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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of North Macedonia was 1,820,909 in 2025 vs 240,254 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Macedonia's population is 1,811,466 people compared to 247,495 in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population statistics:

  • North Macedonia's population is 7.32 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
  • North Macedonia is ranked the 150th most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
  • The countries together account for 0.02% of the world: 0.02% for North Macedonia vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
  • For the last 10 years, North Macedonia has had an average growth rate of -0.47% per year vs +1.83% in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Macedonia has decreased from 1.99M people to 1.81M (9.17% decline), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 247K (49.4% growth).

North Macedonia vs Sao Tome and Principe: population by year and forecast

North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Macedonia Sao Tome
2100 869,530 538,656
2099 880,467 537,257
2098 891,427 535,715
2097 902,461 534,052
2096 913,488 532,281
2095 924,371 530,505
2094 935,479 528,585
2093 946,865 526,572
2092 958,251 524,436
2091 969,723 522,255
2090 981,115 519,929
2089 992,687 517,542
2088 1,004,280 515,028
2087 1,015,922 512,499
2086 1,027,915 509,949
2085 1,039,832 507,271
2084 1,052,077 504,516
2083 1,064,269 501,611
2082 1,076,684 498,655
2081 1,089,137 495,622
2080 1,101,478 492,416
2079 1,114,004 489,178
2078 1,126,827 485,864
2077 1,139,917 482,385
2076 1,153,296 478,877
2075 1,166,630 475,315
2074 1,180,262 471,700
2073 1,193,984 468,051
2072 1,207,689 464,286
2071 1,221,407 460,447
2070 1,235,738 456,490
2069 1,250,212 452,388
2068 1,264,718 448,306
2067 1,279,182 444,092
2066 1,293,374 439,773
2065 1,307,896 435,502
2064 1,322,184 431,068
2063 1,336,875 426,645
2062 1,351,652 422,127
2061 1,366,457 417,629
2060 1,381,009 413,061
2059 1,395,166 408,522
2058 1,409,270 403,970
2057 1,423,516 399,359
2056 1,437,970 394,790
2055 1,452,276 390,100
2054 1,466,673 385,416
2053 1,480,857 380,685
2052 1,494,452 375,964
2051 1,508,115 371,143
2050 1,521,258 366,347
2049 1,534,276 361,542
2048 1,547,097 356,694
2047 1,559,831 351,813
2046 1,572,937 346,841
2045 1,585,940 341,791
2044 1,598,742 336,747
2043 1,611,835 331,669
2042 1,624,885 326,608
2041 1,637,687 321,551
2040 1,650,468 316,415
2039 1,663,094 311,237
2038 1,675,445 306,029
2037 1,687,986 300,834
2036 1,700,377 295,584
2035 1,712,512 290,361
2034 1,724,440 285,145
2033 1,736,005 279,952
2032 1,747,606 274,798
2031 1,759,081 269,704
2030 1,770,549 264,687
2029 1,781,235 259,670
2028 1,791,502 254,717
2027 1,801,426 249,827
2026 1,811,466 245,033
2025 1,820,909 240,254
2024 1,824,359 235,536
2023 1,827,816 230,871
2022 1,831,712 226,305
2021 1,837,114 221,961
2020 1,856,124 217,435
2019 1,876,262 213,392
2018 1,889,051 210,187
2017 1,898,657 206,970
2016 1,906,313 203,689
2015 1,912,430 200,291
2014 1,917,557 196,767
2013 1,922,716 193,148
2012 1,929,821 189,439
2011 1,937,398 185,649
2010 1,946,298 181,802
2009 1,958,782 177,853
2008 1,971,493 173,793
2007 1,982,933 169,700
2006 1,994,287 165,638
2005 2,005,330 161,639
2004 2,016,186 157,705
2003 2,022,725 153,814
2002 2,020,157 149,922
2001 2,034,882 146,375
2000 2,026,350 144,018
1999 2,017,142 142,442
1998 2,007,523 140,751
1997 1,996,869 138,922
1996 2,012,553 136,962
1995 1,998,534 134,895
1994 1,992,666 132,732
1993 2,006,854 130,467
1992 2,032,523 128,110
1991 2,055,994 125,697
1990 2,063,689 122,980
1989 2,055,649 119,979
1988 2,045,737 116,939
1987 2,035,157 113,919
1986 2,024,732 111,150
1985 2,014,331 108,658
1984 2,003,399 106,394
1983 1,991,901 104,380
1982 1,978,956 102,508
1981 1,959,065 100,615
1980 1,933,038 98,544
1979 1,906,523 96,252
1978 1,879,847 93,794
1977 1,853,138 91,301
1976 1,825,830 88,922
1975 1,797,972 86,708
1974 1,770,545 84,672
1973 1,743,816 82,798
1972 1,717,395 81,041
1971 1,691,216 79,330
1970 1,664,208 77,626
1969 1,636,345 76,083
1968 1,608,930 74,765
1967 1,582,492 73,596
1966 1,557,349 72,576
1965 1,533,466 71,680
1964 1,510,900 70,865
1963 1,488,737 70,112
1962 1,471,745 69,403
1961 1,455,171 68,707
1960 1,435,059 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/north-macedonia/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Macedonia decreased by 87,974 people (a 4.41% decline), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Macedonia lost 94,847 people (a 4.98% decline), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 43,806 people (a 21.5% growth).

