The Autonomous Region of Príncipe () is an autonomous administrative division of the Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe. Established on 29 April 1995, it covers the island of Príncipe and a number of small uninhabited islands around it, with an area of in total. As defined by the constitution of São Tomé and Príncipe, the Autonomous Region of Príncipe has a Regional Assembly and a Regional Government. Its population was 7,324 at the 2012 census; the latest official estimate was 8,420. It consists of a single district: Pagué. Its seat is the town Santo António.
Islands
The main island of the autonomous region is Príncipe. Smaller offshore islets are: Ilhéu Bom Bom Ilhéu Caroço Tinhosa Grande Tinhosa Pequena
History
In 1995, a few years after the country's democratic transition, Príncipe became an autonomous region. The island's first regional government was elected in the same year. The central government's failure to hold any local election in the years thereafter caused another popular protest in June 2006 that forced Príncipe's regional government to step down.
Population
Settlements
The main settlement is the town of Santo António. Other settlements are:
Aeroporto
Belo Monte
Bom Viver
Hospital Velho
Ilhéu Bom Bom
Nova Estrela
Picão
Portinho
Porto Real
Praia Inhame
Santa Rita
São Joaquim
Sundy (or Sundi) Terreiro Velho
Notable persons
Damião Vaz d'Almeida, a former president of the regional government of Príncipe from 1995 to 2002, and subsequently a prime minister of São Tomé and Príncipe from 2004 to 2005.