Sao Tome and Principe is a lower-middle-income country with a population of 236K people. The capital and largest city is Sao Tome, with 65.5K residents.
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 189/197 by GDP ($822M) and 134/197 by GDP per capita ($3,491). The top export category is transport & tourism services, while the top import is raw materials & minerals.
Main facts and rankings
Sao Tome
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population |
246362
|
176/197 |
| GDP |
$822M
2024 |
189/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$3,491
2024 |
134/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$6,242
2024 |
151/197 |
| Government debt |
$533M
2024 |
174/185 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
64.8%
2024 |
69/185 |
| Government debt per person |
$2,262
2024 |
116/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$3,111
2026 |
140/197 |
| Land area | 371 sq mi | 172/197 |
| Population density | 661 ppl/mi² | 46/197 |
| Fertility rate | 3.64 | 41/196 |
| Median age | 20.3 years | 163/196 |
| Life expectancy | 70.3 years | 136/197 |
Sao Tome and Principe trends dashboard: time-series charts
Sao Tome and Principe's economy ranked
| Year | GDP |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $822,154,621 |
| 2023 | $690,456,807 |
| 2022 | $540,809,499 |
| 2021 | $524,402,456 |
| 2020 | $471,229,485 |
| 2019 | $412,976,083 |
| 2018 | $383,717,328 |
| 2017 | $322,002,845 |
| 2016 | $292,267,272 |
| 2015 | $259,999,643 |
| 2014 | $293,119,143 |
| 2013 | $267,041,748 |
| 2012 | $225,815,132 |
| 2011 | $226,455,001 |
| 2010 | $190,021,192 |
| 2009 | $200,668,065 |
| 2008 | $188,021,165 |
| 2007 | $149,146,919 |
| 2006 | $142,775,104 |
| 2005 | $136,450,662 |
| 2004 | $114,582,284 |
| 2003 | $102,085,769 |
| 2002 | $85,171,074 |
| 2001 | $75,951,133 |
| 2000 | $76,198,395 |
| 1999 | $77,302,212 |
| 1998 | $72,285,404 |
| 1997 | $91,920,274 |
| 1996 | $135,188,166 |
| 1995 | $103,695,237 |
| 1994 | $131,338,415 |
| 1993 | $125,742,229 |
| 1992 | $94,861,781 |
| 1991 | $107,484,143 |
| 1990 | $119,297,933 |
| 1989 | $98,545,367 |
| 1988 | $99,000,764 |
| 1987 | $115,952,925 |
| 1986 | $115,928,907 |
| 1985 | $82,733,069 |
| 1984 | $78,213,796 |
| 1983 | $75,110,289 |
| 1982 | $80,307,763 |
| 1981 | $83,499,264 |
| 1980 | $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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY 
Sao Tome and Principe's economy ranked
| Year | GDP per capita |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,491 |
| 2023 | $2,991 |
| 2022 | $2,390 |
| 2021 | $2,363 |
| 2020 | $2,167 |
| 2019 | $1,935 |
| 2018 | $1,826 |
| 2017 | $1,556 |
| 2016 | $1,435 |
| 2015 | $1,298 |
| 2014 | $1,490 |
| 2013 | $1,383 |
| 2012 | $1,192 |
| 2011 | $1,220 |
| 2010 | $1,045 |
| 2009 | $1,128 |
| 2008 | $1,082 |
| 2007 | $879 |
| 2006 | $862 |
| 2005 | $844 |
| 2004 | $727 |
| 2003 | $664 |
| 2002 | $568 |
