The latest officially reported population of Sao Tome and Principe was 235,536 in 2024 vs 121,354 people in the Seychelles in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sao Tome and Principe's population is 246,362 people compared to 126,311 in the Seychelles.
Population statistics:
- Sao Tome and Principe's population is 1.95 times bigger than the Seychelles'.
- Sao Tome and Principe is ranked the 176th most populous country in the world, while the Seychelles is the 181st.
- The countries together account for 0.004% of the world: 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe vs 0.002% for the Seychelles.
- For the last 10 years, Sao Tome and Principe has had an average growth rate of +1.82% per year vs +2.9% in the Seychelles.
- Since 2006, the population of Sao Tome and Principe has increased from 166K people to 246K (48.7% growth), while the Seychelles has grown from 84.6K to 126K (49.3% growth).
Sao Tome and Principe vs Seychelles: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Sao Tome
|
Seychelles
|
|
| 2100 | 538,729 | 109,110 |
| 2099 | 537,330 | 109,510 |
| 2098 | 535,787 | 109,913 |
| 2097 | 534,124 | 110,312 |
| 2096 | 532,353 | 110,717 |
| 2095 | 530,576 | 111,137 |
| 2094 | 528,656 | 111,560 |
| 2093 | 526,643 | 111,974 |
| 2092 | 524,507 | 112,405 |
| 2091 | 522,325 | 112,843 |
| 2090 | 519,999 | 113,275 |
| 2089 | 517,612 | 113,749 |
| 2088 | 515,098 | 114,211 |
| 2087 | 512,568 | 114,718 |
| 2086 | 510,018 | 115,228 |
| 2085 | 507,340 | 115,767 |
| 2084 | 504,584 | 116,310 |
| 2083 | 501,679 | 116,872 |
| 2082 | 498,722 | 117,458 |
| 2081 | 495,689 | 118,047 |
| 2080 | 492,482 | 118,661 |
| 2079 | 489,244 | 119,278 |
| 2078 | 485,930 | 119,911 |
| 2077 | 482,450 | 120,545 |
| 2076 | 478,942 | 121,166 |
| 2075 | 475,380 | 121,799 |
| 2074 | 471,763 | 122,420 |
| 2073 | 468,114 | 123,045 |
| 2072 | 464,348 | 123,657 |
| 2071 | 460,509 | 124,267 |
| 2070 | 456,552 | 124,877 |
| 2069 | 452,449 | 125,451 |
| 2068 | 448,367 | 126,032 |
| 2067 | 444,152 | 126,595 |
| 2066 | 439,833 | 127,164 |
| 2065 | 435,561 | 127,724 |
| 2064 | 431,126 | 128,261 |
| 2063 | 426,703 | 128,787 |
| 2062 | 422,184 | 129,273 |
| 2061 | 417,686 | 129,740 |
| 2060 | 413,117 | 130,177 |
| 2059 | 408,577 | 130,590 |
| 2058 | 404,024 | 130,975 |
| 2057 | 399,413 | 131,354 |
| 2056 | 394,844 | 131,694 |
| 2055 | 390,153 | 132,015 |
| 2054 | 385,468 | 132,318 |
| 2053 | 380,737 | 132,565 |
| 2052 | 376,015 | 132,802 |
| 2051 | 371,194 | 133,030 |
| 2050 | 366,397 | 133,232 |
| 2049 | 361,591 | 133,432 |
| 2048 | 356,742 | 133,589 |
| 2047 | 351,861 | 133,724 |
| 2046 | 346,888 | 133,833 |
| 2045 | 341,838 | 133,889 |
| 2044 | 336,792 | 133,942 |
| 2043 | 331,713 | 133,957 |
| 2042 | 326,652 | 133,946 |
| 2041 | 321,594 | 133,922 |
| 2040 | 316,457 | 133,838 |
| 2039 | 311,279 | 133,754 |
| 2038 | 306,071 | 133,660 |
| 2037 | 300,875 | 133,525 |
