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Population in China compared to Sao Tome and Principe: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,406,585,000 in 2025 vs 240,254 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,403,335,670 people compared to 247,495 in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 5,670 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
  • The countries together account for 16.9% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.23% per year vs +1.83% in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (7.04% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 247K (49.4% growth).

China vs Sao Tome and Principe: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Sao Tome
2100 633,662,382 538,656
2099 644,307,192 537,257
2098 655,044,881 535,715
2097 665,876,462 534,052
2096 676,803,171 532,281
2095 687,828,883 530,505
2094 698,966,872 528,585
2093 710,235,681 526,572
2092 721,640,723 524,436
2091 733,187,178 522,255
2090 744,903,105 519,929
2089 756,812,472 517,542
2088 768,893,004 515,028
2087 781,128,909 512,499
2086 793,508,970 509,949
2085 806,043,039 507,271
2084 818,709,832 504,516
2083 831,420,518 501,611
2082 844,177,036 498,655
2081 856,996,835 495,622
2080 869,821,040 492,416
2079 882,622,985 489,178
2078 895,372,147 485,864
2077 908,082,676 482,385
2076 920,776,984 478,877
2075 933,459,600 475,315
2074 946,141,456 471,700
2073 958,870,128 468,051
2072 971,639,931 464,286
2071 984,469,009 460,447
2070 997,391,342 456,490
2069 1,010,450,818 452,388
2068 1,023,633,867 448,306
2067 1,036,979,285 444,092
2066 1,050,453,924 439,773
2065 1,064,051,499 435,502
2064 1,077,787,979 431,068
2063 1,091,571,021 426,645
2062 1,105,429,748 422,127
2061 1,119,286,514 417,629
2060 1,133,115,260 413,061
2059 1,146,818,251 408,522
2058 1,160,340,554 403,970
2057 1,173,596,480 399,359
2056 1,186,578,041 394,790
2055 1,199,197,172 390,100
2054 1,211,403,028 385,416
2053 1,223,160,257 380,685
2052 1,234,474,716 375,964
2051 1,245,255,938 371,143
2050 1,255,501,171 366,347
2049 1,265,281,319 361,542
2048 1,274,572,888 356,694
2047 1,283,393,445 351,813
2046 1,291,830,414 346,841
2045 1,299,855,379 341,791
2044 1,307,510,531 336,747
2043 1,314,885,869 331,669
2042 1,322,032,311 326,608
2041 1,328,936,491 321,551
2040 1,335,577,799 316,415
2039 1,341,989,157 311,237
2038 1,348,134,255 306,029
2037 1,354,107,817 300,834
2036 1,359,866,705 295,584
2035 1,365,387,904 290,361
2034 1,370,679,807 285,145
2033 1,375,744,986 279,952
2032 1,380,528,766 274,798
2031 1,385,048,521 269,704
2030 1,389,269,809 264,687
2029 1,393,241,425 259,670
2028 1,396,917,178 254,717
2027 1,400,271,033 249,827
2026 1,403,335,670 245,033
2025 1,406,585,000 240,254
2024 1,408,975,000 235,536
2023 1,410,710,000 230,871
2022 1,412,175,000 226,305
2021 1,412,360,000 221,961
2020 1,411,100,000 217,435
2019 1,407,745,000 213,392
2018 1,402,760,000 210,187
2017 1,396,215,000 206,970
2016 1,387,790,000 203,689
2015 1,379,860,000 200,291
2014 1,371,860,000 196,767
2013 1,363,240,000 193,148
2012 1,354,190,000 189,439
2011 1,345,035,000 185,649
2010 1,337,705,000 181,802
2009 1,331,260,000 177,853
2008 1,324,655,000 173,793
2007 1,317,885,000 169,700
2006 1,311,020,000 165,638
2005 1,303,720,000 161,639
2004 1,296,075,000 157,705
2003 1,288,400,000 153,814
2002 1,280,400,000 149,922
2001 1,271,850,000 146,375
2000 1,262,645,000 144,018
1999 1,252,735,000 142,442
1998 1,241,935,000 140,751
1997 1,230,075,000 138,922
1996 1,217,550,000 136,962
1995 1,204,855,000 134,895
1994 1,191,835,000 132,732
1993 1,178,440,000 130,467
1992 1,164,970,000 128,110
1991 1,150,780,000 125,697
1990 1,135,185,000 122,980
1989 1,118,650,000 119,979
1988 1,101,630,000 116,939
1987 1,084,035,000 113,919
1986 1,066,790,000 111,150
1985 1,051,040,000 108,658
1984 1,036,825,000 106,394
1983 1,023,310,000 104,380
1982 1,008,630,000 102,508
1981 993,885,000 100,615
1980 981,235,000 98,544
1979 969,005,000 96,252
1978 956,165,000 93,794
1977 943,455,000 91,301
1976 930,685,000 88,922
1975 916,395,000 86,708
1974 900,350,000 84,672
1973 881,940,000 82,798
1972 862,030,000 81,041
1971 841,105,000 79,330
1970 818,315,000 77,626
1969 796,025,000 76,083
1968 774,510,000 74,765
1967 754,550,000 73,596
1966 735,400,000 72,576
1965 715,185,000 71,680
1964 698,355,000 70,865
1963 682,335,000 70,112
1962 665,770,000 69,403
1961 660,330,000 68,707
1960 667,070,000 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/china/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 15,545,670 people (a 1.12% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 43,806 people (a 21.5% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd 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) China's population will shrink by 10.5% to 1,255,501,171 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48% to 366,347 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.

