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Malawi vs Sao Tome and Principe statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Malawi has a population of 21.7M (ranked 62/197), compared with 236K in Sao Tome and Principe (ranked 176/197). Malawi's land area is 36,402 sq mi versus 371 sq mi for Sao Tome and Principe (ranked 107th vs. 172nd).

By GDP, Malawi ranks 151/197 ($11.3B) and Sao Tome and Principe ranks 189/197 ($822M). By GDP per capita, Malawi ranks 194/197 ($523), while Sao Tome and Principe ranks 134/197 ($3,491).

Main facts and rankings

Malawi Sao Tome
Population
22949294
246362
Population rank 61/197 176/197
GDP
$11.3B
2024
$822M
2024
GDP rank 151/197 189/197
GDP per capita
$523
2024
$3,491
2024
GDP per capita rank 194/197 134/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,858
2024
$6,242
2024
Government debt
$9.91B
2024
$533M
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
87.6%
2024
64.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$458
2024
$2,262
2024
Government debt per person rank 168/185 116/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,031
2026
$3,111
2026
Land area 36,402 sq mi 371 sq mi
Population density
626 ppl/mi²
2026
661 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
3.65
2023
3.64
2023
Median age
18.9 years
2024
20.3 years
2024
Life expectancy
67.9 years
2026
70.3 years
2026

Malawi and Sao Tome and Principe: Comparison Charts

Malawi and Sao Tome and Principe economies compared

GDP
Malawi

Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year GDP
Malawi Sao Tome
2024 $11,316,411,329 $822,154,621
2023 $13,363,669,673 $690,456,807
2022 $12,429,059,928 $540,809,499
2021 $12,378,119,199 $524,402,456
2020 $11,769,313,598 $471,229,485
2019 $11,051,852,713 $412,976,083
2018 $9,879,220,354 $383,717,328
2017 $8,943,543,794 $322,002,845
2016 $7,909,868,618 $292,267,272
2015 $9,219,474,379 $259,999,643
2014 $8,801,326,169 $293,119,143
2013 $8,031,571,928 $267,041,748
2012 $8,773,203,178 $225,815,132
2011 $11,648,142,958 $226,455,001
2010 $10,128,323,011 $190,021,192
2009 $9,009,887,947 $200,668,065
2008 $7,743,617,352 $188,021,165
2007 $6,451,210,219 $149,146,919
2006 $5,818,279,739 $142,775,104
2005 $5,320,409,651 $136,450,662
2004 $5,058,726,350 $114,582,284
2003 $4,669,789,300 $102,085,769
2002 $5,087,328,438 $85,171,074
2001 $2,498,008,665 $75,951,133
2000 $2,537,307,580 $76,198,395
1999 $2,584,478,924 $77,302,212
1998 $2,547,609,590 $72,285,404
1997 $3,875,785,863 $91,920,274
1996 $3,319,573,750 $135,188,166
1995 $2,033,701,498 $103,695,237
1994 $1,719,864,761 $131,338,415
1993 $3,013,392,658 $125,742,229
1992 $2,618,837,835 $94,861,781
1991 $3,206,783,830 $107,484,143
1990 $2,737,087,862 $119,297,933
1989 $2,314,205,130 $98,545,367
1988 $2,008,189,508 $99,000,764
1987 $1,721,711,808 $115,952,925
1986 $1,722,586,299 $115,928,907
1985 $1,646,442,273 $82,733,069
1984 $1,758,028,656 $78,213,796
1983 $1,780,148,049 $75,110,289
1982 $1,717,379,495 $80,307,763
1981 $1,801,193,910 $83,499,264
1980 $1,801,156,775 $81,662,231
1979 - $65,755,928
1978 - $55,044,563
1977 - $49,207,692
1976 - $52,039,421
1975 - $60,101,710
1974 - $57,817,591
1973 - $56,011,245
1972 - $41,430,257
1971 - $37,288,845
1970 - $37,211,826

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/malawi/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Malawi and Sao Tome and Principe economies compared

