The latest officially reported population of Sao Tome and Principe was 235,536 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sao Tome and Principe's population is 246,362 people compared to 12,507,858 in South Sudan.
Population statistics:
- South Sudan's population is 50.8 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
- Sao Tome and Principe is ranked the 176th most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
- The countries together account for 0.15% of the world: 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
- For the last 10 years, Sao Tome and Principe has had an average growth rate of +1.82% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
- Since 2006, the population of Sao Tome and Principe has increased from 166K people to 246K (48.7% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% growth).
Sao Tome and Principe vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Sao Tome
|
South Sudan
|
|
| 2100 | 538,729 | 24,086,901 |
| 2099 | 537,330 | 24,081,477 |
| 2098 | 535,787 | 24,063,461 |
| 2097 | 534,124 | 24,065,268 |
| 2096 | 532,353 | 24,054,483 |
| 2095 | 530,576 | 24,046,345 |
| 2094 | 528,656 | 24,047,776 |
| 2093 | 526,643 | 24,039,017 |
| 2092 | 524,507 | 24,019,054 |
| 2091 | 522,325 | 24,000,308 |
| 2090 | 519,999 | 23,978,496 |
| 2089 | 517,612 | 23,937,487 |
| 2088 | 515,098 | 23,892,166 |
| 2087 | 512,568 | 23,857,250 |
| 2086 | 510,018 | 23,803,312 |
| 2085 | 507,340 | 23,759,178 |
| 2084 | 504,584 | 23,687,109 |
| 2083 | 501,679 | 23,617,646 |
| 2082 | 498,722 | 23,541,119 |
| 2081 | 495,689 | 23,466,449 |
| 2080 | 492,482 | 23,391,758 |
| 2079 | 489,244 | 23,294,252 |
| 2078 | 485,930 | 23,197,067 |
| 2077 | 482,450 | 23,086,584 |
| 2076 | 478,942 | 22,987,331 |
| 2075 | 475,380 | 22,868,587 |
| 2074 | 471,763 | 22,726,189 |
| 2073 | 468,114 | 22,583,672 |
| 2072 | 464,348 | 22,438,943 |
| 2071 | 460,509 | 22,288,026 |
| 2070 | 456,552 | 22,151,650 |
| 2069 | 452,449 | 22,003,659 |
| 2068 | 448,367 | 21,829,800 |
| 2067 | 444,152 | 21,662,211 |
| 2066 | 439,833 | 21,496,881 |
| 2065 | 435,561 | 21,317,455 |
| 2064 | 431,126 | 21,142,002 |
| 2063 | 426,703 | 20,965,122 |
| 2062 | 422,184 | 20,785,055 |
| 2061 | 417,686 | 20,608,964 |
| 2060 | 413,117 | 20,430,857 |
| 2059 | 408,577 | 20,235,022 |
| 2058 | 404,024 | 20,048,974 |
| 2057 | 399,413 | 19,853,696 |
| 2056 | 394,844 | 19,659,362 |
| 2055 | 390,153 | 19,464,297 |
| 2054 | 385,468 | 19,257,481 |
| 2053 | 380,737 | 19,060,517 |
| 2052 | 376,015 | 18,840,461 |
| 2051 | 371,194 | 18,633,198 |
| 2050 | 366,397 | 18,434,212 |
| 2049 | 361,591 | 18,230,881 |
| 2048 | 356,742 | 18,021,026 |
| 2047 | 351,861 | 17,806,282 |
| 2046 | 346,888 | 17,579,173 |
| 2045 | 341,838 | 17,355,041 |
| 2044 | 336,792 | 17,121,972 |
| 2043 | 331,713 | 16,888,278 |
| 2042 | 326,652 | 16,645,354 |
| 2041 | 321,594 | 16,396,768 |
| 2040 | 316,457 | 16,142,816 |
| 2039 | 311,279 | 15,889,952 |