| 2036 | 295,624 | 133,366 |
| 2035 | 290,400 | 133,166 |
| 2034 | 285,183 | 132,941 |
| 2033 | 279,990 | 132,686 |
| 2032 | 274,835 | 132,396 |
| 2031 | 269,740 | 132,047 |
| 2030 | 264,723 | 131,685 |
| 2029 | 259,705 | 130,774 |
| 2028 | 254,751 | 129,428 |
| 2027 | 249,860 | 127,725 |
| 2026 | 245,066 | 125,787 |
| 2025 | 240,286 | 123,629 |
| 2024 | 235,536 | 121,354 |
| 2023 | 230,871 | 119,773 |
| 2022 | 226,305 | 119,878 |
| 2021 | 221,961 | 99,258 |
| 2020 | 217,435 | 98,462 |
| 2019 | 213,392 | 97,625 |
| 2018 | 210,187 | 96,762 |
| 2017 | 206,970 | 95,843 |
| 2016 | 203,689 | 94,677 |
| 2015 | 200,291 | 93,419 |
| 2014 | 196,767 | 91,359 |
| 2013 | 193,148 | 89,949 |
| 2012 | 189,439 | 88,303 |
| 2011 | 185,649 | 87,441 |
| 2010 | 181,802 | 89,770 |
| 2009 | 177,853 | 87,298 |
| 2008 | 173,793 | 86,956 |
| 2007 | 169,700 | 85,033 |
| 2006 | 165,638 | 84,600 |
| 2005 | 161,639 | 82,858 |
| 2004 | 157,705 | 82,475 |
| 2003 | 153,814 | 82,781 |
| 2002 | 149,922 | 83,723 |
| 2001 | 146,375 | 81,202 |
| 2000 | 144,018 | 81,131 |
| 1999 | 142,442 | 80,410 |
| 1998 | 140,751 | 78,846 |
| 1997 | 138,922 | 77,319 |
| 1996 | 136,962 | 76,417 |
| 1995 | 134,895 | 75,304 |
| 1994 | 132,732 | 74,205 |
| 1993 | 130,467 | 72,253 |
| 1992 | 128,110 | 70,763 |
| 1991 | 125,697 | 70,439 |
| 1990 | 122,980 | 69,507 |
| 1989 | 119,979 | 69,167 |
| 1988 | 116,939 | 68,755 |
| 1987 | 113,919 | 68,499 |
| 1986 | 111,150 | 65,652 |
| 1985 | 108,658 | 65,244 |
| 1984 | 106,394 | 64,717 |
| 1983 | 104,380 | 64,335 |
| 1982 | 102,508 | 64,413 |
| 1981 | 100,615 | 64,035 |
| 1980 | 98,544 | 63,261 |
| 1979 | 96,252 | 62,686 |
| 1978 | 93,794 | 62,150 |
| 1977 | 91,301 | 61,786 |
| 1976 | 88,922 | 60,504 |
| 1975 | 86,708 | 59,292 |
| 1974 | 84,672 | 57,937 |
| 1973 | 82,798 | 56,892 |
| 1972 | 81,041 | 56,029 |
| 1971 | 79,330 | 54,695 |
| 1970 | 77,626 | 53,600 |
| 1969 | 76,083 | 52,365 |
| 1968 | 74,765 | 51,134 |
| 1967 | 73,596 | 49,911 |
| 1966 | 72,576 | 48,699 |
| 1965 | 71,680 | 47,500 |
| 1964 | 70,865 | 46,322 |
| 1963 | 70,112 | 45,176 |
| 1962 | 69,403 | 44,042 |
| 1961 | 68,707 | 42,889 |
| 1960 | 68,012 | 41,700 |
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/seychelles | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sao Tome and Principe increased by 38,051 people (a 23% growth), while the Seychelles gained 10,077 people (a 11.9% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sao Tome and Principe gained 42,673 people (a 21% growth), while the Seychelles' population increased by 31,634 people (a 33.4% growth).
Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th most populous country in 2006 and is 176th in 2026. The Seychelles was ranked 184th in 2006 and ranked 181st 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 the Seychelles will increase by 5.48% to 133,232 people and will still be ranked 181st.
