The Island of Príncipe and its islets constitute an Autonomous Region under Article 137 of the Constitution of the Republic and are governed by their own statute.

The Autonomous Region of Príncipe, the smaller island of the São Tomé and Príncipe archipelago, with an area of 142 km² and an estimated population of approximately 9,830 inhabitants (INE 2024 – provisional data), is the first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the São Toméan archipelago. It became the first African reserve to be integrated into the global network of coastal biospheres, proving that the relationship between humans and nature is sustainable.

The territory boasts a significant presence of natural areas, with about 53% of the island’s surface included in the Obô Natural Park. The Island of Príncipe is home to great biodiversity, both in terms of ecosystems and endemism, making it a true world heritage site.

The island is characterized as a territory with a strong rural identity, low population density, and accessibility challenges due to its dual insularity.

It was on the Island of Príncipe that Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity was confirmed on May 29, 1919, during a total solar eclipse. A group of scientists led by the British astronomer Arthur Eddington observed and photographed the eclipse, which provided evidence of the gravitational bending of light predicted by Einstein.