The latest officially reported population of Sao Tome and Principe was 235,536 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sao Tome and Principe's population is 246,362 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.
Population statistics:
- Spain's population is 198.1 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
- Sao Tome and Principe is ranked the 176th most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
- The countries together account for 0.59% of the world: 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe vs 0.59% for Spain.
- For the last 10 years, Sao Tome and Principe has had an average growth rate of +1.82% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
- Since 2006, the population of Sao Tome and Principe has increased from 166K people to 246K (48.7% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).
Sao Tome and Principe vs Spain: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Sao Tome
|
Spain
|
|
| 2100 | 538,729 | 33,862,981 |
| 2099 | 537,330 | 34,039,965 |
| 2098 | 535,787 | 34,215,187 |
| 2097 | 534,124 | 34,387,116 |
| 2096 | 532,353 | 34,552,002 |
| 2095 | 530,576 | 34,719,411 |
| 2094 | 528,656 | 34,882,039 |
| 2093 | 526,643 | 35,044,043 |
| 2092 | 524,507 | 35,204,657 |
| 2091 | 522,325 | 35,366,895 |
| 2090 | 519,999 | 35,535,838 |
| 2089 | 517,612 | 35,707,942 |
| 2088 | 515,098 | 35,877,681 |
| 2087 | 512,568 | 36,043,209 |
| 2086 | 510,018 | 36,210,710 |
| 2085 | 507,340 | 36,386,207 |
| 2084 | 504,584 | 36,564,622 |
| 2083 | 501,679 | 36,749,680 |
| 2082 | 498,722 | 36,936,644 |
| 2081 | 495,689 | 37,133,976 |
| 2080 | 492,482 | 37,337,517 |
| 2079 | 489,244 | 37,551,557 |
| 2078 | 485,930 | 37,771,135 |
| 2077 | 482,450 | 38,002,963 |
| 2076 | 478,942 | 38,249,247 |
| 2075 | 475,380 | 38,506,040 |
| 2074 | 471,763 | 38,777,715 |
| 2073 | 468,114 | 39,056,249 |
| 2072 | 464,348 | 39,348,447 |
| 2071 | 460,509 | 39,642,346 |
| 2070 | 456,552 | 39,949,413 |
| 2069 | 452,449 | 40,256,590 |
| 2068 | 448,367 | 40,575,543 |
| 2067 | 444,152 | 40,893,798 |
| 2066 | 439,833 | 41,218,263 |
| 2065 | 435,561 | 41,543,254 |
| 2064 | 431,126 | 41,878,338 |
| 2063 | 426,703 | 42,208,320 |
| 2062 | 422,184 | 42,542,893 |
| 2061 | 417,686 | 42,874,096 |
| 2060 | 413,117 | 43,191,452 |
| 2059 | 408,577 | 43,506,737 |
| 2058 | 404,024 | 43,809,907 |
| 2057 | 399,413 | 44,112,668 |
| 2056 | 394,844 | 44,415,689 |
| 2055 | 390,153 | 44,691,749 |
| 2054 | 385,468 | 44,958,971 |
| 2053 | 380,737 | 45,223,225 |
| 2052 | 376,015 | 45,470,541 |
| 2051 | 371,194 | 45,695,307 |
| 2050 | 366,397 | 45,911,520 |
| 2049 | 361,591 | 46,127,777 |
| 2048 | 356,742 | 46,322,244 |
| 2047 | 351,861 | 46,510,152 |
| 2046 | 346,888 | 46,687,914 |
| 2045 | 341,838 | 46,858,778 |
| 2044 | 336,792 | 47,016,278 |
| 2043 | 331,713 | 47,158,325 |
| 2042 | 326,652 | 47,301,091 |
| 2041 | 321,594 | 47,434,593 |
| 2040 | 316,457 | 47,563,236 |
| 2039 | 311,279 | 47,685,343 |
