The latest officially reported population of Sao Tome and Principe was 235,536 in 2024 vs 634,431 people in Suriname in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sao Tome and Principe's population is 246,362 people compared to 646,767 in Suriname.
Population statistics:
- Suriname's population is 2.63 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
- Sao Tome and Principe is ranked the 176th most populous country in the world, while Suriname is the 165th.
- The countries together account for 0.01% of the world: 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe vs 0.008% for Suriname.
- For the last 10 years, Sao Tome and Principe has had an average growth rate of +1.82% per year vs +0.99% in Suriname.
- Since 2006, the population of Sao Tome and Principe has increased from 166K people to 246K (48.7% growth), while Suriname has grown from 525K to 647K (23.2% growth).
Sao Tome and Principe vs Suriname: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Sao Tome
|
Suriname
|
|
| 2100 | 538,729 | 713,276 |
| 2099 | 537,330 | 715,694 |
| 2098 | 535,787 | 718,049 |
| 2097 | 534,124 | 720,475 |
| 2096 | 532,353 | 722,775 |
| 2095 | 530,576 | 725,199 |
| 2094 | 528,656 | 727,489 |
| 2093 | 526,643 | 729,920 |
| 2092 | 524,507 | 732,285 |
| 2091 | 522,325 | 734,586 |
| 2090 | 519,999 | 736,650 |
| 2089 | 517,612 | 738,862 |
| 2088 | 515,098 | 741,002 |
| 2087 | 512,568 | 742,833 |
| 2086 | 510,018 | 744,593 |
| 2085 | 507,340 | 746,302 |
| 2084 | 504,584 | 747,746 |
| 2083 | 501,679 | 749,138 |
| 2082 | 498,722 | 750,329 |
| 2081 | 495,689 | 751,501 |
| 2080 | 492,482 | 752,545 |
| 2079 | 489,244 | 753,284 |
| 2078 | 485,930 | 753,948 |
| 2077 | 482,450 | 754,556 |
| 2076 | 478,942 | 754,989 |
| 2075 | 475,380 | 755,527 |
| 2074 | 471,763 | 755,714 |
| 2073 | 468,114 | 756,015 |
| 2072 | 464,348 | 756,099 |
| 2071 | 460,509 | 756,098 |
| 2070 | 456,552 | 755,959 |
| 2069 | 452,449 | 755,874 |
| 2068 | 448,367 | 755,599 |
| 2067 | 444,152 | 755,148 |
| 2066 | 439,833 | 754,804 |
| 2065 | 435,561 | 754,111 |
| 2064 | 431,126 | 753,285 |
| 2063 | 426,703 | 752,745 |
| 2062 | 422,184 | 751,966 |
| 2061 | 417,686 | 751,282 |
| 2060 | 413,117 | 750,299 |
| 2059 | 408,577 | 749,394 |
| 2058 | 404,024 | 748,586 |
| 2057 | 399,413 | 747,157 |
| 2056 | 394,844 | 745,941 |
| 2055 | 390,153 | 744,408 |
| 2054 | 385,468 | 742,811 |
| 2053 | 380,737 | 741,338 |
| 2052 | 376,015 | 739,662 |
| 2051 | 371,194 | 737,998 |
| 2050 | 366,397 | 736,053 |
| 2049 | 361,591 | 734,230 |
| 2048 | 356,742 | 732,060 |
| 2047 | 351,861 | 729,598 |
| 2046 | 346,888 | 727,216 |
| 2045 | 341,838 | 724,444 |
| 2044 | 336,792 | 721,531 |
| 2043 | 331,713 | 718,571 |
| 2042 | 326,652 | 715,310 |
| 2041 | 321,594 | 711,980 |
| 2040 | 316,457 | 708,355 |
| 2039 | 311,279 | 704,772 |
| 2038 | 306,071 | 701,004 |
| 2037 | 300,875 | 697,340 |
| 2036 | 295,624 | 693,244 |
