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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Sao Tome and Principe was 240,254 in 2025 vs 36,973,555 people in Saudi Arabia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sao Tome and Principe's population is 247,495 people compared to 37,955,120 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 153.4 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 43rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.46% of the world: 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe vs 0.46% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Sao Tome and Principe has had an average growth rate of +1.83% per year vs +2.5% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sao Tome and Principe has increased from 166K people to 247K (49.4% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 38M (76.9% 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 538,656 76,380,382
2099 537,257 75,896,692
2098 535,715 75,410,485
2097 534,052 74,922,342
2096 532,281 74,431,436
2095 530,505 73,939,761
2094 528,585 73,447,628
2093 526,572 72,954,272
2092 524,436 72,460,372
2091 522,255 71,966,760
2090 519,929 71,474,363
2089 517,542 70,984,330
2088 515,028 70,494,851
2087 512,499 70,006,368
2086 509,949 69,519,641
2085 507,271 69,035,093
2084 504,516 68,551,533
2083 501,611 68,068,933
2082 498,655 67,587,034
2081 495,622 67,105,252
2080 492,416 66,624,751
2079 489,178 66,144,495
2078 485,864 65,664,508
2077 482,385 65,183,768
2076 478,877 64,701,603
2075 475,315 64,217,651
2074 471,700 63,731,809
2073 468,051 63,243,084
2072 464,286 62,750,764
2071 460,447 62,255,408
2070 456,490 61,756,796
2069 452,388 61,253,878
2068 448,306 60,746,216
2067 444,092 60,235,232
2066 439,773 59,720,954
2065 435,502 59,203,814
2064 431,068 58,684,254
2063 426,645 58,161,702
2062 422,127 57,637,152
2061 417,629 57,109,207
2060 413,061 56,579,736
2059 408,522 56,047,666
2058 403,970 55,513,281
2057 399,359 54,978,393
2056 394,790 54,441,706
2055 390,100 53,904,081
2054 385,416 53,364,635
2053 380,685 52,823,422
2052 375,964 52,280,914
2051 371,143 51,737,228
2050 366,347 51,192,924
2049 361,542 50,647,663
2048 356,694 50,100,576
2047 351,813 49,552,613
2046 346,841 49,002,774
2045 341,791 48,451,215
2044 336,747 47,898,754
2043 331,669 47,346,122
2042 326,608 46,792,504
2041 321,551 46,237,820
2040 316,415 45,682,139
2039 311,237 45,126,407
2038 306,029 44,569,427
2037 300,834 44,012,415
2036 295,584 43,454,985
2035 290,361 42,897,909
2034 285,145 42,342,044
2033 279,952 41,787,423
2032 274,798 41,233,964
2031 269,704 40,680,599
2030 264,687 40,128,273
2029 259,670 39,530,306
2028 254,717 38,906,191
2027 249,827 38,267,271
2026 245,033 37,625,434
2025 240,254 36,973,555
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 43,806 people (a 21.5% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 7,000,922 people (a 22.6% 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 43rd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Sao Tome and Principe's population will grow by 48% to 366,347 people with a rank change from 176th to 175th. The population of Saudi Arabia will increase by 34.9% to 51,192,924 people and rank change from 43rd to 42nd.

Sao Tome and Principe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 539K people compared to the peak of 76.4M 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% 4.74%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Sao Tome and Principe grew by 2%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Sao Tome Saudi Arabia
Current population
247495
37955120
Population rank 176/197 43/197
Percent of world population 0.003% 0.46%
One net population change
1.86 hours
18.9 seconds
One birth every
1.32 hours
54.2 seconds
One death every
6.73 hours
6.37 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13 +4,584
Annual growth/decline +4,718 +1,673,275
Annual growth/decline rate +2% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 50/197 2/197
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 5,315 -604 499,782 122,170
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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 81.6% of the population change in Sao Tome and Principe is from natural causes (a gain of 50,756 people) and 18.4% is from migration (a loss of 11,424 people). In Saudi Arabia 99.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,835,913 people) and 0.73% is from migration (a loss of 35,765 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 (1960–2025, 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/sao-tome-and-principe/saudi-arabia | 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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