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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Sao Tome and Principe was 235,536 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sao Tome and Principe's population is 246,362 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 209.7 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
  • Sao Tome and Principe is ranked the 176th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.63% of the world: 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Sao Tome and Principe has had an average growth rate of +1.82% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sao Tome and Principe has increased from 166K people to 246K (48.7% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

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

Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sao Tome South Korea
2100 538,729 22,012,503
2099 537,330 22,335,528
2098 535,787 22,668,719
2097 534,124 23,009,661
2096 532,353 23,360,151
2095 530,576 23,722,747
2094 528,656 24,093,391
2093 526,643 24,473,038
2092 524,507 24,860,975
2091 522,325 25,255,379
2090 519,999 25,655,577
2089 517,612 26,060,945
2088 515,098 26,470,073
2087 512,568 26,884,813
2086 510,018 27,301,913
2085 507,340 27,723,736
2084 504,584 28,147,480
2083 501,679 28,578,182
2082 498,722 29,012,953
2081 495,689 29,456,022
2080 492,482 29,901,880
2079 489,244 30,352,062
2078 485,930 30,809,176
2077 482,450 31,273,700
2076 478,942 31,744,480
2075 475,380 32,221,226
2074 471,763 32,706,020
2073 468,114 33,196,556
2072 464,348 33,696,490
2071 460,509 34,203,935
2070 456,552 34,719,324
2069 452,449 35,241,850
2068 448,367 35,762,799
2067 444,152 36,292,307
2066 439,833 36,826,655
2065 435,561 37,368,086
2064 431,126 37,916,439
2063 426,703 38,469,051
2062 422,184 39,028,473
2061 417,686 39,584,621
2060 413,117 40,149,830
2059 408,577 40,712,514
2058 404,024 41,277,134
2057 399,413 41,833,887
2056 394,844 42,377,427
2055 390,153 42,909,302
2054 385,468 43,427,254
2053 380,737 43,938,741
2052 376,015 44,441,106
2051 371,194 44,923,604
2050 366,397 45,385,311
2049 361,591 45,832,153
2048 356,742 46,258,529
2047 351,861 46,668,898
2046 346,888 47,056,404
2045 341,838 47,433,205
2044 336,792 47,797,411
2043 331,713 48,144,730
2042 326,652 48,478,991
2041 321,594 48,806,273
2040 316,457 49,115,658
2039 311,279 49,412,830
2038 306,071 49,694,340
2037 300,875 49,957,504
2036 295,624 50,200,702
2035 290,400 50,426,000
2034 285,183 50,632,962
2033 279,990 50,821,090
2032 274,835 50,987,020
2031 269,740 51,134,940
2030 264,723 51,267,908
2029 259,705 51,385,868
2028 254,751 51,486,791
2027 249,860 51,576,746
2026 245,066 51,649,918
2025 240,286 51,710,062
2024 235,536 51,751,065
2023 230,871 51,712,619
2022 226,305 51,672,569
2021 221,961 51,769,539
2020 217,435 51,836,239
2019 213,392 51,764,822
2018 210,187 51,585,058
2017 206,970 51,361,911
2016 203,689 51,217,803
2015 200,291 51,014,947
2014 196,767 50,746,659
2013 193,148 50,428,893
2012 189,439 50,199,853
2011 185,649 49,936,638
2010 181,802 49,554,112
2009 177,853 49,307,835
2008 173,793 49,054,708
2007 169,700 48,683,638
2006 165,638 48,438,292
2005 161,639 48,184,561
2004 157,705 48,082,519
2003 153,814 47,892,330
2002 149,922 47,644,736
2001 146,375 47,370,164
2000 144,018 47,008,111
1999 142,442 46,616,677
1998 140,751 46,286,503
1997 138,922 45,953,580
1996 136,962 45,524,681
1995 134,895 45,092,991
1994 132,732 44,641,540
1993 130,467 44,194,628
1992 128,110 43,747,962
1991 125,697 43,295,704
1990 122,980 42,869,283
1989 119,979 42,449,038
1988 116,939 42,031,247
1987 113,919 41,621,690
1986 111,150 41,213,674
1985 108,658 40,805,744
1984 106,394 40,405,956
1983 104,380 39,910,403
1982 102,508 39,326,352
1981 100,615 38,723,248
1980 98,544 38,123,775
1979 96,252 37,534,236
1978 93,794 36,969,185
1977 91,301 36,411,795
1976 88,922 35,848,523
1975 86,708 35,280,725
1974 84,672 34,692,266
1973 82,798 34,103,149
1972 81,041 33,505,406
1971 79,330 32,882,704
1970 77,626 32,240,827
1969 76,083 31,544,266
1968 74,765 30,838,302
1967 73,596 30,130,983
1966 72,576 29,435,571
1965 71,680 28,704,674
1964 70,865 27,984,155
1963 70,112 27,261,747
1962 69,403 26,513,030
1961 68,707 25,765,673
1960 68,012 25,012,374