North Macedonia was ranked 142nd most populous country in 2006 and is 150th 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) North Macedonia's population will shrink by 16% to 1,521,258 people with a rank change from 150th to 152nd. 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 North Macedonia's population already peaked in 1990 at 2.06M people and is projected to decrease to 870K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Macedonia Sao Tome
2100 -1.24% 0.26%
2099 -1.23% 0.29%
2098 -1.22% 0.31%
2097 -1.21% 0.33%
2096 -1.18% 0.33%
2095 -1.19% 0.36%
2094 -1.2% 0.38%
2093 -1.19% 0.41%
2092 -1.18% 0.42%
2091 -1.16% 0.45%
2090 -1.17% 0.46%
2089 -1.15% 0.49%
2088 -1.15% 0.49%
2087 -1.17% 0.5%
2086 -1.15% 0.53%
2085 -1.16% 0.55%
2084 -1.15% 0.58%
2083 -1.15% 0.59%
2082 -1.14% 0.61%
2081 -1.12% 0.65%
2080 -1.12% 0.66%
2079 -1.14% 0.68%
2078 -1.15% 0.72%
2077 -1.16% 0.73%
2076 -1.14% 0.75%
2075 -1.15% 0.77%
2074 -1.15% 0.78%
2073 -1.13% 0.81%
2072 -1.12% 0.83%
2071 -1.16% 0.87%
2070 -1.16% 0.91%
2069 -1.15% 0.91%
2068 -1.13% 0.95%
2067 -1.1% 0.98%
2066 -1.11% 0.98%
2065 -1.08% 1.03%
2064 -1.1% 1.04%
2063 -1.09% 1.07%
2062 -1.08% 1.08%
2061 -1.05% 1.11%
2060 -1.01% 1.11%
2059 -1% 1.13%
2058 -1% 1.15%
2057 -1.01% 1.16%
2056 -0.99% 1.2%
2055 -0.98% 1.22%
2054 -0.96% 1.24%
2053 -0.91% 1.26%
2052 -0.91% 1.3%
2051 -0.86% 1.31%
2050 -0.85% 1.33%
2049 -0.83% 1.36%
2048 -0.82% 1.39%
2047 -0.83% 1.43%
2046 -0.82% 1.48%
2045 -0.8% 1.5%
2044 -0.81% 1.53%
2043 -0.8% 1.55%
2042 -0.78% 1.57%
2041 -0.77% 1.62%
2040 -0.76% 1.66%
2039 -0.74% 1.7%
2038 -0.74% 1.73%
2037 -0.73% 1.78%
2036 -0.71% 1.8%
2035 -0.69% 1.83%
2034 -0.67% 1.85%
2033 -0.66% 1.88%
2032 -0.65% 1.89%
2031 -0.65% 1.9%
2030 -0.6% 1.93%
2029 -0.57% 1.94%
2028 -0.55% 1.96%
2027 -0.55% 1.96%
2026 -0.52% 1.99%
2025 -0.19% 2%
2024 -0.19% 2.02%
2023 -0.21% 2.02%
2022 -0.29% 1.96%
2021 -1.02% 2.08%
2020 -1.07% 1.89%
2019 -0.68% 1.52%
2018 -0.51% 1.55%
2017 -0.4% 1.61%
2016 -0.32% 1.7%
2015 -0.27% 1.79%
2014 -0.27% 1.87%
2013 -0.37% 1.96%
2012 -0.39% 2.04%
2011 -0.46% 2.12%
2010 -0.64% 2.22%
2009 -0.64% 2.34%
2008 -0.58% 2.41%
2007 -0.57% 2.45%
2006 -0.55% 2.47%
2005 -0.54% 2.49%
2004 -0.32% 2.53%
2003 0.13% 2.6%
2002 -0.72% 2.42%
2001 0.42% 1.64%
2000 0.46% 1.11%
1999 0.48% 1.2%
1998 0.53% 1.32%
1997 -0.78% 1.43%
1996 0.7% 1.53%
1995 0.29% 1.63%
1994 -0.71% 1.74%
1993 -1.26% 1.84%
1992 -1.14% 1.92%
1991 -0.37% 2.21%
1990 0.39% 2.5%
1989 0.48% 2.6%
1988 0.52% 2.65%
1987 0.51% 2.49%
1986 0.52% 2.29%
1985 0.55% 2.13%
1984 0.58% 1.93%
1983 0.65% 1.83%
1982 1.02% 1.88%
1981 1.35% 2.1%
1980 1.39% 2.38%
1979 1.42% 2.62%
1978 1.44% 2.73%
1977 1.5% 2.68%
1976 1.55% 2.55%
1975 1.55% 2.4%
1974 1.53% 2.26%
1973 1.54% 2.17%
1972 1.55% 2.16%
1971 1.62% 2.2%
1970 1.7% 2.03%
1969 1.7% 1.76%
1968 1.67% 1.59%
1967 1.61% 1.41%
1966 1.56% 1.25%
1965 1.49% 1.15%
1964 1.49% 1.07%
1963 1.15% 1.02%
1962 1.14% 1.01%
1961 1.4% 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/north-macedonia/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

In 2025, the population of North Macedonia declined by 0.19%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2%.

