The people of São Tomé and Príncipe (STP), a small fragile island state, have
faced extraordinary challenges. STP continues to struggle with high fuel import needs,
limited export potential, and depleted international reserves, and faced a massive
balance of payments (BOP) shock in early 2023, which opened a large external financing
gap. Inflation was stubbornly high in 2023 and the economy barely grew, dragged down
by foreign exchange and energy shortages, as well as a large fiscal adjustment. Growth is
projected to remain sluggish in 2024, while inflation has started to decline.