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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,287,500 in 2024 vs 235,536 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,374,272 people compared to 246,362 in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population statistics:

  • New Zealand's population is 21.8 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
  • New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
  • The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
  • For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.6% per year vs +1.82% in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.37M (28.4% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 246K (48.7% growth).

New Zealand vs Sao Tome and Principe: population by year and forecast

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
New Zealand Sao Tome
2100 5,918,837 538,729
2099 5,923,132 537,330
2098 5,927,206 535,787
2097 5,930,263 534,124
2096 5,932,907 532,353
2095 5,934,847 530,576
2094 5,936,183 528,656
2093 5,938,804 526,643
2092 5,939,085 524,507
2091 5,940,665 522,325
2090 5,941,752 519,999
2089 5,944,871 517,612
2088 5,945,635 515,098
2087 5,948,586 512,568
2086 5,951,745 510,018
2085 5,955,275 507,340
2084 5,959,115 504,584
2083 5,963,613 501,679
2082 5,966,943 498,722
2081 5,968,511 495,689
2080 5,971,082 492,482
2079 5,972,331 489,244
2078 5,972,928 485,930
2077 5,971,804 482,450
2076 5,971,386 478,942
2075 5,970,985 475,380
2074 5,969,834 471,763
2073 5,968,506 468,114
2072 5,964,548 464,348
2071 5,964,493 460,509
2070 5,963,811 456,552
2069 5,962,551 452,449
2068 5,960,918 448,367
2067 5,958,438 444,152
2066 5,954,539 439,833
2065 5,950,378 435,561
2064 5,946,851 431,126
2063 5,944,910 426,703
2062 5,940,838 422,184
2061 5,939,601 417,686
2060 5,936,094 413,117
2059 5,931,426 408,577
2058 5,925,816 404,024
2057 5,919,823 399,413
2056 5,913,287 394,844
2055 5,904,352 390,153
2054 5,894,795 385,468
2053 5,884,875 380,737
2052 5,876,162 376,015
2051 5,864,176 371,194
2050 5,852,896 366,397
2049 5,844,165 361,591
2048 5,833,178 356,742
2047 5,822,035 351,861
2046 5,809,860 346,888
2045 5,795,785 341,838
2044 5,780,884 336,792
2043 5,764,579 331,713
2042 5,746,528 326,652
2041 5,727,253 321,594
2040 5,708,874 316,457
2039 5,690,018 311,279
2038 5,669,959 306,071
2037 5,650,253 300,875
2036 5,630,126 295,624
2035 5,609,155 290,400
2034 5,588,315 285,183
2033 5,565,507 279,990
2032 5,542,488 274,835
2031 5,517,391 269,740
2030 5,491,320 264,723
2029 5,462,926 259,705
2028 5,432,752 254,751
2027 5,399,898 249,860
2026 5,364,771 245,066
2025 5,327,462 240,286
2024 5,287,500 235,536
2023 5,200,000 230,871
2022 5,081,700 226,305
2021 5,084,600 221,961
2020 5,072,400 217,435
2019 4,970,300 213,392
2018 4,900,600 210,187
2017 4,813,600 206,970
2016 4,714,100 203,689
2015 4,609,400 200,291
2014 4,516,500 196,767
2013 4,442,100 193,148
2012 4,408,100 189,439
2011 4,384,000 185,649
2010 4,350,700 181,802
2009 4,302,600 177,853
2008 4,259,800 173,793
2007 4,223,800 169,700
2006 4,184,600 165,638
2005 4,133,900 161,639
2004 4,087,500 157,705
2003 4,027,200 153,814
2002 3,948,500 149,922
2001 3,880,500 146,375
2000 3,857,700 144,018
1999 3,835,100 142,442
1998 3,815,000 140,751
1997 3,781,300 138,922
1996 3,732,000 136,962
1995 3,673,400 134,895
1994 3,620,000 132,732
1993 3,572,200 130,467
1992 3,531,700 128,110
1991 3,495,100 125,697
1990 3,329,800 122,980
1989 3,299,200 119,979
1988 3,283,400 116,939
1987 3,274,400 113,919
1986 3,246,300 111,150
1985 3,247,100 108,658
1984 3,227,100 106,394
1983 3,199,300 104,380
1982 3,156,100 102,508
1981 3,124,900 100,615
1980 3,112,900 98,544
1979 3,109,000 96,252
1978 3,121,200 93,794
1977 3,120,200 91,301
1976 3,110,500 88,922
1975 3,083,100 86,708
1974 3,023,700 84,672
1973 2,961,300 82,798
1972 2,903,900 81,041
1971 2,853,000 79,330
1970 2,810,700 77,626
1969 2,772,800 76,083
1968 2,748,100 74,765
1967 2,724,100 73,596
1966 2,675,900 72,576
1965 2,628,400 71,680
1964 2,585,400 70,865
1963 2,531,800 70,112
1962 2,482,000 69,403
1961 2,419,700 68,707
1960 2,371,800 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/new-zealand/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 660,172 people (a 14% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 42,673 people (a 21% growth).

