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Sao Tome and Principe vs South Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Sao Tome and Principe has a population of 236K (ranked 176/197), compared with 51.8M in South Korea (ranked 29/197). Sao Tome and Principe's land area is 371 sq mi versus 37,684 sq mi for South Korea (ranked 172nd vs. 105th).

By GDP, Sao Tome and Principe ranks 189/197 ($822M) and South Korea ranks 12/197 ($1.88T). By GDP per capita, Sao Tome and Principe ranks 134/197 ($3,491), while South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239).

Main facts and rankings

Sao Tome South Korea
Population
246362
51649918
Population rank 176/197 31/197
GDP
$822M
2024
$1.88T
2024
GDP rank 189/197 12/197
GDP per capita
$3,491
2024
$36,239
2024
GDP per capita rank 134/197 31/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$6,242
2024
$61,051
2024
Government debt
$533M
2024
$934B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
64.8%
2024
49.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$2,262
2024
$18,052
2024
Government debt per person rank 116/185 33/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,111
2026
$27,215
2026
Land area 371 sq mi 37,684 sq mi
Population density
661 ppl/mi²
2026
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
3.64
2023
0.72
2023
Median age
20.3 years
2024
46.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
70.3 years
2026
84.6 years
2026

Sao Tome and Principe and South Korea: Comparison Charts

Sao Tome and Principe and South Korea economies compared

GDP
Sao Tome and Principe

South Korea
1x
Year GDP
Sao Tome South Korea
2024 $822,154,621 $1,875,388,209,407
2023 $690,456,807 $1,844,800,934,392
2022 $540,809,499 $1,799,363,116,867
2021 $524,402,456 $1,942,313,560,966
2020 $471,229,485 $1,744,070,276,373
2019 $412,976,083 $1,751,045,752,055
2018 $383,717,328 $1,824,251,454,307
2017 $322,002,845 $1,710,196,756,713
2016 $292,267,272 $1,579,150,518,945
2015 $259,999,643 $1,539,212,301,136
2014 $293,119,143 $1,556,252,422,020
2013 $267,041,748 $1,434,669,686,502
2012 $225,815,132 $1,335,343,586,438
2011 $226,455,001 $1,307,103,477,219
2010 $190,021,192 $1,192,830,015,738
2009 $200,668,065 $983,065,242,417
2008 $188,021,165 $1,091,580,692,542
2007 $149,146,919 $1,220,911,904,593
2006 $142,775,104 $1,095,175,538,508
2005 $136,450,662 $971,740,329,984
2004 $114,582,284 $823,251,107,639
2003 $102,085,769 $728,516,494,684
2002 $85,171,074 $650,014,391,470
2001 $75,951,133 $567,564,806,235
2000 $76,198,395 $597,487,173,479
1999 $77,302,212 $515,697,079,289
1998 $72,285,404 $397,297,216,492
1997 $91,920,274 $589,202,526,424
1996 $135,188,166 $631,196,863,758
1995 $103,695,237 $586,286,469,401
1994 $131,338,415 $479,181,794,217
1993 $125,742,229 $405,705,302,846
1992 $94,861,781 $366,921,291,825
1991 $107,484,143 $340,851,946,804
1990 $119,297,933 $292,064,221,389
1989 $98,545,367 $254,236,243,100
1988 $99,000,764 $205,477,530,605
1987 $115,952,925 $152,240,393,646
1986 $115,928,907 $119,965,960,795
1985 $82,733,069 $103,764,281,281
1984 $78,213,796 $99,749,645,089
1983 $75,110,289 $89,621,208,322
1982 $80,307,763 $79,921,300,447
1981 $83,499,264 $74,287,368,087
1980 $81,662,231 $66,547,970,351
1979 $65,755,928 $68,083,884,298
1978 $55,044,563 $52,824,793,388
1977 $49,207,692 $39,064,462,810
1976 $52,039,421 $30,371,074,380
1975 $60,101,710 $22,126,033,058
1974 $57,817,591 $19,860,929,977
1973 $56,011,245 $14,067,523,813
1972 $41,430,257 $10,990,490,570
1971 $37,288,845 $10,005,257,131
1970 $37,211,826 $9,085,001,794
1969 - $7,743,940,189
1968 - $6,167,109,472
1967 - $4,895,076,718
1966 - $3,957,064,541
1965 - $3,141,131,708
1964 - $3,476,789,682
1963 - $4,007,692,308
1962 - $2,826,923,077
1961 - $2,427,244,761
1960 - $3,973,069,307

