São Tomé and Príncipe energy mix & electricity
Electricity generation in São Tomé and Príncipe reached 90 GWh in 2023. Oil provides 88.9% of it. Few countries depend so heavily on a single source.
The power system is very small (under 1 TWh a year), so it is not included in share-based world rankings. A single plant can change its mix dramatically from one year to the next.
Electricity generation by source in 2023
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil | 0.08 | 88.9% | +3.2 |
| Hydro | 0.01 | 11.1% | −3.2 |
| Total | 0.09 | 100% |
São Tomé and Príncipe: electricity in context
Electricity generation in São Tomé and Príncipe reached 90 GWh in 2023. That puts it in the same league as Guinea-Bissau. Oil provides 88.9% of it. Few countries depend so heavily on a single source.
The renewable share stood at 11.1%. That is 23 points below the world average of 33.8%. It is also below the average for Africa (24.7%). Each kilowatt-hour emitted on average 556 g CO₂e, against a world average of 458 g. The grid is more carbon-intensive than the world average.
Taken together, the renewable share fell by 3.2 percentage points over the decade. Total generation grew by 20 GWh over the same period. Carbon intensity dropped from 571 to 556 g/kWh, a 3% cut.
Wind and solar have barely started in São Tomé and Príncipe: combined, they produce less than 1% of the power.
Generation per person is 390 kWh a year, 10% of the world average of 3,860 kWh. São Tomé and Príncipe does not trade electricity with other countries: the grid is not interconnected with any neighbour.
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 2000. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
São Tomé and Príncipe against the world and Africa averages.
Solar & wind farms: São Tomé and Príncipe
4 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 12 MW of solar and 0 MW of wind operating, plus 11 MW under construction or planned.
See them on the mapLargest solar & wind farms: São Tomé and Príncipe →
How does São Tomé and Príncipe compare?
São Tomé and Príncipe next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| São Tomé and Príncipe | 11.1% | 11.1% | 88.9% | 556 | 390 | 0.1 | — | |
| Equatorial Guinea | 26.8% | 26.8% | 73.2% | 644 | 787 | 1.5 | Compare | |
| Gabon | 35.4% | 35.4% | 64.6% | 523 | 1,024 | 2.6 | Compare | |
| Cameroon | 73.1% | 73.1% | 26.9% | 226 | 249 | 7.3 | Compare | |
| Republic of the Congo | 20.9% | 20.9% | 79.1% | 716 | 862 | 5.5 | Compare | |
| Nigeria | 31.3% | 31.3% | 68.7% | 456 | 175 | 41.5 | Compare | |
| Togo | 29.6% | 29.6% | 70.4% | 423 | 84 | 0.7 | Compare | |
| Africa average | 24.7% | 25.5% | 74.5% | 544 | 635 | 962 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe energy: frequently asked questions
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How much electricity does São Tomé and Príncipe use per person?
More countries in Africa
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2023. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.