Jobs and Youth Exodus Dominate São Tomé and Príncipe Election

Voters in São Tomé and Príncipe have called for greater economic opportunities, more jobs and improved living conditions as the island nation seeks to address a growing exodus of young people.

The concerns were prominent during Sunday’s September 27 parliamentary election, in which voters chose representatives for the 55-seat National Assembly. About 142,191 people were registered for the election.

For many voters, the election was closely linked to everyday economic challenges, including employment, household incomes and access to better opportunities.

Voters Call for Focus on Everyday Needs

Market vendors and other workers said they wanted the incoming government to pay greater attention to people at the grassroots.

Maria Nascimento, a market vendor, said she hoped future policies would address the needs of ordinary citizens and small traders.

Other voters called on political leaders to turn campaign commitments into practical improvements once they take office.

Young voters, in particular, said they wanted political promises to translate into employment opportunities and better living conditions.

Youth Migration Remains a Major Challenge

Emigration has become a significant issue in São Tomé and Príncipe.

A World Bank report estimates that about 18% of the country's population was living abroad in 2021. The institution has also linked the country's limited labour-market opportunities to migration, noting that nearly half of young people are neither working nor studying.

Recent reporting on the election has put the number of São Toméans living outside the country at nearly 40,000.

The migration trend has also contributed to labour shortages in some sectors, including construction, according to reporting ahead of the election.

Limited Job Opportunities

The country's labour market remains relatively small, with many workers employed in agriculture, small-scale retail and other low-productivity activities.

The World Bank has identified the limited capacity of the private sector to absorb young people entering the workforce as one factor contributing to emigration. Its latest available data also shows an employment rate of 21.4% among people aged 15 and above in 2024.

Economic growth has also remained modest. World Bank data records GDP growth of 1% in 2025, while unemployment was estimated at 9.1% under the modeled ILO measure.

Investment and Economic Diversification

The next government faces pressure to expand the economy and create opportunities that can encourage more young people to remain in the country.

São Tomé and Príncipe has potential in sectors including tourism, agriculture and fishing, according to the World Bank. Expanding investment in these areas could form part of efforts to diversify the economy and create additional employment.

The challenge is particularly significant for young people entering the workforce, as the country seeks to retain skills and labour needed for future economic growth.

Election Puts Economic Concerns in Focus

The September 27 parliamentary vote was held after São Tomé and Príncipe's presidential election in July, in which incumbent President Carlos Vila Nova was re-elected for another five-year term.

The parliamentary election therefore brings a new focus to the composition of the National Assembly and the government's ability to respond to economic and social pressures.

For voters such as market traders, students and young workers, the immediate priorities remain practical: jobs, better living conditions and greater opportunities at home.

The scale of emigration means the next government faces the challenge of translating those expectations into policies capable of expanding employment and economic opportunities on the islands.