Sao Tome and Principe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 539K people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 634M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Sao Tome
2100 -1.65% 0.26%
2099 -1.64% 0.29%
2098 -1.63% 0.31%
2097 -1.61% 0.33%
2096 -1.6% 0.33%
2095 -1.59% 0.36%
2094 -1.59% 0.38%
2093 -1.58% 0.41%
2092 -1.57% 0.42%
2091 -1.57% 0.45%
2090 -1.57% 0.46%
2089 -1.57% 0.49%
2088 -1.57% 0.49%
2087 -1.56% 0.5%
2086 -1.56% 0.53%
2085 -1.55% 0.55%
2084 -1.53% 0.58%
2083 -1.51% 0.59%
2082 -1.5% 0.61%
2081 -1.47% 0.65%
2080 -1.45% 0.66%
2079 -1.42% 0.68%
2078 -1.4% 0.72%
2077 -1.38% 0.73%
2076 -1.36% 0.75%
2075 -1.34% 0.77%
2074 -1.33% 0.78%
2073 -1.31% 0.81%
2072 -1.3% 0.83%
2071 -1.3% 0.87%
2070 -1.29% 0.91%
2069 -1.29% 0.91%
2068 -1.29% 0.95%
2067 -1.28% 0.98%
2066 -1.28% 0.98%
2065 -1.27% 1.03%
2064 -1.26% 1.04%
2063 -1.25% 1.07%
2062 -1.24% 1.08%
2061 -1.22% 1.11%
2060 -1.19% 1.11%
2059 -1.17% 1.13%
2058 -1.13% 1.15%
2057 -1.09% 1.16%
2056 -1.05% 1.2%
2055 -1.01% 1.22%
2054 -0.96% 1.24%
2053 -0.92% 1.26%
2052 -0.87% 1.3%
2051 -0.82% 1.31%
2050 -0.77% 1.33%
2049 -0.73% 1.36%
2048 -0.69% 1.39%
2047 -0.65% 1.43%
2046 -0.62% 1.48%
2045 -0.59% 1.5%
2044 -0.56% 1.53%
2043 -0.54% 1.55%
2042 -0.52% 1.57%
2041 -0.5% 1.62%
2040 -0.48% 1.66%
2039 -0.46% 1.7%
2038 -0.44% 1.73%
2037 -0.42% 1.78%
2036 -0.4% 1.8%
2035 -0.39% 1.83%
2034 -0.37% 1.85%
2033 -0.35% 1.88%
2032 -0.33% 1.89%
2031 -0.3% 1.9%
2030 -0.29% 1.93%
2029 -0.26% 1.94%
2028 -0.24% 1.96%
2027 -0.22% 1.96%
2026 -0.23% 1.99%
2025 -0.17% 2%
2024 -0.12% 2.02%
2023 -0.1% 2.02%
2022 -0.01% 1.96%
2021 0.09% 2.08%
2020 0.24% 1.89%
2019 0.36% 1.52%
2018 0.47% 1.55%
2017 0.61% 1.61%
2016 0.57% 1.7%
2015 0.58% 1.79%
2014 0.63% 1.87%
2013 0.67% 1.96%
2012 0.68% 2.04%
2011 0.55% 2.12%
2010 0.48% 2.22%
2009 0.5% 2.34%
2008 0.51% 2.41%
2007 0.52% 2.45%
2006 0.56% 2.47%
2005 0.59% 2.49%
2004 0.6% 2.53%
2003 0.62% 2.6%
2002 0.67% 2.42%
2001 0.73% 1.64%
2000 0.79% 1.11%
1999 0.87% 1.2%
1998 0.96% 1.32%
1997 1.03% 1.43%
1996 1.05% 1.53%
1995 1.09% 1.63%
1994 1.14% 1.74%
1993 1.16% 1.84%
1992 1.23% 1.92%
1991 1.37% 2.21%
1990 1.48% 2.5%
1989 1.54% 2.6%
1988 1.62% 2.65%
1987 1.62% 2.49%
1986 1.5% 2.29%
1985 1.37% 2.13%
1984 1.32% 1.93%
1983 1.46% 1.83%
1982 1.48% 1.88%
1981 1.29% 2.1%
1980 1.26% 2.38%
1979 1.34% 2.62%
1978 1.35% 2.73%
1977 1.37% 2.68%
1976 1.56% 2.55%
1975 1.78% 2.4%
1974 2.09% 2.26%
1973 2.31% 2.17%
1972 2.49% 2.16%
1971 2.78% 2.2%
1970 2.8% 2.03%
1969 2.78% 1.76%
1968 2.65% 1.59%
1967 2.6% 1.41%
1966 2.83% 1.25%
1965 2.41% 1.15%
1964 2.35% 1.07%
1963 2.49% 1.02%
1962 0.82% 1.01%
1961 -1.01% 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/china/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

