Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Sao Tome and Principe instead of French Polynesia, you would:
Health
be 63.5% less likely to be obese
In French Polynesia, 49.1% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Sao Tome and Principe, that number is 17.9% of people as of 2024.
live 14.3 years less
In French Polynesia, the average life expectancy is 84 years (82 years for men, 87 years for women) as of 2024. In Sao Tome and Principe, that number is 70 years (66 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2024.
Economy
be 21.7% less likely to be unemployed
In French Polynesia, 11.7% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Sao Tome and Principe, that number is 9.1% as of 2025.
make 81.8% less money
French Polynesia has a GDP per capita of $22,440 as of 2024, while in Sao Tome and Principe, the GDP per capita is $4,084 as of 2025.
Life
have 2.6 times more children
In French Polynesia, there are approximately 10.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Sao Tome and Principe, there are 28.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
be 2.1 times more likely to die during infancy
In French Polynesia, approximately 4.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Sao Tome and Principe, on the other hand, 9.2 children do as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 18.7% less likely to have access to electricity
In French Polynesia, approximately 100% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Sao Tome and Principe, that number is 81% of people on average (82% in urban areas, and 70% in rural areas) as of 2023.
be 18.7% less likely to have internet access
In French Polynesia, approximately 72.7% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Sao Tome and Principe, about 59.1% do as of 2024.
be 22.0% less likely to have access to drinking water
In French Polynesia, approximately 100% of people have access to drinking water as of 2024. In Sao Tome and Principe, 78% of people do as of 2024.
Geography
see 91.7% less coastline
French Polynesia has a total of 2,525 km of coastline. In Sao Tome and Principe, that number is 209 km.
Safety
be 10.7 times more likely to be murdered
French Polynesia has a homicide rate of 0.3 per 100,000 people as of 2009. In Sao Tome and Principe, that number is 3.2 per 100,000 as of 2011.
Infrastructure
find 91.6% less home broadband
French Polynesia has 35.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Sao Tome and Principe has 3.0 as of 2024.
Environment
emit 81.8% less CO2
French Polynesia emits 3.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Sao Tome and Principe emits 0.6 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2023–2025), The World Factbook (2021–2022), World Health Organization (2024), United Nations SDG Indicators (2009–2011). How we calculate this
Compare further: French Polynesia vs. Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: At a glance
How big is Sao Tome and Principe compared to French Polynesia? See an in-depth size comparison.