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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 232,679,478 in 2024 vs 235,536 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 243,824,469 people compared to 246,362 in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 990 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
  • The countries together account for 2.94% of the world: 2.94% for Nigeria vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +1.82% in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 244M (63.6% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 246K (48.7% growth).

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

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Sao Tome
2100 481,678,166 538,729
2099 481,494,914 537,330
2098 481,219,866 535,787
2097 480,876,108 534,124
2096 480,460,381 532,353
2095 479,976,454 530,576
2094 479,432,855 528,656
2093 478,807,152 526,643
2092 478,097,591 524,507
2091 477,274,569 522,325
2090 476,367,086 519,999
2089 475,363,859 517,612
2088 474,268,867 515,098
2087 473,072,894 512,568
2086 471,769,229 510,018
2085 470,365,292 507,340
2084 468,843,169 504,584
2083 467,224,322 501,679
2082 465,509,151 498,722
2081 463,679,779 495,689
2080 461,741,930 492,482
2079 459,680,797 489,244
2078 457,513,367 485,930
2077 455,254,796 482,450
2076 452,885,729 478,942
2075 450,402,898 475,380
2074 447,825,224 471,763
2073 445,152,156 468,114
2072 442,375,349 464,348
2071 439,499,004 460,509
2070 436,539,777 456,552
2069 433,472,204 452,449
2068 430,320,190 448,367
2067 427,066,199 444,152
2066 423,736,078 439,833
2065 420,318,527 435,561
2064 416,811,285 431,126
2063 413,231,409 426,703
2062 409,583,480 422,184
2061 405,859,509 417,686
2060 402,073,494 413,117
2059 398,228,736 408,577
2058 394,315,883 404,024
2057 390,341,867 399,413
2056 386,298,064 394,844
2055 382,193,151 390,153
2054 378,030,342 385,468
2053 373,799,276 380,737
2052 369,501,634 376,015
2051 365,149,555 371,194
2050 360,734,783 366,397
2049 356,271,401 361,591
2048 351,752,501 356,742
2047 347,169,674 351,861
2046 342,532,578 346,888
2045 337,834,528 341,838
2044 333,076,416 336,792
2043 328,256,555 331,713
2042 323,388,886 326,652
2041 318,469,120 321,594
2040 313,492,800 316,457
2039 308,474,350 311,279
2038 303,423,786 306,071
2037 298,351,344 300,875
2036 293,250,795 295,624
2035 288,138,368 290,400
2034 283,018,151 285,183
2033 277,897,810 279,990
2032 272,769,123 274,835
2031 267,666,779 269,740
2030 262,583,487 264,723
2029 257,504,936 259,705
2028 252,465,743 254,751
2027 247,457,208 249,860
2026 242,477,499 245,066
2025 237,546,527 240,286
2024 232,679,478 235,536
2023 227,882,945 230,871
2022 223,150,896 226,305
2021 218,529,286 221,961
2020 213,996,181 217,435
2019 209,485,641 213,392
2018 204,938,755 210,187
2017 200,254,579 206,970
2016 195,443,700 203,689
2015 190,671,878 200,291
2014 185,896,915 196,767
2013 181,049,443 193,148
2012 176,200,625 189,439
2011 171,379,598 185,649
2010 166,642,886 181,802
2009 162,049,464 177,853
2008 157,595,014 173,793
2007 153,267,261 169,700
2006 149,077,334 165,638
2005 145,017,253 161,639
2004 141,057,045 157,705
2003 137,202,644 153,814
2002 133,471,989 149,922
2001 129,862,595 146,375
2000 126,382,494 144,018
1999 123,047,320 142,442
1998 119,846,254 140,751
1997 116,754,792 138,922
1996 113,754,779 136,962
1995 110,819,428 134,895
1994 107,935,714 132,732
1993 105,122,069 130,467
1992 102,372,770 128,110
1991 99,720,162 125,697
1990 97,120,925 122,980
1989 94,531,014 119,979
1988 92,020,090 116,939
1987 89,591,716 113,919
1986 87,235,953 111,150
1985 84,897,973 108,658
1984 82,526,443 106,394
1983 80,438,260 104,380
1982 78,378,701 102,508
1981 76,068,103 100,615
1980 73,764,641 98,544
1979 71,498,242 96,252
1978 69,326,532 93,794
1977 67,234,590 91,301
1976 65,258,009 88,922
1975 63,410,815 86,708
1974 61,679,144 84,672
