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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 235,536 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 246,362 in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 5,693 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 +0.3% per year vs +1.82% in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 246K (48.7% 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 633,320,628 538,729
2099 643,959,697 537,330
2098 654,691,595 535,787
2097 665,517,335 534,124
2096 676,438,150 532,353
2095 687,457,915 530,576
2094 698,589,897 528,656
2093 709,852,629 526,643
2092 721,251,520 524,507
2091 732,791,748 522,325
2090 744,501,355 519,999
2089 756,404,299 517,612
2088 768,478,316 515,098
2087 780,707,622 512,568
2086 793,081,006 510,018
2085 805,608,315 507,340
2084 818,268,277 504,584
2083 830,972,107 501,679
2082 843,721,746 498,722
2081 856,534,631 495,689
2080 869,351,919 492,482
2079 882,146,959 489,244
2078 894,889,246 485,930
2077 907,592,919 482,450
2076 920,280,380 478,942
2075 932,956,157 475,380
2074 945,631,173 471,763
2073 958,352,980 468,114
2072 971,115,895 464,348
2071 983,938,054 460,509
2070 996,853,418 456,552
2069 1,009,905,851 452,449
2068 1,023,081,790 448,367
2067 1,036,420,010 444,152
2066 1,049,887,382 439,833
2065 1,063,477,623 435,561
2064 1,077,206,695 431,126
2063 1,090,982,303 426,703
2062 1,104,833,556 422,184
2061 1,118,682,849 417,686
2060 1,132,504,136 413,117
2059 1,146,199,736 408,577
2058 1,159,714,746 404,024
2057 1,172,963,523 399,413
2056 1,185,938,083 394,844
2055 1,198,550,408 390,153
2054 1,210,749,681 385,468
2053 1,222,500,569 380,737
2052 1,233,808,926 376,015
2051 1,244,584,333 371,194
2050 1,254,824,040 366,397
2049 1,264,598,914 361,591
2048 1,273,885,471 356,742
2047 1,282,701,271 351,861
2046 1,291,133,690 346,888
2045 1,299,154,327 341,838
2044 1,306,805,350 336,792
2043 1,314,176,710 331,713
2042 1,321,319,298 326,652
2041 1,328,219,755 321,594
2040 1,334,857,481 316,457
2039 1,341,265,381 311,279
2038 1,347,407,165 306,071
2037 1,353,377,505 300,875
2036 1,359,133,287 295,624
2035 1,364,651,508 290,400
2034 1,369,940,557 285,183
2033 1,375,003,005 279,990
2032 1,379,784,204 274,835
2031 1,384,301,522 269,740
2030 1,388,520,533 264,723
2029 1,392,490,007 259,705
2028 1,396,163,778 254,751
2027 1,399,515,824 249,860
2026 1,402,578,808 245,066
2025 1,405,826,385 240,286
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 42,673 people (a 21% 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 1,254,824,040 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48.7% to 366,397 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 633M 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 -0.22% 2.02%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2.02%.

Live population counters

China Sao Tome
Current population
1402578808
246362
Population rank 2/197 176/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.003%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
1.88 hours
One birth every
3.5 seconds
1.35 hours
One death every
2.84 seconds
6.81 hours
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +13
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +4,665
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +2.02%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 49/197
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 - -318,992 - -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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 92.5% of the population change in China is from natural causes (a gain of 42,414,528 people) and 7.53% is from migration (a loss of 3,452,923 people). In Sao Tome and Principe 80.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 50,822 people) and 19.9% is from migration (a loss of 12,621 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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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