Merchant marine:
total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 21,527 GRT/29,823 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 7
foreign-owned: 3 (Egypt 1, Greece 1, Lebanon 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Sao Tome
Military Sao Tome and Principe
Military branches:
Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (FASTP): Army, Coast Guard,
Presidential Guard (2004)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 33,438
females age 18-49: 35,279 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 25,950
females age 18-49: 28,660 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$581,729 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.8% (2005 est.)
Military - note:
Sao Tome and Principe's army is a tiny force with almost no
resources at its disposal and would be wholly ineffective operating
unilaterally; infantry equipment is considered simple to operate and
maintain but may require refurbishment or replacement after 25 years
in tropical climates; poor pay and conditions have been a problem in
the past, as has alleged nepotism in the promotion of officers, as
reflected in the 1995 and 2003 coups; these issues are being
addressed with foreign assistance as initial steps towards the
improvement of the army and its focus on realistic security
concerns; command is exercised from the president, through the
Minister of Defense, to the Chief of the Armed Forces staff (2005)