| 2035 | 290,400 | 688,991 |
| 2034 | 285,183 | 684,651 |
| 2033 | 279,990 | 680,266 |
| 2032 | 274,835 | 675,625 |
| 2031 | 269,740 | 670,920 |
| 2030 | 264,723 | 666,044 |
| 2029 | 259,705 | 661,163 |
| 2028 | 254,751 | 655,979 |
| 2027 | 249,860 | 650,686 |
| 2026 | 245,066 | 645,315 |
| 2025 | 240,286 | 639,827 |
| 2024 | 235,536 | 634,431 |
| 2023 | 230,871 | 628,886 |
| 2022 | 226,305 | 623,164 |
| 2021 | 221,961 | 617,896 |
| 2020 | 217,435 | 612,317 |
| 2019 | 213,392 | 605,768 |
| 2018 | 210,187 | 599,513 |
| 2017 | 206,970 | 593,713 |
| 2016 | 203,689 | 587,757 |
| 2015 | 200,291 | 581,627 |
| 2014 | 196,767 | 575,373 |
| 2013 | 193,148 | 569,020 |
| 2012 | 189,439 | 562,633 |
| 2011 | 185,649 | 556,269 |
| 2010 | 181,802 | 549,923 |
| 2009 | 177,853 | 543,568 |
| 2008 | 173,793 | 537,245 |
| 2007 | 169,700 | 531,016 |
| 2006 | 165,638 | 524,997 |
| 2005 | 161,639 | 519,313 |
| 2004 | 157,705 | 513,923 |
| 2003 | 153,814 | 506,414 |
| 2002 | 149,922 | 496,551 |
| 2001 | 146,375 | 486,560 |
| 2000 | 144,018 | 476,643 |
| 1999 | 142,442 | 466,916 |
| 1998 | 140,751 | 457,406 |
| 1997 | 138,922 | 448,067 |
| 1996 | 136,962 | 438,830 |
| 1995 | 134,895 | 429,606 |
| 1994 | 132,732 | 422,375 |
| 1993 | 130,467 | 419,352 |
| 1992 | 128,110 | 417,589 |
| 1991 | 125,697 | 415,013 |
| 1990 | 122,980 | 412,493 |
| 1989 | 119,979 | 408,409 |
| 1988 | 116,939 | 402,227 |
| 1987 | 113,919 | 396,911 |
| 1986 | 111,150 | 392,330 |
| 1985 | 108,658 | 386,972 |
| 1984 | 106,394 | 382,193 |
| 1983 | 104,380 | 378,746 |
| 1982 | 102,508 | 376,555 |
| 1981 | 100,615 | 375,459 |
| 1980 | 98,544 | 375,377 |
| 1979 | 96,252 | 377,602 |
| 1978 | 93,794 | 381,502 |
| 1977 | 91,301 | 385,067 |
| 1976 | 88,922 | 388,289 |
| 1975 | 86,708 | 391,170 |
| 1974 | 84,672 | 393,676 |
| 1973 | 82,798 | 395,772 |
| 1972 | 81,041 | 397,413 |
| 1971 | 79,330 | 391,932 |
| 1970 | 77,626 | 379,442 |
| 1969 | 76,083 | 366,906 |
| 1968 | 74,765 | 354,616 |
| 1967 | 73,596 | 342,679 |
| 1966 | 72,576 | 331,135 |
| 1965 | 71,680 | 320,000 |
| 1964 | 70,865 | 309,041 |
| 1963 | 70,112 | 297,034 |
| 1962 | 69,403 | 283,912 |
| 1961 | 68,707 | 272,791 |
| 1960 | 68,012 | 263,918 |
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/suriname | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sao Tome and Principe increased by 38,051 people (a 23% growth), while Suriname gained 62,760 people (a 12% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sao Tome and Principe gained 42,673 people (a 21% growth), while Suriname's population increased by 59,010 people (a 10% growth).
Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th most populous country in 2006 and is 176th in 2026. Suriname was ranked 164th in 2006 and ranked 165th 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 Suriname will increase by 13.8% to 736,053 people and will still be ranked 165th.
