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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iran was 91,567,738 in 2024 vs 235,536 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iran's population is 93,468,444 people compared to 246,362 in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population statistics:

  • Iran's population is 379 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
  • Iran is ranked the 17th most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
  • The countries together account for 1.13% of the world: 1.13% for Iran vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
  • For the last 10 years, Iran has had an average growth rate of +1.19% per year vs +1.82% in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iran has increased from 73.4M people to 93.5M (27.4% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 246K (48.7% growth).

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

Iran
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iran Sao Tome
2100 80,713,760 538,729
2099 81,246,718 537,330
2098 81,770,953 535,787
2097 82,295,714 534,124
2096 82,818,575 532,353
2095 83,338,446 530,576
2094 83,854,648 528,656
2093 84,371,569 526,643
2092 84,888,626 524,507
2091 85,410,099 522,325
2090 85,934,675 519,999
2089 86,466,409 517,612
2088 87,004,165 515,098
2087 87,549,685 512,568
2086 88,105,571 510,018
2085 88,668,329 507,340
2084 89,239,709 504,584
2083 89,817,194 501,679
2082 90,402,538 498,722
2081 90,995,822 495,689
2080 91,595,122 492,482
2079 92,196,842 489,244
2078 92,801,160 485,930
2077 93,405,954 482,450
2076 94,007,669 478,942
2075 94,606,607 475,380
2074 95,197,577 471,763
2073 95,783,994 468,114
2072 96,355,853 464,348
2071 96,915,335 460,509
2070 97,460,813 456,552
2069 97,988,897 452,449
2068 98,496,927 448,367
2067 98,978,509 444,152
2066 99,439,391 439,833
2065 99,877,457 435,561
2064 100,288,977 431,126
2063 100,668,199 426,703
2062 101,017,348 422,184
2061 101,332,810 417,686
2060 101,612,261 413,117
2059 101,858,931 408,577
2058 102,061,144 404,024
2057 102,228,085 399,413
2056 102,358,266 394,844
2055 102,449,092 390,153
2054 102,498,594 385,468
2053 102,508,245 380,737
2052 102,480,373 376,015
2051 102,417,847 371,194
2050 102,318,917 366,397
2049 102,189,816 361,591
2048 102,024,233 356,742
2047 101,832,213 351,861
2046 101,613,554 346,888
2045 101,371,784 341,838
2044 101,104,998 336,792
2043 100,818,045 331,713
2042 100,512,032 326,652
2041 100,188,214 321,594
2040 99,849,875 316,457
2039 99,501,869 311,279
2038 99,137,385 306,071
2037 98,759,167 300,875
2036 98,366,612 295,624
2035 97,963,082 290,400
2034 97,546,148 285,183
2033 97,118,106 279,990
2032 96,671,440 274,835
2031 96,204,118 269,740
2030 95,718,604 264,723
2029 95,195,996 259,705
2028 94,623,034 254,751
2027 93,987,260 249,860
2026 93,276,075 245,066
2025 92,478,162 240,286
2024 91,567,738 235,536
2023 90,608,707 230,871
2022 89,524,246 226,305
2021 88,455,488 221,961
2020 87,723,443 217,435
2019 87,051,648 213,392
2018 86,117,998 210,187
2017 85,026,754 206,970
2016 83,812,228 203,689
2015 82,619,362 200,291
2014 81,502,045 196,767
2013 80,414,686 193,148
2012 79,370,580 189,439
2011 78,383,598 185,649
2010 77,420,842 181,802
2009 76,457,825 177,853
2008 75,514,204 173,793
2007 74,602,648 169,700
2006 73,392,747 165,638
2005 71,828,455 161,639
2004 70,256,316 157,705
2003 68,769,340 153,814
2002 68,011,317 149,922
2001 67,452,005 146,375
2000 66,418,659 144,018
1999 65,445,391 142,442
1998 64,519,859 140,751
1997 63,639,638 138,922
1996 62,881,300 136,962
1995 62,205,567 134,895
1994 61,520,598 132,732
1993 61,403,543 130,467
1992 61,184,983 128,110
1991 59,986,931 125,697
1990 58,380,092 122,980
1989 56,704,914 119,979
1988 55,072,694 116,939
1987 53,323,493 113,919
1986 51,446,045 111,150
1985 49,582,289 108,658
1984 47,793,998 106,394
1983 46,029,535 104,380
1982 44,272,141 102,508
1981 41,989,312 100,615
1980 39,842,324 98,544
1979 38,424,952 96,252
1978 37,126,535 93,794
1977 35,933,181 91,301
1976 34,837,271 88,922
1975 33,802,973 86,708
1974 32,796,463 84,672
1973 31,839,838 82,798
1972 30,921,179 81,041
1971 30,029,071 79,330
1970 29,145,100 77,626
1969 28,273,482 76,083
1968 27,437,391 74,765
1967 26,628,432 73,596
1966 25,829,270 72,576
1965 25,036,978 71,680
1964 24,262,859 70,865
1963 23,519,005 70,112
1962 22,807,907 69,403
1961 22,125,726 68,707
1960 21,470,434 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/iran/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iran increased by 10,419,481 people (a 14.2% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iran gained 9,656,216 people (a 11.5% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 42,673 people (a 21% growth).

