The current population of Sao Tome and Principe is 246,362 people, as of 2026 based on the adjusted UN estimation. The latest officially reported number was 235,536 in 2024.
- Sao Tome and Principe is ranked 176/197 by population and was ranked 178th in 2006.
- Sao Tome and Principe accounts for 0.003% of the world's population.
- For the last 20 years, Sao Tome and Principe has had an average growth rate of 2.44% per year.
- Since 2006, population has increased from 166K people to 246K (48.7% growth in 20 years).
- Sao Tome and Principe is projected to reach 539K people in 2100.
Sao Tome and Principe population and growth rate by year
| Year | Population | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2100 | 538,729 | 0.26% |
| 2099 | 537,330 | 0.29% |
| 2098 | 535,787 | 0.31% |
| 2097 | 534,124 | 0.33% |
| 2096 | 532,353 | 0.33% |
| 2095 | 530,576 | 0.36% |
| 2094 | 528,656 | 0.38% |
| 2093 | 526,643 | 0.41% |
| 2092 | 524,507 | 0.42% |
| 2091 | 522,325 | 0.45% |
| 2090 | 519,999 | 0.46% |
| 2089 | 517,612 | 0.49% |
| 2088 | 515,098 | 0.49% |
| 2087 | 512,568 | 0.5% |
| 2086 | 510,018 | 0.53% |
| 2085 | 507,340 | 0.55% |
| 2084 | 504,584 | 0.58% |
| 2083 | 501,679 | 0.59% |
| 2082 | 498,722 | 0.61% |
| 2081 | 495,689 | 0.65% |
| 2080 | 492,482 | 0.66% |
| 2079 | 489,244 | 0.68% |
| 2078 | 485,930 | 0.72% |
| 2077 | 482,450 | 0.73% |
| 2076 | 478,942 | 0.75% |
| 2075 | 475,380 | 0.77% |
| 2074 | 471,763 | 0.78% |
| 2073 | 468,114 | 0.81% |
| 2072 | 464,348 | 0.83% |
| 2071 | 460,509 | 0.87% |
| 2070 | 456,552 | 0.91% |
| 2069 | 452,449 | 0.91% |
| 2068 | 448,367 | 0.95% |
| 2067 | 444,152 | 0.98% |
| 2066 | 439,833 | 0.98% |
| 2065 | 435,561 | 1.03% |
| 2064 | 431,126 | 1.04% |
| 2063 | 426,703 | 1.07% |
| 2062 | 422,184 | 1.08% |
| 2061 | 417,686 | 1.11% |
| 2060 | 413,117 | 1.11% |
| 2059 | 408,577 | 1.13% |
| 2058 | 404,024 | 1.15% |
| 2057 | 399,413 | 1.16% |
| 2056 | 394,844 | 1.2% |
| 2055 | 390,153 | 1.22% |
| 2054 | 385,468 | 1.24% |
| 2053 | 380,737 | 1.26% |
| 2052 | 376,015 | 1.3% |
| 2051 | 371,194 | 1.31% |
| 2050 | 366,397 | 1.33% |
| 2049 | 361,591 | 1.36% |
| 2048 | 356,742 | 1.39% |
| 2047 | 351,861 | 1.43% |
| 2046 | 346,888 | 1.48% |
| 2045 | 341,838 | 1.5% |
| 2044 | 336,792 | 1.53% |
| 2043 | 331,713 | 1.55% |
| 2042 | 326,652 | 1.57% |
| 2041 | 321,594 | 1.62% |
| 2040 | 316,457 | 1.66% |
| 2039 | 311,279 | 1.7% |
| 2038 | 306,071 | 1.73% |
| 2037 | 300,875 | 1.78% |
| 2036 | 295,624 | 1.8% |
| 2035 | 290,400 | 1.83% |
| 2034 | 285,183 | 1.85% |
| 2033 | 279,990 | 1.88% |
| 2032 | 274,835 | 1.89% |
| 2031 | 269,740 | 1.9% |
