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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Sao Tome and Principe was 235,536 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sao Tome and Principe's population is 246,362 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 266.6 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
  • Sao Tome and Principe is ranked the 176th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.8% of the world: 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Sao Tome and Principe has had an average growth rate of +1.82% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sao Tome and Principe has increased from 166K people to 246K (48.7% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Sao Tome and Principe vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sao Tome South Africa
2100 538,729 94,767,727
2099 537,330 94,556,931
2098 535,787 94,349,546
2097 534,124 94,158,472
2096 532,353 93,960,605
2095 530,576 93,752,736
2094 528,656 93,527,902
2093 526,643 93,300,398
2092 524,507 93,074,837
2091 522,325 92,826,204
2090 519,999 92,594,033
2089 517,612 92,355,184
2088 515,098 92,112,914
2087 512,568 91,866,024
2086 510,018 91,614,165
2085 507,340 91,385,350
2084 504,584 91,139,318
2083 501,679 90,877,425
2082 498,722 90,615,359
2081 495,689 90,345,492
2080 492,482 90,071,835
2079 489,244 89,801,998
2078 485,930 89,526,224
2077 482,450 89,249,206
2076 478,942 88,986,114
2075 475,380 88,713,215
2074 471,763 88,428,616
2073 468,114 88,149,885
2072 464,348 87,866,246
2071 460,509 87,540,177
2070 456,552 87,209,425
2069 452,449 86,901,512
2068 448,367 86,588,742
2067 444,152 86,268,392
2066 439,833 85,935,310
2065 435,561 85,604,376
2064 431,126 85,244,950
2063 426,703 84,875,503
2062 422,184 84,503,237
2061 417,686 84,132,885
2060 413,117 83,748,999
2059 408,577 83,354,923
2058 404,024 82,947,675
2057 399,413 82,538,045
2056 394,844 82,127,477
2055 390,153 81,698,196
2054 385,468 81,255,867
2053 380,737 80,818,632
2052 376,015 80,367,409
2051 371,194 79,886,672
2050 366,397 79,411,977
2049 361,591 78,925,493
2048 356,742 78,437,677
2047 351,861 77,922,211
2046 346,888 77,397,298
2045 341,838 76,879,838
2044 336,792 76,357,155
2043 331,713 75,827,709
2042 326,652 75,291,615
2041 321,594 74,748,408
2040 316,457 74,205,530
2039 311,279 73,663,047
2038 306,071 73,105,930
2037 300,875 72,532,742
2036 295,624 71,956,247
2035 290,400 71,362,555
2034 285,183 70,762,815
2033 279,990 70,153,205
2032 274,835 69,527,410
2031 269,740 68,890,002
2030 264,723 68,245,372
2029 259,705 67,573,179
2028 254,751 66,884,377
2027 249,860 66,190,258
2026 245,066 65,496,277
2025 240,286 64,770,314
2024 235,536 64,007,187
2023 230,871 63,212,384
2022 226,305 62,378,410
2021 221,961 61,502,603
2020 217,435 60,562,381
2019 213,392 59,587,885
2018 210,187 58,613,001
2017 206,970 57,635,162
2016 203,689 57,259,551
2015 200,291 56,723,537
2014 196,767 55,594,838
2013 193,148 54,678,791
2012 189,439 53,782,567
2011 185,649 52,995,205
2010 181,802 52,344,051
2009 177,853 51,728,516
2008 173,793 51,114,599
2007 169,700 50,528,584
2006 165,638 49,998,277
2005 161,639 49,490,033
2004 157,705 48,991,421
2003 153,814 48,500,348
2002 149,922 48,019,415
2001 146,375 47,566,800
2000 144,018 47,159,719
1999 142,442 46,730,335
1998 140,751 46,223,880
1997 138,922 45,666,838
1996 136,962 45,123,018
1995 134,895 44,541,554
1994 132,732 44,004,139
1993 130,467 43,297,156
1992 128,110 42,443,509
1991 125,697 41,687,898
1990 122,980 40,746,268
1989 119,979 39,628,575
1988 116,939 38,480,649
1987 113,919 37,326,190
