The latest officially reported population of Cape Verde was 527,326 in 2025 vs 240,254 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cape Verde's population is 530,853 people compared to 247,495 in Sao Tome and Principe.
Population statistics:
- Cape Verde's population is 2.14 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
- Cape Verde is ranked the 169th most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
- The countries together account for 0.009% of the world: 0.006% for Cape Verde vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
- For the last 10 years, Cape Verde has had an average growth rate of +0.26% per year vs +1.83% in Sao Tome and Principe.
- Since 2006, the population of Cape Verde has increased from 491K people to 531K (8.18% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 247K (49.4% growth).
Cape Verde vs Sao Tome and Principe: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Cape Verde
|
Sao Tome
|
|
| 2100 | 419,997 | 538,656 |
| 2099 | 424,272 | 537,257 |
| 2098 | 428,479 | 535,715 |
| 2097 | 432,755 | 534,052 |
| 2096 | 437,010 | 532,281 |
| 2095 | 441,329 | 530,505 |
| 2094 | 445,663 | 528,585 |
| 2093 | 450,029 | 526,572 |
| 2092 | 454,324 | 524,436 |
| 2091 | 458,616 | 522,255 |
| 2090 | 462,925 | 519,929 |
| 2089 | 467,304 | 517,542 |
| 2088 | 471,550 | 515,028 |
| 2087 | 475,770 | 512,499 |
| 2086 | 479,948 | 509,949 |
| 2085 | 484,130 | 507,271 |
| 2084 | 488,284 | 504,516 |
| 2083 | 492,265 | 501,611 |
| 2082 | 496,287 | 498,655 |
| 2081 | 500,248 | 495,622 |
| 2080 | 504,114 | 492,416 |
| 2079 | 507,910 | 489,178 |
| 2078 | 511,491 | 485,864 |
| 2077 | 514,982 | 482,385 |
| 2076 | 518,448 | 478,877 |
| 2075 | 521,841 | 475,315 |
| 2074 | 525,092 | 471,700 |
| 2073 | 528,231 | 468,051 |
| 2072 | 531,275 | 464,286 |
| 2071 | 534,138 | 460,447 |
| 2070 | 537,082 | 456,490 |
| 2069 | 539,993 | 452,388 |
| 2068 | 542,768 | 448,306 |
| 2067 | 545,560 | 444,092 |
| 2066 | 548,154 | 439,773 |
| 2065 | 550,545 | 435,502 |
| 2064 | 552,744 | 431,068 |
| 2063 | 554,888 | 426,645 |
| 2062 | 556,973 | 422,127 |
| 2061 | 558,855 | 417,629 |
| 2060 | 560,518 | 413,061 |
| 2059 | 562,114 | 408,522 |
| 2058 | 563,436 | 403,970 |
| 2057 | 564,587 | 399,359 |
| 2056 | 565,521 | 394,790 |
| 2055 | 566,347 | 390,100 |
| 2054 | 567,010 | 385,416 |
| 2053 | 567,363 | 380,685 |
| 2052 | 567,478 | 375,964 |
| 2051 | 567,476 | 371,143 |
| 2050 | 567,344 | 366,347 |
| 2049 | 567,002 | 361,542 |
| 2048 | 566,562 | 356,694 |
| 2047 | 566,027 | 351,813 |
| 2046 | 565,225 | 346,841 |
| 2045 | 564,268 | 341,791 |
| 2044 | 563,194 | 336,747 |
| 2043 | 562,030 | 331,669 |
| 2042 | 560,769 | 326,608 |
| 2041 | 559,386 | 321,551 |
| 2040 | 557,874 | 316,415 |
| 2039 | 556,224 | 311,237 |
| 2038 | 554,435 | 306,029 |
| 2037 | 552,627 | 300,834 |
| 2036 | 550,801 | 295,584 |
| 2035 | 548,853 | 290,361 |
| 2034 | 546,915 | 285,145 |
