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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nicaragua was 6,916,140 in 2024 vs 235,536 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nicaragua's population is 7,124,343 people compared to 246,362 in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population statistics:

  • Nicaragua's population is 28.9 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
  • Nicaragua is ranked the 107th most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
  • The countries together account for 0.09% of the world: 0.09% for Nicaragua vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
  • For the last 10 years, Nicaragua has had an average growth rate of +1.33% per year vs +1.82% in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nicaragua has increased from 5.42M people to 7.12M (31.5% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 246K (48.7% growth).

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

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nicaragua Sao Tome
2100 8,688,116 538,729
2099 8,724,538 537,330
2098 8,760,232 535,787
2097 8,794,755 534,124
2096 8,828,433 532,353
2095 8,861,157 530,576
2094 8,892,755 528,656
2093 8,924,287 526,643
2092 8,954,488 524,507
2091 8,984,026 522,325
2090 9,012,075 519,999
2089 9,039,709 517,612
2088 9,065,862 515,098
2087 9,090,942 512,568
2086 9,115,336 510,018
2085 9,138,363 507,340
2084 9,160,205 504,584
2083 9,180,483 501,679
2082 9,199,639 498,722
2081 9,217,574 495,689
2080 9,233,677 492,482
2079 9,247,995 489,244
2078 9,260,269 485,930
2077 9,271,296 482,450
2076 9,280,355 478,942
2075 9,287,263 475,380
2074 9,293,340 471,763
2073 9,297,217 468,114
2072 9,298,930 464,348
2071 9,298,548 460,509
2070 9,296,541 456,552
2069 9,292,245 452,449
2068 9,285,519 448,367
2067 9,277,073 444,152
2066 9,266,063 439,833
2065 9,253,359 435,561
2064 9,238,451 431,126
2063 9,221,261 426,703
2062 9,201,687 422,184
2061 9,180,231 417,686
2060 9,156,164 413,117
2059 9,129,485 408,577
2058 9,100,437 404,024
2057 9,069,770 399,413
2056 9,037,076 394,844
2055 9,002,004 390,153
2054 8,964,646 385,468
2053 8,925,248 380,737
2052 8,883,323 376,015
2051 8,838,651 371,194
2050 8,791,647 366,397
2049 8,743,003 361,591
2048 8,691,701 356,742
2047 8,638,293 351,861
2046 8,583,244 346,888
2045 8,525,953 341,838
2044 8,466,669 336,792
2043 8,405,733 331,713
2042 8,342,871 326,652
2041 8,278,159 321,594
2040 8,211,510 316,457
2039 8,143,346 311,279
2038 8,072,943 306,071
2037 8,000,701 300,875
2036 7,926,969 295,624
2035 7,851,540 290,400
2034 7,774,327 285,183
2033 7,695,506 279,990
2032 7,615,273 274,835
2031 7,533,169 269,740
2030 7,449,842 264,723
2029 7,364,850 259,705
2028 7,278,061 254,751
2027 7,189,755 249,860
2026 7,100,090 245,066
2025 7,008,896 240,286
2024 6,916,140 235,536
2023 6,823,613 230,871
2022 6,730,654 226,305
2021 6,644,741 221,961
2020 6,565,267 217,435
2019 6,483,657 213,392
2018 6,400,080 210,187
2017 6,316,231 206,970
2016 6,232,666 203,689
2015 6,149,417 200,291
2014 6,066,492 196,767
2013 5,983,845 193,148
2012 5,901,287 189,439
2011 5,819,051 185,649
2010 5,737,450 181,802
2009 5,656,601 177,853
2008 5,576,593 173,793
2007 5,497,243 169,700
2006 5,418,855 165,638
2005 5,342,105 161,639
2004 5,272,912 157,705
2003 5,210,963 153,814
2002 5,149,909 149,922
2001 5,087,825 146,375
2000 5,022,633 144,018
1999 4,954,018 142,442
1998 4,883,655 140,751
1997 4,809,573 138,922
1996 4,729,974 136,962
1995 4,642,931 134,895
1994 4,549,316 132,732
1993 4,453,732 130,467
1992 4,357,026 128,110
1991 4,259,637 125,697
1990 4,162,559 122,980
1989 4,066,476 119,979
1988 3,972,320 116,939
1987 3,882,164 113,919
1986 3,794,157 111,150
1985 3,706,479 108,658
1984 3,619,104 106,394
1983 3,530,282 104,380
1982 3,438,745 102,508
1981 3,345,674 100,615
1980 3,252,403 98,544
1979 3,164,525 96,252
1978 3,080,314 93,794
1977 2,992,534 91,301
1976 2,903,851 88,922
1975 2,816,943 86,708
1974 2,732,075 84,672
1973 2,649,278 82,798
1972 2,573,578 81,041
1971 2,499,825 79,330
1970 2,423,065 77,626
1969 2,348,398 76,083
1968 2,275,836 74,765
1967 2,205,567 73,596
1966 2,137,820 72,576
1965 2,072,681 71,680
1964 2,010,176 70,865
1963 1,950,159 70,112
1962 1,892,320 69,403
1961 1,836,451 68,707
1960 1,782,370 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/nicaragua/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nicaragua increased by 813,811 people (a 15% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nicaragua gained 891,677 people (a 14.3% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 42,673 people (a 21% growth).

