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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Moldova was 2,360,527 in 2025 vs 240,254 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Moldova's population is 2,328,600 people compared to 247,495 in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population statistics:

  • Moldova's population is 9.41 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 -1.72% per year vs +1.83% in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Moldova has decreased from 2.88M people to 2.33M (19.2% decline), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 247K (49.4% growth).

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

Moldova
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Moldova Sao Tome
2100 1,169,570 538,656
2099 1,180,272 537,257
2098 1,191,113 535,715
2097 1,201,972 534,052
2096 1,212,932 532,281
2095 1,223,967 530,505
2094 1,234,876 528,585
2093 1,245,808 526,572
2092 1,256,689 524,436
2091 1,267,532 522,255
2090 1,278,123 519,929
2089 1,288,741 517,542
2088 1,299,412 515,028
2087 1,309,994 512,499
2086 1,320,672 509,949
2085 1,331,516 507,271
2084 1,342,188 504,516
2083 1,353,031 501,611
2082 1,363,961 498,655
2081 1,375,027 495,622
2080 1,386,252 492,416
2079 1,397,755 489,178
2078 1,409,455 485,864
2077 1,421,568 482,385
2076 1,433,504 478,877
2075 1,445,874 475,315
2074 1,458,696 471,700
2073 1,471,729 468,051
2072 1,485,296 464,286
2071 1,499,224 460,447
2070 1,513,979 456,490
2069 1,528,841 452,388
2068 1,544,390 448,306
2067 1,560,256 444,092
2066 1,576,276 439,773
2065 1,592,761 435,502
2064 1,609,631 431,068
2063 1,626,510 426,645
2062 1,643,849 422,127
2061 1,661,290 417,629
2060 1,679,059 413,061
2059 1,696,440 408,522
2058 1,713,694 403,970
2057 1,730,910 399,359
2056 1,748,393 394,790
2055 1,765,554 390,100
2054 1,782,642 385,416
2053 1,799,510 380,685
2052 1,816,030 375,964
2051 1,832,448 371,143
2050 1,848,307 366,347
2049 1,864,603 361,542
2048 1,880,438 356,694
2047 1,896,381 351,813
2046 1,912,640 346,841
2045 1,929,525 341,791
2044 1,946,354 336,747
2043 1,964,017 331,669
2042 1,982,068 326,608
2041 2,000,545 321,551
2040 2,019,832 316,415
2039 2,040,153 311,237
2038 2,060,750 306,029
2037 2,081,833 300,834
2036 2,103,318 295,584
2035 2,125,527 290,361
2034 2,147,859 285,145
2033 2,170,311 279,952
2032 2,192,598 274,798
2031 2,215,052 269,704
2030 2,237,961 264,687
2029 2,260,762 259,670
2028 2,283,416 254,717
2027 2,305,981 249,827
2026 2,328,600 245,033
2025 2,360,527 240,254
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 474,586 people (a 16.9% decline), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 43,806 people (a 21.5% 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 1,848,307 people with a rank change from 145th to 150th. 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 Moldova's population already peaked in 1991 at 2.98M people and is projected to decrease to 1.17M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Moldova
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
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 -1.74% 2%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Moldova declined by 1.74%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2%.

Live population counters

Moldova Sao Tome
Current population
2328600
247495
Population rank 145/197 176/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.003%
One net population change
12.6 minutes
1.86 hours
One birth every
20.7 minutes
1.32 hours
One death every
15.8 minutes
6.73 hours
Daily growth/decline -114 +13
Annual growth/decline -41,779 +4,718
Annual growth/decline rate -1.74% +2%
Population growth rate rank 196/197 50/197
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

Moldova
Natural

Migration
Sao Tome and Principe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Moldova Sao Tome
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -29,766 - -650
2024 -7,767 -27,088 5,315 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 11.7% of the population change in Moldova is from natural causes (a loss of 34,016 people) and 88.3% is from migration (a loss of 255,544 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, 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

Moldova
City Population
Chisinau 567K
Tiraspol 134K
Balti 91K
Bender 76.2K
Ungheni 26.5K
Dubasari 25.1K
Cahul 22.2K
Orhei 22.2K
Soroca 21.1K
Comrat 19.1K
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/moldova/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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