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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Rwanda was 14,569,341 in 2025 vs 240,254 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Rwanda's population is 15,062,056 people compared to 247,495 in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 60.9 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
  • Rwanda is ranked the 77th most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
  • The countries together account for 0.18% of the world: 0.18% for Rwanda vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
  • For the last 10 years, Rwanda has had an average growth rate of +2.28% per year vs +1.83% in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Rwanda has increased from 9.3M people to 15.1M (62% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 247K (49.4% growth).

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

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Rwanda Sao Tome
2100 33,113,283 538,656
2099 33,008,545 537,257
2098 32,927,982 535,715
2097 32,853,307 534,052
2096 32,768,037 532,281
2095 32,635,508 530,505
2094 32,550,001 528,585
2093 32,416,870 526,572
2092 32,294,333 524,436
2091 32,191,262 522,255
2090 32,088,747 519,929
2089 31,892,591 517,542
2088 31,746,789 515,028
2087 31,553,150 512,499
2086 31,399,004 509,949
2085 31,254,597 507,271
2084 31,112,448 504,516
2083 30,937,106 501,611
2082 30,752,861 498,655
2081 30,576,992 495,622
2080 30,386,351 492,416
2079 30,195,560 489,178
2078 30,016,688 485,864
2077 29,819,259 482,385
2076 29,645,610 478,877
2075 29,441,964 475,315
2074 29,243,980 471,700
2073 29,025,977 468,051
2072 28,798,822 464,286
2071 28,578,302 460,447
2070 28,334,300 456,490
2069 28,121,174 452,388
2068 27,872,383 448,306
2067 27,609,059 444,092
2066 27,372,823 439,773
2065 27,101,698 435,502
2064 26,838,144 431,068
2063 26,559,838 426,645
2062 26,312,631 422,127
2061 26,001,660 417,629
2060 25,729,037 413,061
2059 25,453,407 408,522
2058 25,121,995 403,970
2057 24,853,512 399,359
2056 24,582,198 394,790
2055 24,281,895 390,100
2054 23,991,958 385,416
2053 23,705,290 380,685
2052 23,421,032 375,964
2051 23,113,700 371,143
2050 22,814,556 366,347
2049 22,498,806 361,542
2048 22,171,841 356,694
2047 21,848,486 351,813
2046 21,554,082 346,841
2045 21,228,573 341,791
2044 20,915,810 336,747
2043 20,548,490 331,669
2042 20,214,283 326,608
2041 19,845,021 321,551
2040 19,475,227 316,415
2039 19,108,842 311,237
2038 18,773,398 306,029
2037 18,433,422 300,834
2036 18,128,058 295,584
2035 17,765,049 290,361
2034 17,432,165 285,145
2033 17,100,072 279,952
2032 16,822,053 274,798
2031 16,495,903 269,704
2030 16,178,061 264,687
2029 15,868,812 259,670
2028 15,554,713 254,717
2027 15,217,275 249,827
2026 14,898,118 245,033
2025 14,569,341 240,254
2024 14,256,567 235,536
2023 13,954,471 230,871
2022 13,651,030 226,305
2021 13,355,260 221,961
2020 13,065,837 217,435
2019 12,776,103 213,392
2018 12,487,996 210,187
2017 12,202,060 206,970
2016 11,919,183 203,689
2015 11,640,022 200,291
2014 11,364,757 196,767
2013 11,093,340 193,148
2012 10,829,901 189,439
2011 10,573,733 185,649
2010 10,317,553 181,802
2009 10,060,432 177,853
2008 9,804,269 173,793
2007 9,549,933 169,700
2006 9,299,246 165,638
2005 9,054,528 161,639
2004 8,816,844 157,705
2003 8,586,875 153,814
2002 8,400,180 149,922
2001 8,287,094 146,375
2000 8,213,931 144,018
1999 8,147,912 142,442
1998 8,081,681 140,751
1997 7,755,238 138,922
1996 6,708,764 136,962
1995 5,674,118 134,895
1994 6,792,352 132,732
1993 7,981,132 130,467
1992 7,683,266 128,110
1991 7,526,966 125,697
1990 7,375,307 122,980
1989 7,184,706 119,979
1988 6,968,071 116,939
1987 6,749,493 113,919
1986 6,531,881 111,150
1985 6,317,228 108,658
1984 6,107,627 106,394
1983 5,905,311 104,380
1982 5,711,549 102,508
1981 5,527,230 100,615
1980 5,353,259 98,544
1979 5,189,541 96,252
1978 5,035,171 93,794
1977 4,888,240 91,301
1976 4,745,954 88,922
1975 4,607,728 86,708
1974 4,474,228 84,672
1973 4,345,047 82,798
1972 4,220,335 81,041
1971 4,100,044 79,330
1970 3,980,669 77,626
1969 3,861,271 76,083
1968 3,744,010 74,765
1967 3,629,577 73,596
1966 3,521,626 72,576
1965 3,423,210 71,680
1964 3,334,834 70,865
1963 3,258,890 70,112
1962 3,186,025 69,403
1961 3,106,779 68,707
1960 3,022,294 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/rwanda/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Rwanda increased by 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Rwanda gained 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 43,806 people (a 21.5% growth).

