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Population density: Samoa vs Sao Tome and Principe compared

Updated on by Georank team

Samoa has a population density of 205.5 people per square mile compared to 661 people in Sao Tome and Principe. Samoa has 140,314 sq ft of land per person vs 45,745 sq ft in Sao Tome and Principe. Samoa and Sao Tome and Principe rank 112th and 46th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Samoa has 0.003% of the world's population and 0.002% 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 Samoa 68.9% lower than in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population density by year

Samoa
Sao Tome and Principe

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Samoa Sao Tome
2026 205.5 661
2025 204.4 648
2024 203.1 635
2023 201.9 623
2022 200.5 611
2021 199.2 599
2020 197.5 587
2019 195.4 576
2018 193.4 567
2017 191.4 558
2016 186.2 550
2015 184.7 540
2014 183.1 531
2013 181.5 521
2012 179.8 511
2011 178.2 501
2010 176.7 490
2009 175.3 480
2008 174 469
2007 172.7 458
2006 171.8 447
2005 171.1 436
2004 170.5 425
2003 169.7 415
2002 168.8 404
2001 167.6 395
2000 166.3 389
1999 165 384
1998 163.7 380
1997 162.5 375
1996 161.1 370
1995 159.8 364
1994 158.5 358
1993 157.2 352
1992 155.9 346
1991 155 339
1990 154.7 332
1989 154.5 324
1988 154.1 315
1987 153.4 307
1986 152.9 299.9
1985 152.7 293.1
1984 152.7 287
1983 152.6 281.6
1982 152.4 276.6
1981 151.6 271.4
1980 150.4 265.9
1979 149.1 259.7
1978 147.7 253
1977 146.2 246.3
1976 143.8 239.9
1975 140.3 233.9
1974 136.8 228.4
1973 134.1 223.4
1972 132.3 218.6
1971 130.4 214
1970 128.5 209.4
1969 126.5 205.3
1968 124.5 201.7
1967 122.4 198.6
1966 120 195.8
1965 117.1 193.4
1964 114.3 191.2
1963 111.4 189.2
1962 108.5 187.2
1961 105.7 185.4

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

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Samoa increased by 19.6%, compared to a 48% growth in Sao Tome and Principe.

In 2006, Samoa ranked 108th by population density and is 112th now. Sao Tome and Principe was 50th in 2006 and ranks 46th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Samoa
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Urban population
Samoa Sao Tome
2024 17.5% 68.9%
2023 17.5% 68.6%
2022 17.5% 68.4%
2021 17.6% 68.2%
2020 18.1% 68%
2019 18.4% 67.9%
2018 18.7% 67.8%
2017 19% 67.7%
2016 19.1% 67.5%
2015 19.2% 67.4%
2014 19.3% 67.3%
2013 19.4% 67.1%
2012 19.5% 67%
2011 19.6% 66.7%
2010 19.8% 66.1%
2009 20.1% 65.1%
2008 20.4% 63.9%
2007 20.7% 62.5%
2006 21% 61%
2005 21.2% 59.4%
2004 21.5% 57.9%
2003 21.8% 56.4%
2002 21.9% 55.1%
2001 22% 54%
2000 22% 53%
1999 21.9% 52%
1998 21.8% 51.1%
1997 21.8% 50.2%
1996 21.7% 49.4%
1995 21.6% 48.5%
1994 21.4% 47.6%
1993 21.3% 46.7%
1992 21.2% 45.8%
1991 21.1% 44.8%
1990 21% 43.7%
1989 20.8% 42.5%
1988 20.6% 41.3%
1987 20.5% 40%
1986 20.5% 38.7%
1985 20.6% 37.5%
1984 20.8% 36.3%
1983 21% 35.3%
1982 21.2% 34.5%
1981 21.2% 33.8%
1980 21.2% 33.3%
1979 21.2% 32.9%
1978 21.2% 32.6%
1977 21.1% 32.3%
1976 21.1% 32.1%
1975 21% 31.8%
1974 21% 31.5%
1973 20.9% 31.2%
1972 20.7% 30.8%
1971 20.6% 30.4%
1970 20.3% 29.8%
1969 20% 28.8%
1968 19.7% 27.4%
1967 19.5% 25.7%
1966 19.3% 23.8%
1965 19.2% 21.9%
1964 19.2% 20%
1963 19.1% 18.3%
1962 19% 16.9%
1961 18.9% 15.9%
1960 18.9% 15.4%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 21.5% to 17.5% in Samoa and from 57.9% to 68.9% in Sao Tome and Principe.

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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/samoa/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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