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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Netherlands was 17,993,485 in 2024 vs 235,536 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Netherlands' population is 18,252,623 people compared to 246,362 in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 74.1 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
  • The Netherlands is ranked the 72nd most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
  • The countries together account for 0.22% of the world: 0.22% for the Netherlands vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
  • For the last 10 years, the Netherlands has had an average growth rate of +0.62% per year vs +1.82% in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Netherlands has increased from 16.3M people to 18.3M (11.7% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 246K (48.7% growth).

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

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Netherlands Sao Tome
2100 17,359,081 538,729
2099 17,392,412 537,330
2098 17,425,508 535,787
2097 17,459,827 534,124
2096 17,495,124 532,353
2095 17,532,593 530,576
2094 17,571,051 528,656
2093 17,610,792 526,643
2092 17,649,611 524,507
2091 17,688,532 522,325
2090 17,730,570 519,999
2089 17,770,380 517,612
2088 17,809,825 515,098
2087 17,845,820 512,568
2086 17,885,001 510,018
2085 17,921,302 507,340
2084 17,957,639 504,584
2083 17,994,232 501,679
2082 18,029,404 498,722
2081 18,063,233 495,689
2080 18,093,703 492,482
2079 18,124,294 489,244
2078 18,152,738 485,930
2077 18,181,372 482,450
2076 18,206,864 478,942
2075 18,227,791 475,380
2074 18,245,652 471,763
2073 18,263,765 468,114
2072 18,280,443 464,348
2071 18,295,700 460,509
2070 18,311,141 456,552
2069 18,326,509 452,449
2068 18,341,711 448,367
2067 18,356,770 444,152
2066 18,374,904 439,833
2065 18,396,018 435,561
2064 18,417,894 431,126
2063 18,441,434 426,703
2062 18,464,922 422,184
2061 18,492,436 417,686
2060 18,520,315 413,117
2059 18,548,786 408,577
2058 18,577,700 404,024
2057 18,608,370 399,413
2056 18,638,918 394,844
2055 18,666,514 390,153
2054 18,692,598 385,468
2053 18,718,268 380,737
2052 18,741,740 376,015
2051 18,768,309 371,194
2050 18,789,481 366,397
2049 18,809,886 361,591
2048 18,827,655 356,742
2047 18,844,635 351,861
2046 18,855,920 346,888
2045 18,867,286 341,838
2044 18,877,101 336,792
2043 18,882,735 331,713
2042 18,885,839 326,652
2041 18,885,255 321,594
2040 18,879,571 316,457
2039 18,870,248 311,279
2038 18,855,512 306,071
2037 18,837,172 300,875
2036 18,811,873 295,624
2035 18,783,312 290,400
2034 18,750,125 285,183
2033 18,708,101 279,990
2032 18,662,054 274,835
2031 18,609,452 269,740
2030 18,549,634 264,723
2029 18,481,269 259,705
2028 18,404,195 254,751
2027 18,320,644 249,860
2026 18,227,403 245,066
2025 18,118,662 240,286
2024 17,993,485 235,536
2023 17,877,117 230,871
2022 17,700,982 226,305
2021 17,533,044 221,961
2020 17,441,500 217,435
2019 17,344,874 213,392
2018 17,231,624 210,187
2017 17,131,296 206,970
2016 17,030,314 203,689
2015 16,939,923 200,291
2014 16,865,008 196,767
2013 16,804,432 193,148
2012 16,754,962 189,439
2011 16,693,074 185,649
2010 16,615,394 181,802
2009 16,530,388 177,853
2008 16,445,593 173,793
2007 16,381,696 169,700
2006 16,346,101 165,638
2005 16,319,868 161,639
2004 16,281,779 157,705
2003 16,225,302 153,814
2002 16,148,929 149,922
2001 16,046,180 146,375
2000 15,925,513 144,018
1999 15,812,088 142,442
1998 15,707,209 140,751
1997 15,610,650 138,922
1996 15,530,498 136,962
1995 15,459,006 134,895
1994 15,382,838 132,732
1993 15,290,368 130,467
1992 15,184,166 128,110
1991 15,069,798 125,697
1990 14,951,510 122,980
1989 14,848,907 119,979
1988 14,760,094 116,939
1987 14,665,037 113,919
1986 14,572,278 111,150
1985 14,491,632 108,658
1984 14,424,211 106,394
1983 14,367,070 104,380
1982 14,312,690 102,508
1981 14,247,208 100,615
1980 14,149,800 98,544
1979 14,038,270 96,252
1978 13,941,700 93,794
1977 13,856,185 91,301
1976 13,774,037 88,922
1975 13,666,335 86,708
1974 13,545,056 84,672
1973 13,439,322 82,798
1972 13,328,593 81,041
1971 13,194,497 79,330
1970 13,038,526 77,626
1969 12,877,984 76,083
1968 12,729,721 74,765
1967 12,598,201 73,596
1966 12,456,251 72,576
1965 12,294,732 71,680
1964 12,127,120 70,865
1963 11,965,966 70,112
1962 11,805,689 69,403
1961 11,638,712 68,707
1960 11,486,631 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/netherlands/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Netherlands increased by 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Netherlands gained 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 42,673 people (a 21% growth).

