Human Development & Quality of Life in São Tomé and Príncipe
Human Development
São Tomé and Príncipe's 2023 HDI is 0.637, placing it 141 in UNDP's table and in the medium human development category. That rank is only the starting point. The GII reading of 0.492 (rank 130) is an important counterpoint to the aggregate HDI. In a different dimension, gender development sits close to parity on the GDI measure at 0.980 (UNDP group 1).
What sits inside São Tomé and Príncipe's HDI
For São Tomé and Príncipe, health contributes through life expectancy of 69.7; education through 12.9 expected and 6.0 mean years of schooling; and income through GNI per capita of $5,583 in 2021 PPP dollars. Those are the published inputs behind the 2023 HDI.
Inequality changes the headline
For São Tomé and Príncipe, IHDI asks how the HDI changes once unequal achievement across people is considered. The adjustment is about distribution rather than subjective well-being.
Gender and planetary-pressure adjustments
Alongside the headline HDI, the published data for São Tomé and Príncipe include GDI 0.980, GII 0.492. The indicators add context without becoming a single composite DigifyWorld rating.
Quality-of-life coverage is conditional
This profile does not show a verified comparable life-satisfaction value for São Tomé and Príncipe.
What São Tomé and Príncipe's numbers say together
The supporting measures for São Tomé and Príncipe are IHDI 0.478 with a 25.0% loss; GDI 0.980. Their scopes differ, which is why the page presents them side by side rather than blending them.
São Tomé and Príncipe's HDI is 0.637 for 2023, placing it at UNDP rank 141. The index summarizes health, education and income rather than every dimension of day-to-day well-being.
The IHDI is 0.478, and UNDP reports an overall loss of 25.0% relative to the headline index.
The GDI value is 0.980 in group 1; it should be read alongside, not merged into, HDI.
Frequently asked questions
What is São Tomé and Príncipe's HDI?
In the Human Development Report 2025, São Tomé and Príncipe is listed at HDI 0.637 for 2023, rank 141.
How does inequality affect São Tomé and Príncipe's HDI?
After the inequality adjustment, São Tomé and Príncipe's index falls to 0.478; UNDP quantifies the overall loss at 25.0%.
Why is there no life satisfaction score on this page?
Within the UNDP framework, a subjective well-being figure for São Tomé and Príncipe is published only when the source supplies a usable observation. An unavailable observation remains omitted rather than estimated.
Is HDI the same as quality of life?
No. HDI is built from health, schooling and income indicators. A subjective well-being observation is contextual information here, not an HDI component. For the evidence on this page, preserve the distinction between level and distribution instead of collapsing separate dimensions into one label.
Sources & methodology
Sources for the development indicators and definitions shown above.
View sources used for this page
Primary source for 2023 HDI and its components, plus IHDI, GDI, GII and PHDI where reported.
Report edition underlying the 2023 human-development indices and ranking.
Data note: Reference years are shown with each indicator; unavailable observations remain unfilled.