Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Sao Tome and Principe was 235,536 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sao Tome and Principe's population is 246,362 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 149.1 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
  • Sao Tome and Principe is ranked the 176th most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 0.45% of the world: 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Sao Tome and Principe has had an average growth rate of +1.82% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sao Tome and Principe has increased from 166K people to 246K (48.7% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% growth).

Sao Tome and Principe vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sao Tome Saudi Arabia
2100 538,729 74,230,118
2099 537,330 73,760,045
2098 535,787 73,287,526
2097 534,124 72,813,125
2096 532,353 72,336,039
2095 530,576 71,858,206
2094 528,656 71,379,928
2093 526,643 70,900,460
2092 524,507 70,420,464
2091 522,325 69,940,749
2090 519,999 69,462,214
2089 517,612 68,985,976
2088 515,098 68,510,277
2087 512,568 68,035,545
2086 510,018 67,562,521
2085 507,340 67,091,615
2084 504,584 66,621,667
2083 501,679 66,152,653
2082 498,722 65,684,321
2081 495,689 65,216,102
2080 492,482 64,749,128
2079 489,244 64,282,393
2078 485,930 63,815,918
2077 482,450 63,348,712
2076 478,942 62,880,120
2075 475,380 62,409,793
2074 471,763 61,937,628
2073 468,114 61,462,662
2072 464,348 60,984,202
2071 460,509 60,502,791
2070 456,552 60,018,216
2069 452,449 59,529,456
2068 448,367 59,036,086
2067 444,152 58,539,487
2066 439,833 58,039,687
2065 435,561 57,537,106
2064 431,126 57,032,172
2063 426,703 56,524,331
2062 422,184 56,014,549
2061 417,686 55,501,467
2060 413,117 54,986,901
2059 408,577 54,469,809
2058 404,024 53,950,469
2057 399,413 53,430,639
2056 394,844 52,909,061
2055 390,153 52,386,571
2054 385,468 51,862,312
2053 380,737 51,336,335
2052 376,015 50,809,100
2051 371,194 50,280,719
2050 366,397 49,751,739
2049 361,591 49,221,828
2048 356,742 48,690,143
2047 351,861 48,157,605
2046 346,888 47,623,246
2045 341,838 47,087,215
2044 336,792 46,550,306
2043 331,713 46,013,232
2042 326,652 45,475,200
2041 321,594 44,936,131
2040 316,457 44,396,093
2039 311,279 43,856,006
2038 306,071 43,314,707
2037 300,875 42,773,375
2036 295,624 42,231,639
2035 290,400 41,690,245
2034 285,183 41,150,029
2033 279,990 40,611,021
2032 274,835 40,073,144
2031 269,740 39,535,357
2030 264,723 38,998,581
2029 259,705 38,417,447
2028 254,751 37,810,902
2027 249,860 37,189,969
2026 245,066 36,566,201
2025 240,286 35,932,673
2024 235,536 35,300,280
2023 230,871 33,702,731
2022 226,305 32,175,224
2021 221,961 30,784,383
2020 217,435 31,552,510
2019 213,392 30,063,799
2018 210,187 30,196,281
2017 206,970 30,977,355
2016 203,689 30,954,198
2015 200,291 29,816,382
2014 196,767 28,309,273
2013 193,148 27,624,004
2012 189,439 26,168,861
2011 185,649 25,091,867
2010 181,802 23,978,487
2009 177,853 24,217,654
2008 173,793 23,287,877
2007 169,700 22,368,313
2006 165,638 21,459,144
2005 161,639 20,559,890
2004 157,705 19,669,480
2003 153,814 18,786,767
2002 149,922 17,910,910
2001 146,375 17,041,397
2000 144,018 16,177,722
1999 142,442 15,472,075
1998 140,751 14,922,185
1997 138,922 14,374,943
1996 136,962 13,831,009
1995 134,895 13,289,245
1994 132,732 12,750,040
1993 130,467 12,215,862
1992 128,110 11,686,676
1991 125,697 11,160,744
1990 122,980 10,640,691
1989 119,979 10,128,394
1988 116,939 9,629,165
1987 113,919 9,130,194
1986 111,150 8,628,639
1985 108,658 8,151,779
1984 106,394 7,697,307
1983 104,380 7,252,941
1982 102,508 6,824,486
1981 100,615 6,420,551
1980 98,544 6,047,997
1979 96,252 5,703,698
1978 93,794 5,381,902
1977 91,301 5,083,048
1976 88,922 4,807,933
1975 86,708 4,556,287
1974 84,672 4,323,632
1973 82,798 4,106,344
1972 81,041 3,905,722
1971 79,330 3,724,031
1970 77,626 3,562,470
1969 76,083 3,417,114
1968 74,765 3,282,711
1967 73,596 3,157,242
1966 72,576 3,039,887
1965 71,680 2,928,771
1964 70,865 2,821,968
1963 70,112 2,719,341
1962 69,403 2,620,910
1961 68,707 2,526,347
1960 68,012 2,435,403

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sao Tome and Principe increased by 38,051 people (a 23% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sao Tome and Principe gained 42,673 people (a 21% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).

Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th most populous country in 2006 and is 176th in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Sao Tome and Principe's population will grow by 48.7% to 366,397 people with a rank change from 176th to 175th. The population of Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

Sao Tome and Principe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 539K people compared to the peak of 74.2M people in 2100 for Saudi Arabia.

Population growth rate by year

Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sao Tome Saudi Arabia
2100 0.26% 0.64%
2099 0.29% 0.64%
2098 0.31% 0.65%
2097 0.33% 0.66%
2096 0.33% 0.66%
2095 0.36% 0.67%
2094 0.38% 0.68%
2093 0.41% 0.68%
2092 0.42% 0.69%
2091 0.45% 0.69%
2090 0.46% 0.69%
2089 0.49% 0.69%
2088 0.49% 0.7%
2087 0.5% 0.7%
2086 0.53% 0.7%
2085 0.55% 0.71%
2084 0.58% 0.71%
2083 0.59% 0.71%
2082 0.61% 0.72%
2081 0.65% 0.72%
2080 0.66% 0.73%
2079 0.68% 0.73%
2078 0.72% 0.74%
2077 0.73% 0.75%
2076 0.75% 0.75%
2075 0.77% 0.76%
2074 0.78% 0.77%
2073 0.81% 0.78%
2072 0.83% 0.8%
2071 0.87% 0.81%
2070 0.91% 0.82%
2069 0.91% 0.84%
2068 0.95% 0.85%
2067 0.98% 0.86%
2066 0.98% 0.87%
2065 1.03% 0.89%
2064 1.04% 0.9%
2063 1.07% 0.91%
2062 1.08% 0.92%
2061 1.11% 0.94%
2060 1.11% 0.95%
2059 1.13% 0.96%
2058 1.15% 0.97%
2057 1.16% 0.99%
2056 1.2% 1%
2055 1.22% 1.01%
2054 1.24% 1.02%
2053 1.26% 1.04%
2052 1.3% 1.05%
2051 1.31% 1.06%
2050 1.33% 1.08%
2049 1.36% 1.09%
2048 1.39% 1.11%
2047 1.43% 1.12%
2046 1.48% 1.14%
2045 1.5% 1.15%
2044 1.53% 1.17%
2043 1.55% 1.18%
2042 1.57% 1.2%
2041 1.62% 1.22%
2040 1.66% 1.23%
2039 1.7% 1.25%
2038 1.73% 1.27%
2037 1.78% 1.28%
2036 1.8% 1.3%
2035 1.83% 1.31%
2034 1.85% 1.33%
2033 1.88% 1.34%
2032 1.89% 1.36%
2031 1.9% 1.38%
2030 1.93% 1.51%
2029 1.94% 1.6%
2028 1.96% 1.67%
2027 1.96% 1.71%
2026 1.99% 1.76%
2025 2.02% 1.79%
2024 2.02% 4.74%
2023 2.02% 4.75%
2022 1.96% 4.52%
2021 2.08% -2.43%
2020 1.89% 4.95%
2019 1.52% -0.44%
2018 1.55% -2.52%
2017 1.61% 0.07%
2016 1.7% 3.82%
2015 1.79% 5.32%
2014 1.87% 2.48%
2013 1.96% 5.56%
2012 2.04% 4.29%
2011 2.12% 4.64%
2010 2.22% -0.99%
2009 2.34% 3.99%
2008 2.41% 4.11%
2007 2.45% 4.24%
2006 2.47% 4.37%
2005 2.49% 4.53%
2004 2.53% 4.7%
2003 2.6% 4.89%
2002 2.42% 5.1%
2001 1.64% 5.34%
2000 1.11% 4.56%
1999 1.2% 3.69%
1998 1.32% 3.81%
1997 1.43% 3.93%
1996 1.53% 4.08%
1995 1.63% 4.23%
1994 1.74% 4.37%
1993 1.84% 4.53%
1992 1.92% 4.71%
1991 2.21% 4.89%
1990 2.5% 5.06%
1989 2.6% 5.18%
1988 2.65% 5.47%
1987 2.49% 5.81%
1986 2.29% 5.85%
1985 2.13% 5.9%
1984 1.93% 6.13%
1983 1.83% 6.28%
1982 1.88% 6.29%
1981 2.1% 6.16%
1980 2.38% 6.04%
1979 2.62% 5.98%
1978 2.73% 5.88%
1977 2.68% 5.72%
1976 2.55% 5.52%
1975 2.4% 5.38%
1974 2.26% 5.29%
1973 2.17% 5.14%
1972 2.16% 4.88%
1971 2.2% 4.54%
1970 2.03% 4.25%
1969 1.76% 4.09%
1968 1.59% 3.97%
1967 1.41% 3.86%
1966 1.25% 3.79%
1965 1.15% 3.78%
1964 1.07% 3.77%
1963 1.02% 3.76%
1962 1.01% 3.74%
1961 1.02% 3.73%