| 2038 | 306,071 | 15,628,043 |
| 2037 | 300,875 | 15,363,975 |
| 2036 | 295,624 | 15,091,275 |
| 2035 | 290,400 | 14,815,307 |
| 2034 | 285,183 | 14,543,511 |
| 2033 | 279,990 | 14,278,180 |
| 2032 | 274,835 | 14,007,134 |
| 2031 | 269,740 | 13,730,637 |
| 2030 | 264,723 | 13,465,615 |
| 2029 | 259,705 | 13,206,477 |
| 2028 | 254,751 | 12,947,082 |
| 2027 | 249,860 | 12,692,769 |
| 2026 | 245,066 | 12,439,296 |
| 2025 | 240,286 | 12,193,102 |
| 2024 | 235,536 | 11,943,408 |
| 2023 | 230,871 | 11,483,374 |
| 2022 | 226,305 | 11,021,177 |
| 2021 | 221,961 | 10,865,780 |
| 2020 | 217,435 | 10,698,467 |
| 2019 | 213,392 | 10,423,384 |
| 2018 | 210,187 | 10,122,977 |
| 2017 | 206,970 | 10,259,154 |
| 2016 | 203,689 | 10,830,102 |
| 2015 | 200,291 | 11,107,561 |
| 2014 | 196,767 | 11,235,073 |
| 2013 | 193,148 | 11,166,275 |
| 2012 | 189,439 | 10,756,240 |
| 2011 | 185,649 | 10,288,109 |
| 2010 | 181,802 | 9,745,953 |
| 2009 | 177,853 | 9,243,556 |
| 2008 | 173,793 | 8,817,647 |
| 2007 | 169,700 | 8,388,788 |
| 2006 | 165,638 | 7,976,526 |
| 2005 | 161,639 | 7,590,143 |
| 2004 | 157,705 | 7,233,041 |
| 2003 | 153,814 | 6,903,127 |
| 2002 | 149,922 | 6,596,806 |
| 2001 | 146,375 | 6,308,391 |
| 2000 | 144,018 | 6,032,267 |
| 1999 | 142,442 | 5,771,628 |
| 1998 | 140,751 | 5,620,068 |
| 1997 | 138,922 | 5,509,136 |
| 1996 | 136,962 | 5,356,925 |
| 1995 | 134,895 | 5,225,836 |
| 1994 | 132,732 | 5,071,184 |
| 1993 | 130,467 | 4,956,002 |
| 1992 | 128,110 | 4,909,749 |
| 1991 | 125,697 | 4,836,677 |
| 1990 | 122,980 | 4,737,633 |
| 1989 | 119,979 | 4,713,229 |
| 1988 | 116,939 | 4,848,029 |
| 1987 | 113,919 | 4,962,395 |
| 1986 | 111,150 | 4,921,240 |
| 1985 | 108,658 | 4,834,296 |
| 1984 | 106,394 | 4,750,627 |
| 1983 | 104,380 | 4,661,574 |
| 1982 | 102,508 | 4,557,686 |
| 1981 | 100,615 | 4,447,272 |
| 1980 | 98,544 | 4,339,030 |
| 1979 | 96,252 | 4,232,605 |
| 1978 | 93,794 | 4,127,657 |
| 1977 | 91,301 | 4,024,032 |
| 1976 | 88,922 | 3,921,910 |
| 1975 | 86,708 | 3,821,494 |
| 1974 | 84,672 | 3,723,259 |
| 1973 | 82,798 | 3,627,383 |
| 1972 | 81,041 | 3,542,497 |
| 1971 | 79,330 | 3,468,646 |
| 1970 | 77,626 | 3,409,614 |
| 1969 | 76,083 | 3,365,533 |
| 1968 | 74,765 | 3,321,528 |
| 1967 | 73,596 | 3,277,648 |
| 1966 | 72,576 | 3,236,423 |
| 1965 | 71,680 | 3,189,835 |
| 1964 | 70,865 | 3,129,918 |
| 1963 | 70,112 | 3,072,669 |
| 1962 | 69,403 | 3,024,308 |
| 1961 | 68,707 | 2,976,724 |
| 1960 | 68,012 | 2,931,559 |
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-sudan | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sao Tome and Principe increased by 38,051 people (a 23% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sao Tome and Principe gained 42,673 people (a 21% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth).
Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th most populous country in 2006 and is 176th in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.
