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Life Expectancy in São Tomé and Príncipe

A baby born in São Tomé and Príncipe in 2024 can expect to live 69.9 years on average — 3.6 years less than the world average of 73.5.

Overall69.9years
Men66.4world: 71.1
Women73.9world: 76.0
World rank#155of 217
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Life expectancy in São Tomé and Príncipe since 1960

40506070801960197019801990200020102020
  • Women
  • Men

Since 1960, life expectancy in São Tomé and Príncipe has risen by 26.3 years, from 43.6 to 69.9. Women live 7.5 years longer than men (73.9 vs 66.4).

Expected age at death in São Tomé and Príncipe by age

Life expectancy at birth includes deaths in childhood. Once people reach adulthood they can expect to live longer — here is the average expected age at death for people who have already reached each age:

Current ageBirth20406080
Men66.467.869.072.883.2
Women73.975.476.378.686.0

Birth: World Bank. Other ages: our survival model calibrated to São Tomé and Príncipe’s figures (method).

How people die in São Tomé and Príncipe

  • Chronic diseases: 66.2%
  • Infections, maternal & nutritional: 27%
  • Injuries: 6.8%

In 2019, 66% of deaths in São Tomé and Príncipe were caused by chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes (world: 74%). A São Tomé and Príncipe man has a 20% chance and a woman 19% of dying of one of these diseases between the ages of 30 and 70 (world: 21% and 16%). Road traffic accidents kill 27.9 people per 100,000 each year (world: 16.7).

See which causes of death are most likely for you →

Child mortality

Out of every 1,000 babies born in São Tomé and Príncipe, about 13.6 die before their fifth birthday (world: 37.4). This is one of the main reasons life expectancy at birth differs so much between countries.

São Tomé and Príncipe compared with its region

São Tomé and Príncipe is in the World Bank’s Sub-Saharan Africa region, where the average life expectancy is 64.8 years. It ranks #4 of 48 countries there.

#CountryOverallMenWomen
1Seychelles76.372.180.7
2Cape Verde76.273.179.4
3Mauritius73.870.477.4
4São Tomé and Príncipe69.966.473.9
5Botswana69.366.871.9
6Eritrea68.966.870.9
7Senegal68.967.071.0
8Mauritania68.766.770.7
9Gabon68.566.171.2

See all 217 countries ranked →

Frequently asked questions

What is the life expectancy in São Tomé and Príncipe?

69.9 years in 2024: 66.4 for men and 73.9 for women, according to the World Bank.

Do women live longer than men in São Tomé and Príncipe?

Yes. Women in São Tomé and Príncipe live about 7.5 years longer than men. Worldwide the gap is 4.9 years in favour of women.

How does São Tomé and Príncipe rank for life expectancy?

São Tomé and Príncipe ranks #155 out of 217 countries and territories with data. That is 3.6 years below the world average of 73.5.

What is the average age of death in São Tomé and Príncipe?

Life expectancy at birth (69.9) is pulled down by deaths in childhood. Adults live longer: a 40-year-old man in São Tomé and Príncipe can expect to live to about 69.0, and a 40-year-old woman to about 76.3.

Sources

  • World Bank, World Development Indicators: life expectancy at birth (SP.DYN.LE00.IN, SP.DYN.LE00.MA.IN, SP.DYN.LE00.FE.IN), under-5 mortality (SH.DYN.MORT), causes of death (SH.DTH.NCOM.ZS, SH.DTH.INJR.ZS), mortality from major chronic diseases (SH.DYN.NCOM.MA.ZS, SH.DYN.NCOM.FE.ZS) and road traffic deaths (SH.STA.TRAF.P5). Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Link

Data updated October 25, 2026.

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