| 2001 | $519 |
| 2000 | $529 |
| 1999 | $543 |
| 1998 | $514 |
| 1997 | $662 |
| 1996 | $987 |
| 1995 | $769 |
| 1994 | $990 |
| 1993 | $964 |
| 1992 | $740 |
| 1991 | $855 |
| 1990 | $970 |
| 1989 | $821 |
| 1988 | $847 |
| 1987 | $1,018 |
| 1986 | $1,043 |
| 1985 | $761 |
| 1984 | $735 |
| 1983 | $720 |
| 1982 | $783 |
| 1981 | $830 |
| 1980 | $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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
Sao Tome and Principe's life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 70.3 |
| 2025 | 70.1 |
| 2024 | 69.9 |
| 2023 | 69.7 |
| 2022 | 69.2 |
| 2021 | 68 |
| 2020 | 68 |
| 2019 | 68 |
| 2018 | 67.6 |
| 2017 | 67.1 |
| 2016 | 66.6 |
| 2015 | 66 |
| 2014 | 65.5 |
| 2013 | 64.9 |
| 2012 | 64.5 |
| 2011 | 64.1 |
| 2010 | 63.9 |
| 2009 | 63.7 |
| 2008 | 63.4 |
| 2007 | 63.3 |
| 2006 | 63 |
| 2005 | 62.4 |
| 2004 | 62.6 |
| 2003 | 62.2 |
| 2002 | 61.8 |
| 2001 | 61.5 |
| 2000 | 61.2 |
| 1999 | 61 |
| 1998 | 60.8 |
| 1997 | 60.6 |
| 1996 | 60.6 |
| 1995 | 60.5 |
| 1994 | 60.6 |
| 1993 | 60.6 |
| 1992 | 60.7 |
| 1991 | 60.8 |
| 1990 | 60.7 |
| 1989 | 59.7 |
| 1988 | 60.8 |
| 1987 | 60.7 |
| 1986 | 57.6 |
| 1985 | 60.1 |
| 1984 | 59.9 |
| 1983 | 59.7 |
| 1982 | 59.5 |
| 1981 | 59.4 |
| 1980 | 59.4 |
| 1979 | 59.3 |
| 1978 | 59.1 |
| 1977 | 59 |
| 1976 | 58.8 |
| 1975 | 58.6 |
| 1974 | 58.3 |
| 1973 | 57.9 |
| 1972 | 57.4 |
| 1971 | 57 |
| 1970 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 55.4 |
| 1968 | 54.5 |
| 1967 | 53.4 |
| 1966 | 52.3 |
| 1965 | 51.1 |
| 1964 | 49.7 |
| 1963 | 48.4 |
| 1962 | 46.8 |
| 1961 | 45.2 |
| 1960 | 43.6 |
| 1959 | 42.1 |
| 1958 | 41 |
| 1957 | 40.1 |
| 1956 | 39.5 |
| 1955 | 39.3 |
| 1954 | 39.2 |
| 1953 | 39.1 |
| 1952 | 39.1 |
| 1951 | 39.1 |
| 1950 | 39.1 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/facts/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
Sao Tome and Principe's population clock and projection
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 235,536 |
| 2023 | 230,871 |
| 2022 | 226,305 |
| 2021 | 221,961 |
| 2020 | 217,435 |
| 2019 | 213,392 |
| 2018 | 210,187 |
| 2017 | 206,970 |
| 2016 | 203,689 |
| 2015 | 200,291 |
| 2014 | 196,767 |
| 2013 | 193,148 |
| 2012 | 189,439 |
| 2011 | 185,649 |
| 2010 | 181,802 |
| 2009 | 177,853 |
| 2008 | 173,793 |
| 2007 | 169,700 |
| 2006 | 165,638 |
| 2005 | 161,639 |
| 2004 | 157,705 |
| 2003 | 153,814 |
| 2002 | 149,922 |
| 2001 | 146,375 |
| 2000 | 144,018 |
| 1999 | 142,442 |
| 1998 | 140,751 |
| 1997 | 138,922 |
| 1996 | 136,962 |
| 1995 | 134,895 |
| 1994 | 132,732 |
| 1993 | 130,467 |
| 1992 | 128,110 |
| 1991 | 125,697 |
| 1990 | 122,980 |
| 1989 | 119,979 |
| 1988 | 116,939 |
| 1987 | 113,919 |
| 1986 | 111,150 |
| 1985 | 108,658 |
| 1984 | 106,394 |
| 1983 | 104,380 |
| 1982 | 102,508 |
| 1981 | 100,615 |
| 1980 | 98,544 |
| 1979 | 96,252 |
| 1978 | 93,794 |
| 1977 | 91,301 |
| 1976 | 88,922 |
