The latest officially reported population of Sao Tome and Principe was 240,254 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sao Tome and Principe's population is 247,495 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.
Population statistics:
- Sri Lanka's population is 88.6 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
- Sao Tome and Principe is ranked the 176th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
- The countries together account for 0.27% of the world: 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe vs 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
- For the last 10 years, Sao Tome and Principe has had an average growth rate of +1.83% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
- Since 2006, the population of Sao Tome and Principe has increased from 166K people to 247K (49.4% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).
Sao Tome and Principe vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Sao Tome
|
Sri Lanka
|
|
| 2100 | 538,656 | 20,009,380 |
| 2099 | 537,257 | 20,121,095 |
| 2098 | 535,715 | 20,234,513 |
| 2097 | 534,052 | 20,345,619 |
| 2096 | 532,281 | 20,456,607 |
| 2095 | 530,505 | 20,566,246 |
| 2094 | 528,585 | 20,674,019 |
| 2093 | 526,572 | 20,780,946 |
| 2092 | 524,436 | 20,886,274 |
| 2091 | 522,255 | 20,990,047 |
| 2090 | 519,929 | 21,095,968 |
| 2089 | 517,542 | 21,198,788 |
| 2088 | 515,028 | 21,299,229 |
| 2087 | 512,499 | 21,398,269 |
| 2086 | 509,949 | 21,496,892 |
| 2085 | 507,271 | 21,594,661 |
| 2084 | 504,516 | 21,687,323 |
| 2083 | 501,611 | 21,778,597 |
| 2082 | 498,655 | 21,866,395 |
| 2081 | 495,622 | 21,954,337 |
| 2080 | 492,416 | 22,038,953 |
| 2079 | 489,178 | 22,122,744 |
| 2078 | 485,864 | 22,200,069 |
| 2077 | 482,385 | 22,274,355 |
| 2076 | 478,877 | 22,345,857 |
| 2075 | 475,315 | 22,414,609 |
| 2074 | 471,700 | 22,485,066 |
| 2073 | 468,051 | 22,550,427 |
| 2072 | 464,286 | 22,610,645 |
| 2071 | 460,447 | 22,669,042 |
| 2070 | 456,490 | 22,725,948 |
| 2069 | 452,388 | 22,779,050 |
| 2068 | 448,306 | 22,831,596 |
| 2067 | 444,092 | 22,885,941 |
| 2066 | 439,773 | 22,935,123 |
| 2065 | 435,502 | 22,985,942 |
| 2064 | 431,068 | 23,030,844 |
| 2063 | 426,645 | 23,071,114 |
| 2062 | 422,127 | 23,107,970 |
| 2061 | 417,629 | 23,139,924 |
| 2060 | 413,061 | 23,171,649 |
| 2059 | 408,522 | 23,199,387 |
| 2058 | 403,970 | 23,224,997 |
| 2057 | 399,359 | 23,247,211 |
| 2056 | 394,790 | 23,267,292 |
| 2055 | 390,100 | 23,278,653 |
| 2054 | 385,416 | 23,287,520 |
| 2053 | 380,685 | 23,297,347 |
| 2052 | 375,964 | 23,301,287 |
| 2051 | 371,143 | 23,302,108 |
| 2050 | 366,347 | 23,299,282 |
| 2049 | 361,542 | 23,293,630 |
| 2048 | 356,694 | 23,283,465 |
| 2047 | 351,813 | 23,267,251 |
| 2046 | 346,841 | 23,244,081 |
| 2045 | 341,791 | 23,212,221 |
| 2044 | 336,747 | 23,181,041 |
| 2043 | 331,669 | 23,144,217 |
| 2042 | 326,608 | 23,103,489 |
| 2041 | 321,551 | 23,056,478 |
| 2040 | 316,415 | 23,005,928 |
| 2039 | 311,237 | 22,948,866 |
| 2038 | 306,029 | 22,888,821 |
| 2037 | 300,834 | 22,822,943 |
| 2036 | 295,584 | 22,756,462 |
| 2035 | 290,361 | 22,685,766 |
