Electricity and sockets
You will need an adapter for Types C and F. Plugs from the UK do not fit the sockets in Sao Tome and Principe.
Sockets at the destination
For Sao Tome and Principe the records list Types C and F at 230 V and 50 Hz. At 230 V the supply matches what UK and European appliances expect, so no converter is needed.
Handy for multi-stop trips: Algeria, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea use the same plug types. Watch out when moving on: Botswana, the Seychelles and Sierra Leone use a completely different system. In Africa, 7 of 55 recorded destinations use exactly this combination.
Protective earth
Earthed sockets (Type F) and unearthed ones (Type C) exist side by side. For metal-bodied appliances the protective-earth path is what matters.
Quick check by home country
| From the UK | adapter for Types C and F | Check route → |
|---|---|---|
| From the US | adapter for Types C and F | Check route → |
Voltage and frequency in Sao Tome and Principe match UK appliances, so only the plug shape matters. Check your own device →
The same sockets are used further afield: Uzbekistan, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Montenegro, Latvia and Norway.
Common questions
Yes. UK plugs do not fit the sockets in Sao Tome and Principe.
Types C and F – that is what you will find in Sao Tome and Principe (230 V, 50 Hz).
No converter needed – Sao Tome and Principe runs at 230 V.
If a socket gets hot, crackles or smells burnt, unplug the device straight away.
Data for Sao Tome and Principe from IEC World Plugs and IEC TR 60083. Sources and method →