Rwanda was ranked 86th most populous country in 2006 and is 77th 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) Rwanda's population will grow by 51.5% to 22,814,556 people with a rank change from 77th to 72nd. The population of Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48% to 366,347 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.

Rwanda is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 33.1M people compared to the peak of 539K people in 2100 for Sao Tome and Principe.

Population growth rate by year

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Rwanda Sao Tome
2100 0.32% 0.26%
2099 0.24% 0.29%
2098 0.23% 0.31%
2097 0.26% 0.33%
2096 0.41% 0.33%
2095 0.26% 0.36%
2094 0.41% 0.38%
2093 0.38% 0.41%
2092 0.32% 0.42%
2091 0.32% 0.45%
2090 0.62% 0.46%
2089 0.46% 0.49%
2088 0.61% 0.49%
2087 0.49% 0.5%
2086 0.46% 0.53%
2085 0.46% 0.55%
2084 0.57% 0.58%
2083 0.6% 0.59%
2082 0.58% 0.61%
2081 0.63% 0.65%
2080 0.63% 0.66%
2079 0.6% 0.68%
2078 0.66% 0.72%
2077 0.59% 0.73%
2076 0.69% 0.75%
2075 0.68% 0.77%
2074 0.75% 0.78%
2073 0.79% 0.81%
2072 0.77% 0.83%
2071 0.86% 0.87%
2070 0.76% 0.91%
2069 0.89% 0.91%
2068 0.95% 0.95%
2067 0.86% 0.98%
2066 1% 0.98%
2065 0.98% 1.03%
2064 1.05% 1.04%
2063 0.94% 1.07%
2062 1.2% 1.08%
2061 1.06% 1.11%
2060 1.08% 1.11%
2059 1.32% 1.13%
2058 1.08% 1.15%
2057 1.1% 1.16%
2056 1.24% 1.2%
2055 1.21% 1.22%
2054 1.21% 1.24%
2053 1.21% 1.26%
2052 1.33% 1.3%
2051 1.31% 1.31%
2050 1.4% 1.33%
2049 1.47% 1.36%
2048 1.48% 1.39%
2047 1.37% 1.43%
2046 1.53% 1.48%
2045 1.5% 1.5%
2044 1.79% 1.53%
2043 1.65% 1.55%
2042 1.86% 1.57%
2041 1.9% 1.62%
2040 1.92% 1.66%
2039 1.79% 1.7%
2038 1.84% 1.73%
2037 1.68% 1.78%
2036 2.04% 1.8%
2035 1.91% 1.83%
2034 1.94% 1.85%
2033 1.65% 1.88%
2032 1.98% 1.89%
2031 1.96% 1.9%
2030 1.95% 1.93%
2029 2.02% 1.94%
2028 2.22% 1.96%
2027 2.14% 1.96%
2026 2.26% 1.99%
2025 2.19% 2%
2024 2.16% 2.02%
2023 2.22% 2.02%
2022 2.21% 1.96%
2021 2.22% 2.08%
2020 2.27% 1.89%
2019 2.31% 1.52%
2018 2.34% 1.55%
2017 2.37% 1.61%
2016 2.4% 1.7%
2015 2.42% 1.79%
2014 2.45% 1.87%
2013 2.43% 1.96%
2012 2.42% 2.04%
2011 2.48% 2.12%
2010 2.56% 2.22%
2009 2.61% 2.34%
2008 2.66% 2.41%
2007 2.7% 2.45%
2006 2.7% 2.47%
2005 2.7% 2.49%
2004 2.68% 2.53%
2003 2.22% 2.6%
2002 1.36% 2.42%
2001 0.89% 1.64%
2000 0.81% 1.11%
1999 0.82% 1.2%
1998 4.21% 1.32%
1997 15.6% 1.43%
1996 18.2% 1.53%
1995 -16.5% 1.63%
1994 -14.9% 1.74%
1993 3.88% 1.84%
1992 2.08% 1.92%
1991 2.06% 2.21%
1990 2.65% 2.5%
1989 3.11% 2.6%
1988 3.24% 2.65%
1987 3.33% 2.49%
1986 3.4% 2.29%
1985 3.43% 2.13%
1984 3.43% 1.93%
1983 3.39% 1.83%
1982 3.33% 1.88%
1981 3.25% 2.1%
1980 3.15% 2.38%
1979 3.07% 2.62%
1978 3.01% 2.73%
1977 3% 2.68%
1976 3% 2.55%
1975 2.98% 2.4%
1974 2.97% 2.26%
1973 2.96% 2.17%
1972 2.93% 2.16%
1971 3% 2.2%
1970 3.09% 2.03%
1969 3.13% 1.76%
1968 3.15% 1.59%
1967 3.07% 1.41%
1966 2.87% 1.25%
1965 2.65% 1.15%
1964 2.33% 1.07%
1963 2.29% 1.02%
1962 2.55% 1.01%
1961 2.8% 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/rwanda/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Rwanda grew by 2.19%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2%.