Sao Tome and Principe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 539K people compared to the peak of 756K people in 2072 for Suriname.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Sao Tome
|
Suriname
|
|
| 2100 | 0.26% | -0.34% |
| 2099 | 0.29% | -0.33% |
| 2098 | 0.31% | -0.34% |
| 2097 | 0.33% | -0.32% |
| 2096 | 0.33% | -0.33% |
| 2095 | 0.36% | -0.31% |
| 2094 | 0.38% | -0.33% |
| 2093 | 0.41% | -0.32% |
| 2092 | 0.42% | -0.31% |
| 2091 | 0.45% | -0.28% |
| 2090 | 0.46% | -0.3% |
| 2089 | 0.49% | -0.29% |
| 2088 | 0.49% | -0.25% |
| 2087 | 0.5% | -0.24% |
| 2086 | 0.53% | -0.23% |
| 2085 | 0.55% | -0.19% |
| 2084 | 0.58% | -0.19% |
| 2083 | 0.59% | -0.16% |
| 2082 | 0.61% | -0.16% |
| 2081 | 0.65% | -0.14% |
| 2080 | 0.66% | -0.1% |
| 2079 | 0.68% | -0.09% |
| 2078 | 0.72% | -0.08% |
| 2077 | 0.73% | -0.06% |
| 2076 | 0.75% | -0.07% |
| 2075 | 0.77% | -0.02% |
| 2074 | 0.78% | -0.04% |
| 2073 | 0.81% | -0.01% |
| 2072 | 0.83% | 0% |
| 2071 | 0.87% | 0.02% |
| 2070 | 0.91% | 0.01% |
| 2069 | 0.91% | 0.04% |
| 2068 | 0.95% | 0.06% |
| 2067 | 0.98% | 0.05% |
| 2066 | 0.98% | 0.09% |
| 2065 | 1.03% | 0.11% |
| 2064 | 1.04% | 0.07% |
| 2063 | 1.07% | 0.1% |
| 2062 | 1.08% | 0.09% |
| 2061 | 1.11% | 0.13% |
| 2060 | 1.11% | 0.12% |
| 2059 | 1.13% | 0.11% |
| 2058 | 1.15% | 0.19% |
| 2057 | 1.16% | 0.16% |
| 2056 | 1.2% | 0.21% |
| 2055 | 1.22% | 0.22% |
| 2054 | 1.24% | 0.2% |
| 2053 | 1.26% | 0.23% |
| 2052 | 1.3% | 0.23% |
| 2051 | 1.31% | 0.26% |
| 2050 | 1.33% | 0.25% |
| 2049 | 1.36% | 0.3% |
| 2048 | 1.39% | 0.34% |
| 2047 | 1.43% | 0.33% |
| 2046 | 1.48% | 0.38% |
| 2045 | 1.5% | 0.4% |
| 2044 | 1.53% | 0.41% |
| 2043 | 1.55% | 0.46% |
| 2042 | 1.57% | 0.47% |
| 2041 | 1.62% | 0.51% |
| 2040 | 1.66% | 0.51% |
| 2039 | 1.7% | 0.54% |
| 2038 | 1.73% | 0.53% |
| 2037 | 1.78% | 0.59% |
| 2036 | 1.8% | 0.62% |
| 2035 | 1.83% | 0.63% |
| 2034 | 1.85% | 0.64% |
| 2033 | 1.88% | 0.69% |
| 2032 | 1.89% | 0.7% |
| 2031 | 1.9% | 0.73% |
| 2030 | 1.93% | 0.74% |
| 2029 | 1.94% | 0.79% |
| 2028 | 1.96% | 0.81% |
| 2027 | 1.96% | 0.83% |
| 2026 | 1.99% | 0.86% |
| 2025 | 2.02% | 0.85% |
| 2024 | 2.02% | 0.88% |
| 2023 | 2.02% | 0.92% |
| 2022 | 1.96% | 0.85% |
| 2021 | 2.08% | 0.91% |
| 2020 | 1.89% | 1.08% |
| 2019 | 1.52% | 1.04% |
| 2018 | 1.55% | 0.98% |
| 2017 | 1.61% | 1.01% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | 1.05% |
| 2015 | 1.79% | 1.09% |
| 2014 | 1.87% | 1.12% |
| 2013 | 1.96% | 1.14% |
| 2012 | 2.04% | 1.14% |
| 2011 | 2.12% | 1.15% |
| 2010 | 2.22% | 1.17% |
| 2009 | 2.34% | 1.18% |
| 2008 | 2.41% | 1.17% |
| 2007 | 2.45% | 1.15% |
| 2006 | 2.47% | 1.09% |
| 2005 | 2.49% | 1.05% |
| 2004 | 2.53% | 1.48% |
| 2003 | 2.6% | 1.99% |
| 2002 | 2.42% | 2.05% |
| 2001 | 1.64% | 2.08% |
| 2000 | 1.11% | 2.08% |
| 1999 | 1.2% | 2.08% |
| 1998 | 1.32% | 2.08% |
| 1997 | 1.43% | 2.1% |
| 1996 | 1.53% | 2.15% |
| 1995 | 1.63% | 1.71% |
