males age 16-49: 35,216
females age 16-49: 38,329 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,534
female: 2,485 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.8% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 148
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, working conditions, and alleged nepotism in the promotion of officers have been problems in the past, as reflected in the 1995 and 2003 coups; these issues are being addressed with foreign assistance aimed at improving 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)
Transnational Issues ::Sao Tome and Principe