What is varieties of democracy in Sao Tome and Principe?

Varieties of democracy in Sao Tome and Principe was 0.632 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest varieties of democracy recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?

The highest recorded value was 0.67 in 2019.

What is the lowest varieties of democracy recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?

The lowest recorded value was 0.025 in 1900.

How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for varieties of democracy?

Sao Tome and Principe ranks 67th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is varieties of democracy rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?

Over the last ten years it is down 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?

The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Varieties of democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Varieties of democracy in Sao Tome and Principe

Name: Varieties of democracy in Sao Tome and Principe
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Sao Tome and Principe: Varieties of democracy was 0.632 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.632

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

67th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.67

in 2019

All-time low

0.025

in 1900

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Varieties of democracy in Sao Tome and Principe, 1900–2025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for varieties of democracy in Sao Tome and Principe is 0.632, measured in 2025.

The figure is down 4.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, varieties of democracy in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 0.67 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 0.025, in 1900.

That places Sao Tome and Principe 67th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Varieties of democracy in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year

Annual values for Varieties of democracy in Sao Tome and Principe, 1900 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1900	0.025	—
1901	0.025	+0.0%
1902	0.025	+0.0%
1903	0.025	+0.0%
1904	0.025	+0.0%
1905	0.025	+0.0%
1906	0.025	+0.0%
1907	0.025	+0.0%
1908	0.025	+0.0%
1909	0.025	+0.0%
1910	0.025	+0.0%
1911	0.037	+48.0%
1912	0.037	+0.0%
1913	0.037	+0.0%
1914	0.037	+0.0%
1915	0.037	+0.0%
1916	0.037	+0.0%
1917	0.037	+0.0%
1918	0.037	+0.0%
1919	0.037	+0.0%
1920	0.037	+0.0%
1921	0.037	+0.0%
1922	0.037	+0.0%
1923	0.037	+0.0%
1924	0.037	+0.0%
1925	0.037	+0.0%
1926	0.033	-10.8%
1927	0.026	-21.2%
1928	0.026	+0.0%
1929	0.026	+0.0%
1930	0.026	+0.0%
1931	0.026	+0.0%
1932	0.026	+0.0%
1933	0.026	+0.0%
1934	0.026	+0.0%
1935	0.026	+0.0%
1936	0.026	+0.0%
1937	0.026	+0.0%
1938	0.026	+0.0%
1939	0.026	+0.0%
1940	0.028	+7.7%
1941	0.028	+0.0%
1942	0.028	+0.0%
1943	0.028	+0.0%
1944	0.028	+0.0%
1945	0.028	+0.0%
1946	0.028	+0.0%
1947	0.028	+0.0%
1948	0.028	+0.0%
1949	0.028	+0.0%
1950	0.028	+0.0%
1951	0.028	+0.0%
1952	0.028	+0.0%
1953	0.026	-7.1%
1954	0.028	+7.7%
1955	0.028	+0.0%
1956	0.028	+0.0%
1957	0.028	+0.0%
1958	0.028	+0.0%
1959	0.028	+0.0%
1960	0.028	+0.0%
1961	0.028	+0.0%
1962	0.028	+0.0%
1963	0.028	+0.0%
1964	0.028	+0.0%
1965	0.028	+0.0%
1966	0.028	+0.0%
1967	0.028	+0.0%
1968	0.028	+0.0%
1969	0.028	+0.0%
1970	0.028	+0.0%
1971	0.028	+0.0%
1972	0.041	+46.4%
1973	0.041	+0.0%
1974	0.041	+0.0%
1975	0.155	+278.0%
1976	0.158	+1.9%
1977	0.158	+0.0%
1978	0.158	+0.0%
1979	0.158	+0.0%
1980	0.158	+0.0%
1981	0.158	+0.0%
1982	0.158	+0.0%
1983	0.158	+0.0%
1984	0.158	+0.0%
1985	0.158	+0.0%
1986	0.158	+0.0%
1987	0.189	+19.6%
1988	0.189	+0.0%
1989	0.189	+0.0%
1990	0.234	+23.8%
1991	0.54	+130.8%
1992	0.623	+15.4%
1993	0.631	+1.3%
1994	0.633	+0.3%
1995	0.64	+1.1%
1996	0.626	-2.2%
1997	0.614	-1.9%
1998	0.618	+0.7%
1999	0.642	+3.9%
2000	0.642	+0.0%
2001	0.644	+0.3%
2002	0.637	-1.1%
2003	0.637	+0.0%
2004	0.637	+0.0%
2005	0.641	+0.6%
2006	0.642	+0.2%
2007	0.643	+0.2%
2008	0.643	+0.0%
2009	0.643	+0.0%
2010	0.653	+1.6%
2011	0.657	+0.6%
2012	0.654	-0.5%
2013	0.655	+0.2%
2014	0.657	+0.3%
2015	0.664	+1.1%
2016	0.658	-0.9%
2017	0.647	-1.7%
2018	0.65	+0.5%
2019	0.67	+3.1%
2020	0.66	-1.5%
2021	0.657	-0.5%
2022	0.65	-1.1%
2023	0.644	-0.9%
2024	0.632	-1.9%
2025	0.632	+0.0%

Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries

Sao Tome and Principe's 0.632 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.3475, 1.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Sao Tome and Principe's 0.632 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.317, 2.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.025	0.025	0.025	10
1910s	0.0358	0.025	0.037	10
1920s	0.0333	0.026	0.037	10
1930s	0.026	0.026	0.026	10
1940s	0.028	0.028	0.028	10
1950s	0.0278	0.026	0.028	10
1960s	0.028	0.028	0.028	10
1970s	0.0966	0.028	0.158	10
1980s	0.1673	0.158	0.189	10
1990s	0.5801	0.234	0.642	10
2000s	0.6409	0.637	0.644	10
2010s	0.6565	0.647	0.67	10
2020s	0.6458	0.632	0.66	6

Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe

64 Montenegro 0.636 compare
65 Namibia 0.633 compare
65 Senegal 0.633 compare
68 Armenia 0.614 compare
69 Ecuador 0.607 compare
70 Bolivia 0.605 compare
70 Romania 0.605 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Sao Tome and Principe

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8 (2025)
Sovereign state gleditsch ward, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 60 % change on previous year (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)

All data for Sao Tome and Principe →

Frequently asked questions

What is varieties of democracy in Sao Tome and Principe?: Varieties of democracy in Sao Tome and Principe was 0.632 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest varieties of democracy recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?: The highest recorded value was 0.67 in 2019.
What is the lowest varieties of democracy recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?: The lowest recorded value was 0.025 in 1900.
How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for varieties of democracy?: Sao Tome and Principe ranks 67th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is varieties of democracy rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?: Over the last ten years it is down 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?: The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Varieties of democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Varieties of democracy in Sao Tome and Principe. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 11 October 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/varieties-democracy-vdem/sao-tome-and-principe/

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About this data

Indicator: Varieties of democracy
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 29,649 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 09 October 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which political leaders are elected under comprehensive suffrage in free and fair elections, and freedoms of association and expression are guaranteed.