Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,557,673 in 2024 vs 235,536 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,512,221 people compared to 246,362 in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 148.2 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
  • Malaysia is ranked the 45th most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
  • The countries together account for 0.44% of the world: 0.44% for Malaysia vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
  • For the last 10 years, Malaysia has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +1.82% in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.5M (38.2% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 246K (48.7% growth).

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

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Malaysia Sao Tome
2100 44,353,615 538,729
2099 44,467,475 537,330
2098 44,579,971 535,787
2097 44,695,979 534,124
2096 44,814,885 532,353
2095 44,932,404 530,576
2094 45,047,479 528,656
2093 45,165,126 526,643
2092 45,278,674 524,507
2091 45,390,002 522,325
2090 45,501,495 519,999
2089 45,610,046 517,612
2088 45,717,882 515,098
2087 45,823,085 512,568
2086 45,926,712 510,018
2085 46,020,742 507,340
2084 46,111,490 504,584
2083 46,202,286 501,679
2082 46,284,929 498,722
2081 46,359,700 495,689
2080 46,435,482 492,482
2079 46,496,102 489,244
2078 46,549,167 485,930
2077 46,594,188 482,450
2076 46,619,045 478,942
2075 46,643,115 475,380
2074 46,658,350 471,763
2073 46,670,848 468,114
2072 46,670,426 464,348
2071 46,660,436 460,509
2070 46,645,623 456,552
2069 46,623,238 452,449
2068 46,600,060 448,367
2067 46,569,264 444,152
2066 46,530,377 439,833
2065 46,481,890 435,561
2064 46,417,369 431,126
2063 46,350,674 426,703
2062 46,272,105 422,184
2061 46,178,092 417,686
2060 46,075,877 413,117
2059 45,958,718 408,577
2058 45,837,407 404,024
2057 45,707,213 399,413
2056 45,566,357 394,844
2055 45,418,953 390,153
2054 45,252,995 385,468
2053 45,069,089 380,737
2052 44,873,927 376,015
2051 44,668,767 371,194
2050 44,445,677 366,397
2049 44,217,593 361,591
2048 43,974,925 356,742
2047 43,712,325 351,861
2046 43,438,283 346,888
2045 43,157,909 341,838
2044 42,866,716 336,792
2043 42,557,941 331,713
2042 42,239,980 326,652
2041 41,922,379 321,594
2040 41,598,231 316,457
2039 41,270,953 311,279
2038 40,929,067 306,071
2037 40,584,773 300,875
2036 40,234,128 295,624
2035 39,876,375 290,400
2034 39,515,857 285,183
2033 39,152,086 279,990
2032 38,772,414 274,835
2031 38,386,293 269,740
2030 37,995,617 264,723
2029 37,606,753 259,705
2028 37,207,852 254,751
2027 36,806,585 249,860
2026 36,403,076 245,066
2025 35,987,113 240,286
2024 35,557,673 235,536
2023 35,126,298 230,871
2022 34,695,493 226,305
2021 34,282,399 221,961
2020 33,889,558 217,435
2019 33,440,596 213,392
2018 32,910,967 210,187
2017 32,355,644 206,970
2016 31,789,685 203,689
2015 31,232,798 200,291
2014 30,696,137 196,767
2013 30,174,265 193,148
2012 29,662,831 189,439
2011 29,162,039 185,649
2010 28,655,776 181,802
2009 28,124,778 177,853
2008 27,570,059 173,793
2007 26,998,389 169,700
2006 26,417,909 165,638
2005 25,836,071 161,639
2004 25,256,772 157,705
2003 24,679,602 153,814
2002 24,102,477 149,922
2001 23,526,538 146,375
2000 22,967,816 144,018
1999 22,435,531 142,442
1998 21,906,713 140,751
1997 21,375,218 138,922
1996 20,850,087 136,962
1995 20,330,599 134,895
1994 19,820,446 132,732
1993 19,322,664 130,467
1992 18,834,572 128,110
1991 18,342,464 125,697
1990 17,833,171 122,980
1989 17,314,997 119,979
1988 16,796,605 116,939
1987 16,276,737 113,919
1986 15,760,419 111,150
1985 15,252,258 108,658
1984 14,759,009 106,394
1983 14,285,907 104,380
1982 13,832,798 102,508
1981 13,399,203 100,615
1980 12,983,363 98,544
1979 12,627,862 96,252
1978 12,328,157 93,794
1977 12,035,713 91,301
1976 11,750,097 88,922
1975 11,471,914 86,708
1974 11,200,906 84,672
1973 10,935,621 82,798
1972 10,676,835 81,041
1971 10,423,453 79,330
1970 10,178,802 77,626
1969 9,947,597 76,083
1968 9,725,281 74,765
1967 9,507,099 73,596
1966 9,284,688 72,576
1965 9,056,408 71,680
1964 8,828,406 70,865
1963 8,602,160 70,112
1962 8,380,172 69,403
1961 8,164,443 68,707
1960 7,956,197 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/malaysia/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malaysia increased by 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malaysia gained 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 42,673 people (a 21% growth).