| 2033 | 545,056 | 279,952 |
| 2032 | 542,980 | 274,798 |
| 2031 | 540,984 | 269,704 |
| 2030 | 538,671 | 264,687 |
| 2029 | 536,441 | 259,670 |
| 2028 | 534,196 | 254,717 |
| 2027 | 531,944 | 249,827 |
| 2026 | 529,702 | 245,033 |
| 2025 | 527,326 | 240,254 |
| 2024 | 524,877 | 235,536 |
| 2023 | 522,331 | 230,871 |
| 2022 | 519,741 | 226,305 |
| 2021 | 516,649 | 221,961 |
| 2020 | 514,679 | 217,435 |
| 2019 | 514,104 | 213,392 |
| 2018 | 513,415 | 210,187 |
| 2017 | 512,893 | 206,970 |
| 2016 | 512,554 | 203,689 |
| 2015 | 512,394 | 200,291 |
| 2014 | 512,326 | 196,767 |
| 2013 | 512,225 | 193,148 |
| 2012 | 511,955 | 189,439 |
| 2011 | 511,447 | 185,649 |
| 2010 | 509,784 | 181,802 |
| 2009 | 506,141 | 177,853 |
| 2008 | 501,355 | 173,793 |
| 2007 | 496,190 | 169,700 |
| 2006 | 490,728 | 165,638 |
| 2005 | 485,115 | 161,639 |
| 2004 | 479,370 | 157,705 |
| 2003 | 473,383 | 153,814 |
| 2002 | 467,046 | 149,922 |
| 2001 | 460,293 | 146,375 |
| 2000 | 453,317 | 144,018 |
| 1999 | 446,519 | 142,442 |
| 1998 | 439,784 | 140,751 |
| 1997 | 432,798 | 138,922 |
| 1996 | 425,581 | 136,962 |
| 1995 | 418,104 | 134,895 |
| 1994 | 410,228 | 132,732 |
| 1993 | 401,965 | 130,467 |
| 1992 | 393,415 | 128,110 |
| 1991 | 384,586 | 125,697 |
| 1990 | 375,428 | 122,980 |
| 1989 | 367,803 | 119,979 |
| 1988 | 362,329 | 116,939 |
| 1987 | 357,302 | 113,919 |
| 1986 | 352,312 | 111,150 |
| 1985 | 347,365 | 108,658 |
| 1984 | 342,505 | 106,394 |
| 1983 | 337,654 | 104,380 |
| 1982 | 332,724 | 102,508 |
| 1981 | 327,846 | 100,615 |
| 1980 | 323,301 | 98,544 |
| 1979 | 319,480 | 96,252 |
| 1978 | 316,147 | 93,794 |
| 1977 | 312,834 | 91,301 |
| 1976 | 309,455 | 88,922 |
| 1975 | 305,847 | 86,708 |
| 1974 | 302,570 | 84,672 |
| 1973 | 299,881 | 82,798 |
| 1972 | 297,386 | 81,041 |
| 1971 | 294,046 | 79,330 |
| 1970 | 287,885 | 77,626 |
| 1969 | 279,248 | 76,083 |
| 1968 | 270,164 | 74,765 |
| 1967 | 261,404 | 73,596 |
| 1966 | 252,976 | 72,576 |
| 1965 | 244,856 | 71,680 |
| 1964 | 237,006 | 70,865 |
| 1963 | 229,373 | 70,112 |
| 1962 | 221,919 | 69,403 |
| 1961 | 215,087 | 68,707 |
| 1960 | 210,024 | 68,012 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/cape-verde/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cape Verde increased by 21,826 people (a 4.45% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cape Verde gained 18,299 people (a 3.57% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 43,806 people (a 21.5% growth).
Cape Verde was ranked 166th most populous country in 2006 and is 169th in 2026. Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th in 2006 and ranked 176th now.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Cape Verde's population will grow by 6.87% to 567,344 people with a rank change from 169th to 168th. The population of Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48% to 366,347 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.