Sao Tome and Principe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 539K people compared to the peak of 134K people in 2043 for the Seychelles.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Sao Tome
|
Seychelles
|
|
| 2100 | 0.26% | -0.37% |
| 2099 | 0.29% | -0.37% |
| 2098 | 0.31% | -0.36% |
| 2097 | 0.33% | -0.37% |
| 2096 | 0.33% | -0.38% |
| 2095 | 0.36% | -0.38% |
| 2094 | 0.38% | -0.37% |
| 2093 | 0.41% | -0.38% |
| 2092 | 0.42% | -0.39% |
| 2091 | 0.45% | -0.38% |
| 2090 | 0.46% | -0.42% |
| 2089 | 0.49% | -0.4% |
| 2088 | 0.49% | -0.44% |
| 2087 | 0.5% | -0.44% |
| 2086 | 0.53% | -0.47% |
| 2085 | 0.55% | -0.47% |
| 2084 | 0.58% | -0.48% |
| 2083 | 0.59% | -0.5% |
| 2082 | 0.61% | -0.5% |
| 2081 | 0.65% | -0.52% |
| 2080 | 0.66% | -0.52% |
| 2079 | 0.68% | -0.53% |
| 2078 | 0.72% | -0.53% |
| 2077 | 0.73% | -0.51% |
| 2076 | 0.75% | -0.52% |
| 2075 | 0.77% | -0.51% |
| 2074 | 0.78% | -0.51% |
| 2073 | 0.81% | -0.5% |
| 2072 | 0.83% | -0.49% |
| 2071 | 0.87% | -0.49% |
| 2070 | 0.91% | -0.46% |
| 2069 | 0.91% | -0.46% |
| 2068 | 0.95% | -0.45% |
| 2067 | 0.98% | -0.45% |
| 2066 | 0.98% | -0.44% |
| 2065 | 1.03% | -0.42% |
| 2064 | 1.04% | -0.41% |
| 2063 | 1.07% | -0.38% |
| 2062 | 1.08% | -0.36% |
| 2061 | 1.11% | -0.34% |
| 2060 | 1.11% | -0.32% |
| 2059 | 1.13% | -0.29% |
| 2058 | 1.15% | -0.29% |
| 2057 | 1.16% | -0.26% |
| 2056 | 1.2% | -0.24% |
| 2055 | 1.22% | -0.23% |
| 2054 | 1.24% | -0.19% |
| 2053 | 1.26% | -0.18% |
| 2052 | 1.3% | -0.17% |
| 2051 | 1.31% | -0.15% |
| 2050 | 1.33% | -0.15% |
| 2049 | 1.36% | -0.12% |
| 2048 | 1.39% | -0.1% |
| 2047 | 1.43% | -0.08% |
| 2046 | 1.48% | -0.04% |
| 2045 | 1.5% | -0.04% |
| 2044 | 1.53% | -0.01% |
| 2043 | 1.55% | 0.008% |
| 2042 | 1.57% | 0.02% |
| 2041 | 1.62% | 0.06% |
| 2040 | 1.66% | 0.06% |
| 2039 | 1.7% | 0.07% |
| 2038 | 1.73% | 0.1% |
| 2037 | 1.78% | 0.12% |
| 2036 | 1.8% | 0.15% |
| 2035 | 1.83% | 0.17% |
| 2034 | 1.85% | 0.19% |
| 2033 | 1.88% | 0.22% |
| 2032 | 1.89% | 0.26% |
| 2031 | 1.9% | 0.27% |
| 2030 | 1.93% | 0.7% |
| 2029 | 1.94% | 1.04% |
| 2028 | 1.96% | 1.33% |
| 2027 | 1.96% | 1.54% |
| 2026 | 1.99% | 1.75% |
| 2025 | 2.02% | 1.88% |
| 2024 | 2.02% | 1.32% |
| 2023 | 2.02% | -0.09% |
| 2022 | 1.96% | 20.8% |
| 2021 | 2.08% | 0.81% |
| 2020 | 1.89% | 0.86% |
| 2019 | 1.52% | 0.89% |
| 2018 | 1.55% | 0.96% |
| 2017 | 1.61% | 1.23% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | 1.35% |
| 2015 | 1.79% | 2.25% |
| 2014 | 1.87% | 1.57% |
| 2013 | 1.96% | 1.86% |
| 2012 | 2.04% | 0.99% |
| 2011 | 2.12% | -2.59% |
| 2010 | 2.22% | 2.83% |
| 2009 | 2.34% | 0.39% |
| 2008 | 2.41% | 2.26% |
| 2007 | 2.45% | 0.51% |
| 2006 | 2.47% | 2.1% |
| 2005 | 2.49% | 0.46% |
| 2004 | 2.53% | -0.37% |
| 2003 | 2.6% | -1.13% |
| 2002 | 2.42% | 3.1% |
| 2001 | 1.64% | 0.09% |
| 2000 | 1.11% | 0.9% |
| 1999 | 1.2% | 1.98% |
| 1998 | 1.32% | 1.97% |
| 1997 | 1.43% | 1.18% |
| 1996 | 1.53% | 1.48% |
| 1995 | 1.63% | 1.48% |
| 1994 | 1.74% | 2.7% |