| 1975 | 86,708 |
| 1974 | 84,672 |
| 1973 | 82,798 |
| 1972 | 81,041 |
| 1971 | 79,330 |
| 1970 | 77,626 |
| 1969 | 76,083 |
| 1968 | 74,765 |
| 1967 | 73,596 |
| 1966 | 72,576 |
| 1965 | 71,680 |
| 1964 | 70,865 |
| 1963 | 70,112 |
| 1962 | 69,403 |
| 1961 | 68,707 |
| 1960 | 68,012 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
Sao Tome and Principe's birth and fertility rates
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 3.64 |
| 2022 | 3.7 |
| 2021 | 3.76 |
| 2020 | 3.83 |
| 2019 | 3.9 |
| 2018 | 3.98 |
| 2017 | 4.07 |
| 2016 | 4.2 |
| 2015 | 4.35 |
| 2014 | 4.49 |
| 2013 | 4.58 |
| 2012 | 4.66 |
| 2011 | 4.72 |
| 2010 | 4.77 |
| 2009 | 4.84 |
| 2008 | 4.91 |
| 2007 | 4.96 |
| 2006 | 4.93 |
| 2005 | 4.94 |
| 2004 | 4.96 |
| 2003 | 5.01 |
| 2002 | 5.06 |
| 2001 | 5.1 |
| 2000 | 5.16 |
| 1999 | 5.23 |
| 1998 | 5.3 |
| 1997 | 5.4 |
| 1996 | 5.47 |
| 1995 | 5.55 |
| 1994 | 5.56 |
| 1993 | 5.64 |
| 1992 | 5.7 |
| 1991 | 5.77 |
| 1990 | 5.83 |
| 1989 | 5.88 |
| 1988 | 5.94 |
| 1987 | 5.99 |
| 1986 | 6.05 |
| 1985 | 6.1 |
| 1984 | 6.16 |
| 1983 | 6.22 |
| 1982 | 6.28 |
| 1981 | 6.33 |
| 1980 | 6.39 |
| 1979 | 6.43 |
| 1978 | 6.47 |
| 1977 | 6.5 |
| 1976 | 6.52 |
| 1975 | 6.53 |
| 1974 | 6.53 |
| 1973 | 6.53 |
| 1972 | 6.51 |
| 1971 | 6.49 |
| 1970 | 6.47 |
| 1969 | 6.44 |
| 1968 | 6.42 |
| 1967 | 6.39 |
| 1966 | 6.37 |
| 1965 | 6.35 |
| 1964 | 6.33 |
| 1963 | 6.31 |
| 1962 | 6.28 |
| 1961 | 6.26 |
| 1960 | 6.24 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
Sao Tome and Principe's demographics
| Year | Median age, years |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 20.3 |
| 2023 | 20.1 |
| 2022 | 19.9 |
| 2021 | 19.7 |
| 2020 | 19.5 |
| 2019 | 19.4 |
| 2018 | 19.3 |
| 2017 | 19.1 |
| 2016 | 19 |
| 2015 | 19 |
| 2014 | 18.9 |
| 2013 | 18.9 |
| 2012 | 18.9 |
| 2011 | 18.9 |
| 2010 | 18.8 |
| 2009 | 18.7 |
| 2008 | 18.7 |
| 2007 | 18.7 |
| 2006 | 18.6 |
| 2005 | 18.5 |
| 2004 | 18.4 |
| 2003 | 18.3 |
| 2002 | 18.1 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2000 | 17.9 |
| 1999 | 17.7 |
| 1998 | 17.5 |
| 1997 | 17.4 |
| 1996 | 17.3 |
| 1995 | 17.3 |
| 1994 | 17.2 |
| 1993 | 17.2 |
| 1992 | 17.3 |
| 1991 | 17.3 |
| 1990 | 17.4 |
| 1989 | 17.4 |
| 1988 | 17.4 |
| 1987 | 17.4 |
| 1986 | 17.4 |
| 1985 | 17.4 |
| 1984 | 17.4 |
| 1983 | 17.4 |
| 1982 | 17.4 |
| 1981 | 17.4 |
| 1980 | 17.3 |
| 1979 | 17.3 |
| 1978 | 17.2 |
| 1977 | 17.2 |
| 1976 | 17.1 |
| 1975 | 17.1 |
| 1974 | 17.1 |
| 1973 | 17 |
| 1972 | 17 |
| 1971 | 16.9 |
| 1970 | 16.9 |
| 1969 | 17.2 |
| 1968 | 17.7 |
| 1967 | 18.5 |
| 1966 | 19.5 |
| 1965 | 21 |
| 1964 | 22.4 |
| 1963 | 23.5 |
| 1962 | 24.1 |
| 1961 | 24.3 |
| 1960 | 24.2 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
Sao Tome and Principe vs. World: Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to toggle between world maps that display different statistics comparing Sao Tome and Principe with other countries.
