Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Sao Tome and Principe instead of Northern Mariana Islands, you would:

Health

live 9.0 years less

In Northern Mariana Islands, the average life expectancy is 79 years (77 years for men, 81 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.

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Economy

make 82.8% less money

Northern Mariana Islands has a GDP per capita of $23,786 as of 2022, while in Sao Tome and Principe, the GDP per capita is $4,084 as of 2025.

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Life

be 26.3% less likely to die during infancy

In Northern Mariana Islands, approximately 12.5 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.

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have 2.3 times more children

In Northern Mariana Islands, there are approximately 12.1 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.

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Basic Needs

be 2.4 times more likely to have internet access

In Northern Mariana Islands, approximately 25.1% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Sao Tome and Principe, about 59.1% do as of 2024.

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be 18.7% less likely to have access to electricity

In Northern Mariana Islands, 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.

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be 22.0% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Northern Mariana Islands, approximately 100% of people have access to drinking water as of 2024. In Sao Tome and Principe, 78% of people do as of 2024.

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Geography

see 85.9% less coastline

Northern Mariana Islands has a total of 1,482 km of coastline. In Sao Tome and Principe, that number is 209 km.

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Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), The World Factbook (2021–2022). How we calculate this

Compare further: Northern Mariana Islands vs. Sao Tome and Principe

Cost of Living Comparison · 6 categories - 2026 data
Sao Tome and Principe is 42.4% cheaper than Northern Mariana Islands overall
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Size Comparison · See true size
Northern Mariana Islands is about 2.1 times smaller than Sao Tome and Principe.
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Moving from Northern Mariana Islands to Sao Tome and Principe · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
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Sao Tome and Principe: At a glance

Sao Tome and Principe is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 964 sq km. Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th century, the islands' sugar-based economy gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century - all grown with African plantation slave labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century. While independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. The country held its first free elections in 1991, but frequent internal wrangling between the various political parties precipitated repeated changes in leadership and two failed coup attempts in 1995 and 2003. In 2012, three opposition parties combined in a no confidence vote to bring down the majority government of former Prime Minister Patrice TROVOADA. The new government of Prime Minister Gabriel Arcanjo Ferreira DA COSTA is entirely composed of opposition party members with limited experience in governance. New oil discoveries in the Gulf of Guinea may attract increased attention to the small island nation.
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How big is Sao Tome and Principe compared to Northern Mariana Islands? See an in-depth size comparison.

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