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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Macedonia was 1,824,359 in 2024 vs 235,536 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Macedonia's population is 1,805,954 people compared to 246,362 in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population statistics:

  • North Macedonia's population is 7.33 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 -0.48% per year vs +1.82% in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Macedonia has decreased from 1.99M people to 1.81M (9.44% decline), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 246K (48.7% 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 866,884 538,729
2099 877,788 537,330
2098 888,715 535,787
2097 899,716 534,124
2096 910,709 532,353
2095 921,559 530,576
2094 932,633 528,656
2093 943,984 526,643
2092 955,335 524,507
2091 966,773 522,325
2090 978,130 519,999
2089 989,666 517,612
2088 1,001,224 515,098
2087 1,012,831 512,568
2086 1,024,787 510,018
2085 1,036,668 507,340
2084 1,048,876 504,584
2083 1,061,031 501,679
2082 1,073,408 498,722
2081 1,085,823 495,689
2080 1,098,127 492,482
2079 1,110,614 489,244
2078 1,123,398 485,930
2077 1,136,448 482,450
2076 1,149,787 478,942
2075 1,163,080 475,380
2074 1,176,671 471,763
2073 1,190,351 468,114
2072 1,204,015 464,348
2071 1,217,691 460,509
2070 1,231,978 456,552
2069 1,246,408 452,449
2068 1,260,869 448,367
2067 1,275,289 444,152
2066 1,289,439 439,833
2065 1,303,917 435,561
2064 1,318,161 431,126
2063 1,332,807 426,703
2062 1,347,540 422,184
2061 1,362,299 417,686
2060 1,376,807 413,117
2059 1,390,921 408,577
2058 1,404,982 404,024
2057 1,419,185 399,413
2056 1,433,595 394,844
2055 1,447,857 390,153
2054 1,462,210 385,468
2053 1,476,351 380,737
2052 1,489,905 376,015
2051 1,503,526 371,194
2050 1,516,629 366,397
2049 1,529,608 361,591
2048 1,542,390 356,742
2047 1,555,085 351,861
2046 1,568,151 346,888
2045 1,581,115 341,838
2044 1,593,878 336,792
2043 1,606,930 331,713
2042 1,619,941 326,652
2041 1,632,704 321,594
2040 1,645,446 316,457
2039 1,658,034 311,279
2038 1,670,347 306,071
2037 1,682,850 300,875
2036 1,695,204 295,624
2035 1,707,302 290,400
2034 1,719,193 285,183
2033 1,730,723 279,990
2032 1,742,288 274,835
2031 1,753,729 269,740
2030 1,765,162 264,723
2029 1,775,815 259,705
2028 1,786,051 254,751
2027 1,795,945 249,860
2026 1,805,954 245,066
2025 1,815,368 240,286
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 100,359 people (a 5.26% decline), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 42,673 people (a 21% 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 1,516,629 people with a rank change from 150th to 152nd. The population of Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48.7% to 366,397 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 867K 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 -0.49% 2.02%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of North Macedonia declined by 0.19%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2.02%.

Live population counters

North Macedonia Sao Tome
Current population
1805954
246362
Population rank 150/197 176/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.003%
One net population change
2.53 hours
1.88 hours
One birth every
31.3 minutes
1.35 hours
One death every
26.1 minutes
6.81 hours
Daily growth/decline -9 +13
Annual growth/decline -3,457 +4,665
Annual growth/decline rate -0.19% +2.02%
Population growth rate rank 176/197 49/197
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 - -5,728 - -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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 6.45% of the population change in North Macedonia is from natural causes (a loss of 12,585 people) and 93.5% is from migration (a loss of 182,429 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, 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 (1960–2024, 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/north-macedonia/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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