The latest officially reported population of Moldova was 2,402,306 in 2024 vs 235,536 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Moldova's population is 2,341,166 people compared to 246,362 in Sao Tome and Principe.
Population statistics:
- Moldova's population is 9.5 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
- Moldova is ranked the 145th most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
- The countries together account for 0.03% of the world: 0.03% for Moldova vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
- For the last 10 years, Moldova has had an average growth rate of -1.57% per year vs +1.82% in Sao Tome and Principe.
- Since 2006, the population of Moldova has decreased from 2.88M people to 2.34M (18.7% decline), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 246K (48.7% growth).
Moldova vs Sao Tome and Principe: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Moldova
|
Sao Tome
|
|
| 2100 | 1,175,882 | 538,729 |
| 2099 | 1,186,641 | 537,330 |
| 2098 | 1,197,541 | 535,787 |
| 2097 | 1,208,458 | 534,124 |
| 2096 | 1,219,478 | 532,353 |
| 2095 | 1,230,573 | 530,576 |
| 2094 | 1,241,540 | 528,656 |
| 2093 | 1,252,531 | 526,643 |
| 2092 | 1,263,471 | 524,507 |
| 2091 | 1,274,372 | 522,325 |
| 2090 | 1,285,020 | 519,999 |
| 2089 | 1,295,696 | 517,612 |
| 2088 | 1,306,424 | 515,098 |
| 2087 | 1,317,064 | 512,568 |
| 2086 | 1,327,799 | 510,018 |
| 2085 | 1,338,702 | 507,340 |
| 2084 | 1,349,432 | 504,584 |
| 2083 | 1,360,333 | 501,679 |
| 2082 | 1,371,322 | 498,722 |
| 2081 | 1,382,447 | 495,689 |
| 2080 | 1,393,733 | 492,482 |
| 2079 | 1,405,298 | 489,244 |
| 2078 | 1,417,062 | 485,930 |
| 2077 | 1,429,240 | 482,450 |
| 2076 | 1,441,240 | 478,942 |
| 2075 | 1,453,677 | 475,380 |
| 2074 | 1,466,568 | 471,763 |
| 2073 | 1,479,672 | 468,114 |
| 2072 | 1,493,311 | 464,348 |
| 2071 | 1,507,315 | 460,509 |
| 2070 | 1,522,149 | 456,552 |
| 2069 | 1,537,091 | 452,449 |
| 2068 | 1,552,724 | 448,367 |
| 2067 | 1,568,676 | 444,152 |
| 2066 | 1,584,782 | 439,833 |
| 2065 | 1,601,356 | 435,561 |
| 2064 | 1,618,317 | 431,126 |
| 2063 | 1,635,288 | 426,703 |
| 2062 | 1,652,720 | 422,184 |
| 2061 | 1,670,255 | 417,686 |
| 2060 | 1,688,120 | 413,117 |
| 2059 | 1,705,595 | 408,577 |
| 2058 | 1,722,942 | 404,024 |
| 2057 | 1,740,252 | 399,413 |
| 2056 | 1,757,829 | 394,844 |
| 2055 | 1,775,082 | 390,153 |
| 2054 | 1,792,262 | 385,468 |
| 2053 | 1,809,221 | 380,737 |
| 2052 | 1,825,831 | 376,015 |
| 2051 | 1,842,337 | 371,194 |
| 2050 | 1,858,281 | 366,397 |
| 2049 | 1,874,666 | 361,591 |
| 2048 | 1,890,586 | 356,742 |
| 2047 | 1,906,615 | 351,861 |
| 2046 | 1,922,962 | 346,888 |
| 2045 | 1,939,938 | 341,838 |
| 2044 | 1,956,858 | 336,792 |
| 2043 | 1,974,616 | 331,713 |
| 2042 | 1,992,765 | 326,652 |
| 2041 | 2,011,342 | 321,594 |
| 2040 | 2,030,732 | 316,457 |
| 2039 | 2,051,163 | 311,279 |
| 2038 | 2,071,871 | 306,071 |
| 2037 | 2,093,068 | 300,875 |
| 2036 | 2,114,669 | 295,624 |
| 2035 | 2,136,998 | 290,400 |
