Current Account Balance: São Tomé and Príncipe

Analysis# São Tomé and Príncipe Current Account Balance São Tomé and Príncipe's current account balance stands at -3.6% of GDP in 2026, reflecting a modest deficit after decades of volatile swings. The nation's all-time peak of 84.8% in 2007 contrasts sharply with the catastrophic -34.2% low recorded in 1982. Since 1980, the country has achieved an overall positive shift of 81.8 percentage points, though sustained deficits remain the dominant pattern. The most significant turning point emerged in 2024, when the deficit collapsed to just -1.9% of GDP—a dramatic improvement from the -14.5% recorded in 2022. This sharp recovery suggests structural economic improvements or temporary external factors supporting the balance. While the 2025–2026 projections show a modest widening to -3.6%, the trajectory indicates the nation has moved decisively away from the double-digit deficits that plagued 2017–2023.