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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Congo was 6,484,437 in 2025 vs 240,254 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Congo's population is 6,718,789 people compared to 247,495 in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population statistics:

  • The Congo's population is 27.1 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
  • The Congo is ranked the 109th most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
  • The countries together account for 0.08% of the world: 0.08% for the Congo vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
  • For the last 10 years, the Congo has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +1.83% in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Congo has increased from 3.84M people to 6.72M (75.1% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 247K (49.4% growth).

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

Congo
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Congo Sao Tome
2100 20,194,267 538,656
2099 20,053,234 537,257
2098 19,906,909 535,715
2097 19,760,110 534,052
2096 19,610,521 532,281
2095 19,459,493 530,505
2094 19,306,835 528,585
2093 19,151,289 526,572
2092 18,990,577 524,436
2091 18,828,222 522,255
2090 18,663,146 519,929
2089 18,497,842 517,542
2088 18,325,571 515,028
2087 18,153,731 512,499
2086 17,979,773 509,949
2085 17,807,843 507,271
2084 17,631,386 504,516
2083 17,453,221 501,611
2082 17,270,773 498,655
2081 17,093,270 495,622
2080 16,910,570 492,416
2079 16,728,955 489,178
2078 16,542,829 485,864
2077 16,357,926 482,385
2076 16,173,005 478,877
2075 15,981,904 475,315
2074 15,791,626 471,700
2073 15,597,321 468,051
2072 15,402,110 464,286
2071 15,205,567 460,447
2070 15,009,147 456,490
2069 14,808,250 452,388
2068 14,609,790 448,306
2067 14,412,802 444,092
2066 14,211,022 439,773
2065 14,010,661 435,502
2064 13,810,933 431,068
2063 13,609,626 426,645
2062 13,405,080 422,127
2061 13,204,362 417,629
2060 13,004,957 413,061
2059 12,806,162 408,522
2058 12,609,233 403,970
2057 12,413,395 399,359
2056 12,217,406 394,790
2055 12,022,740 390,100
2054 11,824,813 385,416
2053 11,627,983 380,685
2052 11,431,875 375,964
2051 11,235,188 371,143
2050 11,039,311 366,347
2049 10,844,973 361,542
2048 10,650,230 356,694
2047 10,453,401 351,813
2046 10,258,550 346,841
2045 10,063,886 341,791
2044 9,871,213 336,747
2043 9,676,000 331,669
2042 9,482,485 326,608
2041 9,287,235 321,551
2040 9,096,577 316,415
2039 8,907,177 311,237
2038 8,719,250 306,029
2037 8,532,935 300,834
2036 8,348,719 295,584
2035 8,166,676 290,361
2034 7,985,679 285,145
2033 7,805,748 279,952
2032 7,628,440 274,798
2031 7,453,476 269,704
2030 7,284,111 264,687
2029 7,117,929 259,670
2028 6,955,268 254,717
2027 6,794,778 249,827
2026 6,638,532 245,033
2025 6,484,437 240,254
2024 6,332,961 235,536
2023 6,182,885 230,871
2022 6,035,104 226,305
2021 5,892,183 221,961
2020 5,752,791 217,435
2019 5,616,661 213,392
2018 5,483,118 210,187
2017 5,351,011 206,970
2016 5,222,536 203,689
2015 5,097,581 200,291
2014 4,975,880 196,767
2013 4,857,099 193,148
2012 4,740,450 189,439
2011 4,609,724 185,649
2010 4,462,290 181,802
2009 4,281,219 177,853
2008 4,113,517 173,793
2007 3,980,430 169,700
2006 3,837,409 165,638
2005 3,696,393 161,639
2004 3,565,554 157,705
2003 3,445,753 153,814
2002 3,350,771 149,922
2001 3,272,537 146,375
2000 3,151,345 144,018
1999 3,032,874 142,442
1998 2,952,061 140,751
1997 2,887,862 138,922
1996 2,826,785 136,962
1995 2,749,461 134,895
1994 2,673,144 132,732
1993 2,595,124 130,467
1992 2,519,465 128,110
1991 2,449,229 125,697
1990 2,380,560 122,980
1989 2,313,558 119,979
1988 2,247,653 116,939
1987 2,183,473 113,919
1986 2,120,602 111,150
1985 2,059,311 108,658
1984 1,999,528 106,394
1983 1,950,321 104,380
1982 1,910,430 102,508
1981 1,869,759 100,615
1980 1,828,985 98,544
1979 1,788,524 96,252
1978 1,748,089 93,794
1977 1,707,568 91,301
1976 1,667,225 88,922
1975 1,627,032 86,708
1974 1,582,301 84,672
1973 1,533,680 82,798
1972 1,486,468 81,041
1971 1,441,039 79,330
1970 1,397,638 77,626
1969 1,356,182 76,083
1968 1,316,519 74,765
1967 1,278,691 73,596
1966 1,242,534 72,576
1965 1,207,880 71,680
1964 1,174,816 70,865
1963 1,143,263 70,112
1962 1,113,175 69,403
1961 1,084,389 68,707
1960 1,056,732 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/congo/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Congo increased by 1,385,127 people (a 36.1% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Congo gained 1,496,253 people (a 28.6% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 43,806 people (a 21.5% growth).