New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th 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) New Zealand's population will grow by 8.91% to 5,852,896 people with a rank change from 124th to 122nd. The population of Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48.7% to 366,397 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people compared to the peak of 539K people in 2100 for Sao Tome and Principe.

Population growth rate by year

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
New Zealand Sao Tome
2100 -0.07% 0.26%
2099 -0.07% 0.29%
2098 -0.05% 0.31%
2097 -0.04% 0.33%
2096 -0.03% 0.33%
2095 -0.02% 0.36%
2094 -0.04% 0.38%
2093 -0.005% 0.41%
2092 -0.03% 0.42%
2091 -0.02% 0.45%
2090 -0.05% 0.46%
2089 -0.01% 0.49%
2088 -0.05% 0.49%
2087 -0.05% 0.5%
2086 -0.06% 0.53%
2085 -0.06% 0.55%
2084 -0.08% 0.58%
2083 -0.06% 0.59%
2082 -0.03% 0.61%
2081 -0.04% 0.65%
2080 -0.02% 0.66%
2079 -0.01% 0.68%
2078 0.02% 0.72%
2077 0.007% 0.73%
2076 0.007% 0.75%
2075 0.02% 0.77%
2074 0.02% 0.78%
2073 0.07% 0.81%
2072 0.001% 0.83%
2071 0.01% 0.87%
2070 0.02% 0.91%
2069 0.03% 0.91%
2068 0.04% 0.95%
2067 0.07% 0.98%
2066 0.07% 0.98%
2065 0.06% 1.03%
2064 0.03% 1.04%
2063 0.07% 1.07%
2062 0.02% 1.08%
2061 0.06% 1.11%
2060 0.08% 1.11%
2059 0.09% 1.13%
2058 0.1% 1.15%
2057 0.11% 1.16%
2056 0.15% 1.2%
2055 0.16% 1.22%
2054 0.17% 1.24%
2053 0.15% 1.26%
2052 0.2% 1.3%
2051 0.19% 1.31%
2050 0.15% 1.33%
2049 0.19% 1.36%
2048 0.19% 1.39%
2047 0.21% 1.43%
2046 0.24% 1.48%
2045 0.26% 1.5%
2044 0.28% 1.53%
2043 0.31% 1.55%
2042 0.34% 1.57%
2041 0.32% 1.62%
2040 0.33% 1.66%
2039 0.35% 1.7%
2038 0.35% 1.73%
2037 0.36% 1.78%
2036 0.37% 1.8%
2035 0.37% 1.83%
2034 0.41% 1.85%
2033 0.42% 1.88%
2032 0.45% 1.89%
2031 0.47% 1.9%
2030 0.52% 1.93%
2029 0.56% 1.94%
2028 0.61% 1.96%
2027 0.65% 1.96%
2026 0.7% 1.99%
2025 0.76% 2.02%
2024 1.68% 2.02%
2023 2.33% 2.02%
2022 -0.06% 1.96%
2021 0.24% 2.08%
2020 2.05% 1.89%
2019 1.42% 1.52%
2018 1.81% 1.55%
2017 2.11% 1.61%
2016 2.27% 1.7%
2015 2.06% 1.79%
2014 1.67% 1.87%
2013 0.77% 1.96%
2012 0.55% 2.04%
2011 0.77% 2.12%
2010 1.12% 2.22%
2009 1% 2.34%
2008 0.85% 2.41%
2007 0.94% 2.45%
2006 1.23% 2.47%
2005 1.14% 2.49%
2004 1.5% 2.53%
2003 1.99% 2.6%
2002 1.75% 2.42%
2001 0.59% 1.64%
2000 0.59% 1.11%
1999 0.53% 1.2%
1998 0.89% 1.32%
1997 1.32% 1.43%
1996 1.6% 1.53%
1995 1.48% 1.63%
1994 1.34% 1.74%
1993 1.15% 1.84%
1992 1.05% 1.92%
1991 4.96% 2.21%
1990 0.93% 2.5%
1989 0.48% 2.6%
1988 0.27% 2.65%
1987 0.87% 2.49%
1986 -0.02% 2.29%
1985 0.62% 2.13%
1984 0.87% 1.93%
1983 1.37% 1.83%
1982 1% 1.88%
1981 0.39% 2.1%
1980 0.13% 2.38%
1979 -0.39% 2.62%
1978 0.03% 2.73%
1977 0.31% 2.68%
1976 0.89% 2.55%
1975 1.96% 2.4%
1974 2.11% 2.26%
1973 1.98% 2.17%
1972 1.78% 2.16%
1971 1.5% 2.2%
1970 1.37% 2.03%
1969 0.9% 1.76%
1968 0.88% 1.59%
1967 1.8% 1.41%
1966 1.81% 1.25%
1965 1.66% 1.15%
1964 2.12% 1.07%
1963 2.01% 1.02%
1962 2.57% 1.01%
1961 2.02% 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/new-zealand/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of New Zealand grew by 1.68%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2.02%.