| 2034 | 2,159,450 | 285,183 |
| 2033 | 2,182,023 | 279,990 |
| 2032 | 2,204,431 | 274,835 |
| 2031 | 2,227,006 | 269,740 |
| 2030 | 2,250,038 | 264,723 |
| 2029 | 2,272,963 | 259,705 |
| 2028 | 2,295,739 | 254,751 |
| 2027 | 2,318,425 | 249,860 |
| 2026 | 2,341,166 | 245,066 |
| 2025 | 2,373,265 | 240,286 |
| 2024 | 2,402,306 | 235,536 |
| 2023 | 2,457,783 | 230,871 |
| 2022 | 2,528,654 | 226,305 |
| 2021 | 2,595,809 | 221,961 |
| 2020 | 2,635,130 | 217,435 |
| 2019 | 2,664,224 | 213,392 |
| 2018 | 2,707,203 | 210,187 |
| 2017 | 2,755,189 | 206,970 |
| 2016 | 2,803,186 | 203,689 |
| 2015 | 2,835,978 | 200,291 |
| 2014 | 2,857,815 | 196,767 |
| 2013 | 2,859,558 | 193,148 |
| 2012 | 2,860,324 | 189,439 |
| 2011 | 2,860,699 | 185,649 |
| 2010 | 2,862,354 | 181,802 |
| 2009 | 2,865,213 | 177,853 |
| 2008 | 2,868,833 | 173,793 |
| 2007 | 2,874,299 | 169,700 |
| 2006 | 2,880,967 | 165,638 |
| 2005 | 2,888,985 | 161,639 |
| 2004 | 2,896,023 | 157,705 |
| 2003 | 2,903,198 | 153,814 |
| 2002 | 2,911,385 | 149,922 |
| 2001 | 2,918,135 | 146,375 |
| 2000 | 2,924,668 | 144,018 |
| 1999 | 2,930,622 | 142,442 |
| 1998 | 2,935,227 | 140,751 |
| 1997 | 2,936,413 | 138,922 |
| 1996 | 2,947,293 | 136,962 |
| 1995 | 2,953,200 | 134,895 |
| 1994 | 2,966,745 | 132,732 |
| 1993 | 2,975,966 | 130,467 |
| 1992 | 2,980,965 | 128,110 |
| 1991 | 2,981,566 | 125,697 |
| 1990 | 2,977,912 | 122,980 |
| 1989 | 2,970,039 | 119,979 |
| 1988 | 2,948,891 | 116,939 |
| 1987 | 2,916,306 | 113,919 |
| 1986 | 2,883,057 | 111,150 |
| 1985 | 2,850,787 | 108,658 |
| 1984 | 2,820,518 | 106,394 |
| 1983 | 2,791,207 | 104,380 |
| 1982 | 2,763,101 | 102,508 |
| 1981 | 2,735,987 | 100,615 |
| 1980 | 2,708,675 | 98,544 |
| 1979 | 2,683,035 | 96,252 |
| 1978 | 2,656,211 | 93,794 |
| 1977 | 2,626,298 | 91,301 |
| 1976 | 2,596,491 | 88,922 |
| 1975 | 2,566,998 | 86,708 |
| 1974 | 2,538,164 | 84,672 |
| 1973 | 2,510,584 | 82,798 |
| 1972 | 2,484,742 | 81,041 |
| 1971 | 2,460,611 | 79,330 |
| 1970 | 2,437,590 | 77,626 |
| 1969 | 2,408,469 | 76,083 |
| 1968 | 2,373,073 | 74,765 |
| 1967 | 2,337,695 | 73,596 |
| 1966 | 2,301,871 | 72,576 |
| 1965 | 2,265,287 | 71,680 |
| 1964 | 2,228,000 | 70,865 |
| 1963 | 2,188,895 | 70,112 |
| 1962 | 2,147,227 | 69,403 |
| 1961 | 2,103,327 | 68,707 |
| 1960 | 2,058,020 | 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/moldova/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Moldova decreased by 77,781 people (a 2.7% decline), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Moldova lost 462,020 people (a 16.5% decline), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 42,673 people (a 21% growth).
Moldova was ranked 134th most populous country in 2006 and is 145th 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) Moldova's population will shrink by 20.6% to 1,858,281 people with a rank change from 145th to 150th. The population of Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48.7% to 366,397 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.