Iran was ranked 17th most populous country in 2006 and is still 17th 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) Iran's population will grow by 9.47% to 102,318,917 people with a rank change from 17th to 18th. The population of Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48.7% to 366,397 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 103M people compared to the peak of 539K people in 2100 for Sao Tome and Principe.

Population growth rate by year

Iran
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iran Sao Tome
2100 -0.66% 0.26%
2099 -0.64% 0.29%
2098 -0.64% 0.31%
2097 -0.63% 0.33%
2096 -0.62% 0.33%
2095 -0.62% 0.36%
2094 -0.61% 0.38%
2093 -0.61% 0.41%
2092 -0.61% 0.42%
2091 -0.61% 0.45%
2090 -0.61% 0.46%
2089 -0.62% 0.49%
2088 -0.62% 0.49%
2087 -0.63% 0.5%
2086 -0.63% 0.53%
2085 -0.64% 0.55%
2084 -0.64% 0.58%
2083 -0.65% 0.59%
2082 -0.65% 0.61%
2081 -0.65% 0.65%
2080 -0.65% 0.66%
2079 -0.65% 0.68%
2078 -0.65% 0.72%
2077 -0.64% 0.73%
2076 -0.63% 0.75%
2075 -0.62% 0.77%
2074 -0.61% 0.78%
2073 -0.59% 0.81%
2072 -0.58% 0.83%
2071 -0.56% 0.87%
2070 -0.54% 0.91%
2069 -0.52% 0.91%
2068 -0.49% 0.95%
2067 -0.46% 0.98%
2066 -0.44% 0.98%
2065 -0.41% 1.03%
2064 -0.38% 1.04%
2063 -0.35% 1.07%
2062 -0.31% 1.08%
2061 -0.28% 1.11%
2060 -0.24% 1.11%
2059 -0.2% 1.13%
2058 -0.16% 1.15%
2057 -0.13% 1.16%
2056 -0.09% 1.2%
2055 -0.05% 1.22%
2054 -0.009% 1.24%
2053 0.03% 1.26%
2052 0.06% 1.3%
2051 0.1% 1.31%
2050 0.13% 1.33%
2049 0.16% 1.36%
2048 0.19% 1.39%
2047 0.22% 1.43%
2046 0.24% 1.48%
2045 0.26% 1.5%
2044 0.28% 1.53%
2043 0.3% 1.55%
2042 0.32% 1.57%
2041 0.34% 1.62%
2040 0.35% 1.66%
2039 0.37% 1.7%
2038 0.38% 1.73%
2037 0.4% 1.78%
2036 0.41% 1.8%
2035 0.43% 1.83%
2034 0.44% 1.85%
2033 0.46% 1.88%
2032 0.49% 1.89%
2031 0.51% 1.9%
2030 0.55% 1.93%
2029 0.61% 1.94%
2028 0.68% 1.96%
2027 0.76% 1.96%
2026 0.86% 1.99%
2025 0.99% 2.02%
2024 1.06% 2.02%
2023 1.21% 2.02%
2022 1.21% 1.96%
2021 0.83% 2.08%
2020 0.77% 1.89%
2019 1.08% 1.52%
2018 1.28% 1.55%
2017 1.45% 1.61%
2016 1.44% 1.7%
2015 1.37% 1.79%
2014 1.35% 1.87%
2013 1.32% 1.96%
2012 1.26% 2.04%
2011 1.24% 2.12%
2010 1.26% 2.22%
2009 1.25% 2.34%
2008 1.22% 2.41%
2007 1.65% 2.45%
2006 2.18% 2.47%
2005 2.24% 2.49%
2004 2.16% 2.53%
2003 1.11% 2.6%
2002 0.83% 2.42%
2001 1.56% 1.64%
2000 1.49% 1.11%
1999 1.43% 1.2%
1998 1.38% 1.32%
1997 1.21% 1.43%
1996 1.09% 1.53%
1995 1.11% 1.63%
1994 0.19% 1.74%
1993 0.36% 1.84%
1992 2% 1.92%
1991 2.75% 2.21%
1990 2.95% 2.5%
1989 2.96% 2.6%
1988 3.28% 2.65%
1987 3.65% 2.49%
1986 3.76% 2.29%
1985 3.74% 2.13%
1984 3.83% 1.93%
1983 3.97% 1.83%
1982 5.44% 1.88%
1981 5.39% 2.1%
1980 3.69% 2.38%
1979 3.5% 2.62%
1978 3.32% 2.73%
1977 3.15% 2.68%
1976 3.06% 2.55%
1975 3.07% 2.4%
1974 3% 2.26%
1973 2.97% 2.17%
1972 2.97% 2.16%
1971 3.03% 2.2%
1970 3.08% 2.03%
1969 3.05% 1.76%
1968 3.04% 1.59%
1967 3.09% 1.41%
1966 3.16% 1.25%
1965 3.19% 1.15%
1964 3.16% 1.07%
1963 3.12% 1.02%
1962 3.08% 1.01%
1961 3.05% 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/iran/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iran grew by 1.06%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2.02%.