Cape Verde is projected to reach its peak in 2052 at 567K people compared to the peak of 539K people in 2100 for Sao Tome and Principe.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Cape Verde
|
Sao Tome
|
|
| 2100 | -1.01% | 0.26% |
| 2099 | -0.98% | 0.29% |
| 2098 | -0.99% | 0.31% |
| 2097 | -0.97% | 0.33% |
| 2096 | -0.98% | 0.33% |
| 2095 | -0.97% | 0.36% |
| 2094 | -0.97% | 0.38% |
| 2093 | -0.95% | 0.41% |
| 2092 | -0.94% | 0.42% |
| 2091 | -0.93% | 0.45% |
| 2090 | -0.94% | 0.46% |
| 2089 | -0.9% | 0.49% |
| 2088 | -0.89% | 0.49% |
| 2087 | -0.87% | 0.5% |
| 2086 | -0.86% | 0.53% |
| 2085 | -0.85% | 0.55% |
| 2084 | -0.81% | 0.58% |
| 2083 | -0.81% | 0.59% |
| 2082 | -0.79% | 0.61% |
| 2081 | -0.77% | 0.65% |
| 2080 | -0.75% | 0.66% |
| 2079 | -0.7% | 0.68% |
| 2078 | -0.68% | 0.72% |
| 2077 | -0.67% | 0.73% |
| 2076 | -0.65% | 0.75% |
| 2075 | -0.62% | 0.77% |
| 2074 | -0.59% | 0.78% |
| 2073 | -0.57% | 0.81% |
| 2072 | -0.54% | 0.83% |
| 2071 | -0.55% | 0.87% |
| 2070 | -0.54% | 0.91% |
| 2069 | -0.51% | 0.91% |
| 2068 | -0.51% | 0.95% |
| 2067 | -0.47% | 0.98% |
| 2066 | -0.43% | 0.98% |
| 2065 | -0.4% | 1.03% |
| 2064 | -0.39% | 1.04% |
| 2063 | -0.37% | 1.07% |
| 2062 | -0.34% | 1.08% |
| 2061 | -0.3% | 1.11% |
| 2060 | -0.28% | 1.11% |
| 2059 | -0.23% | 1.13% |
| 2058 | -0.2% | 1.15% |
| 2057 | -0.17% | 1.16% |
| 2056 | -0.15% | 1.2% |
| 2055 | -0.12% | 1.22% |
| 2054 | -0.06% | 1.24% |
| 2053 | -0.02% | 1.26% |
| 2052 | 0% | 1.3% |
| 2051 | 0.02% | 1.31% |
| 2050 | 0.06% | 1.33% |
| 2049 | 0.08% | 1.36% |
| 2048 | 0.09% | 1.39% |
| 2047 | 0.14% | 1.43% |
| 2046 | 0.17% | 1.48% |
| 2045 | 0.19% | 1.5% |
| 2044 | 0.21% | 1.53% |
| 2043 | 0.22% | 1.55% |
| 2042 | 0.25% | 1.57% |
| 2041 | 0.27% | 1.62% |
| 2040 | 0.3% | 1.66% |
| 2039 | 0.32% | 1.7% |
| 2038 | 0.33% | 1.73% |
| 2037 | 0.33% | 1.78% |
| 2036 | 0.35% | 1.8% |
| 2035 | 0.35% | 1.83% |
| 2034 | 0.34% | 1.85% |
| 2033 | 0.38% | 1.88% |
| 2032 | 0.37% | 1.89% |
| 2031 | 0.43% | 1.9% |
| 2030 | 0.42% | 1.93% |
| 2029 | 0.42% | 1.94% |
| 2028 | 0.42% | 1.96% |
| 2027 | 0.42% | 1.96% |
| 2026 | 0.45% | 1.99% |
| 2025 | 0.47% | 2% |
| 2024 | 0.49% | 2.02% |
| 2023 | 0.5% | 2.02% |
| 2022 | 0.6% | 1.96% |
| 2021 | 0.38% | 2.08% |
| 2020 | 0.11% | 1.89% |
| 2019 | 0.13% | 1.52% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | 1.55% |
| 2017 | 0.07% | 1.61% |
| 2016 | 0.03% | 1.7% |
| 2015 | 0.01% | 1.79% |
| 2014 | 0.02% | 1.87% |
| 2013 | 0.05% | 1.96% |
| 2012 | 0.1% | 2.04% |
| 2011 | 0.33% | 2.12% |
| 2010 | 0.72% | 2.22% |
| 2009 | 0.95% | 2.34% |
| 2008 | 1.04% | 2.41% |
| 2007 | 1.11% | 2.45% |
| 2006 | 1.16% | 2.47% |
| 2005 | 1.2% | 2.49% |
| 2004 | 1.26% | 2.53% |
| 2003 | 1.36% | 2.6% |
| 2002 | 1.47% | 2.42% |
| 2001 | 1.54% | 1.64% |
| 2000 | 1.52% | 1.11% |
| 1999 | 1.53% | 1.2% |
| 1998 | 1.61% | 1.32% |
| 1997 | 1.7% | 1.43% |
| 1996 | 1.79% | 1.53% |
| 1995 | 1.92% | 1.63% |
| 1994 | 2.06% | 1.74% |
| 1993 | 2.17% | 1.84% |
| 1992 | 2.3% | 1.92% |
| 1991 | 2.44% | 2.21% |
| 1990 | 2.07% | 2.5% |
| 1989 | 1.51% | 2.6% |
| 1988 | 1.41% | 2.65% |