The Congo was ranked 125th most populous country in 2006 and is 109th 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) the Congo's population will grow by 64.3% to 11,039,311 people with a rank change from 109th to 95th. The population of Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48% to 366,347 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.

The Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.2M people compared to the peak of 539K people in 2100 for Sao Tome and Principe.

Population growth rate by year

Congo
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Congo Sao Tome
2100 0.7% 0.26%
2099 0.74% 0.29%
2098 0.74% 0.31%
2097 0.76% 0.33%
2096 0.78% 0.33%
2095 0.79% 0.36%
2094 0.81% 0.38%
2093 0.85% 0.41%
2092 0.86% 0.42%
2091 0.88% 0.45%
2090 0.89% 0.46%
2089 0.94% 0.49%
2088 0.95% 0.49%
2087 0.97% 0.5%
2086 0.97% 0.53%
2085 1% 0.55%
2084 1.02% 0.58%
2083 1.06% 0.59%
2082 1.04% 0.61%
2081 1.08% 0.65%
2080 1.09% 0.66%
2079 1.13% 0.68%
2078 1.13% 0.72%
2077 1.14% 0.73%
2076 1.2% 0.75%
2075 1.2% 0.77%
2074 1.25% 0.78%
2073 1.27% 0.81%
2072 1.29% 0.83%
2071 1.31% 0.87%
2070 1.36% 0.91%
2069 1.36% 0.91%
2068 1.37% 0.95%
2067 1.42% 0.98%
2066 1.43% 0.98%
2065 1.45% 1.03%
2064 1.48% 1.04%
2063 1.53% 1.07%
2062 1.52% 1.08%
2061 1.53% 1.11%
2060 1.55% 1.11%
2059 1.56% 1.13%
2058 1.58% 1.15%
2057 1.6% 1.16%
2056 1.62% 1.2%
2055 1.67% 1.22%
2054 1.69% 1.24%
2053 1.72% 1.26%
2052 1.75% 1.3%
2051 1.77% 1.31%
2050 1.79% 1.33%
2049 1.83% 1.36%
2048 1.88% 1.39%
2047 1.9% 1.43%
2046 1.93% 1.48%
2045 1.95% 1.5%
2044 2.02% 1.53%
2043 2.04% 1.55%
2042 2.1% 1.57%
2041 2.1% 1.62%
2040 2.13% 1.66%
2039 2.16% 1.7%
2038 2.18% 1.73%
2037 2.21% 1.78%
2036 2.23% 1.8%
2035 2.27% 1.83%
2034 2.31% 1.85%
2033 2.32% 1.88%
2032 2.35% 1.89%
2031 2.33% 1.9%
2030 2.33% 1.93%
2029 2.34% 1.94%
2028 2.36% 1.96%
2027 2.35% 1.96%
2026 2.38% 1.99%
2025 2.39% 2%
2024 2.43% 2.02%
2023 2.45% 2.02%
2022 2.43% 1.96%
2021 2.42% 2.08%
2020 2.42% 1.89%
2019 2.44% 1.52%
2018 2.47% 1.55%
2017 2.46% 1.61%
2016 2.45% 1.7%
2015 2.45% 1.79%
2014 2.45% 1.87%
2013 2.46% 1.96%
2012 2.84% 2.04%
2011 3.3% 2.12%
2010 4.23% 2.22%
2009 4.08% 2.34%
2008 3.34% 2.41%
2007 3.73% 2.45%
2006 3.81% 2.47%
2005 3.67% 2.49%
2004 3.48% 2.53%
2003 2.83% 2.6%
2002 2.39% 2.42%
2001 3.85% 1.64%
2000 3.91% 1.11%
1999 2.74% 1.2%
1998 2.22% 1.32%
1997 2.16% 1.43%
1996 2.81% 1.53%
1995 2.85% 1.63%
1994 3.01% 1.74%
1993 3% 1.84%
1992 2.87% 1.92%
1991 2.88% 2.21%
1990 2.9% 2.5%
1989 2.93% 2.6%
1988 2.94% 2.65%
1987 2.96% 2.49%
1986 2.98% 2.29%
1985 2.99% 2.13%
1984 2.52% 1.93%
1983 2.09% 1.83%
1982 2.18% 1.88%
1981 2.23% 2.1%
1980 2.26% 2.38%
1979 2.31% 2.62%
1978 2.37% 2.73%
1977 2.42% 2.68%
1976 2.47% 2.55%
1975 2.83% 2.4%
1974 3.17% 2.26%
1973 3.18% 2.17%
1972 3.15% 2.16%
1971 3.11% 2.2%
1970 3.06% 2.03%
1969 3.01% 1.76%
1968 2.96% 1.59%
1967 2.91% 1.41%
1966 2.87% 1.25%
1965 2.81% 1.15%
1964 2.76% 1.07%
1963 2.7% 1.02%
1962 2.65% 1.01%
1961 2.62% 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/congo/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Congo grew by 2.39%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2%.

