The capital of São Tomé and Príncipe is São Tomé city, with around 72,000 people. Population, nationality (São Toméan), the origin of the name and what to see.
The capital of Sao Tome and Principe is the city of São Tomé, on Ana Chaves Bay on the north-east coast of the main island, with around 72,000 inhabitants. It is also the country's largest city and main port. People from the country are called São Toméans (also written Santomeans), and the total population is 235,536, according to the latest World Bank figures.
Below you will find a quick country profile, the story behind the name, what to see in the capital and the answers to the questions people most often ask about the population and nationality.
In this article
- Country profile at a glance
- Why is it called São Tomé?
- São Tomé, the capital of Sao Tome and Principe: what to see
- What is the population of São Tomé and Príncipe?
- The nationality: São Toméan
- How the country is organised
- Frequently asked questions
- See the capital and everything else
Country profile at a glance
- Official name: Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
- Capital: São Tomé (around 72,000 inhabitants)
- Other towns: Neves (around 7,400 inhabitants) and Santo António, capital of Príncipe island (around 2,600)
- Total population: 235,536
- Nationality / demonym: São Toméan or Santomean
- Area: about 1,000 km²
- Official language: Portuguese, plus local creoles
- Currency: the new dobra (STN), pegged at €1 = 24.5 dobras
- Religion: around 73% Catholic
- System of government: unitary semi-presidential republic
- Independence: 12 July 1975 (also the national day)
- Time zone: GMT, the same as the UK in winter
Sources: World Bank and official country profiles (2025).
Why is it called São Tomé?
The Portuguese navigators João de Santarém and Pêro Escobar sighted the main island on 21 December 1471, the feast day of Saint Thomas the Apostle in the liturgical calendar of the time. Following the custom of the era, they named it after the saint of the day: São Tomé is simply Portuguese for "Saint Thomas".
The smaller island was first named Santo Antão and later renamed Príncipe ("Prince") in honour of the heir to the Portuguese throne, who received the revenue from the island's sugar.
When the Portuguese arrived, the islands were completely uninhabited. Everything that is São Toméan today (the language, the food, the music, the architecture of the roças) was born from the forced encounter between European settlers and enslaved Africans brought from the mainland. It is a hard history, and it is the only history this country has.
São Tomé, the capital of Sao Tome and Principe: what to see
Founded in 1485, it is one of the oldest colonial cities in sub-Saharan Africa: a small, quiet, perfectly walkable capital, with slightly faded Portuguese colonial architecture and a pace locals call leve leve, "easy, easy". It concentrates the country's administration, its port and its only international airport.
National Museum at São Sebastião fort
Housed in the 16th-century fort that guarded the bay. It is the national museum and the best place to understand the history of the archipelago in an hour.
Independence Square and the Presidential Palace
The institutional heart of the city, with the pink Presidential Palace and the most representative colonial buildings.
The cathedral
The cathedral (Sé) of Our Lady of Grace has its origins in the 16th century and is one of the oldest church buildings in sub-Saharan Africa.
The municipal market
Where the city really comes alive: tropical fruit, the catch of the day, spices and an intensity you will not find anywhere else in the country. Go in the morning.
The Boa Morte baobab
In the Boa Morte neighbourhood stands a monumental baobab we call the Árvore Sagrada, the Sacred Tree. It is not in the guidebooks and most visitors miss it.
A useful warning: the beaches next to the capital are not clean. If you come for the beach, head to the north or south of the island; see our list of things to do in São Tomé.
What is the population of São Tomé and Príncipe?
235,536 people in the whole country. To put that in context, it is the second least populated country in Africa after the Seychelles, with fewer people than a British city such as Bradford or Bristol.
Featured trip
São Tomé and Príncipe Circuit — 8 Days
Around 96% of the population lives on São Tomé island; Príncipe has only around 8,000 inhabitants. It is a very young population, with a median age of around twenty.
The nationality: São Toméan
In English, people and things from the country are usually called São Toméan (often written Sao Tomean without accents) or Santomean, which comes from the Portuguese santomense. In Portuguese you will also see são-tomense. Both English forms are understood; São Toméan is the one used most often in official and travel writing.
How the country is organised
The country is divided into six districts on São Tomé island (Água Grande, where the capital is, Cantagalo, Caué, Lembá, Lobata and Mé-Zóchi) plus the Autonomous Region of Príncipe, which has its own government and assembly. To place it on the map, read where São Tomé and Príncipe is.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of São Tomé and Príncipe called?
São Tomé, the same as the island and the country. It is on the north-east coast of the main island and has around 72,000 inhabitants.
What is the largest city in São Tomé and Príncipe?
The capital, São Tomé. The next largest towns, such as Neves or Trindade, are much smaller.
What is the capital of Príncipe island?
Santo António, a small colonial town of a few streets with around 2,600 inhabitants.
What is someone from São Tomé and Príncipe called?
A São Toméan, or Santomean.
How many people live in the country?
235,536, according to the World Bank. It is the second least populated country in Africa.
What is São Tomé famous for?
Cocoa above all: in the early 20th century it was the world's largest producer, and it is still nicknamed "the Chocolate Island". Also for its colonial plantations (roças), Pico Cão Grande and the Equator, which crosses the country at Ilhéu das Rolas.
Is it worth spending time in the capital?
Half a day or a day is enough. What is truly unique about the country is outside it: the roças, the rainforest and the beaches.
Is São Tomé city safe?
Yes. It is normal to walk around at night without incident, although the usual common sense of any capital applies. The UK Foreign Office describes crime as generally low. More in is São Tomé safe?
What language is spoken?
Portuguese is the official language, spoken by almost everyone, alongside local creoles such as Forro, Angolar and Lung'ie. English is little spoken outside hotels: all the details are in what language is spoken in São Tomé.
See the capital and everything else
Our 8-day São Tomé guided circuit devotes its last day to the city (the National Museum, Independence Square, the market and the Boa Morte baobab) after the coffee and cocoa routes and the southern beaches. It is a private trip with an English-speaking local guide, with your final nights at Hotel Omali, from €1,250 per person, flights not included.
Read the complete São Tomé travel guide or write to us.