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

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

Sao Tome and Principe and South Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Sao Tome and Principe

South Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Sao Tome South Korea
2024 $3,491 $36,239
2023 $2,991 $35,674
2022 $2,390 $34,822
2021 $2,363 $37,518
2020 $2,167 $33,646
2019 $1,935 $33,827
2018 $1,826 $35,364
2017 $1,556 $33,297
2016 $1,435 $30,832
2015 $1,298 $30,172
2014 $1,490 $30,667
2013 $1,383 $28,449
2012 $1,192 $26,601
2011 $1,220 $26,175
2010 $1,045 $24,071
2009 $1,128 $19,937
2008 $1,082 $22,252
2007 $879 $25,078
2006 $862 $22,610
2005 $844 $20,167
2004 $727 $17,122
2003 $664 $15,212
2002 $568 $13,643
2001 $519 $11,981
2000 $529 $12,710
1999 $543 $11,063
1998 $514 $8,583
1997 $662 $12,822
1996 $987 $13,865
1995 $769 $13,002
1994 $990 $10,734
1993 $964 $9,180
1992 $740 $8,387
1991 $855 $7,873
1990 $970 $6,813
1989 $821 $5,989
1988 $847 $4,889
1987 $1,018 $3,658
1986 $1,043 $2,911
1985 $761 $2,543
1984 $735 $2,469
1983 $720 $2,246
1982 $783 $2,032
1981 $830 $1,918
1980 $829 $1,746
1979 $683 $1,814
1978 $587 $1,429
1977 $539 $1,073
1976 $585 $847
1975 $693 $627
1974 $683 $572
1973 $676 $412
1972 $511 $328
1971 $470 $304
1970 $479 $281.8
1969 - $245.5
1968 - $200
1967 - $162.5
1966 - $134.4
1965 - $109.4
1964 - $124.2
1963 - $147
1962 - $106.6
1961 - $94.2
1960 - $158.8

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

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

Sao Tome and Principe vs. South Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Sao Tome and Principe

South Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Sao Tome South Korea
2026 70.3 84.6
2025 70.1 84.5
2024 69.9 84.4
2023 69.7 84.3
2022 69.2 82.7
2021 68 83.9
2020 68 83.7
2019 68 83.7
2018 67.6 83.3
2017 67.1 83.3
2016 66.6 82.9
2015 66 82.5
2014 65.5 82.4
2013 64.9 81.8
2012 64.5 81.3
2011 64.1 81.2
2010 63.9 80.7
2009 63.7 80.6
2008 63.4 80
2007 63.3 79.4
2006 63 79
2005 62.4 78.4
2004 62.6 78
2003 62.2 77.5
2002 61.8 77.2
2001 61.5 76.9
2000 61.2 76.2
1999 61 75.6
1998 60.8 75
1997 60.6 74.5
1996 60.6 74
1995 60.5 73.4
1994 60.6 72.9
1993 60.6 72.7
1992 60.7 72.2
1991 60.8 71.4
1990 60.7 71
1989 59.7 70.7
1988 60.8 70.2
1987 60.7 69.3
1986 57.6 69
1985 60.1 68.4
1984 59.9 68.1
1983 59.7 66.7
1982 59.5 67.1
1981 59.4 67.1
1980 59.4 64.8
1979 59.3 66.1
1978 59.1 65
1977 59 64.6
1976 58.8 65
1975 58.6 64.7
1974 58.3 64.2
1973 57.9 63.8
1972 57.4 63.2
1971 57 62.7
1970 56.3 62.2
1969 55.4 61.4
1968 54.5 60.9
1967 53.4 60.9
1966 52.3 55.4
1965 51.1 55.8
1964 49.7 55.3
1963 48.4 55
1962 46.8 55
1961 45.2 54.4
1960 43.6 53.8
1959 42.1 52.9
1958 41 51.8
1957 40.1 51.6
1956 39.5 50.2
1955 39.3 48.4
1954 39.2 46.1
1953 39.1 40.5
1952 39.1 36.6
1951 39.1 26.6
1950 39.1 22.2

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

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

Sao Tome and Principe and South Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Sao Tome and Principe