GDP per capita
Malawi

Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year GDP per capita
Malawi Sao Tome
2024 $523 $3,491
2023 $633 $2,991
2022 $604 $2,390
2021 $617 $2,363
2020 $603 $2,167
2019 $581 $1,935
2018 $533 $1,826
2017 $496 $1,556
2016 $451 $1,435
2015 $540 $1,298
2014 $530 $1,490
2013 $497 $1,383
2012 $558 $1,192
2011 $763 $1,220
2010 $683 $1,045
2009 $626 $1,128
2008 $554 $1,082
2007 $475 $879
2006 $441 $862
2005 $414 $844
2004 $405 $727
2003 $383 $664
2002 $428 $568
2001 $215.5 $519
2000 $224.2 $529
1999 $233.9 $543
1998 $236 $514
1997 $367 $662
1996 $321 $987
1995 $200.4 $769
1994 $169.2 $990
1993 $293 $964
1992 $258.4 $740
1991 $326 $855
1990 $286.7 $970
1989 $252.2 $821
1988 $229.4 $847
1987 $207.6 $1,018
1986 $217.9 $1,043
1985 $216.1 $761
1984 $239.7 $735
1983 $252.4 $720
1982 $253.3 $783
1981 $276.4 $830
1980 $287.5 $829
1979 - $683
1978 - $587
1977 - $539
1976 - $585
1975 - $693
1974 - $683
1973 - $676
1972 - $511
1971 - $470
1970 - $479

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/malawi/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Malawi vs. Sao Tome and Principe life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Malawi

Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Malawi Sao Tome
2026 67.9 70.3
2025 67.7 70.1
2024 67.6 69.9
2023 67.4 69.7
2022 66 69.2
2021 64.8 68
2020 65.2 68
2019 65 68
2018 64.5 67.6
2017 63.9 67.1
2016 63.2 66.6
2015 62.3 66
2014 61.7 65.5
2013 60.8 64.9
2012 59.9 64.5
2011 58.9 64.1
2010 57.8 63.9
2009 56.7 63.7
2008 55.7 63.4
2007 54.7 63.3
2006 53.7 63
2005 52.5 62.4
2004 51.1 62.6
2003 49.6 62.2
2002 48.2 61.8
2001 47.2 61.5
2000 46.2 61.2
1999 45.1 61
1998 44.3 60.8
1997 44.2 60.6
1996 44 60.6
1995 43.8 60.5
1994 43.8 60.6
1993 43.6 60.6
1992 43.6 60.7
1991 43.5 60.8
1990 43.6 60.7
1989 43.5 59.7
1988 43.6 60.8
1987 43.9 60.7
1986 44.3 57.6
1985 44.6 60.1
1984 44.8 59.9
1983 45 59.7
1982 44.8 59.5
1981 44.7 59.4
1980 44.3 59.4
1979 43.7 59.3
1978 43 59.1
1977 42 59
1976 41 58.8
1975 40.1 58.6
1974 39.2 58.3
1973 38.4 57.9
1972 37.6 57.4
1971 37.1 57
1970 36.6 56.3
1969 36.3 55.4
1968 36.1 54.5
1967 35.9 53.4
1966 35.8 52.3
1965 35.7 51.1
1964 35.7 49.7
1963 35.6 48.4
1962 35.4 46.8
1961 35.2 45.2
1960 35 43.6
1959 34.8 42.1
1958 34.4 41
1957 34.1 40.1
1956 33.8 39.5
1955 33.6 39.3
1954 33.3 39.2
1953 33.2 39.1
1952 33 39.1
1951 32.8 39.1
1950 32.7 39.1

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/malawi/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Malawi and Sao Tome and Principe population clocks and comparison