Malaysia was ranked 44th most populous country in 2006 and is 45th 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) Malaysia's population will grow by 21.7% to 44,445,677 people with a rank change from 45th to 49th. The population of Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48.7% to 366,397 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M people compared to the peak of 539K people in 2100 for Sao Tome and Principe.

Population growth rate by year

Malaysia
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Malaysia Sao Tome
2100 -0.26% 0.26%
2099 -0.25% 0.29%
2098 -0.26% 0.31%
2097 -0.27% 0.33%
2096 -0.26% 0.33%
2095 -0.26% 0.36%
2094 -0.26% 0.38%
2093 -0.25% 0.41%
2092 -0.25% 0.42%
2091 -0.25% 0.45%
2090 -0.24% 0.46%
2089 -0.24% 0.49%
2088 -0.23% 0.49%
2087 -0.23% 0.5%
2086 -0.2% 0.53%
2085 -0.2% 0.55%
2084 -0.2% 0.58%
2083 -0.18% 0.59%
2082 -0.16% 0.61%
2081 -0.16% 0.65%
2080 -0.13% 0.66%
2079 -0.11% 0.68%
2078 -0.1% 0.72%
2077 -0.05% 0.73%
2076 -0.05% 0.75%
2075 -0.03% 0.77%
2074 -0.03% 0.78%
2073 0.001% 0.81%
2072 0.02% 0.83%
2071 0.03% 0.87%
2070 0.05% 0.91%
2069 0.05% 0.91%
2068 0.07% 0.95%
2067 0.08% 0.98%
2066 0.1% 0.98%
2065 0.14% 1.03%
2064 0.14% 1.04%
2063 0.17% 1.07%
2062 0.2% 1.08%
2061 0.22% 1.11%
2060 0.25% 1.11%
2059 0.26% 1.13%
2058 0.28% 1.15%
2057 0.31% 1.16%
2056 0.32% 1.2%
2055 0.37% 1.22%
2054 0.41% 1.24%
2053 0.43% 1.26%
2052 0.46% 1.3%
2051 0.5% 1.31%
2050 0.52% 1.33%
2049 0.55% 1.36%
2048 0.6% 1.39%
2047 0.63% 1.43%
2046 0.65% 1.48%
2045 0.68% 1.5%
2044 0.73% 1.53%
2043 0.75% 1.55%
2042 0.76% 1.57%
2041 0.78% 1.62%
2040 0.79% 1.66%
2039 0.84% 1.7%
2038 0.85% 1.73%
2037 0.87% 1.78%
2036 0.9% 1.8%
2035 0.91% 1.83%
2034 0.93% 1.85%
2033 0.98% 1.88%
2032 1.01% 1.89%
2031 1.03% 1.9%
2030 1.03% 1.93%
2029 1.07% 1.94%
2028 1.09% 1.96%
2027 1.11% 1.96%
2026 1.16% 1.99%
2025 1.21% 2.02%
2024 1.23% 2.02%
2023 1.24% 2.02%
2022 1.2% 1.96%
2021 1.16% 2.08%
2020 1.34% 1.89%
2019 1.61% 1.52%
2018 1.72% 1.55%
2017 1.78% 1.61%
2016 1.78% 1.7%
2015 1.75% 1.79%
2014 1.73% 1.87%
2013 1.72% 1.96%
2012 1.72% 2.04%
2011 1.77% 2.12%
2010 1.89% 2.22%
2009 2.01% 2.34%
2008 2.12% 2.41%
2007 2.2% 2.45%
2006 2.25% 2.47%
2005 2.29% 2.49%
2004 2.34% 2.53%
2003 2.39% 2.6%
2002 2.45% 2.42%
2001 2.43% 1.64%
2000 2.37% 1.11%
1999 2.41% 1.2%
1998 2.49% 1.32%
1997 2.52% 1.43%
1996 2.56% 1.53%
1995 2.57% 1.63%
1994 2.58% 1.74%
1993 2.59% 1.84%
1992 2.68% 1.92%
1991 2.86% 2.21%
1990 2.99% 2.5%
1989 3.09% 2.6%
1988 3.19% 2.65%
1987 3.28% 2.49%
1986 3.33% 2.29%
1985 3.34% 2.13%
1984 3.31% 1.93%
1983 3.28% 1.83%
1982 3.24% 1.88%
1981 3.2% 2.1%
1980 2.82% 2.38%
1979 2.43% 2.62%
1978 2.43% 2.73%
1977 2.43% 2.68%
1976 2.42% 2.55%
1975 2.42% 2.4%
1974 2.43% 2.26%
1973 2.42% 2.17%
1972 2.43% 2.16%
1971 2.4% 2.2%
1970 2.32% 2.03%
1969 2.29% 1.76%
1968 2.29% 1.59%
1967 2.4% 1.41%
1966 2.52% 1.25%
1965 2.58% 1.15%
1964 2.63% 1.07%
1963 2.65% 1.02%
1962 2.64% 1.01%
1961 2.62% 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/malaysia/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.23%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2.02%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Sao Tome
Current population
36512221
246362
Population rank 45/197 176/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.003%
One net population change
1.22 minutes
1.88 hours
One birth every
1.21 minutes
1.35 hours
One death every
2.9 minutes
6.81 hours
Daily growth/decline +1,182 +13
Annual growth/decline +431,375 +4,665
Annual growth/decline rate +1.23% +2.02%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 49/197
One migration net change every
3.16 minutes
13.5 hours
Annual migration change +166,615 -650
Net migration rank 7/196 90/196
Foreign-born residents 3,806,514 1,955
Foreign-born residents rank 18/195 194/195
Foreign-born share of population 10.7% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 62/195 162/195

