The latest officially reported population of the Marshall Islands was 36,282 in 2025 vs 240,254 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Marshall Islands' population is 35,039 people compared to 247,495 in Sao Tome and Principe.
Population statistics:
- Sao Tome and Principe's population is 7.06 times bigger than the Marshall Islands'.
- The Marshall Islands is ranked the 192nd most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
- The countries together account for 0.003% of the world: 0.0004% for the Marshall Islands vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
- For the last 10 years, the Marshall Islands has had an average growth rate of -2.84% per year vs +1.83% in Sao Tome and Principe.
- Since 2006, the population of the Marshall Islands has decreased from 52K people to 35K (32.6% decline), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 247K (49.4% growth).
Marshall Islands vs Sao Tome and Principe: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Marshall Islands
|
Sao Tome
|
|
| 2100 | 23,445 | 538,656 |
| 2099 | 23,524 | 537,257 |
| 2098 | 23,613 | 535,715 |
| 2097 | 23,708 | 534,052 |
| 2096 | 23,784 | 532,281 |
| 2095 | 23,867 | 530,505 |
| 2094 | 23,935 | 528,585 |
| 2093 | 24,009 | 526,572 |
| 2092 | 24,079 | 524,436 |
| 2091 | 24,137 | 522,255 |
| 2090 | 24,185 | 519,929 |
| 2089 | 24,240 | 517,542 |
| 2088 | 24,272 | 515,028 |
| 2087 | 24,301 | 512,499 |
| 2086 | 24,316 | 509,949 |
| 2085 | 24,335 | 507,271 |
| 2084 | 24,342 | 504,516 |
| 2083 | 24,331 | 501,611 |
| 2082 | 24,315 | 498,655 |
| 2081 | 24,304 | 495,622 |
| 2080 | 24,278 | 492,416 |
| 2079 | 24,256 | 489,178 |
| 2078 | 24,214 | 485,864 |
| 2077 | 24,172 | 482,385 |
| 2076 | 24,138 | 478,877 |
| 2075 | 24,083 | 475,315 |
| 2074 | 24,049 | 471,700 |
| 2073 | 24,000 | 468,051 |
| 2072 | 23,969 | 464,286 |
| 2071 | 23,931 | 460,447 |
| 2070 | 23,889 | 456,490 |
| 2069 | 23,857 | 452,388 |
| 2068 | 23,815 | 448,306 |
| 2067 | 23,795 | 444,092 |
| 2066 | 23,763 | 439,773 |
| 2065 | 23,762 | 435,502 |
| 2064 | 23,766 | 431,068 |
| 2063 | 23,778 | 426,645 |
| 2062 | 23,818 | 422,127 |
| 2061 | 23,869 | 417,629 |
| 2060 | 23,917 | 413,061 |
| 2059 | 23,981 | 408,522 |
| 2058 | 24,028 | 403,970 |
| 2057 | 24,106 | 399,359 |
| 2056 | 24,194 | 394,790 |
| 2055 | 24,305 | 390,100 |
| 2054 | 24,411 | 385,416 |
| 2053 | 24,502 | 380,685 |
| 2052 | 24,602 | 375,964 |
| 2051 | 24,714 | 371,143 |
| 2050 | 24,811 | 366,347 |
| 2049 | 24,935 | 361,542 |
| 2048 | 25,047 | 356,694 |
| 2047 | 25,155 | 351,813 |
| 2046 | 25,267 | 346,841 |
| 2045 | 25,394 | 341,791 |
| 2044 | 25,531 | 336,747 |
| 2043 | 25,687 | 331,669 |
| 2042 | 25,846 | 326,608 |
| 2041 | 26,033 | 321,551 |
| 2040 | 26,249 | 316,415 |
| 2039 | 26,493 | 311,237 |
| 2038 | 26,759 | 306,029 |
| 2037 | 27,090 | 300,834 |
| 2036 | 27,446 | 295,584 |