South Korea
1x
Year Population
Sao Tome South Korea
2024 235,536 51,751,065
2023 230,871 51,712,619
2022 226,305 51,672,569
2021 221,961 51,769,539
2020 217,435 51,836,239
2019 213,392 51,764,822
2018 210,187 51,585,058
2017 206,970 51,361,911
2016 203,689 51,217,803
2015 200,291 51,014,947
2014 196,767 50,746,659
2013 193,148 50,428,893
2012 189,439 50,199,853
2011 185,649 49,936,638
2010 181,802 49,554,112
2009 177,853 49,307,835
2008 173,793 49,054,708
2007 169,700 48,683,638
2006 165,638 48,438,292
2005 161,639 48,184,561
2004 157,705 48,082,519
2003 153,814 47,892,330
2002 149,922 47,644,736
2001 146,375 47,370,164
2000 144,018 47,008,111
1999 142,442 46,616,677
1998 140,751 46,286,503
1997 138,922 45,953,580
1996 136,962 45,524,681
1995 134,895 45,092,991
1994 132,732 44,641,540
1993 130,467 44,194,628
1992 128,110 43,747,962
1991 125,697 43,295,704
1990 122,980 42,869,283
1989 119,979 42,449,038
1988 116,939 42,031,247
1987 113,919 41,621,690
1986 111,150 41,213,674
1985 108,658 40,805,744
1984 106,394 40,405,956
1983 104,380 39,910,403
1982 102,508 39,326,352
1981 100,615 38,723,248
1980 98,544 38,123,775
1979 96,252 37,534,236
1978 93,794 36,969,185
1977 91,301 36,411,795
1976 88,922 35,848,523
1975 86,708 35,280,725
1974 84,672 34,692,266
1973 82,798 34,103,149
1972 81,041 33,505,406
1971 79,330 32,882,704
1970 77,626 32,240,827
1969 76,083 31,544,266
1968 74,765 30,838,302
1967 73,596 30,130,983
1966 72,576 29,435,571
1965 71,680 28,704,674
1964 70,865 27,984,155
1963 70,112 27,261,747
1962 69,403 26,513,030
1961 68,707 25,765,673
1960 68,012 25,012,374

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

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

Fertility rates in Sao Tome and Principe and South Korea

Fertility rate
Sao Tome and Principe

South Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Sao Tome South Korea
2023 3.64 0.72
2022 3.7 0.78
2021 3.76 0.81
2020 3.83 0.84
2019 3.9 0.92
2018 3.98 0.98
2017 4.07 1.05
2016 4.2 1.17
2015 4.35 1.24
2014 4.49 1.21
2013 4.58 1.19
2012 4.66 1.3
2011 4.72 1.24
2010 4.77 1.23
2009 4.84 1.15
2008 4.91 1.19
2007 4.96 1.26
2006 4.93 1.13
2005 4.94 1.09
2004 4.96 1.16
2003 5.01 1.19
2002 5.06 1.18
2001 5.1 1.31
2000 5.16 1.48
1999 5.23 1.43
1998 5.3 1.46
1997 5.4 1.54
1996 5.47 1.57
1995 5.55 1.63
1994 5.56 1.66
1993 5.64 1.65
1992 5.7 1.76
1991 5.77 1.71
1990 5.83 1.57
1989 5.88 1.56
1988 5.94 1.55
1987 5.99 1.53
1986 6.05 1.58
1985 6.1 1.66
1984 6.16 1.74
1983 6.22 2.06
1982 6.28 2.39
1981 6.33 2.57
1980 6.39 2.82
1979 6.43 2.9
1978 6.47 2.64
1977 6.5 2.99
1976 6.52 3
1975 6.53 3.43
1974 6.53 3.77
1973 6.53 4.07
1972 6.51 4.12
1971 6.49 4.54
1970 6.47 4.53
1969 6.44 4.45
1968 6.42 4.51
1967 6.39 4.62
1966 6.37 4.78
1965 6.35 4.89
1964 6.33 5.07
1963 6.31 5.33
1962 6.28 5.56
1961 6.26 5.8
1960 6.24 5.99