| 2034 | 285,145 | 22,611,514 |
| 2033 | 279,952 | 22,532,374 |
| 2032 | 274,798 | 22,449,310 |
| 2031 | 269,704 | 22,364,063 |
| 2030 | 264,687 | 22,273,377 |
| 2029 | 259,670 | 22,181,300 |
| 2028 | 254,717 | 22,082,826 |
| 2027 | 249,827 | 21,979,196 |
| 2026 | 245,033 | 21,870,145 |
| 2025 | 240,254 | 21,756,000 |
| 2024 | 235,536 | 21,916,000 |
| 2023 | 230,871 | 22,037,000 |
| 2022 | 226,305 | 22,181,000 |
| 2021 | 221,961 | 22,156,000 |
| 2020 | 217,435 | 21,919,000 |
| 2019 | 213,392 | 21,803,000 |
| 2018 | 210,187 | 21,670,000 |
| 2017 | 206,970 | 21,453,000 |
| 2016 | 203,689 | 21,209,000 |
| 2015 | 200,291 | 20,970,000 |
| 2014 | 196,767 | 20,778,000 |
| 2013 | 193,148 | 20,585,000 |
| 2012 | 189,439 | 21,169,458 |
| 2011 | 185,649 | 21,009,048 |
| 2010 | 181,802 | 20,879,089 |
| 2009 | 177,853 | 20,756,435 |
| 2008 | 173,793 | 20,629,378 |
| 2007 | 169,700 | 20,492,545 |
| 2006 | 165,638 | 20,352,411 |
| 2005 | 161,639 | 20,216,524 |
| 2004 | 157,705 | 20,087,605 |
| 2003 | 153,814 | 19,951,521 |
| 2002 | 149,922 | 19,805,752 |
| 2001 | 146,375 | 19,600,362 |
| 2000 | 144,018 | 19,293,054 |
| 1999 | 142,442 | 18,944,731 |
| 1998 | 140,751 | 18,596,003 |
| 1997 | 138,922 | 18,248,200 |
| 1996 | 136,962 | 17,905,018 |
| 1995 | 134,895 | 17,564,068 |
| 1994 | 132,732 | 17,275,773 |
| 1993 | 130,467 | 17,025,918 |
| 1992 | 128,110 | 16,739,284 |
| 1991 | 125,697 | 16,475,354 |
| 1990 | 122,980 | 16,352,458 |
| 1989 | 119,979 | 16,248,557 |
| 1988 | 116,939 | 16,078,621 |
| 1987 | 113,919 | 15,916,576 |
| 1986 | 111,150 | 15,731,256 |
| 1985 | 108,658 | 15,544,154 |
| 1984 | 106,394 | 15,441,860 |
| 1983 | 104,380 | 15,388,794 |
| 1982 | 102,508 | 15,286,567 |
| 1981 | 100,615 | 15,099,414 |
| 1980 | 98,544 | 14,847,974 |
| 1979 | 96,252 | 14,579,614 |
| 1978 | 93,794 | 14,310,128 |
| 1977 | 91,301 | 14,049,371 |
| 1976 | 88,922 | 13,796,770 |
| 1975 | 86,708 | 13,548,984 |
| 1974 | 84,672 | 13,305,693 |
| 1973 | 82,798 | 13,060,916 |
| 1972 | 81,041 | 12,809,205 |
| 1971 | 79,330 | 12,551,910 |
| 1970 | 77,626 | 12,287,110 |
| 1969 | 76,083 | 12,013,858 |
| 1968 | 74,765 | 11,736,088 |
| 1967 | 73,596 | 11,457,328 |
| 1966 | 72,576 | 11,183,928 |
| 1965 | 71,680 | 10,916,965 |
| 1964 | 70,865 | 10,653,397 |
| 1963 | 70,112 | 10,395,040 |
| 1962 | 69,403 | 10,143,754 |
| 1961 | 68,707 | 9,899,372 |
| 1960 | 68,012 | 9,661,389 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/sri-lanka | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sao Tome and Principe increased by 38,051 people (a 23% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sao Tome and Principe gained 43,806 people (a 21.5% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth).
Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th most populous country in 2006 and is 176th in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd now.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Sao Tome and Principe's population will grow by 48% to 366,347 people with a rank change from 176th to 175th. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.