Live population counters

Rwanda Sao Tome
Current population
15062056
247495
Population rank 77/197 176/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.003%
One net population change
1.69 minutes
1.86 hours
One birth every
1.31 minutes
1.32 hours
One death every
6.25 minutes
6.73 hours
Daily growth/decline +857 +13
Annual growth/decline +312,774 +4,718
Annual growth/decline rate +2.19% +2%
Population growth rate rank 40/197 50/197
One migration net change every
1.4 hours
13.5 hours
Annual migration change +6,282 -650
Net migration rank 48/196 90/196
Foreign-born residents 513,316 1,955
Foreign-born residents rank 80/195 194/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.6% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 109/195 162/195

Natural population change vs migration

Rwanda
Natural

Migration
Sao Tome and Principe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Rwanda Sao Tome
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 6,282 - -650
2024 316,025 -15,582 5,315 -604
2023 312,762 -9,001 5,221 -592
2022 312,145 -9,001 5,102 -592
2021 309,895 -21,492 4,954 -782
2020 312,692 -22,251 4,874 0
2019 313,525 -24,492 4,932 -1,716
2018 312,512 -25,323 4,957 -1,757
2017 310,323 -25,634 5,007 -1,779
2016 305,549 -24,474 5,125 -1,793
2015 299,114 -21,862 5,269 -1,809
2014 292,779 -19,505 5,381 -1,801
2013 286,331 -16,779 5,449 -1,787
2012 282,584 -25,260 5,501 -1,739
2011 282,922 -27,915 5,445 -1,616
2010 286,848 -29,501 5,391 -1,529
2009 287,034 -30,128 5,349 -1,328
2008 287,334 -31,913 5,297 -1,203
2007 285,791 -32,537 5,226 -1,127
2006 282,149 -34,008 5,057 -1,031
2005 275,121 -33,830 4,897 -941
2004 265,273 -31,214 4,810 -894
2003 251,243 -25,355 4,702 -816
2002 239,036 -91,518 4,591 -690
2001 230,845 -152,197 4,471 -1,289
2000 221,276 -153,588 4,334 -2,798
1999 210,518 -146,162 4,221 -2,594
1998 197,185 -129,089 4,120 -2,364
1997 174,687 410,106 4,041 -2,153
1996 140,455 1,367,700 3,993 -1,974
1995 121,137 439,995 3,948 -1,829
1994 -719,479 -2,078,111 3,860 -1,644
1993 183,926 236,110 3,841 -1,527
1992 188,025 -12,334 3,822 -1,432
1991 196,431 -59,519 3,801 -1,362
1990 207,895 -41,483 3,719 -727
1989 217,632 -2,826 3,576 -571
1988 223,759 -5,285 3,544 -465
1987 225,744 -7,062 3,440 -470
1986 225,526 -8,982 3,180 -614
1985 223,794 -11,031 3,242 -828
1984 219,337 -12,899 3,163 -1,041
1983 212,750 -14,560 3,100 -1,203
1982 205,147 -15,818 3,047 -1,203
1981 195,769 -16,453 3,015 -1,067
1980 184,988 -16,359 2,965 -770
1979 174,477 -15,669 2,893 -491
1978 163,779 -13,838 2,800 -279
1977 155,011 -11,084 2,705 -255
1976 147,665 -7,027 2,608 -302
1975 140,596 -4,791 2,515 -392
1974 135,743 -4,535 2,422 -474
1973 131,021 -3,862 2,329 -525
1972 126,403 -4,156 2,232 -517
1971 122,567 -4,230 2,127 -430
1970 119,273 1,149 1,980 -279
1969 115,394 2,983 1,862 -469
1968 111,422 4,728 1,767 -520
1967 108,053 4,655 1,693 -606
1966 105,128 -1,930 1,642 -688
1965 103,422 -9,774 1,611 -765
1964 102,562 -19,458 1,600 -819
1963 94,296 -25,524 1,609 -886
1962 102,548 -25,594 1,625 -927
1961 102,051 -20,508 1,657 -960
1960 100,627 -13,198 1,547 -860

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 94% of the population change in Rwanda is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 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, 513,316 residents or 3.6% of the population were not native-born in Rwanda, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Biggest cities by population

Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K
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/rwanda/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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