| 2035 | 27,874 | 290,361 |
| 2034 | 28,364 | 285,145 |
| 2033 | 28,919 | 279,952 |
| 2032 | 29,543 | 274,798 |
| 2031 | 30,251 | 269,704 |
| 2030 | 31,054 | 264,687 |
| 2029 | 31,943 | 259,670 |
| 2028 | 32,879 | 254,717 |
| 2027 | 33,909 | 249,827 |
| 2026 | 35,039 | 245,033 |
| 2025 | 36,282 | 240,254 |
| 2024 | 37,548 | 235,536 |
| 2023 | 38,827 | 230,871 |
| 2022 | 40,077 | 226,305 |
| 2021 | 41,367 | 221,961 |
| 2020 | 42,706 | 217,435 |
| 2019 | 44,007 | 213,392 |
| 2018 | 45,285 | 210,187 |
| 2017 | 46,529 | 206,970 |
| 2016 | 47,709 | 203,689 |
| 2015 | 48,800 | 200,291 |
| 2014 | 49,796 | 196,767 |
| 2013 | 50,681 | 193,148 |
| 2012 | 51,419 | 189,439 |
| 2011 | 51,907 | 185,649 |
| 2010 | 52,044 | 181,802 |
| 2009 | 52,019 | 177,853 |
| 2008 | 52,030 | 173,793 |
| 2007 | 52,035 | 169,700 |
| 2006 | 51,992 | 165,638 |
| 2005 | 51,906 | 161,639 |
| 2004 | 51,791 | 157,705 |
| 2003 | 51,639 | 153,814 |
| 2002 | 51,425 | 149,922 |
| 2001 | 51,123 | 146,375 |
| 2000 | 50,706 | 144,018 |
| 1999 | 50,202 | 142,442 |
| 1998 | 49,717 | 140,751 |
| 1997 | 49,259 | 138,922 |
| 1996 | 48,775 | 136,962 |
| 1995 | 48,266 | 134,895 |
| 1994 | 47,712 | 132,732 |
| 1993 | 47,093 | 130,467 |
| 1992 | 46,388 | 128,110 |
| 1991 | 45,568 | 125,697 |
| 1990 | 44,629 | 122,980 |
| 1989 | 43,586 | 119,979 |
| 1988 | 42,321 | 116,939 |
| 1987 | 40,828 | 113,919 |
| 1986 | 39,286 | 111,150 |
| 1985 | 37,761 | 108,658 |
| 1984 | 36,264 | 106,394 |
| 1983 | 34,811 | 104,380 |
| 1982 | 33,397 | 102,508 |
| 1981 | 32,017 | 100,615 |
| 1980 | 30,774 | 98,544 |
| 1979 | 29,738 | 96,252 |
| 1978 | 28,809 | 93,794 |
| 1977 | 27,906 | 91,301 |
| 1976 | 27,021 | 88,922 |
| 1975 | 26,154 | 86,708 |
| 1974 | 25,296 | 84,672 |
| 1973 | 24,581 | 82,798 |
| 1972 | 23,992 | 81,041 |
| 1971 | 23,366 | 79,330 |
| 1970 | 22,530 | 77,626 |
| 1969 | 21,305 | 76,083 |
| 1968 | 19,862 | 74,765 |
| 1967 | 18,655 | 73,596 |
| 1966 | 17,927 | 72,576 |
| 1965 | 17,402 | 71,680 |
| 1964 | 16,852 | 70,865 |
| 1963 | 16,302 | 70,112 |
| 1962 | 15,755 | 69,403 |
| 1961 | 15,219 | 68,707 |
| 1960 | 14,703 | 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/marshall-islands/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Marshall Islands decreased by 4,283 people (a 8.24% decline), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Marshall Islands lost 12,670 people (a 26.6% decline), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 43,806 people (a 21.5% growth).
The Marshall Islands was ranked 188th most populous country in 2006 and is 192nd 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) the Marshall Islands' population will shrink by 29.2% to 24,811 people with a rank change from 192nd to 193rd. The population of Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48% to 366,347 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.