Sao Tome and Principe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 539K people compared to the peak of 23.3M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Sao Tome
|
Sri Lanka
|
|
| 2100 | 0.26% | -0.56% |
| 2099 | 0.29% | -0.56% |
| 2098 | 0.31% | -0.55% |
| 2097 | 0.33% | -0.54% |
| 2096 | 0.33% | -0.53% |
| 2095 | 0.36% | -0.52% |
| 2094 | 0.38% | -0.51% |
| 2093 | 0.41% | -0.5% |
| 2092 | 0.42% | -0.49% |
| 2091 | 0.45% | -0.5% |
| 2090 | 0.46% | -0.49% |
| 2089 | 0.49% | -0.47% |
| 2088 | 0.49% | -0.46% |
| 2087 | 0.5% | -0.46% |
| 2086 | 0.53% | -0.45% |
| 2085 | 0.55% | -0.43% |
| 2084 | 0.58% | -0.42% |
| 2083 | 0.59% | -0.4% |
| 2082 | 0.61% | -0.4% |
| 2081 | 0.65% | -0.38% |
| 2080 | 0.66% | -0.38% |
| 2079 | 0.68% | -0.35% |
| 2078 | 0.72% | -0.33% |
| 2077 | 0.73% | -0.32% |
| 2076 | 0.75% | -0.31% |
| 2075 | 0.77% | -0.31% |
| 2074 | 0.78% | -0.29% |
| 2073 | 0.81% | -0.27% |
| 2072 | 0.83% | -0.26% |
| 2071 | 0.87% | -0.25% |
| 2070 | 0.91% | -0.23% |
| 2069 | 0.91% | -0.23% |
| 2068 | 0.95% | -0.24% |
| 2067 | 0.98% | -0.21% |
| 2066 | 0.98% | -0.22% |
| 2065 | 1.03% | -0.19% |
| 2064 | 1.04% | -0.17% |
| 2063 | 1.07% | -0.16% |
| 2062 | 1.08% | -0.14% |
| 2061 | 1.11% | -0.14% |
| 2060 | 1.11% | -0.12% |
| 2059 | 1.13% | -0.11% |
| 2058 | 1.15% | -0.1% |
| 2057 | 1.16% | -0.09% |
| 2056 | 1.2% | -0.05% |
| 2055 | 1.22% | -0.04% |
| 2054 | 1.24% | -0.04% |
| 2053 | 1.26% | -0.02% |
| 2052 | 1.3% | -0.004% |
| 2051 | 1.31% | 0.01% |
| 2050 | 1.33% | 0.02% |
| 2049 | 1.36% | 0.04% |
| 2048 | 1.39% | 0.07% |
| 2047 | 1.43% | 0.1% |
| 2046 | 1.48% | 0.14% |
| 2045 | 1.5% | 0.13% |
| 2044 | 1.53% | 0.16% |
| 2043 | 1.55% | 0.18% |
| 2042 | 1.57% | 0.2% |
| 2041 | 1.62% | 0.22% |
| 2040 | 1.66% | 0.25% |
| 2039 | 1.7% | 0.26% |
| 2038 | 1.73% | 0.29% |
| 2037 | 1.78% | 0.29% |
| 2036 | 1.8% | 0.31% |
| 2035 | 1.83% | 0.33% |
| 2034 | 1.85% | 0.35% |
| 2033 | 1.88% | 0.37% |
| 2032 | 1.89% | 0.38% |
| 2031 | 1.9% | 0.41% |
| 2030 | 1.93% | 0.42% |
| 2029 | 1.94% | 0.45% |
| 2028 | 1.96% | 0.47% |
| 2027 | 1.96% | 0.5% |
| 2026 | 1.99% | 0.52% |
| 2025 | 2% | -0.73% |
| 2024 | 2.02% | -0.55% |
| 2023 | 2.02% | -0.65% |
| 2022 | 1.96% | 0.11% |
| 2021 | 2.08% | 1.08% |
| 2020 | 1.89% | 0.53% |
| 2019 | 1.52% | 0.61% |
| 2018 | 1.55% | 1.01% |
| 2017 | 1.61% | 1.15% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | 1.14% |
| 2015 | 1.79% | 0.92% |
| 2014 | 1.87% | 0.94% |
| 2013 | 1.96% | -2.76% |
| 2012 | 2.04% | 0.76% |
| 2011 | 2.12% | 0.62% |
| 2010 | 2.22% | 0.59% |
| 2009 | 2.34% | 0.62% |
| 2008 | 2.41% | 0.67% |
| 2007 | 2.45% | 0.69% |
| 2006 | 2.47% | 0.67% |
| 2005 | 2.49% | 0.64% |
| 2004 | 2.53% | 0.68% |
| 2003 | 2.6% | 0.74% |
| 2002 | 2.42% | 1.05% |
| 2001 | 1.64% | 1.59% |
| 2000 | 1.11% | 1.84% |
| 1999 | 1.2% | 1.88% |
| 1998 | 1.32% | 1.91% |
| 1997 | 1.43% | 1.92% |
| 1996 | 1.53% | 1.94% |
| 1995 | 1.63% | 1.67% |
| 1994 | 1.74% | 1.47% |
| 1993 | 1.84% | 1.71% |
| 1992 | 1.92% | 1.6% |
| 1991 | 2.21% | 0.75% |
| 1990 | 2.5% | 0.64% |
