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Population density: Norway vs Sao Tome and Principe compared

Updated on by Georank team

Norway has a population density of 40.3 people per square mile compared to 661 people in Sao Tome and Principe. Norway has 744,100 sq ft of land per person vs 45,745 sq ft in Sao Tome and Principe. Norway and Sao Tome and Principe rank 182nd and 46th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Norway has 0.07% of the world's population and 0.24% 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 Norway 93.9% lower than in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population density by year

Norway
Sao Tome and Principe

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Norway Sao Tome
2026 40.3 661
2025 40 648
2024 39.6 635
2023 39.2 623
2022 38.8 611
2021 38.5 599
2020 38.2 587
2019 37.9 576
2018 37.7 567
2017 37.4 558
2016 37.1 550
2015 36.8 540
2014 36.4 531
2013 36 521
2012 35.6 511
2011 35.1 501
2010 34.7 490
2009 34.2 480
2008 33.8 469
2007 33.4 458
2006 33 447
2005 32.8 436
2004 32.6 425
2003 32.4 415
2002 32.2 404
2001 32 395
2000 31.8 389
1999 31.6 384
1998 31.4 380
1997 31.2 375
1996 31.1 370
1995 30.9 364
1994 30.8 358
1993 30.6 352
1992 30.4 346
1991 30.2 339
1990 30.1 332
1989 30 324
1988 29.8 315
1987 29.7 307
1986 29.6 299.9
1985 29.4 293.1
1984 29.4 287
1983 29.3 281.6
1982 29.2 276.6
1981 29.1 271.4
1980 29 265.9
1979 28.9 259.7
1978 28.8 253
1977 28.7 246.3
1976 28.5 239.9
1975 28.4 233.9
1974 28.3 228.4
1973 28.1 223.4
1972 27.9 218.6
1971 27.7 214
1970 27.5 209.4
1969 27.3 205.3
1968 27.1 201.7
1967 26.8 198.6
1966 26.6 195.8
1965 26.4 193.4
1964 26.2 191.2
1963 26 189.2
1962 25.8 187.2
1961 25.6 185.4

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

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Norway increased by 21.9%, compared to a 48% growth in Sao Tome and Principe.

In 2006, Norway ranked 171st by population density and is 182nd now. Sao Tome and Principe was 50th in 2006 and ranks 46th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Norway
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Urban population
Norway Sao Tome
2024 83.3% 68.9%
2023 83.1% 68.6%
2022 83% 68.4%
2021 82.9% 68.2%
2020 82.7% 68%
2019 82.5% 67.9%
2018 82.2% 67.8%
2017 82% 67.7%
2016 81.7% 67.5%
2015 81.2% 67.4%
2014 80.6% 67.3%
2013 80% 67.1%
2012 79.5% 67%
2011 79.3% 66.7%
2010 79.2% 66.1%
2009 79.1% 65.1%
2008 78.8% 63.9%
2007 78.4% 62.5%
2006 78.1% 61%
2005 77.8% 59.4%
2004 77.6% 57.9%
2003 77.3% 56.4%
2002 76.8% 55.1%
2001 76.4% 54%
2000 76.1% 53%
1999 75.8% 52%
1998 75.3% 51.1%
1997 74.7% 50.2%
1996 74.2% 49.4%
1995 73.9% 48.5%
1994 73.7% 47.6%
1993 73.2% 46.7%
1992 72.6% 45.8%
1991 72.2% 44.8%
1990 71.9% 43.7%
1989 71.7% 42.5%
1988 71.6% 41.3%
1987 71.5% 40%
1986 71.4% 38.7%
1985 71.3% 37.5%
1984 71.2% 36.3%
1983 71.1% 35.3%
1982 71% 34.5%
1981 70.8% 33.8%
1980 70.6% 33.3%
1979 70.4% 32.9%
1978 70.1% 32.6%
1977 69.7% 32.3%
1976 69.3% 32.1%
1975 68.9% 31.8%
1974 68.3% 31.5%
1973 67.7% 31.2%
1972 67.1% 30.8%
1971 66.4% 30.4%
1970 65.6% 29.8%
1969 64.4% 28.8%
1968 62.6% 27.4%
1967 60.5% 25.7%
1966 58.2% 23.8%
1965 55.9% 21.9%
1964 53.6% 20%
1963 51.6% 18.3%
1962 50.1% 16.9%
1961 49% 15.9%
1960 48.7% 15.4%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 77.6% to 83.3% in Norway and from 57.9% to 68.9% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Densely populated cities

Norway
City Population
Oslo 718K
Bergen 291K
Trondheim 199K
Stavanger 150K
Baerum 132K
Drammen 105K
Asker 100K
Lillestrom 95.8K
Fredrikstad 85.9K
Sandnes 84.9K

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/norway/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 (2023–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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