| 1994 | 1.74% | 0.72% |
| 1993 | 1.84% | 0.42% |
| 1992 | 1.92% | 0.62% |
| 1991 | 2.21% | 0.61% |
| 1990 | 2.5% | 1% |
| 1989 | 2.6% | 1.54% |
| 1988 | 2.65% | 1.34% |
| 1987 | 2.49% | 1.17% |
| 1986 | 2.29% | 1.38% |
| 1985 | 2.13% | 1.25% |
| 1984 | 1.93% | 0.91% |
| 1983 | 1.83% | 0.58% |
| 1982 | 1.88% | 0.29% |
| 1981 | 2.1% | 0.02% |
| 1980 | 2.38% | -0.59% |
| 1979 | 2.62% | -1.02% |
| 1978 | 2.73% | -0.93% |
| 1977 | 2.68% | -0.83% |
| 1976 | 2.55% | -0.74% |
| 1975 | 2.4% | -0.64% |
| 1974 | 2.26% | -0.53% |
| 1973 | 2.17% | -0.41% |
| 1972 | 2.16% | 1.4% |
| 1971 | 2.2% | 3.29% |
| 1970 | 2.03% | 3.42% |
| 1969 | 1.76% | 3.47% |
| 1968 | 1.59% | 3.48% |
| 1967 | 1.41% | 3.49% |
| 1966 | 1.25% | 3.48% |
| 1965 | 1.15% | 3.55% |
| 1964 | 1.07% | 4.04% |
| 1963 | 1.02% | 4.62% |
| 1962 | 1.01% | 4.08% |
| 1961 | 1.02% | 3.36% |
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/suriname | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Sao Tome and Principe grew by 2.02%, while Suriname's population grew by 0.88%.
Live population counters
|
Sao Tome
|
Suriname
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
246362
|
646767
|
| Population rank | 176/197 | 165/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.003% | 0.008% |
| One net population change |
1.88 hours
|
1.58 hours
|
| One birth every |
1.35 hours
|
48.3 minutes
|
| One death every |
6.81 hours
|
2.1 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +13 | +15 |
| Annual growth/decline | +4,665 | +5,545 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.02% | +0.88% |
| Population growth rate rank | 49/197 | 108/197 |
| One migration net change every |
13.5 hours
|
9.08 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -650 | -967 |
| Net migration rank | 90/196 | 92/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 1,955 | 51,902 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 194/195 | 148/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.8% | 8.2% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 162/195 | 74/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sao Tome
|
Suriname
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -650 | - | -967 |
| 2024 | - | -604 | - | -1,166 |
| 2023 | 5,221 | -592 | 6,697 | -988 |
| 2022 | 5,102 | -592 | 6,719 | -988 |
| 2021 | 4,954 | -782 | 5,291 | -486 |
| 2020 | 4,874 | 0 | 6,640 | -296 |
| 2019 | 4,932 | -1,716 | 6,564 | 191 |
| 2018 | 4,957 | -1,757 | 6,613 | -851 |
| 2017 | 5,007 | -1,779 | 6,772 | -935 |
| 2016 | 5,125 | -1,793 | 6,979 | -906 |
| 2015 | 5,269 | -1,809 | 7,150 | -967 |
| 2014 | 5,381 | -1,801 | 7,284 | -959 |
| 2013 | 5,449 | -1,787 | 7,350 | -968 |
| 2012 | 5,501 | -1,739 | 7,405 | -1,011 |
| 2011 | 5,445 | -1,616 | 7,401 | -1,060 |
| 2010 | 5,391 | -1,529 | 7,489 | -1,138 |
| 2009 | 5,349 | -1,328 | 7,559 | -1,204 |
| 2008 | 5,297 | -1,203 | 7,552 | -1,255 |
| 2007 | 5,226 | -1,127 | 7,468 | -1,312 |
