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Population density: Finland vs Sao Tome and Principe compared

Updated on by Georank team

Finland has a population density of 48 people per square mile compared to 661 people in Sao Tome and Principe. Finland has 648,293 sq ft of land per person vs 45,745 sq ft in Sao Tome and Principe. Finland and Sao Tome and Principe rank 175th and 46th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Finland has 0.07% of the world's population and 0.2% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.003% of the population and 0.0006% of the land area for Sao Tome and Principe, making the population density in Finland 92.7% lower than in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population density by year

Finland
Sao Tome and Principe

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Finland Sao Tome
2026 48 661
2025 48 648
2024 47.9 635
2023 47.6 623
2022 47.3 611
2021 47.2 599
2020 47.1 587
2019 47.1 576
2018 47 567
2017 46.9 558
2016 46.8 550
2015 46.7 540
2014 46.5 531
2013 46.4 521
2012 46.1 511
2011 45.9 501
2010 45.7 490
2009 45.5 480
2008 45.3 469
2007 45 458
2006 44.9 447
2005 44.6 436
2004 44.5 425
2003 44.3 415
2002 44.2 404
2001 44.1 395
2000 44 389
1999 43.9 384
1998 43.8 380
1997 43.7 375
1996 43.6 370
1995 43.4 364
1994 43.3 358
1993 43.1 352
1992 42.9 346
1991 42.6 339
1990 42.4 332
1989 42.2 324
1988 42.1 315
1987 41.9 307
1986 41.8 299.9
1985 41.7 293.1
1984 41.5 287
1983 41.3 281.6
1982 41 276.6
1981 40.8 271.4
1980 40.6 265.9
1979 40.5 259.7
1978 40.4 253
1977 40.3 246.3
1976 40.2 239.9
1975 40.1 233.9
1974 39.9 228.4
1973 39.7 223.4
1972 39.5 218.6
1971 39.2 214
1970 39.2 209.4
1969 39.3 205.3
1968 39.3 201.7
1967 39.2 198.6
1966 39 195.8
1965 38.8 193.4
1964 38.7 191.2
1963 38.5 189.2
1962 38.2 187.2
1961 37.9 185.4

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/finland/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Finland increased by 7%, compared to a 48% growth in Sao Tome and Principe.

In 2006, Finland ranked 163rd by population density and is 175th now. Sao Tome and Principe was 50th in 2006 and ranks 46th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Finland
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Urban population
Finland Sao Tome
2024 74.3% 68.9%
2023 74% 68.6%
2022 73.7% 68.4%
2021 73.4% 68.2%
2020 73.1% 68%
2019 72.7% 67.9%
2018 72.3% 67.8%
2017 72% 67.7%
2016 71.6% 67.5%
2015 71.3% 67.4%
2014 71% 67.3%
2013 70.7% 67.1%
2012 70.4% 67%
2011 70.1% 66.7%
2010 69.8% 66.1%
2009 69.5% 65.1%
2008 69.3% 63.9%
2007 69% 62.5%
2006 68.8% 61%
2005 68.5% 59.4%
2004 68.3% 57.9%
2003 68% 56.4%
2002 67.8% 55.1%
2001 67.5% 54%
2000 67.1% 53%
1999 66.7% 52%
1998 66.2% 51.1%
1997 65.7% 50.2%
1996 65.2% 49.4%
1995 64.8% 48.5%
1994 64.5% 47.6%
1993 64.3% 46.7%
1992 64.1% 45.8%
1991 64% 44.8%
1990 63.9% 43.7%
1989 63.8% 42.5%
1988 63.8% 41.3%
1987 63.7% 40%
1986 63.6% 38.7%
1985 63.5% 37.5%
1984 63.4% 36.3%
1983 63.3% 35.3%
1982 63.2% 34.5%
1981 63.2% 33.8%
1980 63.1% 33.3%
1979 63% 32.9%
1978 62.9% 32.6%
1977 62.8% 32.3%
1976 62.6% 32.1%
1975 62.4% 31.8%
1974 62.1% 31.5%
1973 61.6% 31.2%
1972 61.1% 30.8%
1971 60.7% 30.4%
1970 60.3% 29.8%
1969 59.9% 28.8%
1968 59.5% 27.4%
1967 59.1% 25.7%
1966 58.7% 23.8%
1965 58.3% 21.9%
1964 57.9% 20%
1963 57.4% 18.3%
1962 56.8% 16.9%
1961 56.3% 15.9%
1960 55.6% 15.4%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/finland/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 68.3% to 74.3% in Finland and from 57.9% to 68.9% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Densely populated cities

Finland
City Population
Helsinki 687K
Espoo 315K
Tampere 255K
Vantaa 248K
Oulu 215K
Turku 206K
Jyvaskyla 148K
Kuopio 124K
Lahti 121K
Pori 83.2K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/finland/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2024–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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