Sao Tome and Principe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 539K people, while Moldova's population already peaked in 1991 at 2.98M people and is projected to decrease to 1.18M people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Moldova
|
Sao Tome
|
|
| 2100 | -0.91% | 0.26% |
| 2099 | -0.91% | 0.29% |
| 2098 | -0.9% | 0.31% |
| 2097 | -0.9% | 0.33% |
| 2096 | -0.9% | 0.33% |
| 2095 | -0.88% | 0.36% |
| 2094 | -0.88% | 0.38% |
| 2093 | -0.87% | 0.41% |
| 2092 | -0.86% | 0.42% |
| 2091 | -0.83% | 0.45% |
| 2090 | -0.82% | 0.46% |
| 2089 | -0.82% | 0.49% |
| 2088 | -0.81% | 0.49% |
| 2087 | -0.81% | 0.5% |
| 2086 | -0.81% | 0.53% |
| 2085 | -0.8% | 0.55% |
| 2084 | -0.8% | 0.58% |
| 2083 | -0.8% | 0.59% |
| 2082 | -0.8% | 0.61% |
| 2081 | -0.81% | 0.65% |
| 2080 | -0.82% | 0.66% |
| 2079 | -0.83% | 0.68% |
| 2078 | -0.85% | 0.72% |
| 2077 | -0.83% | 0.73% |
| 2076 | -0.86% | 0.75% |
| 2075 | -0.88% | 0.77% |
| 2074 | -0.89% | 0.78% |
| 2073 | -0.91% | 0.81% |
| 2072 | -0.93% | 0.83% |
| 2071 | -0.97% | 0.87% |
| 2070 | -0.97% | 0.91% |
| 2069 | -1.01% | 0.91% |
| 2068 | -1.02% | 0.95% |
| 2067 | -1.02% | 0.98% |
| 2066 | -1.03% | 0.98% |
| 2065 | -1.05% | 1.03% |
| 2064 | -1.04% | 1.04% |
| 2063 | -1.05% | 1.07% |
| 2062 | -1.05% | 1.08% |
| 2061 | -1.06% | 1.11% |
| 2060 | -1.02% | 1.11% |
| 2059 | -1.01% | 1.13% |
| 2058 | -0.99% | 1.15% |
| 2057 | -1% | 1.16% |
| 2056 | -0.97% | 1.2% |
| 2055 | -0.96% | 1.22% |
| 2054 | -0.94% | 1.24% |
| 2053 | -0.91% | 1.26% |
| 2052 | -0.9% | 1.3% |
| 2051 | -0.86% | 1.31% |
| 2050 | -0.87% | 1.33% |
| 2049 | -0.84% | 1.36% |
| 2048 | -0.84% | 1.39% |
| 2047 | -0.85% | 1.43% |
| 2046 | -0.88% | 1.48% |
| 2045 | -0.86% | 1.5% |
| 2044 | -0.9% | 1.53% |
| 2043 | -0.91% | 1.55% |
| 2042 | -0.92% | 1.57% |
| 2041 | -0.95% | 1.62% |
| 2040 | -1% | 1.66% |
| 2039 | -1% | 1.7% |
| 2038 | -1.01% | 1.73% |
| 2037 | -1.02% | 1.78% |
| 2036 | -1.04% | 1.8% |
| 2035 | -1.04% | 1.83% |
| 2034 | -1.03% | 1.85% |
| 2033 | -1.02% | 1.88% |
| 2032 | -1.01% | 1.89% |
| 2031 | -1.02% | 1.9% |
| 2030 | -1.01% | 1.93% |
| 2029 | -0.99% | 1.94% |
| 2028 | -0.98% | 1.96% |
| 2027 | -0.97% | 1.96% |
| 2026 | -1.35% | 1.99% |
| 2025 | -1.21% | 2.02% |
| 2024 | -2.26% | 2.02% |
| 2023 | -2.8% | 2.02% |
| 2022 | -2.59% | 1.96% |
| 2021 | -1.49% | 2.08% |
| 2020 | -1.09% | 1.89% |
| 2019 | -1.59% | 1.52% |
| 2018 | -1.74% | 1.55% |
| 2017 | -1.71% | 1.61% |
| 2016 | -1.16% | 1.7% |
| 2015 | -0.76% | 1.79% |
| 2014 | -0.06% | 1.87% |
| 2013 | -0.03% | 1.96% |
| 2012 | -0.01% | 2.04% |
| 2011 | -0.06% | 2.12% |
| 2010 | -0.1% | 2.22% |
| 2009 | -0.13% | 2.34% |
| 2008 | -0.19% | 2.41% |
| 2007 | -0.23% | 2.45% |
| 2006 | -0.28% | 2.47% |
| 2005 | -0.24% | 2.49% |
| 2004 | -0.25% | 2.53% |
| 2003 | -0.28% | 2.6% |
| 2002 | -0.23% | 2.42% |
| 2001 | -0.22% | 1.64% |
| 2000 | -0.2% | 1.11% |
| 1999 | -0.16% | 1.2% |
| 1998 | -0.04% | 1.32% |
| 1997 | -0.37% | 1.43% |
| 1996 | -0.2% | 1.53% |
| 1995 | -0.46% | 1.63% |