Nicaragua was ranked 109th most populous country in 2006 and is 107th 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) Nicaragua's population will grow by 23.4% to 8,791,647 people with a rank change from 107th to 108th. The population of Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48.7% to 366,397 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.

Nicaragua is projected to reach its peak in 2072 at 9.3M people compared to the peak of 539K people in 2100 for Sao Tome and Principe.

Population growth rate by year

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nicaragua Sao Tome
2100 -0.42% 0.26%
2099 -0.41% 0.29%
2098 -0.39% 0.31%
2097 -0.38% 0.33%
2096 -0.37% 0.33%
2095 -0.36% 0.36%
2094 -0.35% 0.38%
2093 -0.34% 0.41%
2092 -0.33% 0.42%
2091 -0.31% 0.45%
2090 -0.31% 0.46%
2089 -0.29% 0.49%
2088 -0.28% 0.49%
2087 -0.27% 0.5%
2086 -0.25% 0.53%
2085 -0.24% 0.55%
2084 -0.22% 0.58%
2083 -0.21% 0.59%
2082 -0.19% 0.61%
2081 -0.17% 0.65%
2080 -0.15% 0.66%
2079 -0.13% 0.68%
2078 -0.12% 0.72%
2077 -0.1% 0.73%
2076 -0.07% 0.75%
2075 -0.07% 0.77%
2074 -0.04% 0.78%
2073 -0.02% 0.81%
2072 0.004% 0.83%
2071 0.02% 0.87%
2070 0.05% 0.91%
2069 0.07% 0.91%
2068 0.09% 0.95%
2067 0.12% 0.98%
2066 0.14% 0.98%
2065 0.16% 1.03%
2064 0.19% 1.04%
2063 0.21% 1.07%
2062 0.23% 1.08%
2061 0.26% 1.11%
2060 0.29% 1.11%
2059 0.32% 1.13%
2058 0.34% 1.15%
2057 0.36% 1.16%
2056 0.39% 1.2%
2055 0.42% 1.22%
2054 0.44% 1.24%
2053 0.47% 1.26%
2052 0.51% 1.3%
2051 0.53% 1.31%
2050 0.56% 1.33%
2049 0.59% 1.36%
2048 0.62% 1.39%
2047 0.64% 1.43%
2046 0.67% 1.48%
2045 0.7% 1.5%
2044 0.72% 1.53%
2043 0.75% 1.55%
2042 0.78% 1.57%
2041 0.81% 1.62%
2040 0.84% 1.66%
2039 0.87% 1.7%
2038 0.9% 1.73%
2037 0.93% 1.78%
2036 0.96% 1.8%
2035 0.99% 1.83%
2034 1.02% 1.85%
2033 1.05% 1.88%
2032 1.09% 1.89%
2031 1.12% 1.9%
2030 1.15% 1.93%
2029 1.19% 1.94%
2028 1.23% 1.96%
2027 1.26% 1.96%
2026 1.3% 1.99%
2025 1.34% 2.02%
2024 1.36% 2.02%
2023 1.38% 2.02%
2022 1.29% 1.96%
2021 1.21% 2.08%
2020 1.26% 1.89%
2019 1.31% 1.52%
2018 1.33% 1.55%
2017 1.34% 1.61%
2016 1.35% 1.7%
2015 1.37% 1.79%
2014 1.38% 1.87%
2013 1.4% 1.96%
2012 1.41% 2.04%
2011 1.42% 2.12%
2010 1.43% 2.22%
2009 1.43% 2.34%
2008 1.44% 2.41%
2007 1.45% 2.45%
2006 1.44% 2.47%
2005 1.31% 2.49%
2004 1.19% 2.53%
2003 1.19% 2.6%
2002 1.22% 2.42%
2001 1.3% 1.64%
2000 1.39% 1.11%
1999 1.44% 1.2%
1998 1.54% 1.32%
1997 1.68% 1.43%
1996 1.87% 1.53%
1995 2.06% 1.63%
1994 2.15% 1.74%
1993 2.22% 1.84%
1992 2.29% 1.92%
1991 2.33% 2.21%
1990 2.36% 2.5%
1989 2.37% 2.6%
1988 2.32% 2.65%
1987 2.32% 2.49%
1986 2.37% 2.29%
1985 2.41% 2.13%
1984 2.52% 1.93%
1983 2.66% 1.83%
1982 2.78% 1.88%
1981 2.87% 2.1%
1980 2.78% 2.38%
1979 2.73% 2.62%
1978 2.93% 2.73%
1977 3.05% 2.68%
1976 3.09% 2.55%
1975 3.11% 2.4%
1974 3.13% 2.26%
1973 2.94% 2.17%
1972 2.95% 2.16%
1971 3.17% 2.2%
1970 3.18% 2.03%
1969 3.19% 1.76%
1968 3.19% 1.59%
1967 3.17% 1.41%
1966 3.14% 1.25%
1965 3.11% 1.15%
1964 3.08% 1.07%
1963 3.06% 1.02%
1962 3.04% 1.01%
1961 3.03% 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/nicaragua/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nicaragua grew by 1.36%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2.02%.