Live population counters

New Zealand Sao Tome
Current population
5374272
246362
Population rank 124/197 176/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.003%
One net population change
6.01 minutes
1.88 hours
One birth every
9.31 minutes
1.35 hours
One death every
14 minutes
6.81 hours
Daily growth/decline +240 +13
Annual growth/decline +87,500 +4,665
Annual growth/decline rate +1.68% +2.02%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 49/197
One migration net change every
30.3 minutes
13.5 hours
Annual migration change +17,403 -650
Net migration rank 35/196 90/196
Foreign-born residents 1,467,989 1,955
Foreign-born residents rank 45/195 194/195
Foreign-born share of population 28.2% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 20/195 162/195

Natural population change vs migration

New Zealand
Natural

Migration
Sao Tome and Principe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
New Zealand Sao Tome
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 17,403 - -650
2024 - 18,766 - -604
2023 18,876 21,404 5,221 -592
2022 20,123 21,404 5,102 -592
2021 23,644 -14,944 4,954 -782
2020 24,905 42,124 4,874 0
2019 25,299 69,770 4,932 -1,716
2018 24,797 59,139 4,957 -1,757
2017 26,282 68,349 5,007 -1,779
2016 28,237 75,512 5,125 -1,793
2015 29,408 70,870 5,269 -1,809
2014 26,196 57,974 5,381 -1,801
2013 29,096 26,385 5,449 -1,787
2012 31,077 -1,015 5,501 -1,739
2011 31,302 -2,196 5,445 -1,616
2010 35,458 6,722 5,391 -1,529
2009 33,560 12,700 5,349 -1,328
2008 35,143 4,804 5,297 -1,203
2007 35,480 3,053 5,226 -1,127
2006 30,924 14,542 5,057 -1,031
2005 30,674 19,212 4,897 -941
2004 29,634 24,521 4,810 -894
2003 28,150 42,456 4,702 -816
2002 25,941 48,195 4,591 -690
2001 27,939 17,793 4,471 -1,289
2000 29,897 -6,604 4,334 -2,798
1999 28,916 -7,634 4,221 -2,594
1998 29,146 -1,387 4,120 -2,364
1997 30,137 12,040 4,041 -2,153
1996 28,997 25,169 3,993 -1,974
1995 29,828 26,743 3,948 -1,829
1994 30,372 20,420 3,860 -1,644
1993 31,685 12,638 3,841 -1,527
1992 32,067 6,460 3,822 -1,432
1991 33,518 31,156 3,801 -1,362
1990 33,298 70,432 3,719 -727
1989 30,749 -8,818 3,576 -571
1988 29,846 -17,005 3,544 -465
1987 27,603 -7,631 3,440 -470
1986 25,549 -10,234 3,180 -614
1985 24,126 -13,462 3,242 -828
1984 26,043 -901 3,163 -1,041
1983 24,315 11,464 3,100 -1,203
1982 24,207 7,982 3,047 -1,203
1981 25,374 -7,606 3,015 -1,067
1980 23,658 -15,423 2,965 -770
1979 26,675 -26,694 2,893 -491
1978 26,156 -28,783 2,800 -279
1977 28,020 -22,697 2,705 -255
1976 29,456 -9,138 2,608 -302
1975 31,355 13,196 2,515 -392
1974 33,896 27,580 2,422 -474
1973 35,239 28,261 2,329 -525
1972 38,244 17,779 2,232 -517
1971 40,000 7,547 2,127 -430
1970 37,101 4,511 1,980 -279
1969 38,098 -5,212 1,862 -469
1968 37,594 -11,853 1,767 -520
1967 37,974 -2,289 1,693 -606
1966 36,151 9,161 1,642 -688
1965 36,982 9,245 1,611 -765
1964 39,375 9,806 1,600 -819
1963 42,027 10,226 1,609 -886
1962 42,865 12,697 1,625 -927
1961 43,482 10,689 1,657 -960
1960 41,791 3,846 1,547 -860

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 34.4% of the population change in New Zealand is from natural causes (a gain of 247,767 people) and 65.6% is from migration (a gain of 471,602 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, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Biggest cities by population

New Zealand
City Population
Auckland 1.47M
Christchurch 383K
Wellington 216K
Hamilton 176K
Tauranga 151K
Dunedin 106K
Lower Hutt 103K
Palmerston North 81.5K
Napier 66.3K
Hibiscus Coast 59.8K
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/new-zealand/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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