| 1989 | 2.6% | 1.06% |
| 1988 | 2.65% | 1.02% |
| 1987 | 2.49% | 1.18% |
| 1986 | 2.29% | 1.2% |
| 1985 | 2.13% | 0.66% |
| 1984 | 1.93% | 0.34% |
| 1983 | 1.83% | 0.67% |
| 1982 | 1.88% | 1.24% |
| 1981 | 2.1% | 1.69% |
| 1980 | 2.38% | 1.84% |
| 1979 | 2.62% | 1.88% |
| 1978 | 2.73% | 1.86% |
| 1977 | 2.68% | 1.83% |
| 1976 | 2.55% | 1.83% |
| 1975 | 2.4% | 1.83% |
| 1974 | 2.26% | 1.87% |
| 1973 | 2.17% | 1.97% |
| 1972 | 2.16% | 2.05% |
| 1971 | 2.2% | 2.16% |
| 1970 | 2.03% | 2.27% |
| 1969 | 1.76% | 2.37% |
| 1968 | 1.59% | 2.43% |
| 1967 | 1.41% | 2.44% |
| 1966 | 1.25% | 2.45% |
| 1965 | 1.15% | 2.47% |
| 1964 | 1.07% | 2.49% |
| 1963 | 1.02% | 2.48% |
| 1962 | 1.01% | 2.47% |
| 1961 | 1.02% | 2.46% |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/sri-lanka | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Sao Tome and Principe grew by 2%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.
Live population counters
|
Sao Tome
|
Sri Lanka
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
247495
|
21926160
|
| Population rank | 176/197 | 63/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.003% | 0.26% |
| One net population change |
1.86 hours
|
3.29 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.32 hours
|
2.37 minutes
|
| One death every |
6.73 hours
|
3.07 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +13 | -438 |
| Annual growth/decline | +4,718 | -160,000 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2% | -0.73% |
| Population growth rate rank | 50/197 | 190/197 |
| One migration net change every |
13.5 hours
|
17.2 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -650 | -30,724 |
| Net migration rank | 90/196 | 165/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 1,955 | 40,698 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 194/195 | 156/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.8% | 0.2% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 162/195 | 190/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sao Tome
|
Sri Lanka
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -650 | - | -30,724 |
| 2024 | 5,315 | -604 | 50,407 | -27,245 |
| 2023 | 5,221 | -592 | 66,111 | -28,011 |
| 2022 | 5,102 | -592 | 95,378 | -27,435 |
| 2021 | 4,954 | -782 | 121,858 | -29,586 |
| 2020 | 4,874 | 0 | 170,968 | -29,875 |
| 2019 | 4,932 | -1,716 | 172,243 | -28,426 |
| 2018 | 4,957 | -1,757 | 183,610 | -28,607 |
| 2017 | 5,007 | -1,779 | 187,993 | -22,324 |
| 2016 | 5,125 | -1,793 | 194,232 | -18,388 |
| 2015 | 5,269 | -1,809 | 201,815 | -29,797 |
| 2014 | 5,381 | -1,801 | 211,541 | -33,672 |
| 2013 | 5,449 | -1,787 | 221,021 | -37,754 |
| 2012 | 5,501 | -1,739 | 229,138 | -41,955 |
| 2011 | 5,445 | -1,616 | 224,461 | -90,839 |
| 2010 | 5,391 | -1,529 | 224,325 | -98,060 |
| 2009 | 5,349 | -1,328 | 200,175 | -81,130 |
| 2008 | 5,297 | -1,203 | 232,225 | -97,144 |
| 2007 | 5,226 | -1,127 | 248,287 | -109,695 |
| 2006 | 5,057 | -1,031 | 248,706 | -107,045 |
| 2005 | 4,897 | -941 | 248,683 | -118,594 |
