Officially name: Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
Capital: São Tomé
Largest city: São Tomé
Official language: Portuguese
Government: Democratic semi-presidential Republic
Almost all residents belong to the Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, or Seventh-day Adventist churches, which in turn retain close ties with churches in Portugal. There is a small but growing Muslim population.
São Tomé (population 56,166 in 2005) is the capital city of São Tomé and Príncipe and is by far that nation's largest town. Its name is Portuguese for "Saint Thomas".