| 1987 | 1.42% | 2.49% |
| 1986 | 1.42% | 2.29% |
| 1985 | 1.42% | 2.13% |
| 1984 | 1.44% | 1.93% |
| 1983 | 1.48% | 1.83% |
| 1982 | 1.49% | 1.88% |
| 1981 | 1.41% | 2.1% |
| 1980 | 1.2% | 2.38% |
| 1979 | 1.05% | 2.62% |
| 1978 | 1.06% | 2.73% |
| 1977 | 1.09% | 2.68% |
| 1976 | 1.18% | 2.55% |
| 1975 | 1.08% | 2.4% |
| 1974 | 0.9% | 2.26% |
| 1973 | 0.84% | 2.17% |
| 1972 | 1.14% | 2.16% |
| 1971 | 2.14% | 2.2% |
| 1970 | 3.09% | 2.03% |
| 1969 | 3.36% | 1.76% |
| 1968 | 3.35% | 1.59% |
| 1967 | 3.33% | 1.41% |
| 1966 | 3.32% | 1.25% |
| 1965 | 3.31% | 1.15% |
| 1964 | 3.33% | 1.07% |
| 1963 | 3.36% | 1.02% |
| 1962 | 3.18% | 1.01% |
| 1961 | 2.41% | 1.02% |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/cape-verde/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Cape Verde grew by 0.47%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2%.
Live population counters
|
Cape Verde
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
530853
|
247495
|
| Population rank | 169/197 | 176/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.006% | 0.003% |
| One net population change |
3.59 hours
|
1.86 hours
|
| One birth every |
1.37 hours
|
1.32 hours
|
| One death every |
3.28 hours
|
6.73 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +7 | +13 |
| Annual growth/decline | +2,449 | +4,718 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.47% | +2% |
| Population growth rate rank | 132/197 | 50/197 |
| One migration net change every |
6.84 hours
|
13.5 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -1,284 | -650 |
| Net migration rank | 94/196 | 90/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 16,515 | 1,955 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 171/195 | 194/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 3.1% | 0.8% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 116/195 | 162/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cape Verde
|
Sao Tome
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -1,284 | - | -650 |
| 2024 | 3,741 | -1,209 | 5,315 | -604 |
| 2023 | 3,798 | -1,226 | 5,221 | -592 |
| 2022 | 3,864 | -1,253 | 5,102 | -592 |
| 2021 | 3,575 | 0 | 4,954 | -782 |
| 2020 | 3,734 | -3,362 | 4,874 | 0 |
| 2019 | 4,773 | -4,001 | 4,932 | -1,716 |
| 2018 | 5,282 | -4,679 | 4,957 | -1,757 |
| 2017 | 5,993 | -5,550 | 5,007 | -1,779 |
| 2016 | 6,238 | -6,004 | 5,125 | -1,793 |
| 2015 | 6,314 | -6,226 | 5,269 | -1,809 |
| 2014 | 6,622 | -6,578 | 5,381 | -1,801 |
| 2013 | 6,780 | -6,622 | 5,449 | -1,787 |
| 2012 | 7,157 | -6,779 | 5,501 | -1,739 |
| 2011 | 7,874 | -7,226 | 5,445 | -1,616 |
| 2010 | 7,746 | -5,069 | 5,391 | -1,529 |
| 2009 | 7,216 | -2,618 | 5,349 | -1,328 |
| 2008 | 7,313 | -2,340 | 5,297 | -1,203 |
| 2007 | 7,559 | -2,200 | 5,226 | -1,127 |
| 2006 | 7,980 | -2,408 | 5,057 | -1,031 |
| 2005 | 8,428 | -2,768 | 4,897 | -941 |
| 2004 | 8,825 | -2,993 | 4,810 | -894 |
| 2003 | 9,037 | -2,898 | 4,702 | -816 |
| 2002 | 9,278 | -2,751 | 4,591 | -690 |
| 2001 | 9,510 | -2,528 | 4,471 | -1,289 |
| 2000 | 9,752 | -2,772 | 4,334 | -2,798 |
