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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Sao Tome and Principe was 235,536 in 2024 vs 9,005,582 people in Switzerland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sao Tome and Principe's population is 246,362 people compared to 9,107,866 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • Switzerland's population is 37 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
  • Sao Tome and Principe is ranked the 176th most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.11% of the world: 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe vs 0.11% for Switzerland.
  • For the last 10 years, Sao Tome and Principe has had an average growth rate of +1.82% per year vs +0.98% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sao Tome and Principe has increased from 166K people to 246K (48.7% growth), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.11M (21.7% growth).

Sao Tome and Principe vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sao Tome Switzerland
2100 538,729 9,234,296
2099 537,330 9,226,472
2098 535,787 9,220,109
2097 534,124 9,212,728
2096 532,353 9,208,997
2095 530,576 9,203,477
2094 528,656 9,199,095
2093 526,643 9,196,672
2092 524,507 9,194,082
2091 522,325 9,191,145
2090 519,999 9,189,122
2089 517,612 9,188,754
2088 515,098 9,190,102
2087 512,568 9,189,763
2086 510,018 9,191,494
2085 507,340 9,195,728
2084 504,584 9,199,983
2083 501,679 9,204,908
2082 498,722 9,210,695
2081 495,689 9,217,065
2080 492,482 9,223,475
2079 489,244 9,230,920
2078 485,930 9,237,649
2077 482,450 9,245,300
2076 478,942 9,250,248
2075 475,380 9,255,753
2074 471,763 9,266,455
2073 468,114 9,275,439
2072 464,348 9,283,185
2071 460,509 9,292,913
2070 456,552 9,303,843
2069 452,449 9,311,935
2068 448,367 9,320,335
2067 444,152 9,327,741
2066 439,833 9,339,455
2065 435,561 9,351,481
2064 431,126 9,362,413
2063 426,703 9,372,441
2062 422,184 9,383,258
2061 417,686 9,395,036
2060 413,117 9,403,920
2059 408,577 9,414,241
2058 404,024 9,422,560
2057 399,413 9,428,212
2056 394,844 9,435,441
2055 390,153 9,443,890
2054 385,468 9,451,268
2053 380,737 9,456,389
2052 376,015 9,456,418
2051 371,194 9,456,395
2050 366,397 9,454,544
2049 361,591 9,451,083
2048 356,742 9,444,091
2047 351,861 9,437,061
2046 346,888 9,430,954
2045 341,838 9,425,155
2044 336,792 9,418,152
2043 331,713 9,410,763
2042 326,652 9,400,808
2041 321,594 9,393,857
2040 316,457 9,382,662
2039 311,279 9,373,984
2038 306,071 9,365,030
2037 300,875 9,354,254
2036 295,624 9,342,450
2035 290,400 9,328,907
2034 285,183 9,312,054
2033 279,990 9,294,881
2032 274,835 9,276,221
2031 269,740 9,253,034
2030 264,723 9,228,188
2029 259,705 9,201,743
2028 254,751 9,170,620
2027 249,860 9,135,740
2026 245,066 9,097,532
2025 240,286 9,053,983
2024 235,536 9,005,582
2023 230,871 8,888,822
2022 226,305 8,777,088
2021 221,961 8,704,546
2020 217,435 8,638,167
2019 213,392 8,575,280
2018 210,187 8,514,329
2017 206,970 8,451,840
2016 203,689 8,373,338
2015 200,291 8,282,396
2014 196,767 8,188,649
2013 193,148 8,089,346
2012 189,439 7,996,861
2011 185,649 7,912,398
2010 181,802 7,824,909
2009 177,853 7,743,831
2008 173,793 7,647,675
2007 169,700 7,551,117
2006 165,638 7,483,934
2005 161,639 7,437,115
2004 157,705 7,389,625
2003 153,814 7,339,001
2002 149,922 7,284,753
2001 146,375 7,229,854
2000 144,018 7,184,250
1999 142,442 7,143,991
1998 140,751 7,110,001
1997 138,922 7,088,906
1996 136,962 7,071,850
1995 134,895 7,040,687
1994 132,732 6,993,795
1993 130,467 6,938,265
1992 128,110 6,875,364
1991 125,697 6,799,978
1990 122,980 6,715,519
1989 119,979 6,646,912
1988 116,939 6,593,386
1987 113,919 6,545,106
1986 111,150 6,504,124
1985 108,658 6,470,365
1984 106,394 6,441,865
1983 104,380 6,418,773
1982 102,508 6,391,309
1981 100,615 6,354,074
1980 98,544 6,319,408
1979 96,252 6,294,365
1978 93,794 6,281,738
1977 91,301 6,281,174
1976 88,922 6,302,504
1975 86,708 6,338,632
1974 84,672 6,341,405
1973 82,798 6,307,347
1972 81,041 6,260,956
1971 79,330 6,213,399
1970 77,626 6,180,877
1969 76,083 6,136,387
1968 74,765 6,067,714
1967 73,596 5,991,785
1966 72,576 5,918,002
1965 71,680 5,856,472
1964 70,865 5,789,228
1963 70,112 5,694,247
1962 69,403 5,573,815
1961 68,707 5,434,294
1960 68,012 5,327,827

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/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sao Tome and Principe increased by 38,051 people (a 23% growth), while Switzerland gained 889,404 people (a 11.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sao Tome and Principe gained 42,673 people (a 21% growth), while Switzerland's population increased by 734,528 people (a 8.77% growth).

Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th most populous country in 2006 and is 176th in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th in 2006 and ranked 100th 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 Switzerland will increase by 3.81% to 9,454,544 people and rank change from 100th to 103rd.

Sao Tome and Principe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 539K people compared to the peak of 9.46M people in 2052 for Switzerland.

Population growth rate by year

Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sao Tome Switzerland
2100 0.26% 0.08%
2099 0.29% 0.07%
2098 0.31% 0.08%
2097 0.33% 0.04%
2096 0.33% 0.06%
2095 0.36% 0.05%
2094 0.38% 0.03%
2093 0.41% 0.03%
2092 0.42% 0.03%
2091 0.45% 0.02%
2090 0.46% 0.004%
2089 0.49% -0.01%
2088 0.49% 0.004%
2087 0.5% -0.02%
2086 0.53% -0.05%
2085 0.55% -0.05%
2084 0.58% -0.05%
2083 0.59% -0.06%
2082 0.61% -0.07%
2081 0.65% -0.07%
2080 0.66% -0.08%
2079 0.68% -0.07%
2078 0.72% -0.08%
2077 0.73% -0.05%
2076 0.75% -0.06%
2075 0.77% -0.12%
2074 0.78% -0.1%
2073 0.81% -0.08%
2072 0.83% -0.1%
2071 0.87% -0.12%
2070 0.91% -0.09%
2069 0.91% -0.09%
2068 0.95% -0.08%
2067 0.98% -0.13%
2066 0.98% -0.13%
2065 1.03% -0.12%
2064 1.04% -0.11%
2063 1.07% -0.12%
2062 1.08% -0.13%
2061 1.11% -0.09%
2060 1.11% -0.11%
2059 1.13% -0.09%
2058 1.15% -0.06%
2057 1.16% -0.08%
2056 1.2% -0.09%
2055 1.22% -0.08%
2054 1.24% -0.05%
2053 1.26% -0%
2052 1.3% 0%
2051 1.31% 0.02%
2050 1.33% 0.04%
2049 1.36% 0.07%
2048 1.39% 0.07%
2047 1.43% 0.06%
2046 1.48% 0.06%
2045 1.5% 0.07%
2044 1.53% 0.08%
2043 1.55% 0.11%
2042 1.57% 0.07%
2041 1.62% 0.12%
2040 1.66% 0.09%
2039 1.7% 0.1%
2038 1.73% 0.12%
2037 1.78% 0.13%
2036 1.8% 0.15%
2035 1.83% 0.18%
2034 1.85% 0.18%
2033 1.88% 0.2%
2032 1.89% 0.25%
2031 1.9% 0.27%
2030 1.93% 0.29%
2029 1.94% 0.34%
2028 1.96% 0.38%
2027 1.96% 0.42%
2026 1.99% 0.48%
2025 2.02% 0.54%
2024 2.02% 1.31%
2023 2.02% 1.27%
2022 1.96% 0.83%
2021 2.08% 0.77%
2020 1.89% 0.73%
2019 1.52% 0.72%
2018 1.55% 0.74%
2017 1.61% 0.94%
2016 1.7% 1.1%
2015 1.79% 1.14%
2014 1.87% 1.23%
2013 1.96% 1.16%
2012 2.04% 1.07%
2011 2.12% 1.12%
2010 2.22% 1.05%
2009 2.34% 1.26%
2008 2.41% 1.28%
2007 2.45% 0.9%
2006 2.47% 0.63%
2005 2.49% 0.64%
2004 2.53% 0.69%
2003 2.6% 0.74%
2002 2.42% 0.76%
2001 1.64% 0.63%
2000 1.11% 0.56%
1999 1.2% 0.48%
1998 1.32% 0.3%
1997 1.43% 0.24%
1996 1.53% 0.44%
1995 1.63% 0.67%
1994 1.74% 0.8%
1993 1.84% 0.91%
1992 1.92% 1.11%
1991 2.21% 1.26%
1990 2.5% 1.03%
1989 2.6% 0.81%
1988 2.65% 0.74%
1987 2.49% 0.63%
1986 2.29% 0.52%
1985 2.13% 0.44%
1984 1.93% 0.36%
1983 1.83% 0.43%
1982 1.88% 0.59%
1981 2.1% 0.55%
1980 2.38% 0.4%
1979 2.62% 0.2%
1978 2.73% 0.009%
1977 2.68% -0.34%
1976 2.55% -0.57%
1975 2.4% -0.04%
1974 2.26% 0.54%
1973 2.17% 0.74%
1972 2.16% 0.77%
1971 2.2% 0.53%
1970 2.03% 0.73%
1969 1.76% 1.13%
1968 1.59% 1.27%
1967 1.41% 1.25%
1966 1.25% 1.05%
1965 1.15% 1.16%
1964 1.07% 1.67%
1963 1.02% 2.16%
1962 1.01% 2.57%
1961 1.02% 2%

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/switzerland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Sao Tome and Principe grew by 2.02%, while Switzerland's population grew by 1.31%.