| 1993 | 1.84% | 2.11% |
| 1992 | 1.92% | 0.46% |
| 1991 | 2.21% | 1.34% |
| 1990 | 2.5% | 0.49% |
| 1989 | 2.6% | 0.6% |
| 1988 | 2.65% | 0.37% |
| 1987 | 2.49% | 4.34% |
| 1986 | 2.29% | 0.63% |
| 1985 | 2.13% | 0.81% |
| 1984 | 1.93% | 0.59% |
| 1983 | 1.83% | -0.12% |
| 1982 | 1.88% | 0.59% |
| 1981 | 2.1% | 1.22% |
| 1980 | 2.38% | 0.92% |
| 1979 | 2.62% | 0.86% |
| 1978 | 2.73% | 0.59% |
| 1977 | 2.68% | 2.12% |
| 1976 | 2.55% | 2.04% |
| 1975 | 2.4% | 2.34% |
| 1974 | 2.26% | 1.84% |
| 1973 | 2.17% | 1.54% |
| 1972 | 2.16% | 2.44% |
| 1971 | 2.2% | 2.04% |
| 1970 | 2.03% | 2.36% |
| 1969 | 1.76% | 2.41% |
| 1968 | 1.59% | 2.45% |
| 1967 | 1.41% | 2.49% |
| 1966 | 1.25% | 2.52% |
| 1965 | 1.15% | 2.54% |
| 1964 | 1.07% | 2.54% |
| 1963 | 1.02% | 2.57% |
| 1962 | 1.01% | 2.69% |
| 1961 | 1.02% | 2.85% |
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/seychelles | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Sao Tome and Principe grew by 2.02%, while the Seychelles' population grew by 1.32%.
Live population counters
|
Sao Tome
|
Seychelles
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
246362
|
126311
|
| Population rank | 176/197 | 181/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.003% | 0.002% |
| One net population change |
1.88 hours
|
5.54 hours
|
| One birth every |
1.35 hours
|
5.63 hours
|
| One death every |
6.81 hours
|
10 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +13 | +4 |
| Annual growth/decline | +4,665 | +1,581 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.02% | +1.32% |
| Population growth rate rank | 49/197 | 80/197 |
| One migration net change every |
13.5 hours
|
5.52 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -650 | +1,590 |
| Net migration rank | 90/196 | 60/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 1,955 | 13,261 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 194/195 | 175/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.8% | 10.2% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 162/195 | 65/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sao Tome
|
Seychelles
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -650 | - | 1,590 |
| 2024 | - | -604 | - | 1,747 |
| 2023 | 5,221 | -592 | 683 | 1,809 |
| 2022 | 5,102 | -592 | 635 | 1,788 |
| 2021 | 4,954 | -782 | 744 | 2,086 |
| 2020 | 4,874 | 0 | 886 | 1,726 |
| 2019 | 4,932 | -1,716 | 811 | 1,770 |
| 2018 | 4,957 | -1,757 | 842 | 1,733 |
| 2017 | 5,007 | -1,779 | 901 | 1,693 |
| 2016 | 5,125 | -1,793 | 900 | 1,682 |
| 2015 | 5,269 | -1,809 | 888 | 1,719 |
| 2014 | 5,381 | -1,801 | 832 | 1,742 |
| 2013 | 5,449 | -1,787 | 846 | 1,717 |
| 2012 | 5,501 | -1,739 | 989 | 1,538 |
| 2011 | 5,445 | -1,616 | 936 | 1,551 |
| 2010 | 5,391 | -1,529 | 844 | 740 |
| 2009 | 5,349 | -1,328 | 900 | 105 |
| 2008 | 5,297 | -1,203 | 887 | 105 |
| 2007 | 5,226 | -1,127 | 867 | 173 |
| 2006 | 5,057 | -1,031 | 804 | 264 |
| 2005 | 4,897 | -941 | 861 | 214 |
| 2004 | 4,810 | -894 | 842 | 317 |