Sao Tome and Principe: National Statistics
Finance
|
Sao Tome
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$671M
2024 |
188/194 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
24.7%
2024 |
124/195 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
5.03%
2023 |
61/193 |
| Armed forces personnel |
1,000
1999 |
169/174 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
+0.92%
2024 |
29/188 |
| Unemployment rate |
6.66%
2017 |
70/196 |
| Services, % of GDP |
80.3%
2024 |
5/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
2.83%
2024 |
193/194 |
| Economic freedom index |
60.6
2026 |
93/197 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
32.8%
2017 |
33/169 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
2.6%
2017 |
103/169 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$46.2M
2023 |
176/177 |
| Personal remittances received |
$80.1M
2024 |
157/191 |
| International tourist arrivals |
33,400
2018 |
177/188 |
| International tourism as share of exports |
73.2%
2018 |
7/184 |
Energy
|
Sao Tome
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
259.3 kg
2007 |
163/177 |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use |
$10.2
2007 |
131/173 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
0.15 megatons
2024 |
180/187 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
0.63 tons
2024 |
144/187 |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
0%
2007 |
171/176 |
| Renewable energy use share |
42.5%
2022 |
56/193 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
6.06%
2021 |
153/192 |
| Hydroelectric share |
5.85%
2021 |
113/192 |
| Nuclear share |
0%
2021 |
160/192 |
| Electricity access |
81.3%
2023 |
148/195 |
Society
|
Sao Tome
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.003%
2024 |
176/197 |
| Annual migration change |
-650
2025 |
90/196 |
| Urban population |
68.9%
2024 |
81/195 |
| Male:Female ratio |
49.7:50.3
2024 |
N/A |
| Average male height |
5.59 ft
2025 |
129/190 |
| Average female height |
5.24 ft
2025 |
114/190 |
| Quality of life index |
32.3
2026 |
149/197 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
45
2025 |
86/197 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
3.23
2011 |
97/197 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
27.9
2019 |
36/197 |
| Visa free countries |
70
2025 |
139/195 |
| Adult literacy rate |
93.8%
2022 |
117/196 |
| English speaking |
4.9%
2025 |
148/197 |
| People using the Internet |
61.5%
2023 |
133/195 |
Health
|
Sao Tome
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita |
$171.1
2023 |
132/192 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$28.5
2023 |
149/192 |
| Life expectancy |
70.3 years
2026 |
136/197 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
43.9%
2023 |
10/181 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
0.46
2022 |
142/193 |
| Age at first childbirth |
19.4 years
2025 |
125/137 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
75
2023 |
76/193 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age |
13.9
2023 |
102/192 |
| Obesity rate |
17.2%
2022 |
125/189 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
12.1%
2024 |
49/195 |
| Air quality index |
24
2026 |
152/197 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
7.8%
2022 |
150/164 |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
4.79 liters
2020 |
87/186 |
Territory
|
Sao Tome
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.0006%
2026 |
172/197 |
| Land area per capita |
1,574 sq mi
2024 |
151/197 |
| Agricultural land area |
166 sq mi
2026 |
170/194 |
| Forest area |
193.2 sq mi
2026 |
162/196 |
| Roads length |
808 mi
2018 |
156/176 |
Compare Sao Tome and Principe with other countries
Help us show the world through your eyes
Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.
Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
- Wikidata (2010, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.