POLITICIANS from São Tomé and Príncipe

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary São Toméan Politicians of all time. This list of famous São Toméan Politicians is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography's online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of São Toméan Politicians.

1. Evaristo Carvalho (1942 - 2022)

With an HPI of 66.27, Evaristo Carvalho is the most famous São Toméan Politician.  His biography has been translated into 42 different languages on wikipedia.

Evaristo do Espírito Santo Carvalho (22 October 1941 – 28 May 2022) was a São Toméan politician who served as the fourth president of São Tomé and Príncipe from 2016 to 2021. He was previously the prime minister of the country on two occasions.

2. Manuel Pinto da Costa (b. 1937)

With an HPI of 66.18, Manuel Pinto da Costa is the 2nd most famous São Toméan Politician.  His biography has been translated into 38 different languages.

Manuel Pinto da Costa (born 5 August 1937) is a Santomean economist and politician who served as the first president of São Tomé and Príncipe from 1975 to 1991. He again served as president from 2011 to 2016.

3. Fradique de Menezes (b. 1942)

With an HPI of 65.29, Fradique de Menezes is the 3rd most famous São Toméan Politician.  His biography has been translated into 38 different languages.

Fradique Bandeira Melo de Menezes (born 21 March 1942) is a São Toméan politician who was the third president of São Tomé and Príncipe from 2001 to 2011.

4. Carlos Vila Nova (b. 1959)

With an HPI of 58.57, Carlos Vila Nova is the 4th most famous São Toméan Politician.  His biography has been translated into 29 different languages.

Carlos Manuel Vila Nova (born 27 July 1959) is a Santomean politician who is the fifth and current president of São Tomé and Príncipe, since 2 October 2021. He served as the minister of Public Works and Natural Resources (2010–2012) and minister of Infrastructure, Natural Resources and the Environment (2014–2018) in successive governments of Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada.

5. Miguel Trovoada (b. 1937)

With an HPI of 57.14, Miguel Trovoada is the 5th most famous São Toméan Politician.  His biography has been translated into 27 different languages.

Miguel dos Anjos da Cunha Lisboa Trovoada (born 27 December 1936) is a São Toméan politician who was the prime minister from 1975 to 1979 and second president of São Tomé and Príncipe from 1991 to 2001. On 16 July 2014, he was appointed the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS). Prior to this, he was the executive secretary of the Gulf of Guinea Commission.

6. Leonel Mário d'Alva (b. 1935)

With an HPI of 53.74, Leonel Mário d'Alva is the 6th most famous São Toméan Politician.  His biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Leonel Mário d'Alva (born July 22, 1935) is a São Toméan politician. He served as the prime minister of São Tomé and Príncipe from 21 December 1974 until 12 July 1975, when the country gained independence from Portugal. D'Alva was Minister of Economic Co-ordination from July to December 1975. From late 1975 to 1980, he was President of the São Toméan National Assembly. After the country's first democratic elections in 1991, he was again elected National Assembly President. He also served as foreign minister from 1975 to 1978 and was acting president from 4 March to 3 April 1991. D'Alva co-founded the Democratic Convergence Party – Reflection Group (PCD–RG) in 1991 and subsequently led it for many years.

7. Gabriel Costa (b. 1954)

With an HPI of 53.40, Gabriel Costa is the 7th most famous São Toméan Politician.  His biography has been translated into 16 different languages.

Gabriel Arcanjo Ferreira da Costa (born 1954) is a Santoméan politician who was the tenth prime minister of São Tomé and Príncipe from 12 December 2012 to 25 November 2014. He previously served as prime minister briefly in 2002.

8. Maria do Carmo Silveira (b. 1961)

With an HPI of 53.15, Maria do Carmo Silveira is the 8th most famous São Toméan Politician.  Her biography has been translated into 26 different languages.

Maria do Carmo Trovoada Pires de Carvalho Silveira (born 14 February 1961) served as the 13th prime minister of São Tomé and Príncipe from 8 June 2005 to 21 April 2006.

9. Carlos Graça (1931 - 2013)

With an HPI of 53.12, Carlos Graça is the 9th most famous São Toméan Politician.  His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Carlos Alberto Monteiro Dias da Graça (22 December 1931 – 17 April 2013) was a São Toméan politician who served as the country's sixth prime minister.

10. Maria das Neves (b. 1958)

With an HPI of 51.88, Maria das Neves is the 10th most famous São Toméan Politician.  Her biography has been translated into 26 different languages.

Maria das Neves Ceita Baptista de Sousa (born 11 July 1958) is a São Toméan politician and economist who served as prime minister of São Tomé and Príncipe from 2002 to 2004. Appointed as a member of MLSTP–PSD, she was the first woman to serve as head of government for São Tomé and Príncipe. Das Neves was prime minister during the attempted coup of 2003 and was arrested by those orchestrating the coup. She resigned after it ended but was convinced to stay by President Fradique de Menezes. De Menezes dissolved das Neves's government in September 2004 following allegations of corruption. She continued serving in the National Assembly, and she was an unsuccessful candidate for president in 2011, 2016, and 2021. She was appointed rector of the Lusíada University of São Tomé and Príncipe in 2024.