male: Total fertility
rate: 5.95 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

Nationality: noun: Sao Tomean(s) adjective: Sao Tomean

Ethnic groups: mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), forros
(descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from Angola,
Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais born on the
islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)

Religions: Christian 80% (Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant,
Seventh-Day Adventist)

Languages: Portuguese (official)

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 79.3% male: 85% female: 62% (1991 est.)

Government Sao Tome and Principe

Country name: conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome
and Principe conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe local short
form: Sao Tome e Principe local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao
Tome e Principe

Government type: republic

Capital: Sao Tome

Administrative divisions: 2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome note: Principe
has had self-government since 29 April 1995

Independence: 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

Constitution: approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990

Legal system: based on Portuguese legal system and customary law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Fradique DE MENEZES (since 3
September 2001) election results: Fradique DE MENEZES elected president in
Sao Tome's third multiparty presidential election; percent of vote - NA%
elections: 29 July 2001 (next to be held NA July 2006); prime minister
chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president head of
government: cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
on the proposal of the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional
(55 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year
terms) elections: percent of vote by party - MLSTP 39.6%, Force for
Change Democratic Movement 39.4%, Ue-Kedadji coalition 16.2%; seats by
party - MLSTP 24, Force for Change Democratic Movement 23, Ue-Kedadji
coalition 8

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National
Assembly)

Political parties and