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-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sao Tome and Principe increased by 38,051 people (a 23% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sao Tome and Principe gained 42,673 people (a 21% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th most populous country in 2006 and is 176th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Sao Tome and Principe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 539K people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sao Tome South Korea
2100 0.26% -1.45%
2099 0.29% -1.47%
2098 0.31% -1.48%
2097 0.33% -1.5%
2096 0.33% -1.53%
2095 0.36% -1.54%
2094 0.38% -1.55%
2093 0.41% -1.56%
2092 0.42% -1.56%
2091 0.45% -1.56%
2090 0.46% -1.56%
2089 0.49% -1.55%
2088 0.49% -1.54%
2087 0.5% -1.53%
2086 0.53% -1.52%
2085 0.55% -1.51%
2084 0.58% -1.51%
2083 0.59% -1.5%
2082 0.61% -1.5%
2081 0.65% -1.49%
2080 0.66% -1.48%
2079 0.68% -1.48%
2078 0.72% -1.49%
2077 0.73% -1.48%
2076 0.75% -1.48%
2075 0.77% -1.48%
2074 0.78% -1.48%
2073 0.81% -1.48%
2072 0.83% -1.48%
2071 0.87% -1.48%
2070 0.91% -1.48%
2069 0.91% -1.46%
2068 0.95% -1.46%
2067 0.98% -1.45%
2066 0.98% -1.45%
2065 1.03% -1.45%
2064 1.04% -1.44%
2063 1.07% -1.43%
2062 1.08% -1.4%
2061 1.11% -1.41%
2060 1.11% -1.38%
2059 1.13% -1.37%
2058 1.15% -1.33%
2057 1.16% -1.28%
2056 1.2% -1.24%
2055 1.22% -1.19%
2054 1.24% -1.16%
2053 1.26% -1.13%
2052 1.3% -1.07%
2051 1.31% -1.02%
2050 1.33% -0.97%
2049 1.36% -0.92%
2048 1.39% -0.88%
2047 1.43% -0.82%
2046 1.48% -0.79%
2045 1.5% -0.76%
2044 1.53% -0.72%
2043 1.55% -0.69%
2042 1.57% -0.67%
2041 1.62% -0.63%
2040 1.66% -0.6%
2039 1.7% -0.57%
2038 1.73% -0.53%
2037 1.78% -0.48%
2036 1.8% -0.45%
2035 1.83% -0.41%
2034 1.85% -0.37%
2033 1.88% -0.33%
2032 1.89% -0.29%
2031 1.9% -0.26%
2030 1.93% -0.23%
2029 1.94% -0.2%
2028 1.96% -0.17%
2027 1.96% -0.14%
2026 1.99% -0.12%
2025 2.02% -0.08%
2024 2.02% 0.07%
2023 2.02% 0.08%
2022 1.96% -0.19%
2021 2.08% -0.13%
2020 1.89% 0.14%
2019 1.52% 0.35%
2018 1.55% 0.43%
2017 1.61% 0.28%
2016 1.7% 0.4%
2015 1.79% 0.53%
2014 1.87% 0.63%
2013 1.96% 0.46%
2012 2.04% 0.53%
2011 2.12% 0.77%
2010 2.22% 0.5%
2009 2.34% 0.52%
2008 2.41% 0.76%
2007 2.45% 0.51%
2006 2.47% 0.53%
2005 2.49% 0.21%
2004 2.53% 0.4%
2003 2.6% 0.52%
2002 2.42% 0.58%
2001 1.64% 0.77%
2000 1.11% 0.84%
1999 1.2% 0.71%
1998 1.32% 0.72%
1997 1.43% 0.94%
1996 1.53% 0.96%
1995 1.63% 1.01%
1994 1.74% 1.01%
1993 1.84% 1.02%
1992 1.92% 1.04%
1991 2.21% 0.99%
1990 2.5% 0.99%
1989 2.6% 0.99%
1988 2.65% 0.98%
1987 2.49% 0.99%
1986 2.29% 1%
1985 2.13% 0.99%
1984 1.93% 1.24%
1983 1.83% 1.49%
1982 1.88% 1.56%
1981 2.1% 1.57%
1980 2.38% 1.57%
1979 2.62% 1.53%
1978 2.73% 1.53%
1977 2.68% 1.57%
1976 2.55% 1.61%
1975 2.4% 1.7%
1974 2.26% 1.73%
1973 2.17% 1.78%
1972 2.16% 1.89%
1971 2.2% 1.99%
1970 2.03% 2.21%
1969 1.76% 2.29%
1968 1.59% 2.35%
1967 1.41% 2.36%
1966 1.25% 2.55%
1965 1.15% 2.57%
1964 1.07% 2.65%
1963 1.02% 2.82%
1962 1.01% 2.9%
1961 1.02% 3.01%