| 2038 | 306,071 | 47,798,797 |
| 2037 | 300,875 | 47,910,899 |
| 2036 | 295,624 | 48,020,350 |
| 2035 | 290,400 | 48,124,430 |
| 2034 | 285,183 | 48,220,051 |
| 2033 | 279,990 | 48,311,842 |
| 2032 | 274,835 | 48,402,470 |
| 2031 | 269,740 | 48,495,278 |
| 2030 | 264,723 | 48,579,920 |
| 2029 | 259,705 | 48,648,699 |
| 2028 | 254,751 | 48,707,969 |
| 2027 | 249,860 | 48,758,200 |
| 2026 | 245,066 | 48,806,901 |
| 2025 | 240,286 | 48,838,057 |
| 2024 | 235,536 | 48,848,840 |
| 2023 | 230,871 | 48,352,528 |
| 2022 | 226,305 | 47,786,102 |
| 2021 | 221,961 | 47,443,821 |
| 2020 | 217,435 | 47,359,424 |
| 2019 | 213,392 | 47,118,501 |
| 2018 | 210,187 | 46,782,011 |
| 2017 | 206,970 | 46,571,232 |
| 2016 | 203,689 | 46,458,139 |
| 2015 | 200,291 | 46,422,303 |
| 2014 | 196,767 | 46,460,733 |
| 2013 | 193,148 | 46,604,197 |
| 2012 | 189,439 | 46,773,055 |
| 2011 | 185,649 | 46,742,697 |
| 2010 | 181,802 | 46,576,897 |
| 2009 | 177,853 | 46,362,946 |
| 2008 | 173,793 | 45,954,106 |
| 2007 | 169,700 | 45,226,803 |
| 2006 | 165,638 | 44,397,319 |
| 2005 | 161,639 | 43,653,155 |
| 2004 | 157,705 | 42,921,895 |
| 2003 | 153,814 | 42,187,645 |
| 2002 | 149,922 | 41,431,558 |
| 2001 | 146,375 | 40,850,412 |
| 2000 | 144,018 | 40,567,864 |
| 1999 | 142,442 | 40,386,875 |
| 1998 | 140,751 | 40,223,509 |
| 1997 | 138,922 | 40,057,389 |
| 1996 | 136,962 | 39,889,852 |
| 1995 | 134,895 | 39,724,050 |
| 1994 | 132,732 | 39,549,108 |
| 1993 | 130,467 | 39,361,262 |
| 1992 | 128,110 | 39,157,685 |
| 1991 | 125,697 | 38,966,376 |
| 1990 | 122,980 | 38,867,322 |
| 1989 | 119,979 | 38,827,764 |
| 1988 | 116,939 | 38,766,939 |
| 1987 | 113,919 | 38,684,815 |
| 1986 | 111,150 | 38,584,624 |
| 1985 | 108,658 | 38,469,512 |
| 1984 | 106,394 | 38,330,364 |
| 1983 | 104,380 | 38,171,525 |
| 1982 | 102,508 | 37,986,012 |
| 1981 | 100,615 | 37,758,631 |
| 1980 | 98,544 | 37,491,165 |
| 1979 | 96,252 | 37,191,330 |
| 1978 | 93,794 | 36,864,898 |
| 1977 | 91,301 | 36,511,638 |
| 1976 | 88,922 | 36,137,812 |
| 1975 | 86,708 | 35,757,900 |
| 1974 | 84,672 | 35,373,335 |
| 1973 | 82,798 | 34,988,947 |
| 1972 | 81,041 | 34,604,469 |
| 1971 | 79,330 | 34,224,490 |
| 1970 | 77,626 | 33,814,531 |
| 1969 | 76,083 | 33,441,054 |
| 1968 | 74,765 | 33,113,134 |
| 1967 | 73,596 | 32,682,947 |
| 1966 | 72,576 | 32,283,194 |
| 1965 | 71,680 | 31,954,292 |
| 1964 | 70,865 | 31,609,195 |
| 1963 | 70,112 | 31,296,651 |
| 1962 | 69,403 | 31,023,366 |
| 1961 | 68,707 | 30,739,250 |
| 1960 | 68,012 | 30,455,000 |
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/spain | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sao Tome and Principe increased by 38,051 people (a 23% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sao Tome and Principe gained 42,673 people (a 21% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).
Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th most populous country in 2006 and is 176th in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.
