Net foreign assets in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Net foreign assets was 1.56 billion current LCU in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Net foreign assets in Sao Tome and Principe, 1995–2023
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net foreign assets in Sao Tome and Principe is 1.56 billion current LCU, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 38.8% on the previous year and down 5.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net foreign assets in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 2.53 billion current LCU in 2015 and was at its lowest, 10.02 million current LCU, in 1995.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 164th out of 187 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net foreign assets in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 10.02 million current LCU | — |
| 1996 | 20.97 million current LCU | +109.3% |
| 1997 | 102.98 million current LCU | +391.0% |
| 1998 | 139.10 million current LCU | +35.1% |
| 1999 | 156.41 million current LCU | +12.4% |
| 2000 | 169.48 million current LCU | +8.4% |
| 2001 | 216.47 million current LCU | +27.7% |
| 2002 | 256.72 million current LCU | +18.6% |
| 2003 | 300.00 million current LCU | +16.9% |
| 2004 | 268.68 million current LCU | -10.4% |
| 2005 | 813.22 million current LCU | +202.7% |
| 2006 | 737.51 million current LCU | -9.3% |
| 2007 | 1.03 billion current LCU | +39.6% |
| 2008 | 1.42 billion current LCU | +37.7% |
| 2009 | 1.28 billion current LCU | -9.8% |
| 2010 | 1.38 billion current LCU | +8.1% |
| 2011 | 1.28 billion current LCU | -7.7% |
| 2012 | 1.63 billion current LCU | +27.7% |
| 2013 | 1.66 billion current LCU | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 2.20 billion current LCU | +32.5% |
| 2015 | 2.53 billion current LCU | +14.9% |
| 2016 | 2.11 billion current LCU | -16.7% |
| 2017 | 1.58 billion current LCU | -24.9% |
| 2018 | 1.64 billion current LCU | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 1.76 billion current LCU | +7.3% |
| 2020 | 1.59 billion current LCU | -9.6% |
| 2021 | 1.29 billion current LCU | -19.2% |
| 2022 | 1.13 billion current LCU | -12.4% |
| 2023 | 1.56 billion current LCU | +38.8% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 1.56 billion current LCU is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 256.19 billion current LCU, 1% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 1.56 billion current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 241.93 billion current LCU, 1% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net foreign assets in Sao Tome and Principe changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +391.0% | 20.97 million current LCU | 102.98 million current LCU |
| 2005 | +202.7% | 268.68 million current LCU | 813.22 million current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 85.90 million current LCU | 10.02 million current LCU | 156.41 million current LCU | 5 |
| 2000s | 648.80 million current LCU | 169.48 million current LCU | 1.42 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.78 billion current LCU | 1.28 billion current LCU | 2.53 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.39 billion current LCU | 1.13 billion current LCU | 1.59 billion current LCU | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
More financial sector data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net foreign assets in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Net foreign assets in Sao Tome and Principe was 1.56 billion current LCU in 2023, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest net foreign assets recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 2.53 billion current LCU in 2015.
- What is the lowest net foreign assets recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.02 million current LCU in 1995.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for net foreign assets?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 164th out of 187 countries with data for 2023.
- Is net foreign assets rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Net foreign assets (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net foreign assets are the sum of foreign assets held by monetary authorities and deposit money banks, less their foreign liabilities. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.