1973 60,082,139 82,798
1972 58,601,748 81,041
1971 57,214,684 79,330
1970 55,893,838 77,626
1969 54,631,914 76,083
1968 53,432,783 74,765
1967 52,293,065 73,596
1966 51,188,234 72,576
1965 50,086,764 71,680
1964 49,012,016 70,865
1963 47,973,575 70,112
1962 46,965,292 69,403
1961 45,989,310 68,707
1960 45,053,782 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/nigeria/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 42,673 people (a 21% growth).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th 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) Nigeria's population will grow by 47.9% to 360,734,783 people with a rank change from 6th to 5th. The population of Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48.7% to 366,397 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people compared to the peak of 539K people in 2100 for Sao Tome and Principe.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria Sao Tome
2100 0.04% 0.26%
2099 0.06% 0.29%
2098 0.07% 0.31%
2097 0.09% 0.33%
2096 0.1% 0.33%
2095 0.11% 0.36%
2094 0.13% 0.38%
2093 0.15% 0.41%
2092 0.17% 0.42%
2091 0.19% 0.45%
2090 0.21% 0.46%
2089 0.23% 0.49%
2088 0.25% 0.49%
2087 0.28% 0.5%
2086 0.3% 0.53%
2085 0.32% 0.55%
2084 0.35% 0.58%
2083 0.37% 0.59%
2082 0.39% 0.61%
2081 0.42% 0.65%
2080 0.45% 0.66%
2079 0.47% 0.68%
2078 0.5% 0.72%
2077 0.52% 0.73%
2076 0.55% 0.75%
2075 0.58% 0.77%
2074 0.6% 0.78%
2073 0.63% 0.81%
2072 0.65% 0.83%
2071 0.68% 0.87%
2070 0.71% 0.91%
2069 0.73% 0.91%
2068 0.76% 0.95%
2067 0.79% 0.98%
2066 0.81% 0.98%
2065 0.84% 1.03%
2064 0.87% 1.04%
2063 0.89% 1.07%
2062 0.92% 1.08%
2061 0.94% 1.11%
2060 0.97% 1.11%
2059 0.99% 1.13%
2058 1.02% 1.15%
2057 1.05% 1.16%
2056 1.07% 1.2%
2055 1.1% 1.22%
2054 1.13% 1.24%
2053 1.16% 1.26%
2052 1.19% 1.3%
2051 1.22% 1.31%
2050 1.25% 1.33%
2049 1.28% 1.36%
2048 1.32% 1.39%
2047 1.35% 1.43%
2046 1.39% 1.48%
2045 1.43% 1.5%
2044 1.47% 1.53%
2043 1.51% 1.55%
2042 1.54% 1.57%
2041 1.59% 1.62%
2040 1.63% 1.66%
2039 1.66% 1.7%
2038 1.7% 1.73%
2037 1.74% 1.78%
2036 1.77% 1.8%
2035 1.81% 1.83%
2034 1.84% 1.85%
2033 1.88% 1.88%
2032 1.91% 1.89%
2031 1.94% 1.9%
2030 1.97% 1.93%
2029 2% 1.94%
2028 2.02% 1.96%
2027 2.05% 1.96%
2026 2.08% 1.99%
2025 2.09% 2.02%
2024 2.1% 2.02%
2023 2.12% 2.02%
2022 2.11% 1.96%
2021 2.12% 2.08%
2020 2.15% 1.89%
2019 2.22% 1.52%
2018 2.34% 1.55%
2017 2.46% 1.61%
2016 2.5% 1.7%
2015 2.57% 1.79%
2014 2.68% 1.87%
2013 2.75% 1.96%
2012 2.81% 2.04%
2011 2.84% 2.12%
2010 2.83% 2.22%
2009 2.83% 2.34%
2008 2.82% 2.41%
2007 2.81% 2.45%
2006 2.8% 2.47%
2005 2.81% 2.49%
2004 2.81% 2.53%
2003 2.8% 2.6%
2002 2.78% 2.42%
2001 2.75% 1.64%
2000 2.71% 1.11%
1999 2.67% 1.2%
1998 2.65% 1.32%
1997 2.64% 1.43%
1996 2.65% 1.53%
1995 2.67% 1.63%
1994 2.68% 1.74%
1993 2.69% 1.84%
1992 2.66% 1.92%
1991 2.68% 2.21%
1990 2.74% 2.5%
1989 2.73% 2.6%
1988 2.71% 2.65%
1987 2.7% 2.49%
1986 2.75% 2.29%
1985 2.87% 2.13%
1984 2.6% 1.93%
1983 2.63% 1.83%
1982 3.04% 1.88%
1981 3.12% 2.1%
1980 3.17% 2.38%
1979 3.13% 2.62%
1978 3.11% 2.73%
1977 3.03% 2.68%
1976 2.91% 2.55%
1975 2.81% 2.4%
1974 2.66% 2.26%
1973 2.53% 2.17%
1972 2.42% 2.16%
1971 2.36% 2.2%
1970 2.31% 2.03%
1969 2.24% 1.76%
1968 2.18% 1.59%
1967 2.16% 1.41%
1966 2.2% 1.25%
1965 2.19% 1.15%
1964 2.16% 1.07%
1963 2.15% 1.02%
1962 2.12% 1.01%
1961 2.08% 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/nigeria/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.1%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2.02%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Sao Tome
Current population
243824469
246362
Population rank 6/197 176/197
Percent of world population 2.94% 0.003%
One net population change
6.58 seconds
1.88 hours
One birth every
4.2 seconds
1.35 hours
One death every
11.8 seconds
6.81 hours
Daily growth/decline +13,141 +13
Annual growth/decline +4,796,533 +4,665
Annual growth/decline rate +2.1% +2.02%
