World Sites & Apps
Africa · #181 · 2025–2026

São Tomé and Príncipe: internet and everyday apps

São Tomé and Príncipe has about 200 thousand people online — a penetration rate of 83.3% and rank #181 worldwide. This page walks through the local digital scene, the app categories people lean on, and 8 apps worth knowing.

Internet users 200 thousand Penetration 83.3% World rank #181 Updated 2026-11-12
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TL;DR
  • São Tomé and Príncipe has roughly 200 thousand internet users (200,000 people) — about 83.3% of the population and rank #181 globally.
  • The apps people open most: WhatsApp, Messenger, Facebook, Instagram. They cover Messaging, Social, Video, Shopping, News, Travel and more.
  • The one to know first: WhatsApp — The most widely used messenger on earth.

São Tomé and Príncipe in numbers

2025–2026
Internet users
200 thousand200,000 · #181
Penetration
83.3%#102
Population
240 thousand240,000 · #182
GDP
$1B#209
GDP growth
+1.5%#167
GDP per person
$3,333#159
Land area
964 km²#179
Capital
São Tomé
Region
Africa
Official languages
Portuguese

How São Tomé and Príncipe goes online

The network arrives mostly by mobile, and that is how the country connects. Facebook and WhatsApp take up nearly all screen time: news from home, family messages, music clips. There are few local papers and most have a thin presence online, so news about the country surfaces first on Facebook pages. Portuguese is the language of everything, and Brazilian content arrives without a middleman. Top-ups are small, and the balance is checked before anything else gets opened.

Around 83.3%. With a population of about 240 thousand and 200 thousand online, roughly 40 thousand people are still offline — mostly because of rural coverage, device cost and age.

All 8 apps below are grouped by category.

What people actually use

8 Most-used apps

Messaging

2 Most-used apps →
WhatsApp Messaging · Meta · 2009 Messenger Messaging · Meta · 2011

Social

2 Most-used apps →
Facebook Social · Meta · 2004 Instagram Social · Meta · 2010

Video

1 Most-used apps →
YouTube Video · Google · 2005

Shopping

1 Most-used apps →
Jumia Shopping · Jumia Technologies · 2012

News

1 Most-used apps →
BBC News · BBC（英国公共广播机构） · 1997

Travel

1 Most-used apps →
Booking.com Travel · Booking Holdings · 1996

Websites people in São Tomé and Príncipe actually use

9

The 9 sites locals open most often — news, shopping, search, banking and government services. Every link goes to the official site.

News2Telecom2Transport2Government1Banking1Utilities1
Téla NónNewstelanon.infoThe country’s leading independent news site, sharp on politics and public contracts. STP-PressNewsstp-press.stThe national news agency — official communiqués and coverage of state visits. Companhia Santomense de TelecomunicaçõesTelecomcst.stThe national telecom operator — fixed line, ADSL and mobile, plus the fibre rollout. Unitel STPTelecomunitel.stThe main mobile operator. STP AirwaysTransportstpairways.stThe national airline. ENAPORTTransportenaport.stThe islands’ port authority. Citizen PortalGovernmentgov.stThe e-government portal — certificates, licences and public service information. Central Bank of São Tomé and PríncipeBankingbcstp.stSão Tomé's central bank — the dobra's exchange rate, banking rules and the reserves that back the currency. EMAEUtilitiesemae.stWater and electricity.

2808 websites →

Frequently asked questions

6 Q&A
How many people in São Tomé and Príncipe are online?

About 200 thousand (200,000 people). That works out to roughly 83.3% of the population, which puts São Tomé and Príncipe at #181 in the world for total internet users. Figures come from DataReportal’s Digital 2026, which draws on ITU and national statistics.

Which apps do people in São Tomé and Príncipe use most?

Mostly WhatsApp, Messenger, Facebook, Instagram — they cover Messaging, Social, Video, Shopping, News, Travel. The full list, grouped by category, is further down this page.

What is the leading Messaging app in São Tomé and Príncipe?

WhatsApp, Messenger dominate this space. The best-known is WhatsApp — The most widely used messenger on earth.

How high is internet penetration in São Tomé and Príncipe?

Around 83.3%. With a population of about 240 thousand and 200 thousand online, roughly 40 thousand people are still offline — mostly because of rural coverage, device cost and age.

Where do these app facts come from?

Usage figures come from DataReportal’s Digital 2026 (Kepios, based on ITU and national statistics); app details come from each product’s official site. Updated 2026-11-12.

Which websites are most popular in São Tomé and Príncipe?

The everyday ones are Téla Nón, STP-Press, Citizen Portal, plus the other 9 sites listed above. They cover news, shopping, search, banking and official paperwork, and every link points to the official site.

Sources

Updated 2026-11-12
Cite this pageWorld Sites & Apps. “São Tomé and Príncipe: internet and everyday apps”. 2026. https://abcvv.com/c/st-en.html