ | +70.0% |
| 1987 | 14.00 million current US$ | -17.6% |
| 1988 | 14.00 million current US$ | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 18.00 million current US$ | +28.6% |
| 1990 | 21.00 million current US$ | +16.7% |
| 1991 | 31.00 million current US$ | +47.6% |
| 1992 | 29.00 million current US$ | -6.5% |
| 1993 | 32.00 million current US$ | +10.3% |
| 1994 | 30.00 million current US$ | -6.2% |
| 1995 | 29.00 million current US$ | -3.3% |
| 1996 | 22.00 million current US$ | -24.1% |
| 1997 | 16.00 million current US$ | -27.3% |
| 1998 | 17.00 million current US$ | +6.2% |
| 1999 | 38.00 million current US$ | +123.5% |
| 2000 | 30.00 million current US$ | -21.1% |
| 2001 | 28.00 million current US$ | -6.7% |
| 2002 | 31.00 million current US$ | +10.7% |
| 2003 | 41.00 million current US$ | +32.3% |
| 2004 | 41.00 million current US$ | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 50.00 million current US$ | +22.0% |
| 2006 | 71.00 million current US$ | +42.0% |
| 2007 | 79.00 million current US$ | +11.3% |
| 2008 | 114.00 million current US$ | +44.3% |
| 2009 | 103.00 million current US$ | -9.6% |
| 2010 | 112.00 million current US$ | +8.7% |
| 2011 | 134.00 million current US$ | +19.6% |
| 2012 | 131.00 million current US$ | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 152.00 million current US$ | +16.0% |
| 2014 | 170.00 million current US$ | +11.8% |
| 2015 | 142.00 million current US$ | -16.5% |
| 2016 | 139.00 million current US$ | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 147.00 million current US$ | +5.8% |
| 2018 | 148.00 million current US$ | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 148.00 million current US$ | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 138.00 million current US$ | -6.8% |
| 2021 | 166.00 million current US$ | +20.3% |
| 2022 | 196.00 million current US$ | +18.1% |
| 2023 | 184.00 million current US$ | -6.1% |
| 2024 | 153.00 million current US$ | -16.8% |
| 2025 | 183.00 million current US$ | +19.6% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 183.00 million current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.14 billion current US$, 2% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 183.00 million current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.46 billion current US$, 3% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports in Sao Tome and Principe changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +123.5% | 17.00 million current US$ | 38.00 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.50 million current US$ | 5.00 million current US$ | 8.00 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 11.70 million current US$ | 8.00 million current US$ | 20.00 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.60 million current US$ | 10.00 million current US$ | 19.00 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 26.50 million current US$ | 16.00 million current US$ | 38.00 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.80 million current US$ | 28.00 million current US$ | 114.00 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 142.30 million current US$ | 112.00 million current US$ | 170.00 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 170.00 million current US$ | 138.00 million current US$ | 196.00 million current US$ | 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)
- 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$), annual growth rate 31.03 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 761.69 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Merchandise imports in Sao Tome and Principe was 183.00 million current US$ in 2025, according to World Trade Organization (WTO).
- What is the highest merchandise imports recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 196.00 million current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.00 million current US$ in 1960.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for merchandise imports?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 202nd out of 206 countries with data for 2025.
- Is merchandise imports rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
- The figures come from World Trade Organization (WTO), published as part of Merchandise imports (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Merchandise imports includes goods whose economic ownership is changed from a non-resident to a resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e. 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.