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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ghana was 35,064,272 in 2025 vs 240,254 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ghana's population is 36,032,857 people compared to 247,495 in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population statistics:

  • Ghana's population is 145.6 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
  • Ghana is ranked the 46th most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
  • The countries together account for 0.44% of the world: 0.43% for Ghana vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
  • For the last 10 years, Ghana has had an average growth rate of +2.05% per year vs +1.83% in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ghana has increased from 23M people to 36M (56.4% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 247K (49.4% growth).

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

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ghana Sao Tome
2100 68,117,614 538,656
2099 68,008,028 537,257
2098 67,888,410 535,715
2097 67,759,128 534,052
2096 67,625,262 532,281
2095 67,481,344 530,505
2094 67,325,992 528,585
2093 67,162,890 526,572
2092 66,991,846 524,436
2091 66,804,098 522,255
2090 66,605,276 519,929
2089 66,395,029 517,542
2088 66,173,453 515,028
2087 65,937,323 512,499
2086 65,699,827 509,949
2085 65,451,666 507,271
2084 65,196,037 504,516
2083 64,922,457 501,611
2082 64,638,242 498,655
2081 64,342,209 495,622
2080 64,034,249 492,416
2079 63,717,528 489,178
2078 63,384,648 485,864
2077 63,046,955 482,385
2076 62,699,375 478,877
2075 62,337,964 475,315
2074 61,974,725 471,700
2073 61,604,458 468,051
2072 61,227,111 464,286
2071 60,835,024 460,447
2070 60,442,399 456,490
2069 60,041,679 452,388
2068 59,627,097 448,306
2067 59,203,373 444,092
2066 58,774,846 439,773
2065 58,341,378 435,502
2064 57,893,305 431,068
2063 57,439,982 426,645
2062 56,974,922 422,127
2061 56,500,340 417,629
2060 56,019,906 413,061
2059 55,529,609 408,522
2058 55,031,460 403,970
2057 54,524,491 399,359
2056 54,007,205 394,790
2055 53,481,428 390,100
2054 52,949,003 385,416
2053 52,407,089 380,685
2052 51,859,418 375,964
2051 51,300,839 371,143
2050 50,730,296 366,347
2049 50,153,221 361,542
2048 49,567,895 356,694
2047 48,972,414 351,813
2046 48,373,367 346,841
2045 47,766,811 341,791
2044 47,154,486 336,747
2043 46,538,892 331,669
2042 45,916,531 326,608
2041 45,291,657 321,551
2040 44,660,573 316,415
2039 44,029,228 311,237
2038 43,393,321 306,029
2037 42,752,045 300,834
2036 42,112,269 295,584
2035 41,470,624 290,361
2034 40,823,789 285,145
2033 40,176,026 279,952
2032 39,532,216 274,798
2031 38,892,407 269,704
2030 38,251,174 264,687
2029 37,616,078 259,670
2028 36,978,847 254,717
2027 36,342,429 249,827
2026 35,705,894 245,033
2025 35,064,272 240,254
2024 34,427,414 235,536
2023 33,787,914 230,871
2022 33,149,152 226,305
2021 32,518,665 221,961
2020 31,887,809 217,435
2019 31,258,945 213,392
2018 30,637,585 210,187
2017 30,008,354 206,970
2016 29,356,742 203,689
2015 28,696,068 200,291
2014 28,041,592 196,767
2013 27,386,193 193,148
2012 26,734,268 189,439
2011 26,095,088 185,649
2010 25,474,995 181,802
2009 24,862,664 177,853
2008 24,249,946 173,793
2007 23,642,279 169,700
2006 23,040,702 165,638
2005 22,449,438 161,639
2004 21,868,298 157,705
2003 21,296,705 153,814
2002 20,729,388 149,922
2001 20,167,069 146,375
2000 19,637,087 144,018
1999 19,149,864 142,442
1998 18,688,036 140,751
1997 18,238,958 138,922
1996 17,810,181 136,962
1995 17,399,017 134,895
1994 16,993,190 132,732
1993 16,589,519 130,467
1992 16,184,855 128,110
1991 15,787,496 125,697
1990 15,394,648 122,980
1989 15,006,813 119,979
1988 14,636,568 116,939
1987 14,289,108 113,919
1986 13,965,217 111,150
1985 13,661,229 108,658
1984 13,370,590 106,394
1983 13,029,836 104,380
1982 12,643,819 102,508
1981 12,281,712 100,615
1980 11,941,448 98,544
1979 11,597,255 96,252
1978 11,248,450 93,794
1977 10,911,871 91,301
1976 10,594,913 88,922
1975 10,294,308 86,708
1974 10,000,523 84,672
1973 9,714,617 82,798
1972 9,438,187 81,041
1971 9,176,264 79,330
1970 8,925,813 77,626
1969 8,690,383 76,083
1968 8,475,729 74,765
1967 8,271,913 73,596
1966 8,074,521 72,576
1965 7,882,606 71,680
1964 7,695,739 70,865
1963 7,514,714 70,112
1962 7,337,375 69,403
1961 7,162,667 68,707
1960 6,961,215 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/ghana/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ghana increased by 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ghana gained 6,676,115 people (a 22.7% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 43,806 people (a 21.5% growth).