Sao Tome and Principe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 539K people, while the Marshall Islands' population already peaked in 2010 at 52K people and is projected to decrease to 23.4K people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Marshall Islands
|
Sao Tome
|
|
| 2100 | -0.33% | 0.26% |
| 2099 | -0.38% | 0.29% |
| 2098 | -0.4% | 0.31% |
| 2097 | -0.32% | 0.33% |
| 2096 | -0.35% | 0.33% |
| 2095 | -0.28% | 0.36% |
| 2094 | -0.31% | 0.38% |
| 2093 | -0.29% | 0.41% |
| 2092 | -0.24% | 0.42% |
| 2091 | -0.2% | 0.45% |
| 2090 | -0.23% | 0.46% |
| 2089 | -0.13% | 0.49% |
| 2088 | -0.12% | 0.49% |
| 2087 | -0.06% | 0.5% |
| 2086 | -0.08% | 0.53% |
| 2085 | -0.03% | 0.55% |
| 2084 | 0.05% | 0.58% |
| 2083 | 0.06% | 0.59% |
| 2082 | 0.04% | 0.61% |
| 2081 | 0.11% | 0.65% |
| 2080 | 0.09% | 0.66% |
| 2079 | 0.17% | 0.68% |
| 2078 | 0.17% | 0.72% |
| 2077 | 0.14% | 0.73% |
| 2076 | 0.23% | 0.75% |
| 2075 | 0.14% | 0.77% |
| 2074 | 0.2% | 0.78% |
| 2073 | 0.13% | 0.81% |
| 2072 | 0.16% | 0.83% |
| 2071 | 0.17% | 0.87% |
| 2070 | 0.14% | 0.91% |
| 2069 | 0.18% | 0.91% |
| 2068 | 0.08% | 0.95% |
| 2067 | 0.14% | 0.98% |
| 2066 | 0.004% | 0.98% |
| 2065 | -0.02% | 1.03% |
| 2064 | -0.05% | 1.04% |
| 2063 | -0.17% | 1.07% |
| 2062 | -0.21% | 1.08% |
| 2061 | -0.2% | 1.11% |
| 2060 | -0.27% | 1.11% |
| 2059 | -0.2% | 1.13% |
| 2058 | -0.32% | 1.15% |
| 2057 | -0.37% | 1.16% |
| 2056 | -0.46% | 1.2% |
| 2055 | -0.43% | 1.22% |
| 2054 | -0.37% | 1.24% |
| 2053 | -0.41% | 1.26% |
| 2052 | -0.45% | 1.3% |
| 2051 | -0.39% | 1.31% |
| 2050 | -0.5% | 1.33% |
| 2049 | -0.45% | 1.36% |
| 2048 | -0.43% | 1.39% |
| 2047 | -0.44% | 1.43% |
| 2046 | -0.5% | 1.48% |
| 2045 | -0.54% | 1.5% |
| 2044 | -0.61% | 1.53% |
| 2043 | -0.62% | 1.55% |
| 2042 | -0.72% | 1.57% |
| 2041 | -0.82% | 1.62% |
| 2040 | -0.92% | 1.66% |
| 2039 | -1% | 1.7% |
| 2038 | -1.22% | 1.73% |
| 2037 | -1.3% | 1.78% |
| 2036 | -1.53% | 1.8% |
| 2035 | -1.73% | 1.83% |
| 2034 | -1.92% | 1.85% |
| 2033 | -2.11% | 1.88% |
| 2032 | -2.34% | 1.89% |
| 2031 | -2.59% | 1.9% |
| 2030 | -2.78% | 1.93% |
| 2029 | -2.85% | 1.94% |
| 2028 | -3.04% | 1.96% |
| 2027 | -3.23% | 1.96% |
| 2026 | -3.42% | 1.99% |
| 2025 | -3.37% | 2% |
| 2024 | -3.29% | 2.02% |
| 2023 | -3.12% | 2.02% |
| 2022 | -3.12% | 1.96% |
| 2021 | -3.14% | 2.08% |
| 2020 | -2.96% | 1.89% |
| 2019 | -2.82% | 1.52% |
| 2018 | -2.67% | 1.55% |
| 2017 | -2.47% | 1.61% |
| 2016 | -2.24% | 1.7% |
| 2015 | -2% | 1.79% |
| 2014 | -1.75% | 1.87% |
| 2013 | -1.44% | 1.96% |
| 2012 | -0.94% | 2.04% |
| 2011 | -0.26% | 2.12% |
| 2010 | 0.05% | 2.22% |
| 2009 | -0.02% | 2.34% |
| 2008 | -0.01% | 2.41% |
| 2007 | 0.08% | 2.45% |
| 2006 | 0.17% | 2.47% |
| 2005 | 0.22% | 2.49% |
| 2004 | 0.29% | 2.53% |
| 2003 | 0.42% | 2.6% |
| 2002 | 0.59% | 2.42% |
| 2001 | 0.82% | 1.64% |
| 2000 | 1% | 1.11% |
| 1999 | 0.98% | 1.2% |
| 1998 | 0.93% | 1.32% |
| 1997 | 0.99% | 1.43% |
| 1996 | 1.05% | 1.53% |
| 1995 | 1.16% | 1.63% |
| 1994 | 1.31% | 1.74% |
| 1993 | 1.52% | 1.84% |