Live population counters

Iran Sao Tome
Current population
93468444
246362
Population rank 17/197 176/197
Percent of world population 1.13% 0.003%
One net population change
32.9 seconds
1.88 hours
One birth every
26.9 seconds
1.35 hours
One death every
1.24 minutes
6.81 hours
Daily growth/decline +2,627 +13
Annual growth/decline +959,031 +4,665
Annual growth/decline rate +1.06% +2.02%
Population growth rate rank 98/197 49/197
One migration net change every
4.51 minutes
13.5 hours
Annual migration change +116,786 -650
Net migration rank 14/196 90/196
Foreign-born residents 3,840,654 1,955
Foreign-born residents rank 17/195 194/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.2% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 103/195 162/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iran
Natural

Migration
Sao Tome and Principe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iran Sao Tome
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 116,786 - -650
2024 - 190,156 - -604
2023 750,150 262,044 5,221 -592
2022 753,525 403,190 5,102 -592
2021 645,725 334,967 4,954 -782
2020 663,978 -180,680 4,874 0
2019 893,063 -32,794 4,932 -1,716
2018 1,035,052 -27,946 4,957 -1,757
2017 1,140,549 34,849 5,007 -1,779
2016 1,186,949 66,630 5,125 -1,793
2015 1,178,317 -46,239 5,269 -1,809
2014 1,158,552 -56,042 5,381 -1,801
2013 1,119,533 -47,322 5,449 -1,787
2012 1,073,804 -57,823 5,501 -1,739
2011 1,023,925 -65,924 5,445 -1,616
2010 980,380 -12,849 5,391 -1,529
2009 958,322 211 5,349 -1,328
2008 940,983 -12,184 5,297 -1,203
2007 919,254 -24,950 5,226 -1,127
2006 884,529 640,932 5,057 -1,031
2005 837,305 765,873 4,897 -941
2004 801,203 739,996 4,810 -894
2003 732,600 700,222 4,702 -816
2002 752,205 -668,962 4,591 -690
2001 743,658 291,692 4,471 -1,289
2000 731,203 300,133 4,334 -2,798
1999 723,237 191,988 4,221 -2,594
1998 717,655 218,171 4,120 -2,364
1997 726,574 98,009 4,041 -2,153
1996 784,508 -92,435 3,993 -1,974
1995 879,648 -220,258 3,948 -1,829
1994 1,008,076 -297,487 3,860 -1,644
1993 1,219,658 -1,696,091 3,841 -1,527
1992 1,365,466 -451,945 3,822 -1,432
1991 1,495,594 -13,059 3,801 -1,362
1990 1,530,434 200,711 3,719 -727
1989 1,609,739 9,460 3,576 -571
1988 1,614,512 30,688 3,544 -465
1987 1,639,644 213,524 3,440 -470
1986 1,659,289 242,411 3,180 -614
1985 1,661,750 163,999 3,242 -828
1984 1,653,051 97,748 3,163 -1,041
1983 1,573,612 204,544 3,100 -1,203
1982 1,514,240 222,390 3,047 -1,203
1981 1,376,830 1,452,169 3,015 -1,067
1980 1,361,293 103,674 2,965 -770
1979 1,294,306 75,451 2,893 -491
1978 1,156,974 70,088 2,800 -279
1977 1,091,542 68,093 2,705 -255
1976 1,013,347 18,825 2,608 -302
1975 929,481 106,921 2,515 -392
1974 873,369 103,252 2,422 -474
1973 831,880 104,779 2,329 -525
1972 804,043 96,614 2,232 -517
1971 805,830 77,717 2,127 -430
1970 794,612 89,757 1,980 -279
1969 780,660 78,196 1,862 -469
1968 743,992 69,342 1,767 -520
1967 727,276 77,313 1,693 -606
1966 695,040 98,709 1,642 -688
1965 663,029 127,808 1,611 -765
1964 635,589 121,817 1,600 -819
1963 620,126 110,190 1,609 -886
1962 595,538 96,332 1,625 -927
1961 594,674 77,811 1,657 -960
1960 584,060 54,041 1,547 -860

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 92.5% of the population change in Iran is from natural causes (a gain of 9,405,860 people) and 7.46% is from migration (a gain of 757,979 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, 3,840,654 residents or 4.2% of the population were not native-born in Iran, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Biggest cities by population

Iran
City Population
Tehran 8.69M
Mashhad 3M
Isfahan 1.96M
Karaj 1.59M
Shiraz 1.57M
Tabriz 1.56M
Qom 1.2M
Ahvaz 1.18M
Kermanshah 947K
Urmia 736K
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/iran/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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