Live population counters

North Macedonia Sao Tome
Current population
1811466
247495
Population rank 150/197 176/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.003%
One net population change
2.55 hours
1.86 hours
One birth every
32.7 minutes
1.32 hours
One death every
26 minutes
6.73 hours
Daily growth/decline -9 +13
Annual growth/decline -3,450 +4,718
Annual growth/decline rate -0.19% +2%
Population growth rate rank 176/197 50/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
13.5 hours
Annual migration change -5,645 -650
Net migration rank 119/196 90/196
Foreign-born residents 150,902 1,955
Foreign-born residents rank 122/195 194/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.3% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 73/195 162/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Macedonia
Natural

Migration
Sao Tome and Principe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Macedonia Sao Tome
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,645 - -650
2024 -4,196 -5,728 5,315 -604
2023 -3,290 -5,597 5,221 -592
2022 -4,397 -5,296 5,102 -592
2021 -9,737 -5,483 4,954 -782
2020 -5,939 -23,458 4,874 0
2019 -375 -24,204 4,932 -1,716
2018 1,512 -24,878 4,957 -1,757
2017 1,329 -24,227 5,007 -1,779
2016 2,374 -24,144 5,125 -1,793
2015 2,294 -23,010 5,269 -1,809
2014 3,644 -22,132 5,381 -1,801
2013 3,653 -20,297 5,449 -1,787
2012 3,087 -19,083 5,501 -1,739
2011 3,100 -17,871 5,445 -1,616
2010 4,866 -16,668 5,391 -1,529
2009 4,309 -15,455 5,349 -1,328
2008 3,746 -17,645 5,297 -1,203
2007 2,974 -15,705 5,226 -1,127
2006 3,988 -9,632 5,057 -1,031
2005 4,011 -2,244 4,897 -941
2004 5,444 -2,640 4,810 -894
2003 8,900 -2,880 4,702 -816
2002 9,697 -2,858 4,591 -690
2001 10,174 -922 4,471 -1,289
2000 12,159 -2,824 4,334 -2,798
1999 10,489 -1,261 4,221 -2,594
1998 12,446 -589 4,120 -2,364
1997 12,979 -477 4,041 -2,153
1996 14,806 -397 3,993 -1,974
1995 17,239 -3,603 3,948 -1,829
1994 19,103 -21,006 3,860 -1,644
1993 20,797 -47,273 3,841 -1,527
1992 21,659 -46,509 3,822 -1,432
1991 23,387 -45,484 3,801 -1,362
1990 22,868 -16,174 3,719 -727
1989 22,912 -13,528 3,576 -571
1988 24,064 -13,621 3,544 -465
1987 24,359 -13,635 3,440 -470
1986 23,720 -13,589 3,180 -614
1985 24,167 -13,492 3,242 -828
1984 24,436 -13,251 3,163 -1,041
1983 24,690 -12,884 3,100 -1,203
1982 25,810 -11,716 3,047 -1,203
1981 25,689 0 3,015 -1,067
1980 26,547 -189 2,965 -770
1979 27,096 -426 2,893 -491
1978 27,150 -462 2,800 -279
1977 27,410 -683 2,705 -255
1976 28,799 -911 2,608 -302
1975 28,983 -1,147 2,515 -392
1974 28,400 -1,376 2,422 -474
1973 28,032 -1,600 2,329 -525
1972 28,236 -1,834 2,232 -517
1971 28,010 -2,064 2,127 -430
1970 28,022 60 1,980 -279
1969 27,464 181 1,862 -469
1968 28,378 -1,201 1,767 -520
1967 28,401 -2,696 1,693 -606
1966 28,766 -4,176 1,642 -688
1965 28,564 -5,385 1,611 -765
1964 27,889 -5,938 1,600 -819
1963 28,124 -5,759 1,609 -886
1962 25,317 -13,702 1,625 -927
1961 27,846 -6,309 1,657 -960
1960 28,816 -10,126 1,547 -860

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 11% of the population change in North Macedonia is from natural causes (a loss of 20,425 people) and 89% is from migration (a loss of 166,025 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, 150,902 residents or 8.3% of the population were not native-born in North Macedonia, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Biggest cities by population

North Macedonia
City Population
Skopje 423K
Kumanovo 70.8K
Bitola 69.3K
Prilep 63.3K
Tetovo 63.2K
Stip 42K
Veles 40.7K
Ohrid 38.8K
Strumica 33.8K
Kavadarci 32K
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/north-macedonia/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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