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Population density: Mozambique vs Sao Tome and Principe compared

Updated on by Georank team

Mozambique has a population density of 120.7 people per square mile compared to 661 people in Sao Tome and Principe. Mozambique has 249,142 sq ft of land per person vs 45,745 sq ft in Sao Tome and Principe. Mozambique and Sao Tome and Principe rank 141st and 46th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Mozambique has 0.43% of the world's population and 0.53% 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 Mozambique 81.7% lower than in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population density by year

Mozambique
Sao Tome and Principe

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Mozambique Sao Tome
2026 120.7 661
2025 117.4 648
2024 114.1 635
2023 110.8 623
2022 107.6 611
2021 104.4 599
2020 101.4 587
2019 98.4 576
2018 95.6 567
2017 92.8 558
2016 90 550
2015 87.4 540
2014 84.9 531
2013 82.5 521
2012 80.2 511
2011 77.9 501
2010 75.7 490
2009 73.7 480
2008 71.9 469
2007 70.1 458
2006 68.5 447
2005 66.9 436
2004 65.3 425
2003 63.9 415
2002 62.4 404
2001 61.1 395
2000 59.7 389
1999 58.4 384
1998 57.1 380
1997 55.8 375
1996 54.3 370
1995 52.6 364
1994 49.5 358
1993 46.3 352
1992 44.8 346
1991 44 339
1990 43.1 332
1989 42.5 324
1988 42.2 315
1987 42.2 307
1986 42.1 299.9
1985 41.3 293.1
1984 40.6 287
1983 39.8 281.6
1982 38.9 276.6
1981 38.1 271.4
1980 37.3 265.9
1979 36.3 259.7
1978 35 253
1977 33.7 246.3
1976 32.5 239.9
1975 31.4 233.9
1974 30.4 228.4
1973 29.5 223.4
1972 28.6 218.6
1971 27.9 214
1970 27.2 209.4
1969 26.6 205.3
1968 26 201.7
1967 25.4 198.6
1966 24.9 195.8
1965 24.4 193.4
1964 23.9 191.2
1963 23.4 189.2
1962 23 187.2
1961 22.5 185.4

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/mozambique/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Mozambique increased by 76.4%, compared to a 48% growth in Sao Tome and Principe.

In 2006, Mozambique ranked 151st by population density and is 141st now. Sao Tome and Principe was 50th in 2006 and ranks 46th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Mozambique
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Urban population
Mozambique Sao Tome
2024 36.4% 68.9%
2023 35.7% 68.6%
2022 35.1% 68.4%
2021 34.4% 68.2%
2020 33.9% 68%
2019 33.4% 67.9%
2018 33% 67.8%
2017 32.6% 67.7%
2016 32.4% 67.5%
2015 32.1% 67.4%
2014 31.9% 67.3%
2013 31.7% 67.1%
2012 31.4% 67%
2011 31.2% 66.7%
2010 31% 66.1%
2009 30.8% 65.1%
2008 30.6% 63.9%
2007 30.4% 62.5%
2006 30.2% 61%
2005 30% 59.4%
2004 29.9% 57.9%
2003 29.7% 56.4%
2002 29.6% 55.1%
2001 29.4% 54%
2000 29.2% 53%
1999 29% 52%
1998 28.8% 51.1%
1997 28.6% 50.2%
1996 28.2% 49.4%
1995 27.6% 48.5%
1994 26.9% 47.6%
1993 26.1% 46.7%
1992 25.2% 45.8%
1991 24.2% 44.8%
1990 23.2% 43.7%
1989 22.1% 42.5%
1988 21% 41.3%
1987 19.8% 40%
1986 18.7% 38.7%
1985 17.6% 37.5%
1984 16.5% 36.3%
1983 15.5% 35.3%
1982 14.6% 34.5%
1981 13.8% 33.8%
1980 13.1% 33.3%
1979 12.5% 32.9%
1978 11.9% 32.6%
1977 11.3% 32.3%
1976 10.6% 32.1%
1975 10% 31.8%
1974 9.45% 31.5%
1973 8.88% 31.2%
1972 8.32% 30.8%
1971 7.78% 30.4%
1970 7.26% 29.8%
1969 6.76% 28.8%
1968 6.29% 27.4%
1967 5.84% 25.7%
1966 5.42% 23.8%
1965 5.04% 21.9%
1964 4.68% 20%
1963 4.36% 18.3%
1962 4.08% 16.9%
1961 3.83% 15.9%
1960 3.62% 15.4%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 29.9% to 36.4% in Mozambique and from 57.9% to 68.9% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Densely populated cities

Mozambique
City Population
Maputo 1.13M
Matola 1.03M
Nampula 743K
Beira 531K
Quelimane 350K
Chimoio 239K
Nacala 225K
Tete 153K
Pemba 141K
Xai-Xai 116K

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/mozambique/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 (2007–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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