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São Tomé and Príncipe · Employment & wages

Unemployment, participation, employment, youth, wages and hours.

19 indicators · 12 with data

Unemployment

Unemployment

% of labour force

146th of 185 · 32nd in Sub-Saharan Africa
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UnemploymentSão Tomé and Príncipe's unemployment fell from 14.3 % in 1996 to 9.1 % in 2025.2000200520102015202020250%5%10%15%20%9.1 %

São Tomé and Príncipe's unemployment fell from 14.3 % in 1996 to 9.1 % in 2025.

Youth unemployment

% of labour force ages 15–24

57th of 183 · 24th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Youth unemploymentSão Tomé and Príncipe's youth unemployment fell from 19.6 % in 1996 to 8.8 % in 2025.2000200520102015202020250%5%10%15%20%25%8.8 %

São Tomé and Príncipe's youth unemployment fell from 19.6 % in 1996 to 8.8 % in 2025.

Participation

Participation

% of population ages 15+

182nd of 182 · 45th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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ParticipationSão Tomé and Príncipe's participation fell from 24.6 % in 1996 to 23.3 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202523%24%24%25%25%23.3 %

São Tomé and Príncipe's participation fell from 24.6 % in 1996 to 23.3 % in 2025.

Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)

% of female population ages 15+

170th of 182 · 44th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)São Tomé and Príncipe's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) rose from 21.9 % in 1996 to 22.7 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202522%22%23%23%24%22.7 %

São Tomé and Príncipe's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) rose from 21.9 % in 1996 to 22.7 % in 2025.

Employment

Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)

% of population ages 15+

182nd of 182 · 45th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)São Tomé and Príncipe's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) rose from 21.1 % in 1996 to 21.2 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202520%20%21%21%22%22%21.2 %

São Tomé and Príncipe's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) rose from 21.1 % in 1996 to 21.2 % in 2025.

Labour force, total

people

181st of 182 · 45th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Labour force, totalSão Tomé and Príncipe's labour force, total rose from 18,636 in 1996 to 35,075 in 2025.20002005201020152020202515k20k25k30k35k40k35,075

São Tomé and Príncipe's labour force, total rose from 18,636 in 1996 to 35,075 in 2025.

Self-employed (% of total employment)

% of employment

67th of 182 · 35th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Self-employed (% of total employment)São Tomé and Príncipe's self-employed (% of total employment) fell from 50.9 % in 1996 to 44.0 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202542%44%46%48%50%52%44.0 %

São Tomé and Príncipe's self-employed (% of total employment) fell from 50.9 % in 1996 to 44.0 % in 2025.

Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)

% of employment

108th of 182 · 10th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)São Tomé and Príncipe's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) fell from 41.3 % in 1996 to 35.0 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202532%34%36%38%40%42%35.0 %

São Tomé and Príncipe's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) fell from 41.3 % in 1996 to 35.0 % in 2025.

Structure

Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)

% of employment

99th of 182 · 42nd in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)São Tomé and Príncipe's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) fell from 22.3 % in 1996 to 12.1 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202510%15%20%12.1 %

São Tomé and Príncipe's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) fell from 22.3 % in 1996 to 12.1 % in 2025.

Employment in industry (% of total employment)

% of employment

59th of 182 · 4th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in industry (% of total employment)São Tomé and Príncipe's employment in industry (% of total employment) rose from 22.1 % in 1996 to 22.5 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202520%21%22%23%22.5 %

São Tomé and Príncipe's employment in industry (% of total employment) rose from 22.1 % in 1996 to 22.5 % in 2025.

Employment in services (% of total employment)

% of employment

75th of 182 · 5th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in services (% of total employment)São Tomé and Príncipe's employment in services (% of total employment) rose from 55.6 % in 1996 to 65.4 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202555%60%65%65.4 %

São Tomé and Príncipe's employment in services (% of total employment) rose from 55.6 % in 1996 to 65.4 % in 2025.

Productivity

GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)

constant 2021 PPP $

93rd of 168 · 6th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)São Tomé and Príncipe's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) rose from intl $32.6k in 1996 to intl $41.2k in 2025.200020052010201520202025intl $30kintl $35kintl $40kintl $45kintl $50kintl $41.2k

São Tomé and Príncipe's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) rose from intl $32.6k in 1996 to intl $41.2k in 2025.

›No data available (7)

These indicators exist in the registry but no source reports a value for São Tomé and Príncipe.

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