Population
Malawi

Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Population
Malawi Sao Tome
2024 21,655,286 235,536
2023 21,104,482 230,871
2022 20,568,728 226,305
2021 20,047,258 221,961
2020 19,533,888 217,435
2019 19,025,752 213,392
2018 18,528,081 210,187
2017 18,039,715 206,970
2016 17,557,739 203,689
2015 17,085,587 200,291
2014 16,621,538 196,767
2013 16,161,816 193,148
2012 15,709,577 189,439
2011 15,265,022 185,649
2010 14,826,463 181,802
2009 14,395,788 177,853
2008 13,976,417 173,793
2007 13,576,343 169,700
2006 13,198,701 165,638
2005 12,840,031 161,639
2004 12,500,737 157,705
2003 12,181,574 153,814
2002 11,880,440 149,922
2001 11,593,058 146,375
2000 11,315,942 144,018
1999 11,047,804 142,442
1998 10,792,876 140,751
1997 10,562,035 138,922
1996 10,352,228 136,962
1995 10,150,117 134,895
1994 10,164,894 132,732
1993 10,284,024 130,467
1992 10,135,079 128,110
1991 9,844,227 125,697
1990 9,545,852 122,980
1989 9,176,220 119,979
1988 8,753,262 116,939
1987 8,293,174 113,919
1986 7,906,480 111,150
1985 7,620,508 108,658
1984 7,332,810 106,394
1983 7,051,709 104,380
1982 6,778,879 102,508
1981 6,516,454 100,615
1980 6,265,529 98,544
1979 6,028,749 96,252
1978 5,810,132 93,794
1977 5,614,983 91,301
1976 5,443,384 88,922
1975 5,287,367 86,708
1974 5,141,337 84,672
1973 5,003,938 82,798
1972 4,874,475 81,041
1971 4,751,434 79,330
1970 4,633,944 77,626
1969 4,521,184 76,083
1968 4,411,054 74,765
1967 4,303,012 73,596
1966 4,197,926 72,576
1965 4,096,157 71,680
1964 3,997,305 70,865
1963 3,900,506 70,112
1962 3,806,307 69,403
1961 3,715,534 68,707
1960 3,628,134 68,012

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/malawi/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Fertility rates in Malawi and Sao Tome and Principe

Fertility rate
Malawi

Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Fertility rate
Malawi Sao Tome
2023 3.65 3.64
2022 3.72 3.7
2021 3.79 3.76
2020 3.88 3.83
2019 3.95 3.9
2018 4.02 3.98
2017 4.11 4.07
2016 4.22 4.2
2015 4.38 4.35
2014 4.57 4.49
2013 4.76 4.58
2012 4.9 4.66
2011 5.08 4.72
2010 5.26 4.77
2009 5.45 4.84
2008 5.61 4.91
2007 5.72 4.96
2006 5.8 4.93
2005 5.85 4.94
2004 5.86 4.96
2003 5.88 5.01
2002 5.9 5.06
2001 5.94 5.1
2000 6 5.16
1999 6.12 5.23
1998 6.21 5.3
1997 6.23 5.4
1996 6.29 5.47
1995 6.39 5.55
1994 6.49 5.56
1993 6.57 5.64
1992 6.63 5.7
1991 6.68 5.77
1990 6.74 5.83
1989 6.8 5.88
1988 6.88 5.94
1987 6.97 5.99
1986 7.07 6.05
1985 7.17 6.1
1984 7.27 6.16
1983 7.36 6.22
1982 7.45 6.28
1981 7.49 6.33
1980 7.52 6.39
1979 7.47 6.43
1978 7.43 6.47
1977 7.41 6.5
1976 7.39 6.52
1975 7.36 6.53
1974 7.34 6.53
1973 7.34 6.53
1972 7.33 6.51
1971 7.31 6.49
1970 7.3 6.47
1969 7.27 6.44
1968 7.26 6.42
1967 7.21 6.39
1966 7.17 6.37
1965 7.13 6.35
1964 7.11 6.33
1963 7.13 6.31
1962 7.1 6.28
1961 7.07 6.26
1960 7.04 6.24

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/malawi/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Malawi and Sao Tome and Principe demographics compared

