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Population density: Marshall Islands vs Sao Tome and Principe compared

Updated on by Georank team

The Marshall Islands has a population density of 504 people per square mile compared to 661 people in Sao Tome and Principe. The Marshall Islands has 52,011 sq ft of land per person vs 45,745 sq ft in Sao Tome and Principe. The Marshall Islands and Sao Tome and Principe rank 56th and 46th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. The Marshall Islands has 0.0005% of the world's population and 0.0001% 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 the Marshall Islands 23.7% lower than in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population density by year

Marshall Islands
Sao Tome and Principe

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Marshall Islands Sao Tome
2026 504 661
2025 522 648
2024 540 635
2023 559 623
2022 577 611
2021 595 599
2020 614 587
2019 633 576
2018 652 567
2017 669 558
2016 686 550
2015 702 540
2014 717 531
2013 729 521
2012 740 511
2011 747 501
2010 749 490
2009 748 480
2008 749 469
2007 749 458
2006 748 447
2005 747 436
2004 745 425
2003 743 415
2002 740 404
2001 736 395
2000 730 389
1999 722 384
1998 715 380
1997 709 375
1996 702 370
1995 694 364
1994 687 358
1993 678 352
1992 667 346
1991 656 339
1990 - 332
1989 - 324
1988 - 315
1987 - 307
1986 - 299.9
1985 - 293.1
1984 - 287
1983 - 281.6
1982 - 276.6
1981 - 271.4
1980 - 265.9
1979 - 259.7
1978 - 253
1977 - 246.3
1976 - 239.9
1975 - 233.9
1974 - 228.4
1973 - 223.4
1972 - 218.6
1971 - 214
1970 - 209.4
1969 - 205.3
1968 - 201.7
1967 - 198.6
1966 - 195.8
1965 - 193.4
1964 - 191.2
1963 - 189.2
1962 - 187.2
1961 - 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/marshall-islands/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in the Marshall Islands decreased by 32.6%, compared to a 48% growth in Sao Tome and Principe.

In 2006, the Marshall Islands ranked 30th by population density and is 56th now. Sao Tome and Principe was 50th in 2006 and ranks 46th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Marshall Islands
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Urban population
Marshall Islands Sao Tome
2024 78.7% 68.9%
2023 78.4% 68.6%
2022 78% 68.4%
2021 77.6% 68.2%
2020 77.3% 68%
2019 76.9% 67.9%
2018 76.6% 67.8%
2017 76.2% 67.7%
2016 75.9% 67.5%
2015 75.5% 67.4%
2014 75.1% 67.3%
2013 74.7% 67.1%
2012 74.3% 67%
2011 73.9% 66.7%
2010 73.4% 66.1%
2009 72.9% 65.1%
2008 72.4% 63.9%
2007 71.8% 62.5%
2006 71.2% 61%
2005 70.6% 59.4%
2004 70.1% 57.9%
2003 69.5% 56.4%
2002 69% 55.1%
2001 68.6% 54%
2000 68.3% 53%
1999 68% 52%
1998 67.9% 51.1%
1997 67.7% 50.2%
1996 67.6% 49.4%
1995 67.5% 48.5%
1994 67.5% 47.6%
1993 67.4% 46.7%
1992 67.3% 45.8%
1991 67.2% 44.8%
1990 67.1% 43.7%
1989 66.9% 42.5%
1988 66.7% 41.3%
1987 66.1% 40%
1986 65.1% 38.7%
1985 64% 37.5%
1984 62.8% 36.3%
1983 61.6% 35.3%
1982 60.6% 34.5%
1981 59.9% 33.8%
1980 59.7% 33.3%
1979 59.8% 32.9%
1978 60.1% 32.6%
1977 60.5% 32.3%
1976 60.9% 32.1%
1975 61.2% 31.8%
1974 61.5% 31.5%
1973 61.3% 31.2%
1972 59.9% 30.8%
1971 57.4% 30.4%
1970 54.3% 29.8%
1969 51% 28.8%
1968 47.9% 27.4%
1967 45.6% 25.7%
1966 43.8% 23.8%
1965 42.1% 21.9%
1964 40.4% 20%
1963 38.8% 18.3%
1962 37.4% 16.9%
1961 36% 15.9%
1960 34.8% 15.4%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 70.1% to 78.7% in the Marshall Islands and from 57.9% to 68.9% in Sao Tome and Principe.

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/marshall-islands/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, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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