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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Malaysia was 35,977,838 in 2025 vs 240,254 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malaysia's population is 36,600,906 people compared to 247,495 in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 147.9 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 +1.45% per year vs +1.83% in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Malaysia has increased from 26.4M people to 36.6M (38.5% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 247K (49.4% 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 44,342,183 538,656
2099 44,456,013 537,257
2098 44,568,480 535,715
2097 44,684,459 534,052
2096 44,803,334 532,281
2095 44,920,823 530,505
2094 45,035,868 528,585
2093 45,153,485 526,572
2092 45,267,003 524,436
2091 45,378,303 522,255
2090 45,489,767 519,929
2089 45,598,290 517,542
2088 45,706,098 515,028
2087 45,811,274 512,499
2086 45,914,874 509,949
2085 46,008,880 507,271
2084 46,099,604 504,516
2083 46,190,377 501,611
2082 46,272,999 498,655
2081 46,347,751 495,622
2080 46,423,514 492,416
2079 46,484,118 489,178
2078 46,537,169 485,864
2077 46,582,178 482,385
2076 46,607,029 478,877
2075 46,631,092 475,315
2074 46,646,324 471,700
2073 46,658,819 468,051
2072 46,658,396 464,286
2071 46,648,409 460,447
2070 46,633,600 456,490
2069 46,611,221 452,388
2068 46,588,049 448,306
2067 46,557,261 444,092
2066 46,518,384 439,773
2065 46,469,909 435,502
2064 46,405,405 431,068
2063 46,338,727 426,645
2062 46,260,178 422,127
2061 46,166,190 417,629
2060 46,064,001 413,061
2059 45,946,872 408,522
2058 45,825,593 403,970
2057 45,695,432 399,359
2056 45,554,612 394,790
2055 45,407,246 390,100
2054 45,241,331 385,416
2053 45,057,472 380,685
2052 44,862,361 375,964
2051 44,657,253 371,143
2050 44,434,221 366,347
2049 44,206,196 361,542
2048 43,963,591 356,694
2047 43,701,058 351,813
2046 43,427,087 346,841
2045 43,146,785 341,791
2044 42,855,667 336,747
2043 42,546,972 331,669
2042 42,229,093 326,608
2041 41,911,573 321,551
2040 41,587,509 316,415
2039 41,260,315 311,237
2038 40,918,517 306,029
2037 40,574,312 300,834
2036 40,223,758 295,584
2035 39,866,097 290,361
2034 39,505,672 285,145
2033 39,141,994 279,952
2032 38,762,420 274,798
2031 38,376,399 269,704
2030 37,985,824 264,687
2029 37,597,060 259,670
2028 37,198,261 254,717
2027 36,797,098 249,827
2026 36,393,693 245,033
2025 35,977,838 240,254
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 4,811,221 people (a 15.1% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 43,806 people (a 21.5% 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 21.4% to 44,434,221 people with a rank change from 45th to 49th. The population of Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48% to 366,347 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 1.18% 2%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Malaysia grew by 1.18%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2%.

Live population counters

Malaysia Sao Tome
Current population
36600906
247495
Population rank 45/197 176/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.003%
One net population change
1.25 minutes
1.86 hours
One birth every
1.2 minutes
1.32 hours
One death every
2.8 minutes
6.73 hours
Daily growth/decline +1,151 +13
Annual growth/decline +420,165 +4,718
Annual growth/decline rate +1.18% +2%
Population growth rate rank 89/197 50/197
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 252,068 174,770 5,315 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 60.6% of the population change in Malaysia is from natural causes (a gain of 2,914,129 people) and 39.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,897,138 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, 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 (1960–2025, 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/malaysia/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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