| 1994 | -0.31% | 1.74% |
| 1993 | -0.17% | 1.84% |
| 1992 | -0.02% | 1.92% |
| 1991 | 0.12% | 2.21% |
| 1990 | 0.27% | 2.5% |
| 1989 | 0.72% | 2.6% |
| 1988 | 1.12% | 2.65% |
| 1987 | 1.15% | 2.49% |
| 1986 | 1.13% | 2.29% |
| 1985 | 1.07% | 2.13% |
| 1984 | 1.05% | 1.93% |
| 1983 | 1.02% | 1.83% |
| 1982 | 0.99% | 1.88% |
| 1981 | 1.01% | 2.1% |
| 1980 | 0.96% | 2.38% |
| 1979 | 1.01% | 2.62% |
| 1978 | 1.14% | 2.73% |
| 1977 | 1.15% | 2.68% |
| 1976 | 1.15% | 2.55% |
| 1975 | 1.14% | 2.4% |
| 1974 | 1.1% | 2.26% |
| 1973 | 1.04% | 2.17% |
| 1972 | 0.98% | 2.16% |
| 1971 | 0.94% | 2.2% |
| 1970 | 1.21% | 2.03% |
| 1969 | 1.49% | 1.76% |
| 1968 | 1.51% | 1.59% |
| 1967 | 1.56% | 1.41% |
| 1966 | 1.61% | 1.25% |
| 1965 | 1.67% | 1.15% |
| 1964 | 1.79% | 1.07% |
| 1963 | 1.94% | 1.02% |
| 1962 | 2.09% | 1.01% |
| 1961 | 2.2% | 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/moldova/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Moldova declined by 2.26%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2.02%.
Live population counters
|
Moldova
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
2341166
|
246362
|
| Population rank | 145/197 | 176/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.03% | 0.003% |
| One net population change |
9.47 minutes
|
1.88 hours
|
| One birth every |
19.9 minutes
|
1.35 hours
|
| One death every |
15.7 minutes
|
6.81 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | -152 | +13 |
| Annual growth/decline | -55,477 | +4,665 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -2.26% | +2.02% |
| Population growth rate rank | 196/197 | 49/197 |
| One migration net change every |
17.7 minutes
|
13.5 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -29,766 | -650 |
| Net migration rank | 164/196 | 90/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 188,207 | 1,955 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 116/195 | 194/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 6.2% | 0.8% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 85/195 | 162/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Moldova
|
Sao Tome
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -29,766 | - | -650 |
| 2024 | - | -27,088 | - | -604 |
| 2023 | -7,007 | -18,570 | 5,221 | -592 |
| 2022 | -6,385 | 89,154 | 5,102 | -592 |
| 2021 | -13,444 | -33,405 | 4,954 | -782 |
| 2020 | -7,067 | -33,405 | 4,874 | 0 |
| 2019 | -3,416 | -41,233 | 4,932 | -1,716 |
| 2018 | -961 | -36,085 | 4,957 | -1,757 |
| 2017 | 1,402 | -43,871 | 5,007 | -1,779 |
| 2016 | 4,580 | -51,642 | 5,125 | -1,793 |
| 2015 | 6,049 | -59,399 | 5,269 | -1,809 |
| 2014 | 7,248 | -67,175 | 5,381 | -1,801 |
| 2013 | 3,537 | -77,571 | 5,449 | -1,787 |
| 2012 | 5,581 | -81,215 | 5,501 | -1,739 |
| 2011 | 5,948 | -82,271 | 5,445 | -1,616 |
| 2010 | 7,456 | -84,039 | 5,391 | -1,529 |
| 2009 | 7,492 | -83,546 | 5,349 | -1,328 |
| 2008 | 5,210 | -79,593 | 5,297 | -1,203 |
| 2007 | 3,490 | -75,734 | 5,226 | -1,127 |
