Safest cities in Sao Tome and Principe
1 city with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in São Tomé and PríncipeAlthough there’s no recent history of terrorism in São Tomé and Príncipe, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Political situation
- Economic difficulties and political rows over the handling of investments in São Tomé and Príncipe’s development can occasionally lead to civil unrest.
Crime
- The crime rate in São Tomé and Príncipe is generally low, but burglaries and armed robberies can happen. You can take steps to reduce your risk and help protect your belongings, including:
Laws and cultural differences
- Illegal drugs and prison sentencesThere are severe penalties for all drug offences. Pack all luggage yourself and do not carry anything through customs for anyone else.
- LGBT+ travellersSame-sex sexual activity is legal in São Tomé and Príncipe. Attitudes towards same-sex relationships are less tolerant than in the UK and showing affection in public may attract unwanted and negative attention.
- MoneyCredit cards are not widely accepted in São Tomé and Príncipe. Check if your hotel or restaurant accepts credit cards. There are only a small number of ATMs. You can withdraw cash from the main bank in the capital city, São Tomé.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in São Tomé and Príncipe, see information on driving abroad.
- Road conditionsMany roads are in poor condition and unlit, particularly outside the capital. Animals often walk on roads at night. Landslides after heavy rain can block roads.
- Public transportTaxis and motorbike taxis (‘motoqueiros’) are the only forms of public transport. They are often unsafe and in poor condition. It’s common for people to share taxis.
- Air travelThe UK Air Safety List (ASL) lists all known airlines in São Tomé and Príncipe that do not meet international safety standards and are banned from operating commercial air services to, from, and within the UK. Check the UK Air Safety List when considering which airlines to fly with. The list is maintained by the Department for Transport, based on…
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Sao Tome and Principe, updated 2025-12-10 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 3.23 /100k2011
- Income inequality
- Gini 40.72017
- Human development
- HDI 0.6372023
- Income
- $6,920/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 27.9 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 74/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 51/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 45/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 2.5/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.62GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 15.1 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 37%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.5 doctors /1k2.9 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 30 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Sao Tome and Principe (as of 2025).
How Sao Tome and Principe compares
| Measure | Sao Tome and Principe | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 3.2 /100k | 2.4 /100k | +0.9 /100k — better for World median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 40.7 | 35.2 | +5.5 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.637 | 0.763 | −0.126 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 27.9 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +12.5 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 51/100 | 52/100 | −1/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 45/100 | 39/100 | +6/100 — better for Sao Tome and Principe |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 15.1 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | −4.6 µg/m³ — better for Sao Tome and Principe |
| Natural-hazard risk | 2.5/10 | 3.8/10 | −1.3/10 — better for Sao Tome and Principe |
| Measure | Sao Tome and Principe | Africa median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 3.2 /100k | 4.7 /100k | −1.4 /100k — better for Sao Tome and Principe |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 40.7 | 38.3 | +2.5 — better for Africa median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.637 | 0.560 | +0.077 — better for Sao Tome and Principe |
| Road deaths | 27.9 /100k | 28.2 /100k | −0.3 /100k — better for Sao Tome and Principe |
| Rule of law | 51/100 | 42/100 | +9/100 — better for Sao Tome and Principe |
| Corruption perceptions | 45/100 | 30/100 | +15/100 — better for Sao Tome and Principe |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 15.1 µg/m³ | 27.7 µg/m³ | −12.6 µg/m³ — better for Sao Tome and Principe |
| Natural-hazard risk | 2.5/10 | 5.3/10 | −2.8/10 — better for Sao Tome and Principe |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.
All 1 cities, safest first
- São Tomé65.4 · #3949 worldwide