Live population counters

Congo Sao Tome
Current population
6718789
247495
Population rank 109/197 176/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.003%
One net population change
3.48 minutes
1.86 hours
One birth every
2.73 minutes
1.32 hours
One death every
13.3 minutes
6.73 hours
Daily growth/decline +415 +13
Annual growth/decline +151,476 +4,718
Annual growth/decline rate +2.39% +2%
Population growth rate rank 31/197 50/197
One migration net change every
2.93 hours
13.5 hours
Annual migration change -2,999 -650
Net migration rank 108/196 90/196
Foreign-born residents 385,589 1,955
Foreign-born residents rank 91/195 194/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.1% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 86/195 162/195

Natural population change vs migration

Congo
Natural

Migration
Sao Tome and Principe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Congo Sao Tome
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,999 - -650
2024 153,150 -2,491 5,315 -604
2023 150,486 -995 5,221 -592
2022 147,076 -995 5,102 -592
2021 144,241 -4,476 4,954 -782
2020 143,492 -4,472 4,874 0
2019 139,513 -6,268 4,932 -1,716
2018 142,704 -8,856 4,957 -1,757
2017 141,973 -11,601 5,007 -1,779
2016 141,358 -14,783 5,125 -1,793
2015 141,539 -18,207 5,269 -1,809
2014 141,674 -21,598 5,381 -1,801
2013 142,080 -24,605 5,449 -1,787
2012 142,464 -26,643 5,501 -1,739
2011 140,371 5,262 5,445 -1,616
2010 136,908 12,318 5,391 -1,529
2009 126,904 86,014 5,349 -1,328
2008 120,711 1,774 5,297 -1,203
2007 112,459 31,239 5,226 -1,127
2006 106,876 35,475 5,057 -1,031
2005 101,344 38,337 4,897 -941
2004 96,577 25,412 4,810 -894
2003 91,326 26,280 4,702 -816
2002 88,497 -16,140 4,591 -690
2001 84,876 -764 4,471 -1,289
2000 78,491 79,780 4,334 -2,798
1999 76,204 2,470 4,221 -2,594
1998 72,450 10,500 4,120 -2,364
1997 66,149 -20,704 4,041 -2,153
1996 75,628 1,085 3,993 -1,974
1995 74,189 3,747 3,948 -1,829
1994 72,857 1,850 3,860 -1,644
1993 71,119 10,218 3,841 -1,527
1992 69,973 0 3,822 -1,432
1991 68,534 1,966 3,801 -1,362
1990 67,241 -395 3,719 -727
1989 65,944 1,214 3,576 -571
1988 64,629 22 3,544 -465
1987 63,183 525 3,440 -470
1986 61,669 367 3,180 -614
1985 60,359 182 3,242 -828
1984 59,028 0 3,163 -1,041
1983 58,120 -18,720 3,100 -1,203
1982 57,036 -16,664 3,047 -1,203
1981 56,603 -15,630 3,015 -1,067
1980 55,550 -14,972 2,965 -770
1979 54,723 -14,378 2,893 -491
1978 53,885 -13,356 2,800 -279
1977 53,179 -12,673 2,705 -255
1976 52,148 -11,971 2,608 -302
1975 51,155 -10,944 2,515 -392
1974 49,563 -312 2,422 -474
1973 48,017 -22 2,329 -525
1972 46,427 0 2,232 -517
1971 44,431 0 2,127 -430
1970 42,374 0 1,980 -279
1969 40,532 0 1,862 -469
1968 38,786 0 1,767 -520
1967 36,866 0 1,693 -606
1966 35,452 0 1,642 -688
1965 33,865 0 1,611 -765
1964 32,270 0 1,600 -819
1963 30,832 0 1,609 -886
1962 29,342 0 1,625 -927
1961 28,220 0 1,657 -960
1960 27,094 0 1,547 -860

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 95.2% of the population change in the Congo is from natural causes (a gain of 1,445,532 people) and 4.82% is from migration (a loss of 73,144 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, 385,589 residents or 6.1% of the population were not native-born in the Congo, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Biggest cities by population

Congo
City Population
Brazzaville 2.15M
Pointe-Noire 1.42M
Kayes 127K
Madingou 36.2K
Gamboma 26.1K
Kinkala 12.1K
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/congo/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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