São Tomé weather in May
In May, São Tomé sees average daytime highs of 27°C and overnight lows near 26°C, with 119 mm of rain across 17 wet days and about 12 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 27°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 13% of the time in May, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Daylight stretches from about 12 hours at the start of May to 12 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is São Tomé's 8th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see São Tomé's year-round climate.
- Daytime high
- 27°
- 5th warmest
- Overnight low
- 26°
- 9th coldest
- Rainfall
- 119 mm
- 17 wet days
- Daylight
- 12 hours
- 5:29 AM – 5:30 PM
- Cloud cover
- 73%
- 8th clearest
- Wind
- 15 km/h
- 6th windiest
- Solar energy
- 5.05 kWh/m²
- Travel score
- 5.3
- out of 10
São Tomé is capital city of São Tomé and Príncipe.
- Density
- 3,135/km²
- people per km²
- Founded
- 1485
Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.
Temperature in May
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 27°C through the month.
A typical May day in São Tomé reaches about 27°C in the afternoon and slips back to 26°C overnight — a 1°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 26°C and 28°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 1°C cooler than April and about 2°C warmer than June.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high (°C) | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
| Avg low (°C) | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 | 26 |
| 2 | 28 | 26 |
| 3 | 27 | 26 |
| 4 | 27 | 26 |
| 5 | 27 | 26 |
| 6 | 27 | 26 |
| 7 | 27 | 26 |
| 8 | 27 | 26 |
| 9 | 27 | 26 |
| 10 | 27 | 26 |
| 11 | 27 | 26 |
| 12 | 27 | 26 |
| 13 | 27 | 26 |
| 14 | 27 | 26 |
| 15 | 27 | 26 |
| 16 | 27 | 26 |
| 17 | 27 | 26 |
| 18 | 27 | 26 |
| 19 | 27 | 26 |
| 20 | 27 | 26 |
| 21 | 27 | 26 |
| 22 | 27 | 26 |
| 23 | 27 | 26 |
| 24 | 27 | 25 |
| 25 | 26 | 25 |
| 26 | 26 | 25 |
| 27 | 26 | 25 |
| 28 | 26 | 25 |
| 29 | 26 | 25 |
| 30 | 26 | 25 |
| 31 | 26 | 25 |
São Tomé weather by month
How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 5th-warmest and 7th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27° / 26° | 135 | 23.6 | 12 | 4.3 |
| Feb | 28° / 26° | 113 | 19.3 | 12 | 4.6 |
| Mar | 28° / 26° | 133 | 20.5 | 12 | 4.4 |
| Apr | 28° / 26° | 130 | 18.7 | 12 | 4.8 |
| May | 27° / 26° | 119 | 17 | 12 | 5.3 |
| Jun | 25° / 24° | 23 | 4 | 12 | 7.5 |
| Jul | 24° / 24° | 8 | 2 | 12 | 8.0 |
| Aug | 24° / 24° | 14 | 2.6 | 12 | 7.9 |
| Sep | 25° / 24° | 46 | 7.8 | 12 | 6.9 |
| Oct | 26° / 25° | 152 | 21.5 | 12 | 4.9 |
| Nov | 26° / 25° | 210 | 25.7 | 12 | 4.1 |
| Dec | 27° / 25° | 174 | 26.1 | 12 | 4.1 |
Cloud cover in May
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 13% of the time in May.
Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 17% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 71%.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearer (%) | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 32 |
| Cloudier (%) | 77 | 77 | 76 | 76 | 75 | 73 | 73 | 72 | 70 | 70 | 69 | 69 | 69 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 69 | 69 | 69 | 69 | 69 | 69 | 71 | 71 | 71 | 70 | 70 | 69 | 68 |
| Clearer (%) | Cloudier (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 | 77 |
| 2 | 23 | 77 |
| 3 | 24 | 76 |
| 4 | 24 | 76 |
| 5 | 25 | 75 |
| 6 | 27 | 73 |
| 7 | 27 | 73 |
| 8 | 28 | 72 |
| 9 | 30 | 70 |
| 10 | 30 | 70 |
| 11 | 31 | 69 |
| 12 | 31 | 69 |
| 13 | 31 | 69 |
| 14 | 32 | 68 |
| 15 | 32 | 68 |
| 16 | 32 | 68 |
| 17 | 32 | 68 |
| 18 | 32 | 68 |
| 19 | 31 | 69 |
| 20 | 31 | 69 |
| 21 | 31 | 69 |
| 22 | 31 | 69 |
| 23 | 31 | 69 |
| 24 | 31 | 69 |
| 25 | 29 | 71 |
| 26 | 29 | 71 |
| 27 | 29 | 71 |
| 28 | 30 | 70 |
| 29 | 30 | 70 |
| 30 | 31 | 69 |
| 31 | 32 | 68 |
Chance of precipitation in May
São Tomé gets around 119 mm of rain over 17 wet days in May. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 54% and peaks near 66% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain chance (%) | 66 | 66 | 65 | 65 | 64 | 63 | 63 | 62 | 61 | 60 | 60 | 59 | 58 | 58 | 57 | 56 | 56 | 55 | 54 | 53 | 52 | 51 | 49 | 47 | 46 | 44 | 42 | 40 | 38 | 35 | 33 |
| Rain chance (%) | |
|---|---|
| 1 | 66 |
| 2 | 66 |
| 3 | 65 |
| 4 | 65 |
| 5 | 64 |
| 6 | 63 |
| 7 | 63 |
| 8 | 62 |
| 9 | 61 |
| 10 | 60 |
| 11 | 60 |
| 12 | 59 |
| 13 | 58 |
| 14 | 58 |
| 15 | 57 |
| 16 | 56 |
| 17 | 56 |
| 18 | 55 |
| 19 | 54 |
| 20 | 53 |
| 21 | 52 |
| 22 | 51 |
| 23 | 49 |
| 24 | 47 |
| 25 | 46 |
| 26 | 44 |
| 27 | 42 |
| 28 | 40 |
| 29 | 38 |
| 30 | 35 |
| 31 | 33 |
Humidity in May
Most of May feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
By dew point, May lands in the oppressive band about 83% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muggy (%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Oppressive (%) | 71 | 71 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 79 | 80 | 80 | 81 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 88 | 89 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 93 | 94 | 93 |
| Miserable (%) | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Muggy (%) | Oppressive (%) | Miserable (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 71 | 29 |
| 2 | 0 | 71 | 29 |
| 3 | 0 | 72 | 28 |
| 4 | 0 | 72 | 28 |
| 5 | 0 | 72 | 28 |
| 6 | 0 | 73 | 27 |
| 7 | 0 | 74 | 26 |
| 8 | 0 | 74 | 26 |
| 9 | 0 | 75 | 25 |
| 10 | 0 | 76 | 24 |
| 11 | 0 | 77 | 23 |
| 12 | 0 | 79 | 21 |
| 13 | 0 | 80 | 20 |
| 14 | 1 | 80 | 19 |
| 15 | 1 | 81 | 18 |
| 16 | 1 | 83 | 16 |
| 17 | 1 | 84 | 15 |
| 18 | 1 | 85 | 14 |
| 19 | 1 | 86 | 13 |
| 20 | 1 | 88 | 11 |
| 21 | 1 | 89 | 10 |
| 22 | 2 | 89 | 9 |
| 23 | 2 | 90 | 8 |
| 24 | 2 | 91 | 7 |
| 25 | 2 | 92 | 6 |
| 26 | 3 | 92 | 5 |
| 27 | 3 | 93 | 4 |
| 28 | 3 | 94 | 3 |
| 29 | 4 | 93 | 3 |
| 30 | 4 | 94 | 2 |
| 31 | 5 | 93 | 2 |
Wind in May
Winds average 15 km/h in May.