| 1992 | 1.8% | 1.92% |
| 1991 | 2.1% | 2.21% |
| 1990 | 2.39% | 2.5% |
| 1989 | 2.99% | 2.6% |
| 1988 | 3.66% | 2.65% |
| 1987 | 3.93% | 2.49% |
| 1986 | 4.04% | 2.29% |
| 1985 | 4.13% | 2.13% |
| 1984 | 4.17% | 1.93% |
| 1983 | 4.23% | 1.83% |
| 1982 | 4.31% | 1.88% |
| 1981 | 4.04% | 2.1% |
| 1980 | 3.48% | 2.38% |
| 1979 | 3.22% | 2.62% |
| 1978 | 3.24% | 2.73% |
| 1977 | 3.28% | 2.68% |
| 1976 | 3.31% | 2.55% |
| 1975 | 3.39% | 2.4% |
| 1974 | 2.91% | 2.26% |
| 1973 | 2.45% | 2.17% |
| 1972 | 2.68% | 2.16% |
| 1971 | 3.71% | 2.2% |
| 1970 | 5.75% | 2.03% |
| 1969 | 7.27% | 1.76% |
| 1968 | 6.47% | 1.59% |
| 1967 | 4.06% | 1.41% |
| 1966 | 3.02% | 1.25% |
| 1965 | 3.26% | 1.15% |
| 1964 | 3.37% | 1.07% |
| 1963 | 3.47% | 1.02% |
| 1962 | 3.52% | 1.01% |
| 1961 | 3.51% | 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/marshall-islands/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
In 2025, the population of the Marshall Islands declined by 3.37%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2%.
Live population counters
|
Marshall Islands
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
35039
|
247495
|
| Population rank | 192/197 | 176/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0004% | 0.003% |
| One net population change |
6.94 hours
|
1.86 hours
|
| One birth every |
11.6 hours
|
1.32 hours
|
| One death every |
1.37 days
|
6.73 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | -3 | +13 |
| Annual growth/decline | -1,266 | +4,718 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -3.37% | +2% |
| Population growth rate rank | 197/197 | 50/197 |
| One migration net change every |
5.17 hours
|
13.5 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -1,698 | -650 |
| Net migration rank | 97/196 | 90/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 3,309 | 1,955 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 189/195 | 194/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 8.8% | 0.8% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 71/195 | 162/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Marshall Islands
|
Sao Tome
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -1,698 | - | -650 |
| 2024 | 487 | -1,765 | 5,315 | -604 |
| 2023 | 550 | -1,832 | 5,221 | -592 |
| 2022 | 606 | -1,829 | 5,102 | -592 |
| 2021 | 653 | -2,016 | 4,954 | -782 |
| 2020 | 689 | -2,004 | 4,874 | 0 |
| 2019 | 746 | -2,030 | 4,932 | -1,716 |
| 2018 | 785 | -2,058 | 4,957 | -1,757 |
| 2017 | 826 | -2,040 | 5,007 | -1,779 |
| 2016 | 866 | -2,003 | 5,125 | -1,793 |
| 2015 | 912 | -1,964 | 5,269 | -1,809 |
| 2014 | 959 | -1,906 | 5,381 | -1,801 |
| 2013 | 1,014 | -1,825 | 5,449 | -1,787 |
| 2012 | 1,097 | -1,759 | 5,501 | -1,739 |
| 2011 | 1,185 | -1,512 | 5,445 | -1,616 |
| 2010 | 1,273 | -1,221 | 5,391 | -1,529 |
| 2009 | 1,365 | -1,361 | 5,349 | -1,328 |
| 2008 | 1,443 | -1,467 | 5,297 | -1,203 |
| 2007 | 1,507 | -1,491 | 5,226 | -1,127 |
| 2006 | 1,556 | -1,491 | 5,057 | -1,031 |
| 2005 | 1,586 | -1,482 | 4,897 | -941 |
| 2004 | 1,595 | -1,466 | 4,810 | -894 |
