Hunger · Sub-Saharan Africa

Hunger and malnutrition in São Tomé and Príncipe

12%of children under five stunted (2019)Medium

23% of people in São Tomé and Príncipe do not get enough to eat, about 55 thousand. 12% of young children are too short for their age, a sign of long-term undernutrition, and 4.1% are dangerously thin.

23%undernourished (2024, FAO)

55%moderately or severely food insecure (2022)

12%children under 5 stunted (2019)

4.1%children under 5 wasted (2019)

5.4%children under 5 underweight (2019)

4.5%children under 5 overweight (2019)

59%children 6-59 months anaemic (2019, WHO)

14 per 1,000children who die before age five (2024)

Undernourishment in São Tomé and Príncipe since 2002

Share of people not getting enough calories, FAO. Each figure is a three-year average centred on the year.

200214%
200411%
200611%
200813%
201016%
201217%
201418%
201618%
201817%
202016%
202219%
202423%

How São Tomé and Príncipe compares

São Tomé and Príncipe has the 75th highest child stunting of 129 countries with an estimate since 2015. In Sub-Saharan Africa it is 45th of 47.

Frequently asked questions

How many people are hungry in São Tomé and Príncipe?

FAO estimates 23% of people in São Tomé and Príncipe were undernourished in 2024, about 55 thousand people. 55% faced moderate or severe food insecurity (2022).

What percentage of children are stunted in São Tomé and Príncipe?

12% of children under five in São Tomé and Príncipe were stunted in 2019, which WHO rates medium. 4.1% were wasted (2019). That ranks São Tomé and Príncipe 75 of 129 countries with an estimate since 2015, highest first.

Sources: FAO (undernourishment, food insecurity), UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Joint Malnutrition Estimates (stunting, wasting, underweight, overweight), WHO (anaemia) and UN IGME (child deaths), as published by the World Bank.