Across May, daily wind ranges from about 13 km/h on the calmest days to 18 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind speed (km/h) | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Feels | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze |
| Wind speed (km/h) | Feels | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 | light breeze |
| 2 | 13 | light breeze |
| 3 | 13 | light breeze |
| 4 | 13 | light breeze |
| 5 | 13 | light breeze |
| 6 | 13 | light breeze |
| 7 | 13 | light breeze |
| 8 | 13 | light breeze |
| 9 | 14 | light breeze |
| 10 | 14 | light breeze |
| 11 | 14 | light breeze |
| 12 | 14 | light breeze |
| 13 | 14 | light breeze |
| 14 | 15 | light breeze |
| 15 | 15 | light breeze |
| 16 | 15 | light breeze |
| 17 | 15 | light breeze |
| 18 | 15 | light breeze |
| 19 | 16 | light breeze |
| 20 | 16 | light breeze |
| 21 | 16 | light breeze |
| 22 | 16 | light breeze |
| 23 | 17 | light breeze |
| 24 | 17 | light breeze |
| 25 | 17 | light breeze |
| 26 | 17 | light breeze |
| 27 | 17 | light breeze |
| 28 | 18 | light breeze |
| 29 | 18 | light breeze |
| 30 | 18 | light breeze |
| 31 | 18 | light breeze |
Sunrise & sunset in May
Daylight runs from about 12 hours at the start of May to 12 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Days grow by about 0 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:30 AM to 5:30 AM, and sunset from 5:31 PM to 5:31 PM.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Sunrise (AM) | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:29 | 5:29 | 5:29 | 5:29 | 5:29 | 5:29 | 5:29 | 5:29 | 5:29 | 5:29 | 5:29 | 5:29 | 5:29 | 5:29 | 5:29 | 5:29 | 5:29 | 5:29 | 5:29 | 5:29 | 5:29 | 5:29 | 5:29 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 |
| Sunset (PM) | 5:31 | 5:31 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:30 | 5:31 | 5:31 | 5:31 | 5:31 | 5:31 |
| Daylight (h) | Sunrise (AM) | Sunset (PM) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12.0 | 5:30 | 5:31 |
| 2 | 12.0 | 5:30 | 5:31 |
| 3 | 12.0 | 5:30 | 5:30 |
| 4 | 12.0 | 5:30 | 5:30 |
| 5 | 12.0 | 5:29 | 5:30 |
| 6 | 12.0 | 5:29 | 5:30 |
| 7 | 12.0 | 5:29 | 5:30 |
| 8 | 12.0 | 5:29 | 5:30 |
| 9 | 12.0 | 5:29 | 5:30 |
| 10 | 12.0 | 5:29 | 5:30 |
| 11 | 12.0 | 5:29 | 5:30 |
| 12 | 12.0 | 5:29 | 5:30 |
| 13 | 12.0 | 5:29 | 5:30 |
| 14 | 12.0 | 5:29 | 5:30 |
| 15 | 12.0 | 5:29 | 5:30 |
| 16 | 12.0 | 5:29 | 5:30 |
| 17 | 12.0 | 5:29 | 5:30 |
| 18 | 12.0 | 5:29 | 5:30 |
| 19 | 12.0 | 5:29 | 5:30 |
| 20 | 12.0 | 5:29 | 5:30 |
| 21 | 12.0 | 5:29 | 5:30 |
| 22 | 12.0 | 5:29 | 5:30 |
| 23 | 12.0 | 5:29 | 5:30 |
| 24 | 12.0 | 5:29 | 5:30 |
| 25 | 12.0 | 5:29 | 5:30 |
| 26 | 12.0 | 5:29 | 5:30 |
| 27 | 12.0 | 5:29 | 5:31 |
| 28 | 12.0 | 5:30 | 5:31 |
| 29 | 12.0 | 5:30 | 5:31 |
| 30 | 12.0 | 5:30 | 5:31 |
| 31 | 12.0 | 5:30 | 5:31 |
Solar energy in May
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 5.05 kWh/m².