| 1999 | 9,989 | -3,371 | 4,221 | -2,594 |
| 1998 | 10,187 | -3,332 | 4,120 | -2,364 |
| 1997 | 10,323 | -3,211 | 4,041 | -2,153 |
| 1996 | 10,613 | -3,297 | 3,993 | -1,974 |
| 1995 | 10,764 | -3,125 | 3,948 | -1,829 |
| 1994 | 11,410 | -3,299 | 3,860 | -1,644 |
| 1993 | 11,805 | -3,393 | 3,841 | -1,527 |
| 1992 | 11,915 | -3,231 | 3,822 | -1,432 |
| 1991 | 11,899 | -2,924 | 3,801 | -1,362 |
| 1990 | 11,738 | -2,398 | 3,719 | -727 |
| 1989 | 11,608 | -5,704 | 3,576 | -571 |
| 1988 | 11,523 | -6,474 | 3,544 | -465 |
| 1987 | 11,426 | -6,418 | 3,440 | -470 |
| 1986 | 11,295 | -6,314 | 3,180 | -614 |
| 1985 | 11,105 | -6,192 | 3,242 | -828 |
| 1984 | 10,835 | -6,035 | 3,163 | -1,041 |
| 1983 | 10,736 | -5,834 | 3,100 | -1,203 |
| 1982 | 10,597 | -5,629 | 3,047 | -1,203 |
| 1981 | 10,470 | -5,684 | 3,015 | -1,067 |
| 1980 | 10,276 | -5,980 | 2,965 | -770 |
| 1979 | 10,223 | -6,875 | 2,893 | -491 |
| 1978 | 10,152 | -6,833 | 2,800 | -279 |
| 1977 | 10,036 | -6,730 | 2,705 | -255 |
| 1976 | 9,833 | -6,389 | 2,608 | -302 |
| 1975 | 9,601 | -5,829 | 2,515 | -392 |
| 1974 | 9,295 | -6,512 | 2,422 | -474 |
| 1973 | 9,003 | -6,410 | 2,329 | -525 |
| 1972 | 8,716 | -6,316 | 2,232 | -517 |
| 1971 | 8,359 | -4,085 | 2,127 | -430 |
| 1970 | 7,878 | 172 | 1,980 | -279 |
| 1969 | 7,625 | 1,608 | 1,862 | -469 |
| 1968 | 7,408 | 1,521 | 1,767 | -520 |
| 1967 | 7,214 | 1,376 | 1,693 | -606 |
| 1966 | 7,039 | 1,230 | 1,642 | -688 |
| 1965 | 6,877 | 1,093 | 1,611 | -765 |
| 1964 | 6,725 | 1,006 | 1,600 | -819 |
| 1963 | 6,589 | 945 | 1,609 | -886 |
| 1962 | 6,468 | 904 | 1,625 | -927 |
| 1961 | 6,247 | 49 | 1,657 | -960 |
| 1960 | 6,098 | -2,267 | 1,547 | -860 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/cape-verde/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 58.5% of the population change in Cape Verde is from natural causes (a gain of 47,312 people) and 41.5% is from migration (a loss of 33,510 people). In Sao Tome and Principe 81.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 50,756 people) and 18.4% is from migration (a loss of 11,424 people).
As of 2024, 16,515 residents or 3.1% of the population were not native-born in Cape Verde, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.
Biggest cities by population
|
Cape Verde
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Praia | 159K |
| Mindelo | 70.5K |
| Assomada | 12K |
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Sao Tome | 65.5K |
| Trindade | 6.64K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Cape Verde and Sao Tome and Principe
|
Cape Verde
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 76.6 years | 70.3 years |
| Average age | 31.9 years | 25.2 years |
| Median age | 30 years | 20.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 50.9:49.1 | 49.7:50.3 |
| Fertility rate | 1.51 births per woman | 3.6 births per woman |
| Population density | 340 ppl/mi² | 661 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/cape-verde/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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