Geography Quiz Arcade

Capital of São Tomé and Príncipe: São Tomé — Facts & Quiz

The capital of São Tomé and Príncipe is São Tomé. São Tomé and Príncipe sits in Africa, has a population of 227,380, and uses the STN. Official languages include Portuguese.

Quick facts

  • Capital: São Tomé
  • Continent: Africa
  • Population: ~227,380
  • Area: 964 km²
  • Population density: 236 people per km²
  • Official language: Portuguese
  • Currency: STN
  • ISO code: ST

How big is São Tomé and Príncipe?

By population, São Tomé and Príncipe ranks 177th in the world, holding roughly well under a hundredth of a percent of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 173rd.

Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. São Tomé and Príncipe has 236 people per square kilometre, which is about 4.0 times the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.

Within Africa, São Tomé and Príncipe is the 53th most populous country of 54.

Countries of a similar size

The two countries closest to São Tomé and Príncipe in population are Samoa (222,382) and Saint Lucia (179,857).

By land area, its closest counterparts are Kiribati (811 km²) and Bahrain (765 km²).

Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.

Language and currency

Portuguese is spoken officially in 9 countries in this dataset, including Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, and 3 others.

São Tomé and Príncipe uses the STN, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.

How to remember São Tomé and Príncipe

Two islands, two stars, and the capital takes the name of the bigger island: São Tomé (Saint Thomas). Get the country and you have the capital.

The flag of São Tomé and Príncipe: green, yellow and red, with two black stars

🇸🇹 The flag is green, yellow and green horizontal stripes, with a red triangle at the hoist and two black stars on the yellow. The two stars stand for the two main islands, São Tomé and Príncipe. Green stands for the islands' rich plant life, yellow for cocoa, one of the main crops, and red for the struggle for independence.

Region and neighbours

São Tomé and Príncipe is an island country in the Gulf of Guinea, off the west coast of Central Africa, just north of the equator. As an island country it has no land neighbours.

Three facts about São Tomé and Príncipe

  1. São Tomé and Príncipe is the second-smallest country in Africa by area, after Seychelles.
  2. The equator passes over the small islet of Ilhéu das Rolas, just south of São Tomé island.
  3. By 1905 São Tomé had become the world's largest producer of cocoa, which is still the country's most important crop.

Sources: Wikipedia: São Tomé and Príncipe, Wikipedia: Flag of São Tomé and Príncipe, Wikipedia: São Tomé, CIA World Factbook.

Quiz yourself on São Tomé and Príncipe

São Tomé and Príncipe capital quiz

  1. What is the capital of São Tomé and Príncipe 🇸🇹?

    • São Tomé
    • Pretoria
    • Bamako
    • N'Djamena
    Show answer

    São Tomé

  2. What is the capital of Seychelles 🇸🇨?

    • Moroni
    • Gitega
    • Victoria
    • Bamako
    Show answer

    Victoria

  3. What is the capital of Cabo Verde 🇨🇻?

    • Niamey
    • Bamako
    • Praia
    • Kinshasa
    Show answer

    Praia

  4. What is the capital of Comoros 🇰🇲?

    • Victoria
    • Moroni
    • Bissau
    • Lilongwe
    Show answer

    Moroni

  5. What is the capital of Djibouti 🇩🇯?

    • Djibouti
    • Gaborone
    • Kampala
    • Rabat
    Show answer

    Djibouti

São Tomé and Príncipe in Africa

The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt and Democratic Republic of the Congo.

If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Africa is the block São Tomé and Príncipe belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.

Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for São Tomé and Príncipe.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of São Tomé and Príncipe?

The capital of São Tomé and Príncipe is São Tomé.

What is the population of São Tomé and Príncipe?

About 227,380, making it the 177th most populous country in the world.

How big is São Tomé and Príncipe?

964 square kilometres, ranking 173rd by land area, at a density of 236 people per square kilometre.

What currency does São Tomé and Príncipe use?

The STN, which no other country uses.

What are the colours of the São Tomé and Príncipe flag?

The flag of São Tomé and Príncipe is green, yellow and green horizontal stripes, with a red triangle at the hoist and two black stars on the yellow. The two stars stand for the two main islands, São Tomé and Príncipe. Green stands for the islands' rich plant life, yellow for cocoa, one of the main crops, and red for the struggle for independence.

Which countries border São Tomé and Príncipe?

None. São Tomé and Príncipe is an island country in the Gulf of Guinea, off the west coast of Central Africa, just north of the equator, so it has no land borders with other countries.

How can I remember the capital of São Tomé and Príncipe?

Two islands, two stars, and the capital takes the name of the bigger island: São Tomé (Saint Thomas). Get the country and you have the capital.

More capitals to learn

Get the free Mind Skills Arcade app

Brain games for memory, logic, math and focus, free and offline: Get it on Google Play · Download on the App Store