| 2006 | 2,406 | -72,061 | 5,057 | -1,031 |
| 2005 | 2,005 | -68,681 | 4,897 | -941 |
| 2004 | 1,714 | -52,491 | 4,810 | -894 |
| 2003 | -322 | -46,947 | 4,702 | -816 |
| 2002 | -1,249 | -45,833 | 4,591 | -690 |
| 2001 | -718 | -45,043 | 4,471 | -1,289 |
| 2000 | -324 | -43,854 | 4,334 | -2,798 |
| 1999 | 642 | -43,111 | 4,221 | -2,594 |
| 1998 | 2,140 | -41,975 | 4,120 | -2,364 |
| 1997 | 4,669 | -41,743 | 4,041 | -2,153 |
| 1996 | 2,655 | -33,369 | 3,993 | -1,974 |
| 1995 | 5,534 | -31,975 | 3,948 | -1,829 |
| 1994 | 9,921 | -31,616 | 3,860 | -1,644 |
| 1993 | 13,886 | -31,526 | 3,841 | -1,527 |
| 1992 | 17,373 | -30,136 | 3,822 | -1,432 |
| 1991 | 21,127 | -29,204 | 3,801 | -1,362 |
| 1990 | 25,824 | -30,053 | 3,719 | -727 |
| 1989 | 29,638 | -29,307 | 3,576 | -571 |
| 1988 | 35,608 | -4,989 | 3,544 | -465 |
| 1987 | 40,122 | -10,796 | 3,440 | -470 |
| 1986 | 39,463 | -8,769 | 3,180 | -614 |
| 1985 | 38,060 | -10,627 | 3,242 | -828 |
| 1984 | 38,108 | -12,732 | 3,163 | -1,041 |
| 1983 | 36,076 | -10,543 | 3,100 | -1,203 |
| 1982 | 32,814 | -8,412 | 3,047 | -1,203 |
| 1981 | 31,360 | -6,452 | 3,015 | -1,067 |
| 1980 | 30,053 | -3,693 | 2,965 | -770 |
| 1979 | 28,322 | -6,912 | 2,893 | -491 |
| 1978 | 27,622 | 3,483 | 2,800 | -279 |
| 1977 | 27,707 | 3,245 | 2,705 | -255 |
| 1976 | 27,801 | 2,885 | 2,608 | -302 |
| 1975 | 27,677 | 2,355 | 2,515 | -392 |
| 1974 | 27,219 | 1,785 | 2,422 | -474 |
| 1973 | 25,967 | 1,156 | 2,329 | -525 |
| 1972 | 24,626 | 481 | 2,232 | -517 |
| 1971 | 23,359 | -61 | 2,127 | -430 |
| 1970 | 22,314 | 606 | 1,980 | -279 |
| 1969 | 21,768 | 20,561 | 1,862 | -469 |
| 1968 | 22,005 | 19,830 | 1,767 | -520 |
| 1967 | 22,654 | 19,175 | 1,693 | -606 |
| 1966 | 23,720 | 18,601 | 1,642 | -688 |
| 1965 | 24,916 | 18,066 | 1,611 | -765 |
| 1964 | 25,860 | 17,509 | 1,600 | -819 |
| 1963 | 29,382 | 16,816 | 1,609 | -886 |
| 1962 | 32,082 | 15,884 | 1,625 | -927 |
| 1961 | 35,180 | 14,818 | 1,657 | -960 |
| 1960 | 36,352 | 13,697 | 1,547 | -860 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/moldova/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 6.04% of the population change in Moldova is from natural causes (a loss of 19,001 people) and 94% is from migration (a loss of 295,631 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, 188,207 residents or 6.2% of the population were not native-born in Moldova, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Moldova and Sao Tome and Principe
|
Moldova
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 71.6 years | 70.3 years |
| Average age | 39.3 years | 25.1 years |
| Median age | 39.1 years | 20.3 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 46:54 | 49.7:50.3 |
| Fertility rate | 1.73 births per woman | 3.64 births per woman |
| Population density | 184.1 ppl/mi² | 661 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/moldova/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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