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/sao-tome-and-principe/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Sao Tome and Principe grew by 2.02%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Sao Tome Saudi Arabia
Current population
246362
36734925
Population rank 176/197 44/197
Percent of world population 0.003% 0.44%
One net population change
1.88 hours
19.7 seconds
One birth every
1.35 hours
57 seconds
One death every
6.81 hours
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13 +4,377
Annual growth/decline +4,665 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate +2.02% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 49/197 4/197
One migration net change every
13.5 hours
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change -650 +119,738
Net migration rank 90/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 1,955 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 194/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 162/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sao Tome and Principe
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sao Tome Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -650 - 119,738
2024 - -604 - 122,170
2023 5,221 -592 474,366 325,691
2022 5,102 -592 406,920 977,072
2021 4,954 -782 409,032 -106,287
2020 4,874 0 447,036 -74,725
2019 4,932 -1,716 474,407 191,582
2018 4,957 -1,757 528,767 -988,751
2017 5,007 -1,779 546,751 -920,812
2016 5,125 -1,793 537,829 -26,997
2015 5,269 -1,809 511,023 465,292
2014 5,381 -1,801 493,431 469,144
2013 5,449 -1,787 475,299 485,794
2012 5,501 -1,739 465,649 479,206
2011 5,445 -1,616 443,675 491,253
2010 5,391 -1,529 418,641 504,955
2009 5,349 -1,328 438,557 496,229
2008 5,297 -1,203 433,457 491,337
2007 5,226 -1,127 425,199 489,136
2006 5,057 -1,031 399,333 504,661
2005 4,897 -941 375,938 518,565
2004 4,810 -894 362,843 523,472
2003 4,702 -816 364,520 514,606
2002 4,591 -690 372,099 500,508
2001 4,471 -1,289 382,153 484,252
2000 4,334 -2,798 392,407 468,515
1999 4,221 -2,594 390,112 160,263
1998 4,120 -2,364 389,499 159,898
1997 4,041 -2,153 385,033 160,066
1996 3,993 -1,974 382,248 160,532
1995 3,948 -1,829 380,231 160,512
1994 3,860 -1,644 377,351 160,306
1993 3,841 -1,527 372,621 158,074
1992 3,822 -1,432 366,763 160,908
1991 3,801 -1,362 361,329 162,857
1990 3,719 -727 355,495 160,416
1989 3,576 -571 349,399 159,273
1988 3,544 -465 342,865 146,918
1987 3,440 -470 333,088 175,075
1986 3,180 -614 322,340 172,606
1985 3,242 -828 310,558 148,208
1984 3,163 -1,041 296,615 153,562
1983 3,100 -1,203 280,616 157,930
1982 3,047 -1,203 264,831 153,528
1981 3,015 -1,067 249,156 140,355
1980 2,965 -770 234,372 121,220
1979 2,893 -491 220,186 112,826
1978 2,800 -279 205,331 105,263
1977 2,705 -255 191,103 96,015
1976 2,608 -302 178,024 85,083
1975 2,515 -392 166,223 73,960
1974 2,422 -474 155,478 69,653
1973 2,329 -525 145,450 63,995
1972 2,232 -517 136,360 55,439
1971 2,127 -430 127,600 43,989
1970 1,980 -279 120,440 31,097
1969 1,862 -469 113,859 25,312
1968 1,767 -520 108,281 21,366
1967 1,693 -606 103,343 17,947
1966 1,642 -688 98,361 15,054
1965 1,611 -765 93,820 15,000
1964 1,600 -819 89,776 15,000
1963 1,609 -886 85,480 15,000
1962 1,625 -927 81,393 15,000
1961 1,657 -960 77,743 15,000
1960 1,547 -860 74,143 15,000

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

GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/saudi-arabia | 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). In Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 people).

As of 2024, 1,955 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

Biggest cities by population

Sao Tome
City Population
Sao Tome 65.5K
Trindade 6.64K
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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/sao-tome-and-principe/saudi-arabia | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.