| 2030 | 264,723 | 1.93% |
| 2029 | 259,705 | 1.94% |
| 2028 | 254,751 | 1.96% |
| 2027 | 249,860 | 1.96% |
| 2026 | 245,066 | 1.99% |
| 2025 | 240,286 | 2.02% |
| 2024 | 235,536 | 2.02% |
| 2023 | 230,871 | 2.02% |
| 2022 | 226,305 | 1.96% |
| 2021 | 221,961 | 2.08% |
| 2020 | 217,435 | 1.89% |
| 2019 | 213,392 | 1.52% |
| 2018 | 210,187 | 1.55% |
| 2017 | 206,970 | 1.61% |
| 2016 | 203,689 | 1.7% |
| 2015 | 200,291 | 1.79% |
| 2014 | 196,767 | 1.87% |
| 2013 | 193,148 | 1.96% |
| 2012 | 189,439 | 2.04% |
| 2011 | 185,649 | 2.12% |
| 2010 | 181,802 | 2.22% |
| 2009 | 177,853 | 2.34% |
| 2008 | 173,793 | 2.41% |
| 2007 | 169,700 | 2.45% |
| 2006 | 165,638 | 2.47% |
| 2005 | 161,639 | 2.49% |
| 2004 | 157,705 | 2.53% |
| 2003 | 153,814 | 2.6% |
| 2002 | 149,922 | 2.42% |
| 2001 | 146,375 | 1.64% |
| 2000 | 144,018 | 1.11% |
| 1999 | 142,442 | 1.2% |
| 1998 | 140,751 | 1.32% |
| 1997 | 138,922 | 1.43% |
| 1996 | 136,962 | 1.53% |
| 1995 | 134,895 | 1.63% |
| 1994 | 132,732 | 1.74% |
| 1993 | 130,467 | 1.84% |
| 1992 | 128,110 | 1.92% |
| 1991 | 125,697 | 2.21% |
| 1990 | 122,980 | 2.5% |
| 1989 | 119,979 | 2.6% |
| 1988 | 116,939 | 2.65% |
| 1987 | 113,919 | 2.49% |
| 1986 | 111,150 | 2.29% |
| 1985 | 108,658 | 2.13% |
| 1984 | 106,394 | 1.93% |
| 1983 | 104,380 | 1.83% |
| 1982 | 102,508 | 1.88% |
| 1981 | 100,615 | 2.1% |
| 1980 | 98,544 | 2.38% |
| 1979 | 96,252 | 2.62% |
| 1978 | 93,794 | 2.73% |
| 1977 | 91,301 | 2.68% |
| 1976 | 88,922 | 2.55% |
| 1975 | 86,708 | 2.4% |
| 1974 | 84,672 | 2.26% |
| 1973 | 82,798 | 2.17% |
| 1972 | 81,041 | 2.16% |
| 1971 | 79,330 | 2.2% |
| 1970 | 77,626 | 2.03% |
| 1969 | 76,083 | 1.76% |
| 1968 | 74,765 | 1.59% |
| 1967 | 73,596 | 1.41% |
| 1966 | 72,576 | 1.25% |
| 1965 | 71,680 | 1.15% |
| 1964 | 70,865 | 1.07% |
| 1963 | 70,112 | 1.02% |
| 1962 | 69,403 | 1.01% |
| 1961 | 68,707 | 1.02% |
| 1960 | 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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY 
Sao Tome and Principe has a population of 246K as of 2026, compared to 204K in 2016, 166K in 2006, and 137K in 1996.
Over the past 10 years, the population has had a trend to increase by an average of 2.1% per year. Sao Tome and Principe is ranked 62nd out of 197 countries by a 10-year average growth rate.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that with changing growth rate trends in 20 years (in 2046) Sao Tome and Principe will have 346,888 people (40.8% growth) with a rank change from 176th to 175th.
By the year 2100, Sao Tome and Principe's population is projected to grow by 118.7% from its current level to 539K people.