The Netherlands was ranked 61st most populous country in 2006 and is 72nd 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 Netherlands' population will grow by 2.94% to 18,789,481 people with a rank change from 72nd to 77th. The population of Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48.7% to 366,397 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.

The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M people compared to the peak of 539K people in 2100 for Sao Tome and Principe.

Population growth rate by year

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Netherlands Sao Tome
2100 -0.19% 0.26%
2099 -0.19% 0.29%
2098 -0.2% 0.31%
2097 -0.2% 0.33%
2096 -0.21% 0.33%
2095 -0.22% 0.36%
2094 -0.23% 0.38%
2093 -0.22% 0.41%
2092 -0.22% 0.42%
2091 -0.24% 0.45%
2090 -0.22% 0.46%
2089 -0.22% 0.49%
2088 -0.2% 0.49%
2087 -0.22% 0.5%
2086 -0.2% 0.53%
2085 -0.2% 0.55%
2084 -0.2% 0.58%
2083 -0.2% 0.59%
2082 -0.19% 0.61%
2081 -0.17% 0.65%
2080 -0.17% 0.66%
2079 -0.16% 0.68%
2078 -0.16% 0.72%
2077 -0.14% 0.73%
2076 -0.11% 0.75%
2075 -0.1% 0.77%
2074 -0.1% 0.78%
2073 -0.09% 0.81%
2072 -0.08% 0.83%
2071 -0.08% 0.87%
2070 -0.08% 0.91%
2069 -0.08% 0.91%
2068 -0.08% 0.95%
2067 -0.1% 0.98%
2066 -0.11% 0.98%
2065 -0.12% 1.03%
2064 -0.13% 1.04%
2063 -0.13% 1.07%
2062 -0.15% 1.08%
2061 -0.15% 1.11%
2060 -0.15% 1.11%
2059 -0.16% 1.13%
2058 -0.16% 1.15%
2057 -0.16% 1.16%
2056 -0.15% 1.2%
2055 -0.14% 1.22%
2054 -0.14% 1.24%
2053 -0.13% 1.26%
2052 -0.14% 1.3%
2051 -0.11% 1.31%
2050 -0.11% 1.33%
2049 -0.09% 1.36%
2048 -0.09% 1.39%
2047 -0.06% 1.43%
2046 -0.06% 1.48%
2045 -0.05% 1.5%
2044 -0.03% 1.53%
2043 -0.02% 1.55%
2042 0.003% 1.57%
2041 0.03% 1.62%
2040 0.05% 1.66%
2039 0.08% 1.7%
2038 0.1% 1.73%
2037 0.13% 1.78%
2036 0.15% 1.8%
2035 0.18% 1.83%
2034 0.22% 1.85%
2033 0.25% 1.88%
2032 0.28% 1.89%
2031 0.32% 1.9%
2030 0.37% 1.93%
2029 0.42% 1.94%
2028 0.46% 1.96%
2027 0.51% 1.96%
2026 0.6% 1.99%
2025 0.7% 2.02%
2024 0.65% 2.02%
2023 1% 2.02%
2022 0.96% 1.96%
2021 0.52% 2.08%
2020 0.56% 1.89%
2019 0.66% 1.52%
2018 0.59% 1.55%
2017 0.59% 1.61%
2016 0.53% 1.7%
2015 0.44% 1.79%
2014 0.36% 1.87%
2013 0.3% 1.96%
2012 0.37% 2.04%
2011 0.47% 2.12%
2010 0.51% 2.22%
2009 0.52% 2.34%
2008 0.39% 2.41%
2007 0.22% 2.45%
2006 0.16% 2.47%
2005 0.23% 2.49%
2004 0.35% 2.53%
2003 0.47% 2.6%
2002 0.64% 2.42%
2001 0.76% 1.64%
2000 0.72% 1.11%
1999 0.67% 1.2%
1998 0.62% 1.32%
1997 0.52% 1.43%
1996 0.46% 1.53%
1995 0.5% 1.63%
1994 0.6% 1.74%
1993 0.7% 1.84%
1992 0.76% 1.92%
1991 0.79% 2.21%
1990 0.69% 2.5%
1989 0.6% 2.6%
1988 0.65% 2.65%
1987 0.64% 2.49%
1986 0.56% 2.29%
1985 0.47% 2.13%
1984 0.4% 1.93%
1983 0.38% 1.83%
1982 0.46% 1.88%
1981 0.69% 2.1%
1980 0.79% 2.38%
1979 0.69% 2.62%
1978 0.62% 2.73%
1977 0.6% 2.68%
1976 0.79% 2.55%
1975 0.9% 2.4%
1974 0.79% 2.26%
1973 0.83% 2.17%
1972 1.02% 2.16%
1971 1.2% 2.2%
1970 1.25% 2.03%
1969 1.16% 1.76%
1968 1.04% 1.59%
1967 1.14% 1.41%
1966 1.31% 1.25%
1965 1.38% 1.15%
1964 1.35% 1.07%
1963 1.36% 1.02%
1962 1.43% 1.01%
1961 1.32% 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/netherlands/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Netherlands grew by 0.65%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2.02%.

