São Tomé and Príncipe

São Tomé and Príncipe reports a comparatively low infant mortality rate of 9.4 per 1,000 live births, coupled with a life expectancy approaching 70 years (69.72). These figures suggest moderate success in basic public health provision, especially when contrasted with the much higher rates often observed in the broader Middle Africa region.

Over half (52.125%) of São Tomé and Príncipe's total land area is covered by forest. This high percentage is noteworthy for a small, densely populated island nation and highlights the importance of its natural environment and biodiversity, likely due to its volcanic origins and conservation efforts.

The country maintains a high fertility rate of 3.64 children per woman, which is significantly above the global replacement rate (2.1). This indicates continued strong population growth pressure, which, combined with the small land area and slow economic growth, poses long-term challenges for resource management and job creation.

With a GDP per capita of nearly $3,000, STP is classified as a lower-middle-income economy, which is relatively high compared to many countries in Middle Africa. However, this economic status is precarious given the extremely slow GDP growth rate of just 0.372%, suggesting the economy is struggling to expand and create new wealth.