Sao Tome and Principe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 539K people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Sao Tome
|
Spain
|
|
| 2100 | 0.26% | -0.52% |
| 2099 | 0.29% | -0.51% |
| 2098 | 0.31% | -0.5% |
| 2097 | 0.33% | -0.48% |
| 2096 | 0.33% | -0.48% |
| 2095 | 0.36% | -0.47% |
| 2094 | 0.38% | -0.46% |
| 2093 | 0.41% | -0.46% |
| 2092 | 0.42% | -0.46% |
| 2091 | 0.45% | -0.48% |
| 2090 | 0.46% | -0.48% |
| 2089 | 0.49% | -0.47% |
| 2088 | 0.49% | -0.46% |
| 2087 | 0.5% | -0.46% |
| 2086 | 0.53% | -0.48% |
| 2085 | 0.55% | -0.49% |
| 2084 | 0.58% | -0.5% |
| 2083 | 0.59% | -0.51% |
| 2082 | 0.61% | -0.53% |
| 2081 | 0.65% | -0.55% |
| 2080 | 0.66% | -0.57% |
| 2079 | 0.68% | -0.58% |
| 2078 | 0.72% | -0.61% |
| 2077 | 0.73% | -0.64% |
| 2076 | 0.75% | -0.67% |
| 2075 | 0.77% | -0.7% |
| 2074 | 0.78% | -0.71% |
| 2073 | 0.81% | -0.74% |
| 2072 | 0.83% | -0.74% |
| 2071 | 0.87% | -0.77% |
| 2070 | 0.91% | -0.76% |
| 2069 | 0.91% | -0.79% |
| 2068 | 0.95% | -0.78% |
| 2067 | 0.98% | -0.79% |
| 2066 | 0.98% | -0.78% |
| 2065 | 1.03% | -0.8% |
| 2064 | 1.04% | -0.78% |
| 2063 | 1.07% | -0.79% |
| 2062 | 1.08% | -0.77% |
| 2061 | 1.11% | -0.73% |
| 2060 | 1.11% | -0.72% |
| 2059 | 1.13% | -0.69% |
| 2058 | 1.15% | -0.69% |
| 2057 | 1.16% | -0.68% |
| 2056 | 1.2% | -0.62% |
| 2055 | 1.22% | -0.59% |
| 2054 | 1.24% | -0.58% |
| 2053 | 1.26% | -0.54% |
| 2052 | 1.3% | -0.49% |
| 2051 | 1.31% | -0.47% |
| 2050 | 1.33% | -0.47% |
| 2049 | 1.36% | -0.42% |
| 2048 | 1.39% | -0.4% |
| 2047 | 1.43% | -0.38% |
| 2046 | 1.48% | -0.36% |
| 2045 | 1.5% | -0.33% |
| 2044 | 1.53% | -0.3% |
| 2043 | 1.55% | -0.3% |
| 2042 | 1.57% | -0.28% |
| 2041 | 1.62% | -0.27% |
| 2040 | 1.66% | -0.26% |
| 2039 | 1.7% | -0.24% |
| 2038 | 1.73% | -0.23% |
| 2037 | 1.78% | -0.23% |
| 2036 | 1.8% | -0.22% |
| 2035 | 1.83% | -0.2% |
| 2034 | 1.85% | -0.19% |
| 2033 | 1.88% | -0.19% |
| 2032 | 1.89% | -0.19% |
| 2031 | 1.9% | -0.17% |
| 2030 | 1.93% | -0.14% |
| 2029 | 1.94% | -0.12% |
| 2028 | 1.96% | -0.1% |
| 2027 | 1.96% | -0.1% |
| 2026 | 1.99% | -0.06% |
| 2025 | 2.02% | -0.02% |
| 2024 | 2.02% | 1.03% |
| 2023 | 2.02% | 1.19% |
| 2022 | 1.96% | 0.72% |
| 2021 | 2.08% | 0.18% |
| 2020 | 1.89% | 0.51% |
| 2019 | 1.52% | 0.72% |
| 2018 | 1.55% | 0.45% |
| 2017 | 1.61% | 0.24% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | 0.08% |
| 2015 | 1.79% | -0.08% |
| 2014 | 1.87% | -0.31% |
| 2013 | 1.96% | -0.36% |
| 2012 | 2.04% | 0.06% |
| 2011 | 2.12% | 0.36% |
| 2010 | 2.22% | 0.46% |
| 2009 | 2.34% | 0.89% |
| 2008 | 2.41% | 1.61% |
| 2007 | 2.45% | 1.87% |
| 2006 | 2.47% | 1.7% |
| 2005 | 2.49% | 1.7% |
| 2004 | 2.53% | 1.74% |
| 2003 | 2.6% | 1.82% |
| 2002 | 2.42% | 1.42% |
| 2001 | 1.64% | 0.7% |
| 2000 | 1.11% | 0.45% |
| 1999 | 1.2% | 0.41% |
| 1998 | 1.32% | 0.41% |
| 1997 | 1.43% | 0.42% |
| 1996 | 1.53% | 0.42% |
