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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Iceland was 392,404 in 2025 vs 240,254 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iceland's population is 398,674 people compared to 247,495 in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population statistics:

  • Iceland's population is 1.61 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
  • Iceland is ranked the 173rd most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
  • The countries together account for 0.008% of the world: 0.005% for Iceland vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
  • For the last 10 years, Iceland has had an average growth rate of +1.66% per year vs +1.83% in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iceland has increased from 304K people to 399K (31.2% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 247K (49.4% growth).

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

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iceland Sao Tome
2100 360,144 538,656
2099 361,926 537,257
2098 363,730 535,715
2097 365,557 534,052
2096 367,453 532,281
2095 369,353 530,505
2094 371,260 528,585
2093 373,227 526,572
2092 375,333 524,436
2091 377,423 522,255
2090 379,430 519,929
2089 381,438 517,542
2088 383,627 515,028
2087 385,798 512,499
2086 387,894 509,949
2085 390,003 507,271
2084 392,060 504,516
2083 394,128 501,611
2082 396,088 498,655
2081 398,124 495,622
2080 400,156 492,416
2079 402,122 489,178
2078 403,988 485,864
2077 405,922 482,385
2076 407,624 478,877
2075 409,218 475,315
2074 410,690 471,700
2073 412,079 468,051
2072 413,583 464,286
2071 414,926 460,447
2070 416,204 456,490
2069 417,368 452,388
2068 418,437 448,306
2067 419,588 444,092
2066 420,609 439,773
2065 421,634 435,502
2064 422,508 431,068
2063 423,391 426,645
2062 424,311 422,127
2061 425,017 417,629
2060 425,795 413,061
2059 426,421 408,522
2058 426,989 403,970
2057 427,546 399,359
2056 428,007 394,790
2055 428,399 390,100
2054 428,619 385,416
2053 428,812 380,685
2052 429,004 375,964
2051 428,983 371,143
2050 429,028 366,347
2049 428,993 361,542
2048 428,917 356,694
2047 428,806 351,813
2046 428,615 346,841
2045 428,387 341,791
2044 427,939 336,747
2043 427,281 331,669
2042 426,616 326,608
2041 425,912 321,551
2040 425,083 316,415
2039 424,104 311,237
2038 422,997 306,029
2037 421,786 300,834
2036 420,429 295,584
2035 418,926 290,361
2034 417,406 285,145
2033 415,689 279,952
2032 413,829 274,798
2031 411,715 269,704
2030 409,349 264,687
2029 406,777 259,670
2028 403,748 254,717
2027 400,455 249,827
2026 396,793 245,033
2025 392,404 240,254
2024 386,506 235,536
2023 385,663 230,871
2022 382,003 226,305
2021 372,520 221,961
2020 366,463 217,435
2019 360,563 213,392
2018 352,721 210,187
2017 343,400 206,970
2016 335,439 203,689
2015 330,815 200,291
2014 327,386 196,767
2013 323,764 193,148
2012 320,716 189,439
2011 319,014 185,649
2010 318,041 181,802
2009 318,499 177,853
2008 317,414 173,793
2007 311,566 169,700
2006 303,782 165,638
2005 296,734 161,639
2004 292,074 157,705
2003 289,521 153,814
2002 287,523 149,922
2001 284,968 146,375
2000 281,205 144,018
1999 277,381 142,442
1998 274,047 140,751
1997 271,128 138,922
1996 268,916 136,962
1995 267,468 134,895
1994 266,021 132,732
1993 263,725 130,467
1992 261,057 128,110
1991 257,797 125,697
1990 254,826 122,980
1989 252,852 119,979
1988 249,740 116,939
1987 245,859 113,919
1986 243,180 111,150
1985 241,405 108,658
1984 239,511 106,394
1983 236,977 104,380
1982 233,860 102,508
1981 230,755 100,615
1980 228,138 98,544
1979 225,735 96,252
1978 223,537 93,794
1977 221,799 91,301
1976 220,154 88,922
1975 217,979 86,708
1974 215,209 84,672
1973 212,317 82,798
1972 209,137 81,041
1971 206,098 79,330
1970 204,438 77,626
1969 203,369 76,083
1968 201,488 74,765
1967 198,751 73,596
1966 195,570 72,576
1965 192,286 71,680
1964 188,983 70,865
1963 185,653 70,112
1962 182,378 69,403
1961 179,029 68,707
1960 175,574 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/iceland/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iceland increased by 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iceland gained 63,235 people (a 18.9% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 43,806 people (a 21.5% growth).