Natural change and net migration by year
| Year | Population change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Natural | Net migration | |
| 2025 | - | - | -650 |
| 2024 | - | - | -604 |
| 2023 | 4,629 | 5,221 | -592 |
| 2022 | 4,510 | 5,102 | -592 |
| 2021 | 4,172 | 4,954 | -782 |
| 2020 | 4,874 | 4,874 | 0 |
| 2019 | 3,216 | 4,932 | -1,716 |
| 2018 | 3,200 | 4,957 | -1,757 |
| 2017 | 3,228 | 5,007 | -1,779 |
| 2016 | 3,332 | 5,125 | -1,793 |
| 2015 | 3,460 | 5,269 | -1,809 |
| 2014 | 3,580 | 5,381 | -1,801 |
| 2013 | 3,662 | 5,449 | -1,787 |
| 2012 | 3,762 | 5,501 | -1,739 |
| 2011 | 3,829 | 5,445 | -1,616 |
| 2010 | 3,862 | 5,391 | -1,529 |
| 2009 | 4,021 | 5,349 | -1,328 |
| 2008 | 4,094 | 5,297 | -1,203 |
| 2007 | 4,099 | 5,226 | -1,127 |
| 2006 | 4,026 | 5,057 | -1,031 |
| 2005 | 3,956 | 4,897 | -941 |
| 2004 | 3,916 | 4,810 | -894 |
| 2003 | 3,886 | 4,702 | -816 |
| 2002 | 3,901 | 4,591 | -690 |
| 2001 | 3,182 | 4,471 | -1,289 |
| 2000 | 1,536 | 4,334 | -2,798 |
| 1999 | 1,627 | 4,221 | -2,594 |
| 1998 | 1,756 | 4,120 | -2,364 |
| 1997 | 1,888 | 4,041 | -2,153 |
| 1996 | 2,019 | 3,993 | -1,974 |
| 1995 | 2,119 | 3,948 | -1,829 |
| 1994 | 2,216 | 3,860 | -1,644 |
| 1993 | 2,314 | 3,841 | -1,527 |
| 1992 | 2,390 | 3,822 | -1,432 |
| 1991 | 2,439 | 3,801 | -1,362 |
| 1990 | 2,992 | 3,719 | -727 |
| 1989 | 3,005 | 3,576 | -571 |
| 1988 | 3,079 | 3,544 | -465 |
| 1987 | 2,970 | 3,440 | -470 |
| 1986 | 2,566 | 3,180 | -614 |
| 1985 | 2,414 | 3,242 | -828 |
| 1984 | 2,122 | 3,163 | -1,041 |
| 1983 | 1,897 | 3,100 | -1,203 |
| 1982 | 1,844 | 3,047 | -1,203 |
| 1981 | 1,948 | 3,015 | -1,067 |
| 1980 | 2,195 | 2,965 | -770 |
| 1979 | 2,402 | 2,893 | -491 |
| 1978 | 2,521 | 2,800 | -279 |
| 1977 | 2,450 | 2,705 | -255 |
| 1976 | 2,306 | 2,608 | -302 |
| 1975 | 2,123 | 2,515 | -392 |
| 1974 | 1,948 | 2,422 | -474 |
| 1973 | 1,804 | 2,329 | -525 |
| 1972 | 1,715 | 2,232 | -517 |
| 1971 | 1,697 | 2,127 | -430 |
| 1970 | 1,701 | 1,980 | -279 |
| 1969 | 1,393 | 1,862 | -469 |
| 1968 | 1,247 | 1,767 | -520 |
| 1967 | 1,087 | 1,693 | -606 |
| 1966 | 954 | 1,642 | -688 |
| 1965 | 846 | 1,611 | -765 |
| 1964 | 781 | 1,600 | -819 |
| 1963 | 723 | 1,609 | -886 |
| 1962 | 698 | 1,625 | -927 |
| 1961 | 697 | 1,657 | -960 |
| 1960 | 687 | 1,547 | -860 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 80.1% of the population change in Sao Tome and Principe 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, 1,955 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 2,700 and 1.5% in 2010.
Sao Tome and Principe population clock
Sao Tome
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
246362
|
176/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.003% | 176/197 |
| One net population change |
1.88 hours
|
140/197 |
| One birth every |
1.35 hours
|
168/196 |
| One death every |
6.81 hours
|
178/196 |
| Daily growth/decline | +13 | 140/197 |
| Annual growth/decline | +4,665 | 140/197 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.02% | 49/197 |
| One migration net change every |
13.5 hours
|
90/196 |
| Annual migration change | -650 | 90/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 1,955 | 194/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.8% | 162/195 |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Sao Tome and Principe population statistics
|
Sao Tome
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 70.3 years | 73.8 years |
| Average age | 25.1 years | 33.8 years |
| Median age | 20.3 years | 31.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.7:50.3 | 50.3:49.7 |
| Fertility rate | 3.64 births per woman | 2.2 births per woman |
| Population density | 661 ppl/mi² | 144 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
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