In 2025, the population of China declined by 0.17%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2%.

Live population counters

China Sao Tome
Current population
1403335670
247495
Population rank 2/197 176/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.003%
One net population change
13.2 seconds
1.86 hours
One birth every
3.31 seconds
1.32 hours
One death every
2.88 seconds
6.73 hours
Daily growth/decline -6,548 +13
Annual growth/decline -2,390,000 +4,718
Annual growth/decline rate -0.17% +2%
Population growth rate rank 174/197 50/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
13.5 hours
Annual migration change -268,126 -650
Net migration rank 189/196 90/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 1,955
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 194/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 162/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Sao Tome and Principe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Sao Tome
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - -650
2024 -1,394,886 -318,992 5,315 -604
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 5,221 -592
2022 -847,305 -293,846 5,102 -592
2021 480,203 -379,749 4,954 -782
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 4,874 0
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 4,932 -1,716
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 4,957 -1,757
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 5,007 -1,779
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 5,125 -1,793
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 5,269 -1,809
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 5,381 -1,801
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 5,449 -1,787
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 5,501 -1,739
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 5,445 -1,616
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 5,391 -1,529
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 5,349 -1,328
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 5,297 -1,203
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 5,226 -1,127
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 5,057 -1,031
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 4,897 -941
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 4,810 -894
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 4,702 -816
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 4,591 -690
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 4,471 -1,289
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 4,334 -2,798
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 4,221 -2,594
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 4,120 -2,364
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 4,041 -2,153
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 3,993 -1,974
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 3,948 -1,829
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 3,860 -1,644
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 3,841 -1,527
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 3,822 -1,432
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 3,801 -1,362
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 3,719 -727
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 3,576 -571
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 3,544 -465
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 3,440 -470
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 3,180 -614
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 3,242 -828
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 3,163 -1,041
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 3,100 -1,203
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 3,047 -1,203
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 3,015 -1,067
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 2,965 -770
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 2,893 -491
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 2,800 -279
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 2,705 -255
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 2,608 -302
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 2,515 -392
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 2,422 -474
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 2,329 -525
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 2,232 -517
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 2,127 -430
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 1,980 -279
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 1,862 -469
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 1,767 -520
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 1,693 -606
1966 19,282,187 4,165 1,642 -688
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 1,611 -765
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 1,600 -819
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 1,609 -886
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 1,625 -927
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 1,657 -960
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 1,547 -860

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 90.3% of the population change in China is from natural causes (a gain of 31,814,462 people) and 9.66% is from migration (a loss of 3,400,807 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, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Biggest cities by population

China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M
Sao Tome
City Population
Sao Tome 65.5K
Trindade 6.64K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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