Live population counters

Netherlands Sao Tome
Current population
18252623
246362
Population rank 72/197 176/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.003%
One net population change
4.52 minutes
1.88 hours
One birth every
3.2 minutes
1.35 hours
One death every
3.09 minutes
6.81 hours
Daily growth/decline +319 +13
Annual growth/decline +116,368 +4,665
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% +2.02%
Population growth rate rank 121/197 49/197
One migration net change every
5.03 minutes
13.5 hours
Annual migration change +104,681 -650
Net migration rank 16/196 90/196
Foreign-born residents 2,956,518 1,955
Foreign-born residents rank 23/195 194/195
Foreign-born share of population 16.2% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 40/195 162/195

Natural population change vs migration

Netherlands
Natural

Migration
Sao Tome and Principe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Netherlands Sao Tome
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 104,681 - -650
2024 - 121,628 - -604
2023 -5,363 144,558 5,221 -592
2022 -1,770 224,472 5,102 -592
2021 7,014 106,416 4,954 -782
2020 0 67,598 4,874 0
2019 17,345 109,003 4,932 -1,716
2018 15,508 87,197 4,957 -1,757
2017 18,844 86,332 5,007 -1,779
2016 23,843 88,743 5,125 -1,793
2015 23,716 55,585 5,269 -1,809
2014 35,417 36,591 5,381 -1,801
2013 30,248 19,973 5,449 -1,787
2012 35,186 14,861 5,501 -1,739
2011 45,072 31,224 5,445 -1,616
2010 48,184 33,703 5,391 -1,529
2009 51,244 39,832 5,349 -1,328
2008 49,337 32,406 5,297 -1,203
2007 49,145 -304 5,226 -1,127
2006 49,038 -25,401 5,057 -1,031
2005 50,592 -22,496 4,897 -941
2004 56,987 -9,230 4,810 -894
2003 58,411 7,937 4,702 -816
2002 59,751 28,824 4,591 -690
2001 62,580 56,096 4,471 -1,289
2000 66,887 59,308 4,334 -2,798
1999 60,086 47,179 4,221 -2,594
1998 61,258 52,058 4,120 -2,364
1997 56,198 31,302 4,041 -2,153
1996 51,251 21,792 3,993 -1,974
1995 54,106 15,056 3,948 -1,829
1994 61,532 20,193 3,860 -1,644
1993 58,103 44,514 3,841 -1,527
1992 66,811 50,148 3,822 -1,432
1991 69,321 51,670 3,801 -1,362
1990 68,777 53,564 3,719 -727
1989 59,396 31,165 3,576 -571
1988 61,993 31,026 3,544 -465
1987 64,526 39,559 3,440 -470
1986 59,746 30,380 3,180 -614
1985 55,069 27,356 3,242 -828
1984 54,812 12,902 3,163 -1,041
1983 51,722 11,007 3,100 -1,203
1982 54,388 7,644 3,047 -1,203
1981 62,688 17,643 3,015 -1,067
1980 66,504 54,010 2,965 -770
1979 63,172 42,772 2,893 -491
1978 61,344 26,639 2,800 -279
1977 63,739 19,809 2,705 -255
1976 63,361 18,774 2,608 -302
1975 64,232 68,569 2,515 -392
1974 75,853 31,645 2,422 -474
1973 84,668 18,705 2,329 -525
1972 101,297 17,470 2,232 -517
1971 116,112 32,756 2,127 -430
1970 129,082 32,438 1,980 -279
1969 139,082 21,850 1,862 -469
1968 132,389 7,243 1,767 -520
1967 138,580 -10,673 1,693 -606
1966 138,265 20,740 1,642 -688
1965 146,308 19,444 1,611 -765
1964 157,653 15,014 1,600 -819
1963 154,361 -21 1,609 -886
1962 153,474 18,024 1,625 -927
1961 159,450 8,258 1,657 -960
1960 151,623 -13,235 1,547 -860

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 11.8% of the population change in the Netherlands is from natural causes (a gain of 134,554 people) and 88.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,006,495 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, 2,956,518 residents or 16.2% of the population were not native-born in the Netherlands, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Biggest cities by population

Netherlands
City Population
Amsterdam 921K
Rotterdam 664K
The Hague 548K
Utrecht 359K
Eindhoven 244K
Groningen 238K
Tilburg 228K
Almere 215K
Breda 188K
Nijmegen 177K
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/netherlands/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

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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)

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