Sao Tome and Principe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 539K people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Sao Tome
|
South Sudan
|
|
| 2100 | 0.26% | 0.02% |
| 2099 | 0.29% | 0.07% |
| 2098 | 0.31% | -0.008% |
| 2097 | 0.33% | 0.04% |
| 2096 | 0.33% | 0.03% |
| 2095 | 0.36% | -0.006% |
| 2094 | 0.38% | 0.04% |
| 2093 | 0.41% | 0.08% |
| 2092 | 0.42% | 0.08% |
| 2091 | 0.45% | 0.09% |
| 2090 | 0.46% | 0.17% |
| 2089 | 0.49% | 0.19% |
| 2088 | 0.49% | 0.15% |
| 2087 | 0.5% | 0.23% |
| 2086 | 0.53% | 0.19% |
| 2085 | 0.55% | 0.3% |
| 2084 | 0.58% | 0.29% |
| 2083 | 0.59% | 0.33% |
| 2082 | 0.61% | 0.32% |
| 2081 | 0.65% | 0.32% |
| 2080 | 0.66% | 0.42% |
| 2079 | 0.68% | 0.42% |
| 2078 | 0.72% | 0.48% |
| 2077 | 0.73% | 0.43% |
| 2076 | 0.75% | 0.52% |
| 2075 | 0.77% | 0.63% |
| 2074 | 0.78% | 0.63% |
| 2073 | 0.81% | 0.64% |
| 2072 | 0.83% | 0.68% |
| 2071 | 0.87% | 0.62% |
| 2070 | 0.91% | 0.67% |
| 2069 | 0.91% | 0.8% |
| 2068 | 0.95% | 0.77% |
| 2067 | 0.98% | 0.77% |
| 2066 | 0.98% | 0.84% |
| 2065 | 1.03% | 0.83% |
| 2064 | 1.04% | 0.84% |
| 2063 | 1.07% | 0.87% |
| 2062 | 1.08% | 0.85% |
| 2061 | 1.11% | 0.87% |
| 2060 | 1.11% | 0.97% |
| 2059 | 1.13% | 0.93% |
| 2058 | 1.15% | 0.98% |
| 2057 | 1.16% | 0.99% |
| 2056 | 1.2% | 1% |
| 2055 | 1.22% | 1.07% |
| 2054 | 1.24% | 1.03% |
| 2053 | 1.26% | 1.17% |
| 2052 | 1.3% | 1.11% |
| 2051 | 1.31% | 1.08% |
| 2050 | 1.33% | 1.12% |
| 2049 | 1.36% | 1.16% |
| 2048 | 1.39% | 1.21% |
| 2047 | 1.43% | 1.29% |
| 2046 | 1.48% | 1.29% |
| 2045 | 1.5% | 1.36% |
| 2044 | 1.53% | 1.38% |
| 2043 | 1.55% | 1.46% |
| 2042 | 1.57% | 1.52% |
| 2041 | 1.62% | 1.57% |
| 2040 | 1.66% | 1.59% |
| 2039 | 1.7% | 1.68% |
| 2038 | 1.73% | 1.72% |
| 2037 | 1.78% | 1.81% |
| 2036 | 1.8% | 1.86% |
| 2035 | 1.83% | 1.87% |
| 2034 | 1.85% | 1.86% |
| 2033 | 1.88% | 1.94% |
| 2032 | 1.89% | 2.01% |
| 2031 | 1.9% | 1.97% |
| 2030 | 1.93% | 1.96% |
| 2029 | 1.94% | 2% |
| 2028 | 1.96% | 2% |
| 2027 | 1.96% | 2.04% |
| 2026 | 1.99% | 2.02% |
| 2025 | 2.02% | 2.09% |
| 2024 | 2.02% | 4.01% |
| 2023 | 2.02% | 4.19% |
| 2022 | 1.96% | 1.43% |
| 2021 | 2.08% | 1.56% |
| 2020 | 1.89% | 2.64% |
| 2019 | 1.52% | 2.97% |
| 2018 | 1.55% | -1.33% |
| 2017 | 1.61% | -5.27% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 1.79% | -1.13% |
| 2014 | 1.87% | 0.62% |
| 2013 | 1.96% | 3.81% |
| 2012 | 2.04% | 4.55% |
| 2011 | 2.12% | 5.56% |
| 2010 | 2.22% | 5.44% |
| 2009 | 2.34% | 4.83% |
| 2008 | 2.41% | 5.11% |
| 2007 | 2.45% | 5.17% |
| 2006 | 2.47% | 5.09% |
| 2005 | 2.49% | 4.94% |
| 2004 | 2.53% | 4.78% |
| 2003 | 2.6% | 4.64% |
| 2002 | 2.42% | 4.57% |
| 2001 | 1.64% | 4.58% |
| 2000 | 1.11% | 4.52% |
| 1999 | 1.2% | 2.7% |
| 1998 | 1.32% | 2.01% |
| 1997 | 1.43% | 2.84% |
| 1996 | 1.53% | 2.51% |
| 1995 | 1.63% | 3.05% |
| 1994 | 1.74% | 2.32% |
| 1993 | 1.84% | 0.94% |
| 1992 | 1.92% | 1.51% |
| 1991 | 2.21% | 2.09% |
| 1990 | 2.5% | 0.52% |
| 1989 | 2.6% | -2.78% |
