São Tomé and Príncipe: flag, capital, currency and history

Flag of São Tomé and Príncipe

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History of São Tomé and Príncipe

The islands of São Tomé and Príncipe were uninhabited when Portuguese navigators reached them around 1470. Settlement began in the late fifteenth century, and the islands became a centre of sugar production and a trading station in the Atlantic slave trade. Later, cocoa and coffee plantations dominated the economy, and labour abuses on plantations drew international criticism in the early twentieth century. A nationalist movement emerged in the 1960s, and the territory became independent from Portugal in 1975 under a one-party system. Multiparty democracy was introduced in the early 1990s.

Key dates

1. c. 1470Portuguese navigators reach the uninhabited islands of São Tomé and Príncipe.
2. 1500sSugar plantations worked by enslaved Africans are established and the islands become a slave-trading hub.
3. 1800sCocoa and coffee plantations replace sugar as the main economic activity.
4. 1951Portugal designates the islands an overseas province.
5. 1975São Tomé and Príncipe gains independence from Portugal on 12 July.
6. 1990A new constitution introduces multiparty democracy, approved by referendum.
7. 1991The first multiparty elections are held.

A short overview, not a full history. Dates are given for well-documented events only.

Currency of São Tomé and Príncipe

São Tomé and Príncipe uses the São Tomé and Príncipe dobra (STN, Db). Use our free currency converter to check exchange rates.

Frequently asked questions

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