Minimum capital for starting a business in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Minimum capital for starting a business was 285.8% in 2012. ◆ Volatile
Minimum capital for starting a business in Sao Tome and Principe, 2003–2012
Source: World Bank, Doing Business project (http://www.doingbusiness.org/). Measured in % of income per capita.
Analysis
In 2012, minimum capital for starting a business in Sao Tome and Principe stood at 285.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 14.9% on the previous year.
Over the whole period, minimum capital for starting a business in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 385.7% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2003.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 11th out of 51 countries with data for 2012, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Minimum capital for starting a business in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | % of income per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 0.0% | — |
| 2004 | 0.0% | — |
| 2005 | 0.0% | — |
| 2006 | 0.0% | — |
| 2007 | 0.0% | — |
| 2008 | 0.0% | — |
| 2009 | 0.0% | — |
| 2010 | 385.7% | — |
| 2011 | 336.0% | -12.9% |
| 2012 | 285.8% | -14.9% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 285.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 14.5%, 19.8× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 285.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.4%, 121.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 7 |
| 2010s | 335.8% | 285.8% | 385.7% | 3 |
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 minimum capital for starting a business in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Minimum capital for starting a business in Sao Tome and Principe was 285.8% in 2012, according to World Bank, Doing Business project (http://www.doingbusiness.org/).
- What is the highest minimum capital for starting a business recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 385.7% in 2010.
- What is the lowest minimum capital for starting a business recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2003.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for minimum capital for starting a business?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 11th out of 51 countries with data for 2012.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, Doing Business project (http://www.doingbusiness.org/), published as part of Minimum capital for starting a business (% of income per capita). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The paid-in minimum capital requirement reflects the amount that the entrepreneur needs to deposit in a bank or with a notary before registration and up to 3 months following incorporation and is recorded as a percentage of the country’s income per capita. The amount is typically specified in the commercial code or the company law. Many countries have a minimum capital requirement but allow businesses to pay only a part of it before registration, with the rest to be paid after the first year of operation. For more information, visit http://www.doingbusiness.org/MethodologySurveys/.