Live population counters

Sao Tome Switzerland
Current population
246362
9107866
Population rank 176/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.003% 0.11%
One net population change
1.88 hours
4.5 minutes
One birth every
1.35 hours
6.57 minutes
One death every
6.81 hours
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13 +320
Annual growth/decline +4,665 +116,760
Annual growth/decline rate +2.02% +1.31%
Population growth rate rank 49/197 81/197
One migration net change every
13.5 hours
14.1 minutes
Annual migration change -650 +37,253
Net migration rank 90/196 25/196
Foreign-born residents 1,955 2,773,840
Foreign-born residents rank 194/195 27/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 31.1%
Foreign-born share rank 162/195 17/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sao Tome and Principe
Natural

Migration
Switzerland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sao Tome Switzerland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -650 - 37,253
2024 - -604 - 40,099
2023 5,221 -592 8,000 45,098
2022 5,102 -592 7,899 96,424
2021 4,954 -782 18,279 50,665
2020 4,874 0 9,502 55,523
2019 4,932 -1,716 18,008 44,517
2018 4,957 -1,757 20,434 41,253
2017 5,007 -1,779 20,284 45,658
2016 5,125 -1,793 22,608 71,009
2015 5,269 -1,809 19,050 71,876
2014 5,381 -1,801 21,290 78,122
2013 5,449 -1,787 17,797 83,823
2012 5,501 -1,739 18,393 67,840
2011 5,445 -1,616 18,990 67,194
2010 5,391 -1,529 17,997 76,388
2009 5,349 -1,328 15,487 69,324
2008 5,297 -1,203 15,295 94,430
2007 5,226 -1,127 13,592 72,475
2006 5,057 -1,031 12,723 37,308
2005 4,897 -941 11,899 33,203
2004 4,810 -894 13,302 39,484
2003 4,702 -816 8,807 42,567
2002 4,591 -690 10,199 49,650
2001 4,471 -1,289 10,845 35,420
2000 4,334 -2,798 15,806 24,463
1999 4,221 -2,594 16,431 25,599
1998 4,120 -2,364 16,353 11,325
1997 4,041 -2,153 17,722 -1,939
1996 3,993 -1,974 19,801 -131
1995 3,948 -1,829 19,010 25,343
1994 3,860 -1,644 20,982 30,274
1993 3,841 -1,527 21,509 40,267
1992 3,822 -1,432 24,064 42,014
1991 3,801 -1,362 23,800 69,738
1990 3,719 -727 20,146 58,428
1989 3,576 -571 19,941 34,432
1988 3,544 -465 21,099 34,602
1987 3,440 -470 15,708 27,081
1986 3,180 -614 16,261 23,242
1985 3,242 -828 14,882 14,402
1984 3,163 -1,041 16,105 12,532
1983 3,100 -1,203 12,837 5,663
1982 3,047 -1,203 15,339 21,929
1981 3,015 -1,067 13,979 24,229
1980 2,965 -770 14,535 17,841
1979 2,893 -491 14,477 4,262
1978 2,800 -279 13,820 -6,552
1977 2,705 -255 16,959 -22,516
1976 2,608 -302 17,017 -54,255
1975 2,515 -392 22,820 -58,187
1974 2,422 -474 27,902 2,008
1973 2,329 -525 30,906 8,158
1972 2,232 -517 35,061 19,991
1971 2,127 -430 38,523 2,636
1970 1,980 -279 42,648 -18,326
1969 1,862 -469 44,182 20,754
1968 1,767 -520 47,328 25,828
1967 1,693 -606 52,128 27,697
1966 1,642 -688 53,854 14,979
1965 1,611 -765 56,222 -1,351
1964 1,600 -819 59,050 21,455
1963 1,609 -886 52,956 58,415
1962 1,625 -927 49,050 82,798
1961 1,657 -960 48,365 101,278
1960 1,547 -860 42,090 22,313

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

GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/switzerland | 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 Switzerland 21.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 165,354 people) and 78.4% is from migration (a gain of 600,145 people).

As of 2024, 1,955 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 2,773,840 people or 31.1% in Switzerland.

Biggest cities by population

Sao Tome
City Population
Sao Tome 65.5K
Trindade 6.64K
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/switzerland | 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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