| 1995 | 1.63% | 0.44% |
| 1994 | 1.74% | 0.48% |
| 1993 | 1.84% | 0.52% |
| 1992 | 1.92% | 0.49% |
| 1991 | 2.21% | 0.25% |
| 1990 | 2.5% | 0.1% |
| 1989 | 2.6% | 0.16% |
| 1988 | 2.65% | 0.21% |
| 1987 | 2.49% | 0.26% |
| 1986 | 2.29% | 0.3% |
| 1985 | 2.13% | 0.36% |
| 1984 | 1.93% | 0.42% |
| 1983 | 1.83% | 0.49% |
| 1982 | 1.88% | 0.6% |
| 1981 | 2.1% | 0.71% |
| 1980 | 2.38% | 0.81% |
| 1979 | 2.62% | 0.89% |
| 1978 | 2.73% | 0.97% |
| 1977 | 2.68% | 1.03% |
| 1976 | 2.55% | 1.06% |
| 1975 | 2.4% | 1.09% |
| 1974 | 2.26% | 1.1% |
| 1973 | 2.17% | 1.11% |
| 1972 | 2.16% | 1.11% |
| 1971 | 2.2% | 1.21% |
| 1970 | 2.03% | 1.12% |
| 1969 | 1.76% | 0.99% |
| 1968 | 1.59% | 1.32% |
| 1967 | 1.41% | 1.24% |
| 1966 | 1.25% | 1.03% |
| 1965 | 1.15% | 1.09% |
| 1964 | 1.07% | 1% |
| 1963 | 1.02% | 0.88% |
| 1962 | 1.01% | 0.92% |
| 1961 | 1.02% | 0.93% |
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/spain | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Sao Tome and Principe grew by 2.02%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.
Live population counters
|
Sao Tome
|
Spain
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
246362
|
48806901
|
| Population rank | 176/197 | 32/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.003% | 0.59% |
| One net population change |
1.88 hours
|
1.06 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.35 hours
|
1.62 minutes
|
| One death every |
6.81 hours
|
1.21 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +13 | +1,360 |
| Annual growth/decline | +4,665 | +496,312 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.02% | +1.03% |
| Population growth rate rank | 49/197 | 100/197 |
| One migration net change every |
13.5 hours
|
5.45 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -650 | +96,630 |
| Net migration rank | 90/196 | 17/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 1,955 | 8,870,527 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 194/195 | 6/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.8% | 18.5% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 162/195 | 32/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sao Tome
|
Spain
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -650 | - | 96,630 |
| 2024 | - | -604 | - | 111,674 |
| 2023 | 5,221 | -592 | -111,211 | 119,099 |
| 2022 | 5,102 | -592 | -133,801 | 299,779 |
| 2021 | 4,954 | -782 | -113,865 | 144,385 |
| 2020 | 4,874 | 0 | -151,551 | 236,854 |
| 2019 | 4,932 | -1,716 | -56,542 | 464,783 |
| 2018 | 4,957 | -1,757 | -56,139 | 337,467 |
| 2017 | 5,007 | -1,779 | -32,600 | 201,135 |
| 2016 | 5,125 | -1,793 | 0 | 106,474 |
| 2015 | 5,269 | -1,809 | -4,642 | -1,979 |
| 2014 | 5,381 | -1,801 | 32,522 | -97,870 |
| 2013 | 5,449 | -1,787 | 37,284 | -250,741 |
| 2012 | 5,501 | -1,739 | 51,450 | -153,486 |
| 2011 | 5,445 | -1,616 | 84,137 | 60,761 |
| 2010 | 5,391 | -1,529 | 102,469 | 69,406 |