| 2003 | 4,702 | -816 | 828 | 316 |
| 2002 | 4,591 | -690 | 837 | 425 |
| 2001 | 4,471 | -1,289 | 885 | 509 |
| 2000 | 4,334 | -2,798 | 958 | 461 |
| 1999 | 4,221 | -2,594 | 901 | 491 |
| 1998 | 4,120 | -2,364 | 844 | 512 |
| 1997 | 4,041 | -2,153 | 873 | -11 |
| 1996 | 3,993 | -1,974 | 1,047 | -266 |
| 1995 | 3,948 | -1,829 | 1,054 | -171 |
| 1994 | 3,860 | -1,644 | 1,136 | -231 |
| 1993 | 3,841 | -1,527 | 1,091 | -316 |
| 1992 | 3,822 | -1,432 | 1,076 | -289 |
| 1991 | 3,801 | -1,362 | 1,162 | -342 |
| 1990 | 3,719 | -727 | 1,070 | -228 |
| 1989 | 3,576 | -571 | 1,030 | -206 |
| 1988 | 3,544 | -465 | 1,135 | -196 |
| 1987 | 3,440 | -470 | 1,172 | -363 |
| 1986 | 3,180 | -614 | 1,222 | -487 |
| 1985 | 3,242 | -828 | 1,259 | -458 |
| 1984 | 3,163 | -1,041 | 1,255 | -493 |
| 1983 | 3,100 | -1,203 | 1,209 | -439 |
| 1982 | 3,047 | -1,203 | 1,069 | -357 |
| 1981 | 3,015 | -1,067 | 1,358 | -565 |
| 1980 | 2,965 | -770 | 1,386 | -587 |
| 1979 | 2,893 | -491 | 1,292 | -509 |
| 1978 | 2,800 | -279 | 1,330 | -587 |
| 1977 | 2,705 | -255 | 1,125 | 140 |
| 1976 | 2,608 | -302 | 1,174 | 472 |
| 1975 | 2,515 | -392 | 1,376 | 259 |
| 1974 | 2,422 | -474 | 1,361 | 174 |
| 1973 | 2,329 | -525 | 1,166 | 327 |
| 1972 | 2,232 | -517 | 1,199 | 266 |
| 1971 | 2,127 | -430 | 1,373 | 102 |
| 1970 | 1,980 | -279 | 1,087 | 69 |
| 1969 | 1,862 | -469 | 1,119 | 43 |
| 1968 | 1,767 | -520 | 1,145 | 54 |
| 1967 | 1,693 | -606 | 1,217 | -15 |
| 1966 | 1,642 | -688 | 1,280 | -94 |
| 1965 | 1,611 | -765 | 1,165 | -20 |
| 1964 | 1,600 | -819 | 1,155 | -74 |
| 1963 | 1,609 | -886 | 1,123 | -107 |
| 1962 | 1,625 | -927 | 1,083 | -128 |
| 1961 | 1,657 | -960 | 1,040 | -153 |
| 1960 | 1,547 | -860 | 977 | -180 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/seychelles | 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 the Seychelles 31.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 8,122 people) and 68.6% is from migration (a gain of 17,748 people).
As of 2024, 1,955 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 13,261 people or 10.2% in the Seychelles.
Biggest cities by population
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Sao Tome | 65.5K |
| Trindade | 6.64K |
|
Seychelles
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Victoria | 24.7K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Sao Tome and Principe and the Seychelles
|
Sao Tome
|
Seychelles
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 70.3 years | 73.3 years |
| Average age | 25.1 years | 35.4 years |
| Median age | 20.3 years | 35 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.7:50.3 | 55.2:44.8 |
| Fertility rate | 3.64 births per woman | 2.02 births per woman |
| Population density | 661 ppl/mi² | 708 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/seychelles | 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)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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