Iceland was ranked 172nd most populous country in 2006 and is 173rd 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) Iceland's population will grow by 7.61% to 429,028 people and will still be ranked 173rd. The population of Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48% to 366,347 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.

Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 429K people compared to the peak of 539K people in 2100 for Sao Tome and Principe.

Population growth rate by year

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iceland Sao Tome
2100 -0.49% 0.26%
2099 -0.5% 0.29%
2098 -0.5% 0.31%
2097 -0.52% 0.33%
2096 -0.51% 0.33%
2095 -0.51% 0.36%
2094 -0.53% 0.38%
2093 -0.56% 0.41%
2092 -0.55% 0.42%
2091 -0.53% 0.45%
2090 -0.53% 0.46%
2089 -0.57% 0.49%
2088 -0.56% 0.49%
2087 -0.54% 0.5%
2086 -0.54% 0.53%
2085 -0.52% 0.55%
2084 -0.52% 0.58%
2083 -0.49% 0.59%
2082 -0.51% 0.61%
2081 -0.51% 0.65%
2080 -0.49% 0.66%
2079 -0.46% 0.68%
2078 -0.48% 0.72%
2077 -0.42% 0.73%
2076 -0.39% 0.75%
2075 -0.36% 0.77%
2074 -0.34% 0.78%
2073 -0.36% 0.81%
2072 -0.32% 0.83%
2071 -0.31% 0.87%
2070 -0.28% 0.91%
2069 -0.26% 0.91%
2068 -0.27% 0.95%
2067 -0.24% 0.98%
2066 -0.24% 0.98%
2065 -0.21% 1.03%
2064 -0.21% 1.04%
2063 -0.22% 1.07%
2062 -0.17% 1.08%
2061 -0.18% 1.11%
2060 -0.15% 1.11%
2059 -0.13% 1.13%
2058 -0.13% 1.15%
2057 -0.11% 1.16%
2056 -0.09% 1.2%
2055 -0.05% 1.22%
2054 -0.05% 1.24%
2053 -0.04% 1.26%
2052 0.005% 1.3%
2051 -0.01% 1.31%
2050 0.008% 1.33%
2049 0.02% 1.36%
2048 0.03% 1.39%
2047 0.04% 1.43%
2046 0.05% 1.48%
2045 0.1% 1.5%
2044 0.15% 1.53%
2043 0.16% 1.55%
2042 0.17% 1.57%
2041 0.2% 1.62%
2040 0.23% 1.66%
2039 0.26% 1.7%
2038 0.29% 1.73%
2037 0.32% 1.78%
2036 0.36% 1.8%
2035 0.36% 1.83%
2034 0.41% 1.85%
2033 0.45% 1.88%
2032 0.51% 1.89%
2031 0.58% 1.9%
2030 0.63% 1.93%
2029 0.75% 1.94%
2028 0.82% 1.96%
2027 0.92% 1.96%
2026 1.12% 1.99%
2025 1.53% 2%
2024 0.22% 2.02%
2023 0.96% 2.02%
2022 2.55% 1.96%
2021 1.65% 2.08%
2020 1.64% 1.89%
2019 2.22% 1.52%
2018 2.71% 1.55%
2017 2.37% 1.61%
2016 1.4% 1.7%
2015 1.05% 1.79%
2014 1.12% 1.87%
2013 0.95% 1.96%
2012 0.53% 2.04%
2011 0.31% 2.12%
2010 -0.14% 2.22%
2009 0.34% 2.34%
2008 1.88% 2.41%
2007 2.56% 2.45%
2006 2.38% 2.47%
2005 1.6% 2.49%
2004 0.88% 2.53%
2003 0.69% 2.6%
2002 0.9% 2.42%
2001 1.34% 1.64%
2000 1.38% 1.11%
1999 1.22% 1.2%
1998 1.08% 1.32%
1997 0.82% 1.43%
1996 0.54% 1.53%
1995 0.54% 1.63%
1994 0.87% 1.74%
1993 1.02% 1.84%
1992 1.26% 1.92%
1991 1.17% 2.21%
1990 0.78% 2.5%
1989 1.25% 2.6%
1988 1.58% 2.65%
1987 1.1% 2.49%
1986 0.74% 2.29%
1985 0.79% 2.13%
1984 1.07% 1.93%
1983 1.33% 1.83%
1982 1.35% 1.88%
1981 1.15% 2.1%
1980 1.06% 2.38%
1979 0.98% 2.62%
1978 0.78% 2.73%
1977 0.75% 2.68%
1976 1% 2.55%
1975 1.29% 2.4%
1974 1.36% 2.26%
1973 1.52% 2.17%
1972 1.47% 2.16%
1971 0.81% 2.2%
1970 0.53% 2.03%
1969 0.93% 1.76%
1968 1.38% 1.59%
1967 1.63% 1.41%
1966 1.71% 1.25%
1965 1.75% 1.15%
1964 1.79% 1.07%
1963 1.8% 1.02%
1962 1.87% 1.01%
1961 1.97% 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/iceland/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Iceland grew by 1.53%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2%.