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-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Sao Tome and Principe grew by 2.02%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Sao Tome South Korea
Current population
246362
51649918
Population rank 176/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.003% 0.62%
One net population change
1.88 hours
13.7 minutes
One birth every
1.35 hours
2.26 minutes
One death every
6.81 hours
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13 +105
Annual growth/decline +4,665 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +2.02% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 49/197 160/197
One migration net change every
13.5 hours
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -650 +65,731
Net migration rank 90/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 1,955 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 194/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 162/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sao Tome and Principe
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sao Tome South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -650 - 65,731
2024 - -604 - 75,963
2023 5,221 -592 -77,569 87,800
2022 5,102 -592 -124,014 87,800
2021 4,954 -782 -56,947 -16,778
2020 4,874 0 -31,101 112,631
2019 4,932 -1,716 10,353 128,622
2018 4,957 -1,757 30,951 118,220
2017 5,007 -1,779 71,907 104,029
2016 5,125 -1,793 122,923 91,568
2015 5,269 -1,809 163,248 276,427
2014 5,381 -1,801 167,464 308,037
2013 5,449 -1,787 166,415 301,926
2012 5,501 -1,739 215,859 281,866
2011 5,445 -1,616 214,728 269,958
2010 5,391 -1,529 213,083 52,042
2009 5,349 -1,328 197,231 5,308
2008 5,297 -1,203 215,841 -19,630
2007 5,226 -1,127 248,286 -42,293
2006 5,057 -1,031 203,441 -28,434
2005 4,897 -941 187,920 -47,821
2004 4,810 -894 225,988 -42,549
2003 4,702 -816 244,251 -31,994
2002 4,591 -690 247,752 -18,105
2001 4,471 -1,289 312,643 -28,006
2000 4,334 -2,798 390,167 -84,960
1999 4,221 -2,594 368,272 -107,448
1998 4,120 -2,364 393,436 -98,044
1997 4,041 -2,153 422,773 -109,130
1996 3,993 -1,974 446,142 -115,705
1995 3,948 -1,829 468,967 -208,491
1994 3,860 -1,644 473,200 -208,309
1993 3,841 -1,527 477,302 -222,802
1992 3,822 -1,432 494,352 -265,849
1991 3,801 -1,362 467,594 -270,754
1990 3,719 -727 411,546 79,294
1989 3,576 -571 403,266 186,120
1988 3,544 -465 399,297 192,534
1987 3,440 -470 378,758 198,057
1986 3,180 -614 395,651 189,782
1985 3,242 -828 416,219 97,949
1984 3,163 -1,041 436,384 101,394
1983 3,100 -1,203 514,844 102,167
1982 3,047 -1,203 605,626 48,638
1981 3,015 -1,067 631,189 18,442
1980 2,965 -770 583,294 -148,341
1979 2,893 -491 623,068 -139,566
1978 2,800 -279 499,084 -85,721
1977 2,705 -255 578,947 -90,737
1976 2,608 -302 530,558 -92,314
1975 2,515 -392 603,300 -52,332
1974 2,422 -474 673,030 27,005
1973 2,329 -525 699,115 35,779
1972 2,232 -517 740,469 25,382
1971 2,127 -430 789,185 -6,326
1970 1,980 -279 747,987 -27,999
1969 1,862 -469 694,227 -21,175
1968 1,767 -520 684,487 -16,868
1967 1,693 -606 692,169 -16,484
1966 1,642 -688 623,534 -16,688
1965 1,611 -765 641,090 -146,386
1964 1,600 -819 655,501 -102,284
1963 1,609 -886 685,824 -80,226
1962 1,625 -927 712,590 -94,606
1961 1,657 -960 730,173 -93,179
1960 1,547 -860 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/south-korea | 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 Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 people).

As of 2024, 1,955 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Sao Tome
City Population
Sao Tome 65.5K
Trindade 6.64K
South Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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-korea | 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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