| 2006 | 5,057 | -1,031 | 7,278 | -1,403 |
| 2005 | 4,897 | -941 | 7,037 | -1,534 |
| 2004 | 4,810 | -894 | 6,948 | -1,676 |
| 2003 | 4,702 | -816 | 7,396 | 2,345 |
| 2002 | 4,591 | -690 | 7,916 | 2,076 |
| 2001 | 4,471 | -1,289 | 8,349 | 1,641 |
| 2000 | 4,334 | -2,798 | 8,323 | 1,516 |
| 1999 | 4,221 | -2,594 | 8,236 | 1,380 |
| 1998 | 4,120 | -2,364 | 8,173 | 1,241 |
| 1997 | 4,041 | -2,153 | 8,106 | 1,164 |
| 1996 | 3,993 | -1,974 | 8,031 | 1,165 |
| 1995 | 3,948 | -1,829 | 7,968 | 1,275 |
| 1994 | 3,860 | -1,644 | 7,929 | -2,713 |
| 1993 | 3,841 | -1,527 | 8,127 | -7,291 |
| 1992 | 3,822 | -1,432 | 8,355 | -5,662 |
| 1991 | 3,801 | -1,362 | 8,637 | -6,174 |
| 1990 | 3,719 | -727 | 9,047 | -6,471 |
| 1989 | 3,576 | -571 | 9,441 | -3,846 |
| 1988 | 3,544 | -465 | 9,347 | -2,573 |
| 1987 | 3,440 | -470 | 9,319 | -5,467 |
| 1986 | 3,180 | -614 | 9,222 | -3,920 |
| 1985 | 3,242 | -828 | 9,177 | -3,763 |
| 1984 | 3,163 | -1,041 | 9,031 | -4,894 |
| 1983 | 3,100 | -1,203 | 8,797 | -6,036 |
| 1982 | 3,047 | -1,203 | 8,197 | -6,566 |
| 1981 | 3,015 | -1,067 | 7,541 | -6,991 |
| 1980 | 2,965 | -770 | 7,002 | -7,390 |
| 1979 | 2,893 | -491 | 7,312 | -11,375 |
| 1978 | 2,800 | -279 | 7,650 | -11,389 |
| 1977 | 2,705 | -255 | 7,998 | -11,390 |
| 1976 | 2,608 | -302 | 8,327 | -11,381 |
| 1975 | 2,515 | -392 | 8,587 | -11,287 |
| 1974 | 2,422 | -474 | 8,751 | -11,061 |
| 1973 | 2,329 | -525 | 8,877 | -10,765 |
| 1972 | 2,232 | -517 | 8,893 | -10,285 |
| 1971 | 2,127 | -430 | 8,814 | 3,552 |
| 1970 | 1,980 | -279 | 8,823 | 3,791 |
| 1969 | 1,862 | -469 | 8,880 | 3,575 |
| 1968 | 1,767 | -520 | 8,980 | 3,147 |
| 1967 | 1,693 | -606 | 9,104 | 2,637 |
| 1966 | 1,642 | -688 | 9,243 | 2,103 |
| 1965 | 1,611 | -765 | 9,270 | 1,657 |
| 1964 | 1,600 | -819 | 9,174 | 1,820 |
| 1963 | 1,609 | -886 | 8,838 | 4,181 |
| 1962 | 1,625 | -927 | 8,529 | 4,703 |
| 1961 | 1,657 | -960 | 8,361 | 660 |
| 1960 | 1,547 | -860 | 8,170 | 544 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/suriname | 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 Suriname 90.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 66,709 people) and 9.72% is from migration (a loss of 7,185 people).
As of 2024, 1,955 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 51,902 people or 8.2% in Suriname.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Sao Tome and Principe and Suriname
|
Sao Tome
|
Suriname
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 70.3 years | 74 years |
| Average age | 25.1 years | 32.3 years |
| Median age | 20.3 years | 29.4 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.7:50.3 | 50:50 |
| Fertility rate | 3.64 births per woman | 2.25 births per woman |
| Population density | 661 ppl/mi² | 10.4 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/suriname | 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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