Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Sao Tome and Principe instead of Hong Kong, you would:
Health
live 15.5 years less
In Hong Kong, the average life expectancy is 85 years (83 years for men, 88 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 3.3 times more likely to be unemployed
In Hong Kong, 2.8% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Sao Tome and Principe, that number is 9.1% as of 2025.
be 2.8 times more likely to live below the poverty line
In Hong Kong, 19.9% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Sao Tome and Principe, however, that number is 55.5% as of 2017.
make 92.8% less money
Hong Kong has a GDP per capita of $56,983 as of 2025, while in Sao Tome and Principe, the GDP per capita is $4,084 as of 2025.
Life
have 5.7 times more children
In Hong Kong, there are approximately 4.9 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 3.6 times more likely to die during infancy
In Hong Kong, approximately 2.5 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 Hong Kong, 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 38.3% less likely to have internet access
In Hong Kong, approximately 95.8% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Sao Tome and Principe, about 59.1% do as of 2024.
be 22.0% less likely to have access to drinking water
In Hong Kong, approximately 100% of people have access to drinking water as of 2024. In Sao Tome and Principe, 78% of people do as of 2024.
Expenditures
spend 32.0% more on education
Hong Kong spends 3.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Sao Tome and Principe spends 5.0% of total GDP on education as of 2023.
Geography
see 71.5% less coastline
Hong Kong has a total of 733 km of coastline. In Sao Tome and Principe, that number is 209 km.
Infrastructure
find 92.6% less home broadband
Hong Kong has 40.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Sao Tome and Principe has 3.0 as of 2024.
Environment
emit 86.3% less CO2
Hong Kong emits 4.6 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Sao Tome and Principe emits 0.6 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2017–2025), The World Factbook (2016–2022). How we calculate this
Compare further: Hong Kong vs. Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: At a glance
How big is Sao Tome and Principe compared to Hong Kong? See an in-depth size comparison.