1986 111,150 36,180,515
1985 108,658 35,042,093
1984 106,394 33,892,788
1983 104,380 32,739,304
1982 102,508 31,615,339
1981 100,615 30,541,044
1980 98,544 29,518,857
1979 96,252 28,634,162
1978 93,794 27,869,507
1977 91,301 27,118,952
1976 88,922 26,395,450
1975 86,708 25,690,940
1974 84,672 24,989,108
1973 82,798 24,294,263
1972 81,041 23,609,456
1971 79,330 22,942,143
1970 77,626 22,279,984
1969 76,083 21,614,676
1968 74,765 20,957,287
1967 73,596 20,314,066
1966 72,576 19,690,087
1965 71,680 19,089,380
1964 70,865 18,511,361
1963 70,112 17,954,564
1962 69,403 17,418,522
1961 68,707 16,908,035
1960 68,012 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sao Tome and Principe increased by 38,051 people (a 23% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sao Tome and Principe gained 42,673 people (a 21% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th most populous country in 2006 and is 176th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Sao Tome and Principe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 539K people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sao Tome South Africa
2100 0.26% 0.22%
2099 0.29% 0.22%
2098 0.31% 0.2%
2097 0.33% 0.21%
2096 0.33% 0.22%
2095 0.36% 0.24%
2094 0.38% 0.24%
2093 0.41% 0.24%
2092 0.42% 0.27%
2091 0.45% 0.25%
2090 0.46% 0.26%
2089 0.49% 0.26%
2088 0.49% 0.27%
2087 0.5% 0.27%
2086 0.53% 0.25%
2085 0.55% 0.27%
2084 0.58% 0.29%
2083 0.59% 0.29%
2082 0.61% 0.3%
2081 0.65% 0.3%
2080 0.66% 0.3%
2079 0.68% 0.31%
2078 0.72% 0.31%
2077 0.73% 0.3%
2076 0.75% 0.31%
2075 0.77% 0.32%
2074 0.78% 0.32%
2073 0.81% 0.32%
2072 0.83% 0.37%
2071 0.87% 0.38%
2070 0.91% 0.35%
2069 0.91% 0.36%
2068 0.95% 0.37%
2067 0.98% 0.39%
2066 0.98% 0.39%
2065 1.03% 0.42%
2064 1.04% 0.44%
2063 1.07% 0.44%
2062 1.08% 0.44%
2061 1.11% 0.46%
2060 1.11% 0.47%
2059 1.13% 0.49%
2058 1.15% 0.5%
2057 1.16% 0.5%
2056 1.2% 0.53%
2055 1.22% 0.54%
2054 1.24% 0.54%
2053 1.26% 0.56%
2052 1.3% 0.6%
2051 1.31% 0.6%
2050 1.33% 0.62%
2049 1.36% 0.62%
2048 1.39% 0.66%
2047 1.43% 0.68%
2046 1.48% 0.67%
2045 1.5% 0.68%
2044 1.53% 0.7%
2043 1.55% 0.71%
2042 1.57% 0.73%
2041 1.62% 0.73%
2040 1.66% 0.74%
2039 1.7% 0.76%
2038 1.73% 0.79%
2037 1.78% 0.8%
2036 1.8% 0.83%
2035 1.83% 0.85%
2034 1.85% 0.87%
2033 1.88% 0.9%
2032 1.89% 0.93%
2031 1.9% 0.94%
2030 1.93% 0.99%
2029 1.94% 1.03%
2028 1.96% 1.05%
2027 1.96% 1.06%
2026 1.99% 1.12%
2025 2.02% 1.19%
2024 2.02% 1.26%
2023 2.02% 1.34%
2022 1.96% 1.42%
2021 2.08% 1.55%
2020 1.89% 1.64%
2019 1.52% 1.66%
2018 1.55% 1.7%
2017 1.61% 0.66%
2016 1.7% 0.94%
2015 1.79% 2.03%
2014 1.87% 1.68%
2013 1.96% 1.67%
2012 2.04% 1.49%
2011 2.12% 1.24%
2010 2.22% 1.19%
2009 2.34% 1.2%
2008 2.41% 1.16%
2007 2.45% 1.06%
2006 2.47% 1.03%
2005 2.49% 1.02%
2004 2.53% 1.01%
2003 2.6% 1%
2002 2.42% 0.95%
2001 1.64% 0.86%
2000 1.11% 0.92%
1999 1.2% 1.1%
1998 1.32% 1.22%
1997 1.43% 1.21%
1996 1.53% 1.31%
1995 1.63% 1.22%
1994 1.74% 1.63%
1993 1.84% 2.01%
1992 1.92% 1.81%
1991 2.21% 2.31%
1990 2.5% 2.82%
1989 2.6% 2.98%
1988 2.65% 3.09%
1987 2.49% 3.17%
1986 2.29% 3.25%
1985 2.13% 3.39%
1984 1.93% 3.52%
1983 1.83% 3.56%
1982 1.88% 3.52%
1981 2.1% 3.46%
1980 2.38% 3.09%
1979 2.62% 2.74%
1978 2.73% 2.77%
1977 2.68% 2.74%
1976 2.55% 2.74%
1975 2.4% 2.81%
1974 2.26% 2.86%
1973 2.17% 2.9%
1972 2.16% 2.91%
1971 2.2% 2.97%
1970 2.03% 3.08%
1969 1.76% 3.14%
1968 1.59% 3.17%
1967 1.41% 3.17%
1966 1.25% 3.15%
1965 1.15% 3.12%
1964 1.07% 3.1%
1963 1.02% 3.08%
1962 1.01% 3.02%