| 2009 | 5,349 | -1,328 | 106,635 | 129,557 |
| 2008 | 5,297 | -1,203 | 133,267 | 434,135 |
| 2007 | 5,226 | -1,127 | 108,545 | 772,317 |
| 2006 | 5,057 | -1,031 | 110,994 | 659,720 |
| 2005 | 4,897 | -941 | 78,576 | 629,803 |
| 2004 | 4,810 | -894 | 85,844 | 661,158 |
| 2003 | 4,702 | -816 | 54,844 | 658,428 |
| 2002 | 4,591 | -690 | 53,861 | 737,880 |
| 2001 | 4,471 | -1,289 | 44,936 | 181,307 |
| 2000 | 4,334 | -2,798 | 36,512 | 176,269 |
| 1999 | 4,221 | -2,594 | 8,077 | 178,559 |
| 1998 | 4,120 | -2,364 | 4,022 | 182,926 |
| 1997 | 4,041 | -2,153 | 20,028 | 165,345 |
| 1996 | 3,993 | -1,974 | 11,967 | 162,704 |
| 1995 | 3,948 | -1,829 | 15,889 | 162,434 |
| 1994 | 3,860 | -1,644 | 31,639 | 160,407 |
| 1993 | 3,841 | -1,527 | 47,234 | 160,907 |
| 1992 | 3,822 | -1,432 | 62,652 | 177,544 |
| 1991 | 3,801 | -1,362 | 58,450 | 122,841 |
| 1990 | 3,719 | -727 | 66,075 | -30,684 |
| 1989 | 3,576 | -571 | 81,538 | -25,892 |
| 1988 | 3,544 | -465 | 100,794 | -17,663 |
| 1987 | 3,440 | -470 | 116,054 | -12,681 |
| 1986 | 3,180 | -614 | 131,188 | -13,540 |
| 1985 | 3,242 | -828 | 146,184 | -589 |
| 1984 | 3,163 | -1,041 | 172,487 | 2,754 |
| 1983 | 3,100 | -1,203 | 183,223 | 1,241 |
| 1982 | 3,047 | -1,203 | 231,714 | -7,384 |
| 1981 | 3,015 | -1,067 | 237,879 | 2,563 |
| 1980 | 2,965 | -770 | 281,184 | 20,166 |
| 1979 | 2,893 | -491 | 312,407 | -5,929 |
| 1978 | 2,800 | -279 | 339,157 | -2,504 |
| 1977 | 2,705 | -255 | 361,465 | -1,332 |
| 1976 | 2,608 | -302 | 375,834 | 2,804 |
| 1975 | 2,515 | -392 | 371,882 | -218 |
| 1974 | 2,422 | -474 | 396,182 | 105,838 |
| 1973 | 2,329 | -525 | 374,381 | 8,624 |
| 1972 | 2,232 | -517 | 391,030 | 7,935 |
| 1971 | 2,127 | -430 | 369,625 | 7,363 |
| 1970 | 1,980 | -279 | 378,723 | -60,580 |
| 1969 | 1,862 | -469 | 367,851 | -49,956 |
| 1968 | 1,767 | -520 | 387,423 | -46,088 |
| 1967 | 1,693 | -606 | 402,001 | -42,344 |
| 1966 | 1,642 | -688 | 397,084 | -41,467 |
| 1965 | 1,611 | -765 | 405,819 | -42,476 |
| 1964 | 1,600 | -819 | 429,885 | -41,461 |
| 1963 | 1,609 | -886 | 394,338 | -44,446 |
| 1962 | 1,625 | -927 | 384,690 | -45,211 |
| 1961 | 1,657 | -960 | 396,537 | -46,517 |
| 1960 | 1,547 | -860 | 398,960 | -154,869 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).
As of 2024, 1,955 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Sao Tome and Principe and Spain
|
Sao Tome
|
Spain
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 70.3 years | 84.1 years |
| Average age | 25.1 years | 44.7 years |
| Median age | 20.3 years | 46.4 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.7:50.3 | 49.1:50.9 |
| Fertility rate | 3.64 births per woman | 1.12 births per woman |
| Population density | 661 ppl/mi² | 253 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/spain | 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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