| 2004 | 4,810 | -894 | 212,527 | -84,795 |
| 2003 | 4,702 | -816 | 252,008 | -107,573 |
| 2002 | 4,591 | -690 | 252,840 | -105,718 |
| 2001 | 4,471 | -1,289 | 244,377 | 19,273 |
| 2000 | 4,334 | -2,798 | 227,060 | 123,894 |
| 1999 | 4,221 | -2,594 | 206,876 | 138,799 |
| 1998 | 4,120 | -2,364 | 201,059 | 150,724 |
| 1997 | 4,041 | -2,153 | 208,193 | 135,636 |
| 1996 | 3,993 | -1,974 | 215,290 | 127,236 |
| 1995 | 3,948 | -1,829 | 221,957 | 117,416 |
| 1994 | 3,860 | -1,644 | 228,904 | 8,323 |
| 1993 | 3,841 | -1,527 | 226,257 | 36,232 |
| 1992 | 3,822 | -1,432 | 222,230 | 88,542 |
| 1991 | 3,801 | -1,362 | 218,117 | -1,047 |
| 1990 | 3,719 | -727 | 224,454 | -195,736 |
| 1989 | 3,576 | -571 | 212,401 | -33,305 |
| 1988 | 3,544 | -465 | 219,184 | -58,415 |
| 1987 | 3,440 | -470 | 226,414 | -63,105 |
| 1986 | 3,180 | -614 | 233,782 | -26,460 |
| 1985 | 3,242 | -828 | 247,836 | -80,950 |
| 1984 | 3,163 | -1,041 | 263,175 | -225,450 |
| 1983 | 3,100 | -1,203 | 277,768 | -209,362 |
| 1982 | 3,047 | -1,203 | 300,030 | -163,987 |
| 1981 | 3,015 | -1,067 | 328,096 | -89,824 |
| 1980 | 2,965 | -770 | 328,155 | -63,541 |
| 1979 | 2,893 | -491 | 329,791 | -57,683 |
| 1978 | 2,800 | -279 | 317,055 | -50,189 |
| 1977 | 2,705 | -255 | 300,038 | -45,383 |
| 1976 | 2,608 | -302 | 291,816 | -41,258 |
| 1975 | 2,515 | -392 | 282,496 | -37,475 |
| 1974 | 2,422 | -474 | 275,521 | -33,979 |
| 1973 | 2,329 | -525 | 278,577 | -30,582 |
| 1972 | 2,232 | -517 | 282,494 | -27,071 |
| 1971 | 2,127 | -430 | 281,200 | -22,021 |
| 1970 | 1,980 | -279 | 286,719 | -16,299 |
| 1969 | 1,862 | -469 | 286,218 | -10,152 |
| 1968 | 1,767 | -520 | 286,642 | -7,163 |
| 1967 | 1,693 | -606 | 284,738 | -6,696 |
| 1966 | 1,642 | -688 | 275,549 | -6,794 |
| 1965 | 1,611 | -765 | 272,422 | -7,249 |
| 1964 | 1,600 | -819 | 269,584 | -7,614 |
| 1963 | 1,609 | -886 | 262,880 | -8,118 |
| 1962 | 1,625 | -927 | 256,719 | -8,909 |
| 1961 | 1,657 | -960 | 251,087 | -10,144 |
| 1960 | 1,547 | -860 | 247,631 | -12,610 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/sri-lanka | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 81.6% of the population change in Sao Tome and Principe is from natural causes (a gain of 50,756 people) and 18.4% is from migration (a loss of 11,424 people). In Sri Lanka 84.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,444,615 people) and 15.7% is from migration (a loss of 269,694 people).
As of 2024, 1,955 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Sao Tome and Principe and Sri Lanka
|
Sao Tome
|
Sri Lanka
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 70.3 years | 78 years |
| Average age | 25.2 years | 36 years |
| Median age | 20.5 years | 34.4 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.7:50.3 | 48.4:51.6 |
| Fertility rate | 3.6 births per woman | 1.95 births per woman |
| Population density | 661 ppl/mi² | 916 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/sri-lanka | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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