Ghana was ranked 48th most populous country in 2006 and is 46th 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) Ghana's population will grow by 40.8% to 50,730,296 people with a rank change from 46th to 43rd. The population of Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48% to 366,347 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.

Ghana is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.1M people compared to the peak of 539K people in 2100 for Sao Tome and Principe.

Population growth rate by year

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ghana Sao Tome
2100 0.16% 0.26%
2099 0.18% 0.29%
2098 0.19% 0.31%
2097 0.2% 0.33%
2096 0.21% 0.33%
2095 0.23% 0.36%
2094 0.24% 0.38%
2093 0.26% 0.41%
2092 0.28% 0.42%
2091 0.3% 0.45%
2090 0.32% 0.46%
2089 0.33% 0.49%
2088 0.36% 0.49%
2087 0.36% 0.5%
2086 0.38% 0.53%
2085 0.39% 0.55%
2084 0.42% 0.58%
2083 0.44% 0.59%
2082 0.46% 0.61%
2081 0.48% 0.65%
2080 0.5% 0.66%
2079 0.53% 0.68%
2078 0.54% 0.72%
2077 0.55% 0.73%
2076 0.58% 0.75%
2075 0.59% 0.77%
2074 0.6% 0.78%
2073 0.62% 0.81%
2072 0.64% 0.83%
2071 0.65% 0.87%
2070 0.67% 0.91%
2069 0.7% 0.91%
2068 0.72% 0.95%
2067 0.73% 0.98%
2066 0.74% 0.98%
2065 0.77% 1.03%
2064 0.79% 1.04%
2063 0.82% 1.07%
2062 0.84% 1.08%
2061 0.86% 1.11%
2060 0.88% 1.11%
2059 0.91% 1.13%
2058 0.93% 1.15%
2057 0.96% 1.16%
2056 0.98% 1.2%
2055 1.01% 1.22%
2054 1.03% 1.24%
2053 1.06% 1.26%
2052 1.09% 1.3%
2051 1.12% 1.31%
2050 1.15% 1.33%
2049 1.18% 1.36%
2048 1.22% 1.39%
2047 1.24% 1.43%
2046 1.27% 1.48%
2045 1.3% 1.5%
2044 1.32% 1.53%
2043 1.36% 1.55%
2042 1.38% 1.57%
2041 1.41% 1.62%
2040 1.43% 1.66%
2039 1.47% 1.7%
2038 1.5% 1.73%
2037 1.52% 1.78%
2036 1.55% 1.8%
2035 1.58% 1.83%
2034 1.61% 1.85%
2033 1.63% 1.88%
2032 1.65% 1.89%
2031 1.68% 1.9%
2030 1.69% 1.93%
2029 1.72% 1.94%
2028 1.75% 1.96%
2027 1.78% 1.96%
2026 1.83% 1.99%
2025 1.85% 2%
2024 1.89% 2.02%
2023 1.93% 2.02%
2022 1.94% 1.96%
2021 1.98% 2.08%
2020 2.01% 1.89%
2019 2.03% 1.52%
2018 2.1% 1.55%
2017 2.22% 1.61%
2016 2.3% 1.7%
2015 2.33% 1.79%
2014 2.39% 1.87%
2013 2.44% 1.96%
2012 2.45% 2.04%
2011 2.43% 2.12%
2010 2.46% 2.22%
2009 2.53% 2.34%
2008 2.57% 2.41%
2007 2.61% 2.45%
2006 2.63% 2.47%
2005 2.66% 2.49%
2004 2.68% 2.53%
2003 2.74% 2.6%
2002 2.79% 2.42%
2001 2.7% 1.64%
2000 2.54% 1.11%
1999 2.47% 1.2%
1998 2.46% 1.32%
1997 2.41% 1.43%
1996 2.36% 1.53%
1995 2.39% 1.63%
1994 2.43% 1.74%
1993 2.5% 1.84%
1992 2.52% 1.92%
1991 2.55% 2.21%
1990 2.58% 2.5%
1989 2.53% 2.6%
1988 2.43% 2.65%
1987 2.32% 2.49%
1986 2.23% 2.29%
1985 2.17% 2.13%
1984 2.62% 1.93%
1983 3.05% 1.83%
1982 2.95% 1.88%
1981 2.85% 2.1%
1980 2.97% 2.38%
1979 3.1% 2.62%
1978 3.08% 2.73%
1977 2.99% 2.68%
1976 2.92% 2.55%
1975 2.94% 2.4%
1974 2.94% 2.26%
1973 2.93% 2.17%
1972 2.85% 2.16%
1971 2.81% 2.2%
1970 2.71% 2.03%
1969 2.53% 1.76%
1968 2.46% 1.59%
1967 2.44% 1.41%
1966 2.43% 1.25%
1965 2.43% 1.15%
1964 2.41% 1.07%
1963 2.42% 1.02%
1962 2.44% 1.01%
1961 2.89% 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/ghana/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ghana grew by 1.85%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2%.