| 2003 | 1,600 | -1,427 | 4,702 | -816 |
| 2002 | 1,594 | -1,345 | 4,591 | -690 |
| 2001 | 1,596 | -1,237 | 4,471 | -1,289 |
| 2000 | 1,592 | -1,110 | 4,334 | -2,798 |
| 1999 | 1,590 | -1,068 | 4,221 | -2,594 |
| 1998 | 1,576 | -1,124 | 4,120 | -2,364 |
| 1997 | 1,564 | -1,097 | 4,041 | -2,153 |
| 1996 | 1,542 | -1,050 | 3,993 | -1,974 |
| 1995 | 1,522 | -991 | 3,948 | -1,829 |
| 1994 | 1,524 | -942 | 3,860 | -1,644 |
| 1993 | 1,524 | -869 | 3,841 | -1,527 |
| 1992 | 1,525 | -769 | 3,822 | -1,432 |
| 1991 | 1,540 | -661 | 3,801 | -1,362 |
| 1990 | 1,556 | -562 | 3,719 | -727 |
| 1989 | 1,574 | -479 | 3,576 | -571 |
| 1988 | 1,575 | -140 | 3,544 | -465 |
| 1987 | 1,566 | -16 | 3,440 | -470 |
| 1986 | 1,544 | -8 | 3,180 | -614 |
| 1985 | 1,511 | -1 | 3,242 | -828 |
| 1984 | 1,470 | 6 | 3,163 | -1,041 |
| 1983 | 1,422 | 12 | 3,100 | -1,203 |
| 1982 | 1,375 | 23 | 3,047 | -1,203 |
| 1981 | 1,328 | 31 | 3,015 | -1,067 |
| 1980 | 1,287 | -155 | 2,965 | -770 |
| 1979 | 1,250 | -316 | 2,893 | -491 |
| 1978 | 1,207 | -286 | 2,800 | -279 |
| 1977 | 1,160 | -264 | 2,705 | -255 |
| 1976 | 1,109 | -233 | 2,608 | -302 |
| 1975 | 1,055 | -193 | 2,515 | -392 |
| 1974 | 1,000 | -145 | 2,422 | -474 |
| 1973 | 954 | -383 | 2,329 | -525 |
| 1972 | 913 | -306 | 2,232 | -517 |
| 1971 | 877 | -232 | 2,127 | -430 |
| 1970 | 819 | 201 | 1,980 | -279 |
| 1969 | 747 | 690 | 1,862 | -469 |
| 1968 | 685 | 769 | 1,767 | -520 |
| 1967 | 636 | 308 | 1,693 | -606 |
| 1966 | 603 | -89 | 1,642 | -688 |
| 1965 | 566 | -22 | 1,611 | -765 |
| 1964 | 536 | 16 | 1,600 | -819 |
| 1963 | 509 | 42 | 1,609 | -886 |
| 1962 | 488 | 54 | 1,625 | -927 |
| 1961 | 469 | 56 | 1,657 | -960 |
| 1960 | 452 | 63 | 1,547 | -860 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/marshall-islands/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 26.7% of the population change in the Marshall Islands is from natural causes (a gain of 7,120 people) and 73.3% is from migration (a loss of 19,541 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, 3,309 residents or 8.8% of the population were not native-born in the Marshall Islands, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.
Biggest cities by population
|
Marshall Islands
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Majuro | 30K |
| Djarrit | 7.1K |
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Sao Tome | 65.5K |
| Trindade | 6.64K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between the Marshall Islands and Sao Tome and Principe
|
Marshall Islands
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 67.3 years | 70.3 years |
| Average age | 27.8 years | 25.2 years |
| Median age | 21.8 years | 20.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 51.2:48.8 | 49.7:50.3 |
| Fertility rate | 2.86 births per woman | 3.6 births per woman |
| Population density | 504 ppl/mi² | 661 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/marshall-islands/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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