Live population counters

Nicaragua Sao Tome
Current population
7124343
246362
Population rank 107/197 176/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.003%
One net population change
5.68 minutes
1.88 hours
One birth every
3.98 minutes
1.35 hours
One death every
16.8 minutes
6.81 hours
Daily growth/decline +253 +13
Annual growth/decline +92,527 +4,665
Annual growth/decline rate +1.36% +2.02%
Population growth rate rank 78/197 49/197
One migration net change every
1.05 hours
13.5 hours
Annual migration change -8,371 -650
Net migration rank 129/196 90/196
Foreign-born residents 43,757 1,955
Foreign-born residents rank 154/195 194/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 172/195 162/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nicaragua
Natural

Migration
Sao Tome and Principe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nicaragua Sao Tome
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -8,371 - -650
2024 - -8,189 - -604
2023 100,921 -7,996 5,221 -592
2022 100,987 -7,996 5,102 -592
2021 89,213 -10,383 4,954 -782
2020 90,515 -10,383 4,874 0
2019 102,817 -19,730 4,932 -1,716
2018 104,814 -20,742 4,957 -1,757
2017 105,468 -21,849 5,007 -1,779
2016 106,585 -23,076 5,125 -1,793
2015 107,344 -24,353 5,269 -1,809
2014 108,420 -25,570 5,381 -1,801
2013 109,032 -26,587 5,449 -1,787
2012 110,065 -27,389 5,501 -1,739
2011 110,026 -28,221 5,445 -1,616
2010 110,475 -29,081 5,391 -1,529
2009 110,213 -29,913 5,349 -1,328
2008 110,395 -30,675 5,297 -1,203
2007 110,341 -31,357 5,226 -1,127
2006 110,073 -32,274 5,057 -1,031
2005 108,984 -33,280 4,897 -941
2004 106,904 -44,222 4,810 -894
2003 106,142 -44,931 4,702 -816
2002 105,805 -44,906 4,591 -690
2001 107,109 -43,837 4,471 -1,289
2000 109,192 -42,087 4,334 -2,798
1999 110,217 -40,095 4,221 -2,594
1998 108,862 -38,260 4,120 -2,364
1997 114,415 -36,851 4,041 -2,153
1996 116,849 -35,208 3,993 -1,974
1995 118,325 -25,889 3,948 -1,829
1994 119,565 -24,773 3,860 -1,644
1993 120,469 -24,091 3,841 -1,527
1992 121,204 -24,171 3,822 -1,432
1991 121,787 -24,028 3,801 -1,362
1990 120,677 -24,280 3,719 -727
1989 120,128 -24,364 3,576 -571
1988 117,299 -24,753 3,544 -465
1987 112,885 -25,127 3,440 -470
1986 113,054 -24,805 3,180 -614
1985 110,949 -23,840 3,242 -828
1984 110,133 -22,493 3,163 -1,041
1983 110,618 -20,620 3,100 -1,203
1982 112,468 -19,395 3,047 -1,203
1981 110,421 -17,353 3,015 -1,067
1980 108,604 -15,130 2,965 -770
1979 96,429 -14,152 2,893 -491
1978 98,419 -12,273 2,800 -279
1977 100,498 -11,082 2,705 -255
1976 98,100 -10,155 2,608 -302
1975 95,230 -9,349 2,515 -392
1974 92,505 -8,639 2,422 -474
1973 89,662 -7,947 2,329 -525
1972 76,906 -7,219 2,232 -517
1971 84,139 -6,328 2,127 -430
1970 81,127 -5,423 1,980 -279
1969 78,237 -4,592 1,862 -469
1968 75,458 -3,979 1,767 -520
1967 72,722 -3,666 1,693 -606
1966 69,883 -3,443 1,642 -688
1965 67,056 -3,231 1,611 -765
1964 64,227 -3,043 1,600 -819
1963 61,738 -2,881 1,609 -886
1962 59,547 -2,727 1,625 -927
1961 57,499 -2,579 1,657 -960
1960 55,664 -2,418 1,547 -860

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 85.5% of the population change in Nicaragua is from natural causes (a gain of 1,017,084 people) and 14.5% is from migration (a loss of 172,078 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, 43,757 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nicaragua, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Biggest cities by population

Nicaragua
City Population
Managua 937K
Leon 174K
Masaya 140K
Matagalpa 133K
Chinandega 122K
Esteli 112K
Granada 105K
Jinotega 99.4K
Juigalpa 51.8K
San Juan del Sur 14.7K
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/nicaragua/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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