Live population counters

Ghana Sao Tome
Current population
36032857
247495
Population rank 46/197 176/197
Percent of world population 0.43% 0.003%
One net population change
49.7 seconds
1.86 hours
One birth every
35.3 seconds
1.32 hours
One death every
2.18 minutes
6.73 hours
Daily growth/decline +1,745 +13
Annual growth/decline +636,858 +4,718
Annual growth/decline rate +1.85% +2%
Population growth rate rank 57/197 50/197
One migration net change every
30.9 minutes
13.5 hours
Annual migration change -17,079 -650
Net migration rank 150/196 90/196
Foreign-born residents 532,286 1,955
Foreign-born residents rank 77/195 194/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.5% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 145/195 162/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ghana
Natural

Migration
Sao Tome and Principe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ghana Sao Tome
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -17,079 - -650
2024 651,057 -13,114 5,315 -604
2023 651,094 -10,003 5,221 -592
2022 646,441 -10,003 5,102 -592
2021 635,805 -11,259 4,954 -782
2020 637,469 -291 4,874 0
2019 642,403 -21,857 4,932 -1,716
2018 641,551 -19,375 4,957 -1,757
2017 641,218 -4,913 5,007 -1,779
2016 659,910 7,009 5,125 -1,793
2015 667,729 -13,306 5,269 -1,809
2014 660,829 -6,312 5,381 -1,801
2013 658,638 -2,377 5,449 -1,787
2012 646,595 1,005 5,501 -1,739
2011 631,501 -720 5,445 -1,616
2010 613,133 -3,726 5,391 -1,529
2009 592,825 22,416 5,349 -1,328
2008 579,695 30,506 5,297 -1,203
2007 572,332 32,813 5,226 -1,127
2006 569,474 28,536 5,057 -1,031
2005 563,234 21,272 4,897 -941
2004 543,339 34,433 4,810 -894
2003 536,656 28,768 4,702 -816
2002 528,620 40,573 4,591 -690
2001 519,382 36,050 4,471 -1,289
2000 508,738 -4,206 4,334 -2,798
1999 487,210 -17,304 4,221 -2,594
1998 471,313 -17,564 4,120 -2,364
1997 459,822 -15,409 4,041 -2,153
1996 450,259 -37,113 3,993 -1,974
1995 451,748 -42,558 3,948 -1,829
1994 449,589 -47,120 3,860 -1,644
1993 454,669 -49,792 3,841 -1,527
1992 452,156 -47,736 3,822 -1,432
1991 448,159 -57,878 3,801 -1,362
1990 442,211 -46,789 3,719 -727
1989 432,541 -52,293 3,576 -571
1988 425,031 -64,810 3,544 -465
1987 419,328 -84,648 3,440 -470
1986 411,191 -98,099 3,180 -614
1985 401,722 -106,855 3,242 -828
1984 392,053 -105,655 3,163 -1,041
1983 379,846 15,276 3,100 -1,203
1982 369,061 7,863 3,047 -1,203
1981 359,572 -12,296 3,015 -1,067
1980 346,816 -13,564 2,965 -770
1979 334,848 20,291 2,893 -491
1978 324,428 18,041 2,800 -279
1977 315,429 15,243 2,705 -255
1976 305,769 -2,528 2,608 -302
1975 298,267 -292 2,515 -392
1974 290,796 -1,197 2,422 -474
1973 283,385 -1,168 2,329 -525
1972 275,236 -4,589 2,232 -517
1971 265,442 -12,238 2,127 -430
1970 257,938 -10,233 1,980 -279
1969 251,925 -28,752 1,862 -469
1968 242,821 -36,683 1,767 -520
1967 237,156 -35,666 1,693 -606
1966 231,440 -38,143 1,642 -688
1965 229,061 -38,519 1,611 -765
1964 226,685 -43,480 1,600 -819
1963 225,367 -46,516 1,609 -886
1962 223,842 -48,017 1,625 -927
1961 222,372 -48,777 1,657 -960
1960 217,134 12,181 1,547 -860

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 98.5% of the population change in Ghana is from natural causes (a gain of 6,474,677 people) and 1.48% is from migration (a loss of 97,112 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, 532,286 residents or 1.5% of the population were not native-born in Ghana, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Biggest cities by population

Ghana
City Population
Kumasi 3.9M
Accra 1.78M
Tamale 730K
Sekondi-Takoradi 540K
Ashaiman 208K
Obuasi 180K
Tema 162K
Koforidua 127K
Ho 126K
Hohoe 56.2K
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/ghana/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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