| 1988 | 2.65% | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 2.49% | 0.84% |
| 1986 | 2.29% | 1.8% |
| 1985 | 2.13% | 1.76% |
| 1984 | 1.93% | 1.91% |
| 1983 | 1.83% | 2.28% |
| 1982 | 1.88% | 2.48% |
| 1981 | 2.1% | 2.49% |
| 1980 | 2.38% | 2.51% |
| 1979 | 2.62% | 2.54% |
| 1978 | 2.73% | 2.58% |
| 1977 | 2.68% | 2.6% |
| 1976 | 2.55% | 2.63% |
| 1975 | 2.4% | 2.64% |
| 1974 | 2.26% | 2.64% |
| 1973 | 2.17% | 2.4% |
| 1972 | 2.16% | 2.13% |
| 1971 | 2.2% | 1.73% |
| 1970 | 2.03% | 1.31% |
| 1969 | 1.76% | 1.32% |
| 1968 | 1.59% | 1.34% |
| 1967 | 1.41% | 1.27% |
| 1966 | 1.25% | 1.46% |
| 1965 | 1.15% | 1.91% |
| 1964 | 1.07% | 1.86% |
| 1963 | 1.02% | 1.6% |
| 1962 | 1.01% | 1.6% |
| 1961 | 1.02% | 1.54% |
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-sudan | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Sao Tome and Principe grew by 2.02%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.
Live population counters
|
Sao Tome
|
South Sudan
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
246362
|
12507858
|
| Population rank | 176/197 | 80/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.003% | 0.15% |
| One net population change |
1.88 hours
|
1.14 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.35 hours
|
1.6 minutes
|
| One death every |
6.81 hours
|
4.76 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +13 | +1,260 |
| Annual growth/decline | +4,665 | +460,034 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.02% | +4.01% |
| Population growth rate rank | 49/197 | 7/197 |
| One migration net change every |
13.5 hours
|
1.43 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -650 | +6,145 |
| Net migration rank | 90/196 | 50/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 1,955 | 914,001 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 194/195 | 62/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.8% | 7.7% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 162/195 | 77/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sao Tome
|
South Sudan
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -650 | - | 6,145 |
| 2024 | - | -604 | - | 15,374 |
| 2023 | 5,221 | -592 | 217,966 | 455,000 |
| 2022 | 5,102 | -592 | 211,166 | 40,259 |
| 2021 | 4,954 | -782 | 213,567 | -154,359 |
| 2020 | 4,874 | 0 | 212,332 | 62,935 |
| 2019 | 4,932 | -1,716 | 209,708 | 65,198 |
| 2018 | 4,957 | -1,757 | 168,497 | 157,408 |
| 2017 | 5,007 | -1,779 | 72,193 | -670,477 |
| 2016 | 5,125 | -1,793 | 110,553 | -654,225 |
| 2015 | 5,269 | -1,809 | 148,542 | -159,822 |
| 2014 | 5,381 | -1,801 | 227,611 | -471,523 |
| 2013 | 5,449 | -1,787 | 315,983 | 65,337 |
| 2012 | 5,501 | -1,739 | 312,974 | 125,771 |
| 2011 | 5,445 | -1,616 | 303,181 | 194,325 |
| 2010 | 5,391 | -1,529 | 287,409 | 299,402 |
| 2009 | 5,349 | -1,328 | 278,859 | 139,129 |
| 2008 | 5,297 | -1,203 | 268,268 | 165,557 |
| 2007 | 5,226 | -1,127 | 256,546 | 167,350 |
| 2006 | 5,057 | -1,031 | 246,706 | 153,926 |
