República Democrática de São Tomé e Príncipe

Note: Prime Minister Trovoada lost a nonconfidence motion in the National Assembly on November 28, 2012, as all legislators except those belonging to Trovoada’s party supported his ouster. He was succeeded as prime minister by former prime minister Gabriel Costa, who formed a new cabinet on December 12.

Political Status: Achieved independence from Portugal on July 12, 1975; constitution of November 5, 1975, revised in December 1982, October 1987, August 1990, and March 2003.

Area: 387 sq. mi. (1,001 sq. km).

Population: 172,961 (2012E—UN); 183,176 (2012E—U.S. Census).

Major Urban Center (2008E): SÃO TOMÉ (62,500).

Official Language: Portuguese.

Monetary Unit: Dobra (market rate November 5, 2012: 18,780.03 dobras = $1US).

President: Manuel PINTO DA COSTA (independent); directly elected in runoff ...