For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.89 kWh/m² to a high of 5.48 kWh/m² in March across the year — May's 5.05 kWh/m² falls in the middle.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Level | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright |
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5.2 | Bright |
| 2 | 5.2 | Bright |
| 3 | 5.2 | Bright |
| 4 | 5.2 | Bright |
| 5 | 5.2 | Bright |
| 6 | 5.2 | Bright |
| 7 | 5.1 | Bright |
| 8 | 5.1 | Bright |
| 9 | 5.1 | Bright |
| 10 | 5.1 | Bright |
| 11 | 5.1 | Bright |
| 12 | 5.1 | Bright |
| 13 | 5.1 | Bright |
| 14 | 5.1 | Bright |
| 15 | 5.1 | Bright |
| 16 | 5.0 | Bright |
| 17 | 5.0 | Bright |
| 18 | 5.0 | Bright |
| 19 | 5.0 | Bright |
| 20 | 5.0 | Bright |
| 21 | 5.0 | Bright |
| 22 | 5.0 | Bright |
| 23 | 5.0 | Bright |
| 24 | 5.0 | Bright |
| 25 | 5.0 | Bright |
| 26 | 5.0 | Bright |
| 27 | 5.0 | Bright |
| 28 | 5.0 | Bright |
| 29 | 5.0 | Bright |
| 30 | 5.0 | Bright |
| 31 | 5.0 | Bright |
Hazard calendar for São Tomé
In May, São Tomé sits inside its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
São Tomé's rainy season runs October–May, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is May a good time to visit São Tomé?
Our two travel scores rate May for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).
May is a reasonable time to visit São Tomé for sightseeing.
What to pack for São Tomé in May
From May's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In May, São Tomé sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 26°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: light clothes and sun protection. About 17 days see rain.
Sea temperature near São Tomé in May
The nearest coast averages about 28°C in May — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea offshore is warmest in March at about 29°C and coldest in August near 26°C.
The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28 |
| Comfort | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Tropical |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29 | Tropical |
| Feb | 29 | Tropical |
| Mar | 29 | Tropical |
| Apr | 29 | Tropical |
| May | 28 | Tropical |
| Jun | 27 | Warm |
| Jul | 26 | Warm |
| Aug | 26 | Warm |
| Sep | 26 | Warm |
| Oct | 27 | Warm |
| Nov | 28 | Warm |
| Dec | 28 | Tropical |
UV index in São Tomé in May
Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 11 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in São Tomé peaks around March 21 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near August 12 at about 9 (very high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 11 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Extreme |
| Feb | 12 | Extreme |
| Mar | 14 | Extreme |
| Apr | 13 | Extreme |
| May | 11 | Extreme |
| Jun | 9 | Very high |
| Jul | 9 | Very high |
| Aug | 8 | Very high |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 13 | Extreme |
| Nov | 12 | Extreme |
| Dec | 11 | Extreme |
Air quality in São Tomé in May
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where May falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in São Tomé is worst in February — around 24 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.6× the cleanest month (October, 5 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 22 | 24 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 15 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22 | Moderate |
| Feb | 24 | Moderate |
| Mar | 15 | Moderate |
| Apr | 11 | Good |
| May | 12 | Moderate |
| Jun | 16 | Moderate |
| Jul | 17 | Moderate |
| Aug | 13 | Moderate |
| Sep | 8 | Good |
| Oct | 5 | Good |
| Nov | 8 | Good |
| Dec | 15 | Moderate |
Where is São Tomé?
São Tomé sits at 0.3°N, 6.7°E, 140 m above sea level, in Sao Tome and Principe. The nearest listed city is Port-Gentil, 257 km away.
Topography around São Tomé
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of São Tomé.
Within 3 km, the terrain around São Tomé has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 111 m around an average of 23 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,396 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,938 m.
The land around São Tomé is covered by water (43%), trees (31%) and artificial surfaces (24%) within 3 km, water (60%) and trees (36%) within 16 km, and water (90%) within 80 km.
Sao Tome and Principe travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 3
- Reconsider Travel
- Power plugs
- Type C / F
- 220 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 61% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $4,084
- 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 37%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 3.2
- per 100k, 2011
- Road deaths
- 27.9
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Lower middle
- World Bank
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for São Tomé (0.3376°, 6.7299°, elevation 140 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).