| 2005 | 4,897 | -941 | 239,272 | 132,869 |
| 2004 | 4,810 | -894 | 231,877 | 110,182 |
| 2003 | 4,702 | -816 | 225,822 | 91,951 |
| 2002 | 4,591 | -690 | 212,014 | 82,847 |
| 2001 | 4,471 | -1,289 | 204,108 | 77,856 |
| 2000 | 4,334 | -2,798 | 196,055 | 74,227 |
| 1999 | 4,221 | -2,594 | 180,721 | 70,271 |
| 1998 | 4,120 | -2,364 | -12,157 | 64,285 |
| 1997 | 4,041 | -2,153 | 121,454 | 48,280 |
| 1996 | 3,993 | -1,974 | 116,728 | 17,953 |
| 1995 | 3,948 | -1,829 | 110,417 | 17,077 |
| 1994 | 3,860 | -1,644 | 165,407 | 16,407 |
| 1993 | 3,841 | -1,527 | 32,779 | 15,772 |
| 1992 | 3,822 | -1,432 | 28,874 | 15,077 |
| 1991 | 3,801 | -1,362 | 87,873 | 14,327 |
| 1990 | 3,719 | -727 | 82,900 | 12,988 |
| 1989 | 3,576 | -571 | 83,735 | -130,821 |
| 1988 | 3,544 | -465 | -125,447 | -97,065 |
| 1987 | 3,440 | -470 | 5,756 | -11,976 |
| 1986 | 3,180 | -614 | 99,502 | -10,973 |
| 1985 | 3,242 | -828 | 95,342 | -9,986 |
| 1984 | 3,163 | -1,041 | 90,970 | -8,984 |
| 1983 | 3,100 | -1,203 | 104,107 | -7,986 |
| 1982 | 3,047 | -1,203 | 118,641 | -6,983 |
| 1981 | 3,015 | -1,067 | 115,163 | -5,994 |
| 1980 | 2,965 | -770 | 112,307 | -4,997 |
| 1979 | 2,893 | -491 | 109,540 | -3,997 |
| 1978 | 2,800 | -279 | 107,352 | -2,998 |
| 1977 | 2,705 | -255 | 104,886 | -1,997 |
| 1976 | 2,608 | -302 | 102,346 | -995 |
| 1975 | 2,515 | -392 | 99,882 | -395 |
| 1974 | 2,422 | -474 | 97,181 | -192 |
| 1973 | 2,329 | -525 | 94,765 | 0 |
| 1972 | 2,232 | -517 | 74,803 | 193 |
| 1971 | 2,127 | -430 | 72,308 | 394 |
| 1970 | 1,980 | -279 | 44,776 | 587 |
| 1969 | 1,862 | -469 | 42,015 | 786 |
| 1968 | 1,767 | -520 | 44,213 | 995 |
| 1967 | 1,693 | -606 | 41,357 | 1,194 |
| 1966 | 1,642 | -688 | 38,523 | 1,386 |
| 1965 | 1,611 | -765 | 51,682 | 1,591 |
| 1964 | 1,600 | -819 | 64,786 | 1,785 |
| 1963 | 1,609 | -886 | 46,333 | 1,591 |
| 1962 | 1,625 | -927 | 47,406 | 1,386 |
| 1961 | 1,657 | -960 | 45,186 | 1,194 |
| 1960 | 1,547 | -860 | 42,945 | 995 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 people).
As of 2024, 1,955 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.
Biggest cities by population
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Sao Tome | 65.5K |
| Trindade | 6.64K |
|
South Sudan
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Juba | 500K |
| Wau | 321K |
| Bor | 315K |
| Malakal | 147K |
| Yambio | 130K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Sao Tome and Principe and South Sudan
|
Sao Tome
|
South Sudan
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 70.3 years | 58 years |
| Average age | 25.1 years | 24.3 years |
| Median age | 20.3 years | 19.4 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.7:50.3 | 49.2:50.8 |
| Fertility rate | 3.64 births per woman | 3.86 births per woman |
| Population density | 661 ppl/mi² | 51 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/south-sudan | 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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