Live population counters

Iceland Sao Tome
Current population
398674
247495
Population rank 173/197 176/197
Percent of world population 0.005% 0.003%
One net population change
1.49 hours
1.86 hours
One birth every
2.02 hours
1.32 hours
One death every
3.33 hours
6.73 hours
Daily growth/decline +16 +13
Annual growth/decline +5,898 +4,718
Annual growth/decline rate +1.53% +2%
Population growth rate rank 70/197 50/197
One migration net change every
3.24 hours
13.5 hours
Annual migration change +2,709 -650
Net migration rank 56/196 90/196
Foreign-born residents 98,818 1,955
Foreign-born residents rank 130/195 194/195
Foreign-born share of population 25.1% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 23/195 162/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iceland
Natural

Migration
Sao Tome and Principe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iceland Sao Tome
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 2,709 - -650
2024 1,700 3,543 5,315 -604
2023 1,736 4,630 5,221 -592
2022 1,719 6,535 5,102 -592
2021 2,534 4,911 4,954 -782
2020 2,199 2,498 4,874 0
2019 2,163 5,030 4,932 -1,716
2018 1,975 6,638 4,957 -1,757
2017 1,854 8,348 5,007 -1,779
2016 1,711 4,128 5,125 -1,793
2015 1,952 1,499 5,269 -1,809
2014 2,324 1,139 5,381 -1,801
2013 2,169 1,666 5,449 -1,787
2012 2,566 -277 5,501 -1,739
2011 2,521 -1,393 5,445 -1,616
2010 2,862 -2,055 5,391 -1,529
2009 3,026 -4,785 5,349 -1,328
2008 2,825 1,138 5,297 -1,203
2007 2,617 5,254 5,226 -1,127
2006 2,491 5,300 5,057 -1,031
2005 2,433 3,925 4,897 -941
2004 2,425 610 4,810 -894
2003 2,317 -204 4,702 -816
2002 2,243 -333 4,591 -690
2001 2,365 867 4,471 -1,289
2000 2,475 1,877 4,334 -2,798
1999 2,192 1,165 4,221 -2,594
1998 2,357 1,014 4,120 -2,364
1997 2,305 225 4,041 -2,153
1996 2,447 -511 3,993 -1,974
1995 2,354 -1,354 3,948 -1,829
1994 2,713 -804 3,860 -1,644
1993 2,875 -194 3,841 -1,527
1992 2,898 -225 3,822 -1,432
1991 2,733 1,145 3,801 -1,362
1990 3,058 -971 3,719 -727
1989 2,832 -994 3,576 -571
1988 2,847 1,572 3,544 -465
1987 2,360 944 3,440 -470
1986 2,384 -335 3,180 -614
1985 2,221 -628 3,242 -828
1984 2,539 -328 3,163 -1,041
1983 2,702 170 3,100 -1,203
1982 2,736 616 3,047 -1,203
1981 2,677 157 3,015 -1,067
1980 2,966 -629 2,965 -770
1979 2,980 -572 2,893 -491
1978 2,727 -781 2,800 -279
1977 2,551 -1,079 2,705 -255
1976 2,951 -1,181 2,608 -302
1975 2,965 -388 2,515 -392
1974 2,776 209 2,422 -474
1973 3,121 -310 2,329 -525
1972 3,241 362 2,232 -517
1971 2,782 -231 2,127 -430
1970 2,576 -1,754 1,980 -279
1969 2,766 -1,414 1,862 -469
1968 2,841 -448 1,767 -520
1967 3,021 47 1,693 -606
1966 3,305 39 1,642 -688
1965 3,442 -194 1,611 -765
1964 3,459 -67 1,600 -819
1963 3,490 -113 1,609 -886
1962 3,465 -228 1,625 -927
1961 3,312 164 1,657 -960
1960 3,758 -269 1,547 -860

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 29% of the population change in Iceland is from natural causes (a gain of 19,543 people) and 71% is from migration (a gain of 47,760 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, 98,818 residents or 25.1% of the population were not native-born in Iceland, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Biggest cities by population

Iceland
City Population
Reykjavik 139K
Kopavogur 40K
Hafnarfjorur 31.5K
Keflavik 23.3K
Akureyri 20K
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/iceland/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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