Transport services in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Transport services was 1.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Transport services in Sao Tome and Principe, 1974–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of commercial service exports.
Analysis
In 2024, transport services in Sao Tome and Principe stood at 1.3%.
The figure is down 73.0% on the previous year and up 432.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, transport services in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 69.6% in 1978 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2018.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 194th out of 198 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Transport services in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | % of commercial service exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 7.3% | — |
| 1975 | 2.5% | -65.9% |
| 1976 | 29.1% | +1068.8% |
| 1977 | 9.8% | -66.4% |
| 1978 | 69.6% | +610.8% |
| 1979 | 59.4% | -14.7% |
| 1980 | 45.6% | -23.2% |
| 1981 | 32.2% | -29.4% |
| 1982 | 29.3% | -9.0% |
| 1983 | 43.3% | +47.7% |
| 1984 | 25.3% | -41.5% |
| 1985 | 32.4% | +28.1% |
| 1986 | 60.6% | +86.9% |
| 1987 | 23.5% | -61.3% |
| 1988 | 26.7% | +13.9% |
| 1989 | 33.6% | +25.7% |
| 1990 | 15.5% | -53.8% |
| 1997 | 3.6% | -76.5% |
| 1998 | 3.1% | -15.7% |
| 1999 | 2.1% | -30.8% |
| 2000 | 2.2% | +3.7% |
| 2001 | 1.6% | -27.3% |
| 2002 | 1.6% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 1.6% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 1.6% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 1.6% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 1.6% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 2.1% | +28.0% |
| 2008 | 1.6% | -21.9% |
| 2009 | 1.6% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 1.3% | -16.6% |
| 2011 | 1.1% | -20.7% |
| 2012 | 1.3% | +21.5% |
| 2013 | 0.9% | -28.9% |
| 2014 | 0.2% | -73.5% |
| 2015 | 0.5% | +94.6% |
| 2016 | 0.3% | -26.6% |
| 2017 | 1.1% | +202.9% |
| 2018 | 0.0% | -95.3% |
| 2019 | 0.1% | +52.2% |
| 2020 | 3.9% | +5048.5% |
| 2021 | 7.7% | +98.4% |
| 2022 | 4.4% | -42.5% |
| 2023 | 4.8% | +8.6% |
| 2024 | 1.3% | -73.0% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 1.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.2%, 6% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 1.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.1%, 9% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Transport services 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5048.5% | 0.1% | 3.9% |
| 1976 | +1068.8% | 2.5% | 29.1% |
| 1978 | +610.8% | 9.8% | 69.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 29.6% | 2.5% | 69.6% | 6 |
| 1980s | 35.2% | 23.5% | 60.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.1% | 2.1% | 15.5% | 4 |
| 2000s | 1.7% | 1.6% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7% | 0.0% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.4% | 1.3% | 7.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
- 191 Macau, China 1.7% compare
- 192 Bahamas 1.4% compare
- 193 Saint Lucia 1.3% compare
- 195 Andorra 1.3% compare
- 196 Dominica 0.9% compare
- 197 Guinea-Bissau 0.9% 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)
- 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 transport services in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Transport services in Sao Tome and Principe was 1.3% in 2024, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest transport services recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 69.6% in 1978.
- What is the lowest transport services recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2018.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for transport services?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 194th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is transport services rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 432.7%. 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 Transport services (% of commercial service exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Transport is the process of carriage of people and objects from one location to another as well as related supporting and auxiliary services. Also included are postal and courier services. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of service exports which are commercial services provided by residents to non-residents.