Population growth rate rank 48/197 49/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
13.5 hours
Annual migration change -15,258 -650
Net migration rank 145/196 90/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 1,955
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195 194/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 173/195 162/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
Sao Tome and Principe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria Sao Tome
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - -650
2024 - -35,202 - -604
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 5,221 -592
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 5,102 -592
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 4,954 -782
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 4,874 0
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 4,932 -1,716
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 4,957 -1,757
2017 4,706,183 78,685 5,007 -1,779
2016 4,761,594 75,265 5,125 -1,793
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 5,269 -1,809
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 5,381 -1,801
2013 4,811,751 40,201 5,449 -1,787
2012 4,774,508 71,138 5,501 -1,739
2011 4,728,363 67,808 5,445 -1,616
2010 4,629,173 47,966 5,391 -1,529
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 5,349 -1,328
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 5,297 -1,203
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 5,226 -1,127
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 5,057 -1,031
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 4,897 -941
2004 3,877,376 46,370 4,810 -894
2003 3,751,120 33,857 4,702 -816
2002 3,606,814 69,594 4,591 -690
2001 3,478,370 64,163 4,471 -1,289
2000 3,343,196 74,535 4,334 -2,798
1999 3,155,425 97,195 4,221 -2,594
1998 3,003,946 145,575 4,120 -2,364
1997 2,936,500 96,885 4,041 -2,153
1996 2,882,205 84,448 3,993 -1,974
1995 2,830,771 73,243 3,948 -1,829
1994 2,735,198 128,134 3,860 -1,644
1993 2,673,675 90,200 3,841 -1,527
1992 2,596,173 138,412 3,822 -1,432
1991 2,527,807 42,760 3,801 -1,362
1990 2,491,928 135,959 3,719 -727
1989 2,452,324 99,588 3,576 -571
1988 2,376,419 93,510 3,544 -465
1987 2,322,397 64,418 3,440 -470
1986 2,295,003 29,682 3,180 -614
1985 2,289,784 61,514 3,242 -828
1984 2,278,060 113,758 3,163 -1,041
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 3,100 -1,203
1982 2,233,401 101,116 3,047 -1,203
1981 2,179,884 106,723 3,015 -1,067
1980 2,121,618 198,672 2,965 -770
1979 2,074,807 137,721 2,893 -491
1978 2,019,621 111,258 2,800 -279
1977 1,923,917 129,075 2,705 -255
1976 1,827,289 72,889 2,608 -302
1975 1,718,623 75,603 2,515 -392
1974 1,624,813 44,281 2,422 -474
1973 1,525,485 -618 2,329 -525
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 2,232 -517
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 2,127 -430
1970 1,295,507 7,953 1,980 -279
1969 1,213,484 6,912 1,862 -469
1968 1,168,254 9,615 1,767 -520
1967 1,082,884 18,683 1,693 -606
1966 1,095,582 12,513 1,642 -688
1965 1,061,840 32,988 1,611 -765
1964 1,028,272 26,411 1,600 -819
1963 995,116 27,115 1,609 -886
1962 966,452 27,906 1,625 -927
1961 932,111 25,515 1,657 -960
1960 901,301 12,131 1,547 -860

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 99.2% of the population change in Nigeria is from natural causes (a gain of 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 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, 1,403,281 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nigeria, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Biggest cities by population

Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
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/nigeria/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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