Median age
Malawi

Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Median age, years
Malawi Sao Tome
2024 18.9 20.3
2023 18.7 20.1
2022 18.4 19.9
2021 18.2 19.7
2020 18 19.5
2019 17.8 19.4
2018 17.6 19.3
2017 17.4 19.1
2016 17.2 19
2015 17.1 19
2014 17 18.9
2013 16.9 18.9
2012 16.8 18.9
2011 16.8 18.9
2010 16.7 18.8
2009 16.7 18.7
2008 16.8 18.7
2007 16.8 18.7
2006 16.8 18.6
2005 16.8 18.5
2004 16.8 18.4
2003 16.8 18.3
2002 16.8 18.1
2001 16.8 18
2000 16.8 17.9
1999 16.7 17.7
1998 16.8 17.5
1997 16.8 17.4
1996 16.8 17.3
1995 16.9 17.3
1994 16.9 17.2
1993 17 17.2
1992 17.1 17.3
1991 17.2 17.3
1990 17.3 17.4
1989 17.4 17.4
1988 17.5 17.4
1987 17.4 17.4
1986 17.3 17.4
1985 17.3 17.4
1984 17.3 17.4
1983 17.3 17.4
1982 17.3 17.4
1981 17.3 17.4
1980 17.3 17.3
1979 17.4 17.3
1978 17.4 17.2
1977 17.4 17.2
1976 17.5 17.1
1975 17.5 17.1
1974 17.6 17.1
1973 17.7 17
1972 17.8 17
1971 17.9 16.9
1970 18 16.9
1969 18.2 17.2
1968 18.3 17.7
1967 18.3 18.5
1966 18.3 19.5
1965 18.4 21
1964 18.3 22.4
1963 18.3 23.5
1962 18.3 24.1
1961 18.3 24.3
1960 18.2 24.2

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/malawi/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Malawi and Sao Tome and Principe.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Malawi Sao Tome
GNI, Atlas method
$12.3B
2024
$671M
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
29.5%
2024
24.7%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.75%
2022
5.03%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.02%
2024
n/a
Armed forces personnel
15,000
2020
1,000
1999
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-11%
2024
+0.92%
2024
Unemployment rate
15.4%
2024
6.66%
2017
Services, % of GDP
44.2%
2024
80.3%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
17.1%
2024
2.83%
2024
Economic freedom index
50.7
2026
60.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
31%
2019
32.8%
2017
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2019
2.6%
2017
Total reserves including gold
$594M
2020
$46.2M
2023
Personal remittances received
$187M
2024
$80.1M
2024
International tourist arrivals
871,000
2018
33,400
2018
International tourism as share of exports
2.68%
2020
73.2%
2018
Banked people share
50.4%
2024
n/a

Energy

Malawi Sao Tome
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita n/a
259.3 kg
2007
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$10.2
2007
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
4.79 megatons
2024
0.15 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.22 tons
2024
0.63 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share n/a
0%
2007
Renewable energy use share
62.9%
2022
42.5%
2022
Renewable electricity output share
80.1%
2021
6.06%
2021
Hydroelectric share
72.5%
2021
5.85%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
15.6%
2023
81.3%
2023

Society

Malawi Sao Tome
% of world population
0.27%
2024
0.003%
2024
Annual migration change
-5,628
2025
-650
2025
Urban population
17.3%
2024
68.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.8:51.2
2024
49.7:50.3
2024
Average male height
5.44 ft
2025
5.59 ft
2025
Average female height
5.12 ft
2025
5.24 ft
2025
Quality of life index
31.3
2026
32.3
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
34
2025
45
2025
Higher education index
26
2026
n/a
Homicides per 100K people
1.79
2012
3.23
2011
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
33.4
2019
27.9
2019
Visa free countries
78
2025
70
2025
Adult literacy rate
68.1%
2022
93.8%
2022
English speaking
3.88%
2023
4.9%
2025
People using the Internet
18%
2023
61.5%
2023

Health

Malawi Sao Tome
Government health expenditure per capita
$41.3
2023
$171.1
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$4.95
2023
$28.5
2023
Life expectancy
67.9 years
2026
70.3 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
65.5%
2023
43.9%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.05
2022
0.46
2022
Age at first childbirth
19.1 years
2025
19.4 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
225
2023
75
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
38.3
2023
13.9
2023
Obesity rate
7.87%
2022
17.2%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
5.7%
2024
12.1%
2024
Air quality index
34
2026
24
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
9.7%
2022
7.8%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.61 liters
2020
4.79 liters
2020

Territory

Malawi Sao Tome
% of world land
0.06%
2026
0.0006%
2026
Land area per capita
1,681 sq mi
2024
1,574 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
23,359 sq mi
2026
166 sq mi
2026
Forest area
8,169 sq mi
2026
193.2 sq mi
2026
Roads length
9,601 mi
2015
808 mi
2018

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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