Natural population change vs migration

Malaysia
Natural

Migration
Sao Tome and Principe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Malaysia Sao Tome
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 166,615 - -650
2024 - 174,770 - -604
2023 254,806 181,071 5,221 -592
2022 237,560 188,154 5,102 -592
2021 212,002 188,506 4,954 -782
2020 283,282 101,907 4,874 0
2019 309,426 203,284 4,932 -1,716
2018 324,568 221,965 4,957 -1,757
2017 336,434 227,677 5,007 -1,779
2016 345,681 222,141 5,125 -1,793
2015 358,302 187,663 5,269 -1,809
2014 367,587 159,791 5,381 -1,801
2013 366,738 149,637 5,449 -1,787
2012 371,497 134,975 5,501 -1,739
2011 372,836 122,269 5,445 -1,616
2010 360,260 157,164 5,391 -1,529
2009 366,157 178,410 5,349 -1,328
2008 362,380 202,481 5,297 -1,203
2007 348,711 229,784 5,226 -1,127
2006 349,509 232,971 5,057 -1,031
2005 355,324 225,864 4,897 -941
2004 365,138 212,278 4,810 -894
2003 377,425 199,510 4,702 -816
2002 381,084 196,227 4,591 -690
2001 400,939 173,613 4,471 -1,289
2000 417,371 125,499 4,334 -2,798
1999 432,355 89,335 4,221 -2,594
1998 436,316 99,639 4,120 -2,364
1997 447,768 79,266 4,041 -2,153
1996 450,174 73,040 3,993 -1,974
1995 443,349 72,393 3,948 -1,829
1994 437,873 66,685 3,860 -1,644
1993 429,910 61,079 3,841 -1,527
1992 418,900 66,286 3,822 -1,432
1991 401,938 97,111 3,801 -1,362
1990 384,518 135,020 3,719 -727
1989 373,277 143,544 3,576 -571
1988 386,507 133,478 3,544 -465
1987 381,999 137,759 3,440 -470
1986 385,799 127,081 3,180 -614
1985 383,243 120,215 3,242 -828
1984 376,797 106,248 3,163 -1,041
1983 365,290 97,862 3,100 -1,203
1982 353,138 89,942 3,047 -1,203
1981 339,991 84,142 3,015 -1,067
1980 326,947 80,617 2,965 -770
1979 317,439 -13,980 2,893 -491
1978 311,027 -15,059 2,800 -279
1977 305,515 -16,601 2,705 -255
1976 300,615 -18,316 2,608 -302
1975 294,541 -20,480 2,515 -392
1974 289,880 -21,919 2,422 -474
1973 284,611 -21,995 2,329 -525
1972 276,263 -21,305 2,232 -517
1971 272,323 -20,535 2,127 -430
1970 269,341 -31,839 1,980 -279
1969 264,327 -39,420 1,862 -469
1968 260,705 -40,996 1,767 -520
1967 258,764 -42,108 1,693 -606
1966 262,162 -33,993 1,642 -688
1965 264,836 -36,456 1,611 -765
1964 266,406 -38,785 1,600 -819
1963 265,815 -40,952 1,609 -886
1962 262,140 -43,033 1,625 -927
1961 257,270 -44,916 1,657 -960
1960 251,090 -46,948 1,547 -860

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 61.7% of the population change in Malaysia is from natural causes (a gain of 3,029,648 people) and 38.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,882,159 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, 3,806,514 residents or 10.7% of the population were not native-born in Malaysia, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Biggest cities by population

Malaysia
City Population
Kuala Lumpur 9M
Klang 878K
Ipoh 867K
Johor Bahru 798K
George Town 794K
Shah Alam 741K
Subang Jaya 708K
Petaling Jaya 639K
Kuantan 608K
Sungai Petani 545K
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/malaysia/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.