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

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

Sao Tome and Principe and South Korea demographics compared

Median age
Sao Tome and Principe

South Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Sao Tome South Korea
2024 20.3 46.1
2023 20.1 45.5
2022 19.9 44.9
2021 19.7 44.4
2020 19.5 43.8
2019 19.4 43.1
2018 19.3 42.5
2017 19.1 41.9
2016 19 41.4
2015 19 40.8
2014 18.9 40.2
2013 18.9 39.5
2012 18.9 38.8
2011 18.9 38.2
2010 18.8 37.6
2009 18.7 37
2008 18.7 36.4
2007 18.7 35.8
2006 18.6 35.2
2005 18.5 34.5
2004 18.4 33.9
2003 18.3 33.4
2002 18.1 32.8
2001 18 32.3
2000 17.9 31.7
1999 17.7 31.2
1998 17.5 30.7
1997 17.4 30.2
1996 17.3 29.8
1995 17.3 29.4
1994 17.2 28.9
1993 17.2 28.3
1992 17.3 27.8
1991 17.3 27.2
1990 17.4 26.7
1989 17.4 26.3
1988 17.4 25.8
1987 17.4 25.3
1986 17.4 24.8
1985 17.4 24.2
1984 17.4 23.7
1983 17.4 23.3
1982 17.4 22.8
1981 17.4 22.5
1980 17.3 22.1
1979 17.3 21.6
1978 17.2 21.1
1977 17.2 20.7
1976 17.1 20.2
1975 17.1 19.9
1974 17.1 19.6
1973 17 19.3
1972 17 19.1
1971 16.9 19
1970 16.9 18.9
1969 17.2 18.8
1968 17.7 18.7
1967 18.5 18.6
1966 19.5 18.5
1965 21 18.6
1964 22.4 18.8
1963 23.5 19
1962 24.1 19.1
1961 24.3 19.2
1960 24.2 19.3

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Sao Tome South Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$671M
2024
$1.9T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
24.7%
2024
22.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.03%
2023
5.81%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
2.56%
2024
Armed forces personnel
1,000
1999
569,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+0.92%
2024
-0.78%
2024
Unemployment rate
6.66%
2017
2.78%
2024
Services, % of GDP
80.3%
2024
57.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
2.83%
2024
33.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
60.6
2026
73.7
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.8%
2017
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
2.6%
2017
2.9%
2021
Number of millionaires n/a
1,301,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
2.96%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
30
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00007%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
2,599
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$1.56T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$46.2M
2023
$418B
2024
Personal remittances received
$80.1M
2024
$7.45B
2024
International tourist arrivals
33,400
2018
2,519,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
73.2%
2018
1.94%
2020
Banked people share n/a
96.9%
2024

Energy

Sao Tome South Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
259.3 kg
2007
5,337 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$10.2
2007
$10.8
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
0.15 megatons
2024
588 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.63 tons
2024
11.4 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2007
79.1%
2023
Renewable energy use share
42.5%
2022
3.6%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
18.5%
2023
Net energy imports use share n/a
84.6%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
11,426 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
6.06%
2021
6.59%
2021
Hydroelectric share
5.85%
2021
1.23%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
29.6%
2023
Electricity access
81.3%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Sao Tome South Korea
% of world population
0.003%
2024
0.64%
2024
Annual migration change
-650
2025
+65,731
2025
Urban population
68.9%
2024
81.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.7:50.3
2024
49.9:50.1
2024
Average male height
5.59 ft
2025
5.76 ft
2025
Average female height
5.24 ft
2025
5.35 ft
2025
Quality of life index
32.3
2026
87.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
45
2025
63
2025
Higher education index n/a
86
2026
Homicides per 100K people
3.23
2011
0.48
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
27.9
2019
8.6
2019
Visa free countries
70
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
93.8%
2022
98.8%
2018
English speaking
4.9%
2025
20%
2025
People using the Internet
61.5%
2023
97.9%
2024

Health

Sao Tome South Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$171.1
2023
$3,137
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$28.5
2023
$1,058
2024
Life expectancy
70.3 years
2026
84.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
43.9%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.46
2022
2.61
2022
Age at first childbirth
19.4 years
2025
32.2 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
75
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
13.9
2023
2.8
2023
Obesity rate
17.2%
2022
7.24%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
12.1%
2024
9.6%
2024
Air quality index
24
2026
46
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
7.8%
2022
20%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.79 liters
2020
7.79 liters
2020

Territory

Sao Tome South Korea
% of world land
0.0006%
2026
0.07%
2026
Land area per capita
1,574 sq mi
2024
728 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
166 sq mi
2026
6,054 sq mi
2026
Forest area
193.2 sq mi
2026
24,158 sq mi
2026
Roads length
808 mi
2018
68,794 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)

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.