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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Sao Tome and Principe grew by 2.02%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Sao Tome South Africa
Current population
246362
65683993
Population rank 176/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.003% 0.79%
One net population change
1.88 hours
39.7 seconds
One birth every
1.35 hours
26.6 seconds
One death every
6.81 hours
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +13 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +4,665 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +2.02% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 49/197 85/197
One migration net change every
13.5 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -650 +146,370
Net migration rank 90/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 1,955 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 194/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 162/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sao Tome and Principe
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sao Tome South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -650 - 146,370
2024 - -604 - 166,972
2023 5,221 -592 602,793 228,222
2022 5,102 -592 603,636 233,284
2021 4,954 -782 456,411 458,246
2020 4,874 0 595,873 369,901
2019 4,932 -1,716 652,130 331,124
2018 4,957 -1,757 648,319 318,260
2017 5,007 -1,779 645,975 343,146
2016 5,125 -1,793 641,365 -879,235
2015 5,269 -1,809 668,771 641,150
2014 5,381 -1,801 674,754 272,697
2013 5,449 -1,787 652,427 232,230
2012 5,501 -1,739 643,723 264,091
2011 5,445 -1,616 601,708 65,166
2010 5,391 -1,529 566,834 68,563
2009 5,349 -1,328 554,115 41,528
2008 5,297 -1,203 595,332 36,869
2007 5,226 -1,127 503,567 36,339
2006 5,057 -1,031 487,584 33,159
2005 4,897 -941 464,464 31,286
2004 4,810 -894 442,540 58,924
2003 4,702 -816 415,018 65,604
2002 4,591 -690 430,926 50,313
2001 4,471 -1,289 484,801 -60,793
2000 4,334 -2,798 526,963 -136,794
1999 4,221 -2,594 594,643 -126,011
1998 4,120 -2,364 627,027 -82,722
1997 4,041 -2,153 667,969 -98,181
1996 3,993 -1,974 710,868 -193,007
1995 3,948 -1,829 743,488 -98,403
1994 3,860 -1,644 698,609 -268,849
1993 3,841 -1,527 789,220 194,977
1992 3,822 -1,432 794,415 -71,342
1991 3,801 -1,362 827,296 -39,131
1990 3,719 -727 835,421 259,718
1989 3,576 -571 884,629 255,605
1988 3,544 -465 909,221 246,382
1987 3,440 -470 922,330 231,009
1986 3,180 -614 903,644 234,378
1985 3,242 -828 893,889 244,940
1984 3,163 -1,041 869,011 290,789
1983 3,100 -1,203 837,013 310,172
1982 3,047 -1,203 807,550 293,195
1981 3,015 -1,067 767,833 279,985
1980 2,965 -770 738,415 258,127
1979 2,893 -491 716,541 56,323
1978 2,800 -279 694,341 62,121
1977 2,705 -255 680,929 63,739
1976 2,608 -302 675,011 27,333
1975 2,515 -392 667,862 38,809
1974 2,422 -474 658,438 38,518
1973 2,329 -525 651,596 41,125
1972 2,232 -517 638,754 38,163
1971 2,127 -430 624,761 32,961
1970 1,980 -279 605,102 61,514
1969 1,862 -469 590,794 73,225
1968 1,767 -520 571,841 78,932
1967 1,693 -606 553,741 81,932
1966 1,642 -688 534,862 77,417
1965 1,611 -765 506,632 82,514
1964 1,600 -819 490,606 76,298
1963 1,609 -886 473,821 72,844
1962 1,625 -927 455,634 69,771
1961 1,657 -960 437,851 57,728
1960 1,547 -860 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 1,955 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Sao Tome
City Population
Sao Tome 65.5K
Trindade 6.64K
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | CC BY

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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)

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