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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Sao Tome and Principe was 240,254 in 2025 vs 103,742 people in Tonga in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sao Tome and Principe's population is 247,495 people compared to 103,283 in Tonga.

Population statistics:

  • Sao Tome and Principe's population is 2.4 times bigger than Tonga's.
  • Sao Tome and Principe is ranked the 176th most populous country in the world, while Tonga is the 183rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.004% of the world: 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe vs 0.001% for Tonga.
  • For the last 10 years, Sao Tome and Principe has had an average growth rate of +1.83% per year vs -0.25% in Tonga.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sao Tome and Principe has increased from 166K people to 247K (49.4% growth), while Tonga has declined from 106K to 103K (2.8% decline).

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

Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
Tonga
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sao Tome Tonga
2100 538,656 117,617
2099 537,257 117,585
2098 535,715 117,530
2097 534,052 117,492
2096 532,281 117,461
2095 530,505 117,383
2094 528,585 117,290
2093 526,572 117,207
2092 524,436 117,097
2091 522,255 116,983
2090 519,929 116,838
2089 517,542 116,682
2088 515,028 116,481
2087 512,499 116,277
2086 509,949 116,088
2085 507,271 115,872
2084 504,516 115,628
2083 501,611 115,336
2082 498,655 115,041
2081 495,622 114,752
2080 492,416 114,424
2079 489,178 114,074
2078 485,864 113,710
2077 482,385 113,349
2076 478,877 112,945
2075 475,315 112,565
2074 471,700 112,179
2073 468,051 111,790
2072 464,286 111,377
2071 460,447 110,963
2070 456,490 110,576
2069 452,388 110,209
2068 448,306 109,825
2067 444,092 109,446
2066 439,773 109,062
2065 435,502 108,736
2064 431,068 108,377
2063 426,645 108,033
2062 422,127 107,710
2061 417,629 107,396
2060 413,061 107,117
2059 408,522 106,842
2058 403,970 106,589
2057 399,359 106,345
2056 394,790 106,130
2055 390,100 105,915
2054 385,416 105,698
2053 380,685 105,486
2052 375,964 105,286
2051 371,143 105,079
2050 366,347 104,844
2049 361,542 104,636
2048 356,694 104,387
2047 351,813 104,154
2046 346,841 103,852
2045 341,791 103,548
2044 336,747 103,215
2043 331,669 102,934
2042 326,608 102,692
2041 321,551 102,447
2040 316,415 102,228
2039 311,237 102,061
2038 306,029 101,835
2037 300,834 101,707
2036 295,584 101,627
2035 290,361 101,580
2034 285,145 101,571
2033 279,952 101,591
2032 274,798 101,633
2031 269,704 101,764
2030 264,687 101,928
2029 259,670 102,181
2028 254,717 102,494
2027 249,827 102,841
2026 245,033 103,283
2025 240,254 103,742
2024 235,536 104,175
2023 230,871 104,597
2022 226,305 105,042
2021 221,961 105,490
2020 217,435 105,704
2019 213,392 105,669
2018 210,187 105,567
2017 206,970 105,356
2016 203,689 105,524
2015 200,291 106,095
2014 196,767 106,609
2013 193,148 107,078
2012 189,439 107,460
2011 185,649 107,570
2010 181,802 107,400
2009 177,853 107,203
2008 173,793 107,020
2007 169,700 106,726
2006 165,638 106,253
2005 161,639 105,671
2004 157,705 105,071
2003 153,814 104,464
2002 149,922 103,874
2001 146,375 103,288
2000 144,018 102,677
1999 142,442 102,046
1998 140,751 101,388
1997 138,922 100,674
1996 136,962 100,275
1995 134,895 100,225
1994 132,732 100,166
1993 130,467 100,103
1992 128,110 100,022
1991 125,697 99,895
1990 122,980 99,700
1989 119,979 99,403
1988 116,939 98,969
1987 113,919 98,376
1986 111,150 98,010
1985 108,658 97,984
1984 106,394 97,990
1983 104,380 97,998
1982 102,508 97,980
1981 100,615 97,909
1980 98,544 97,769
1979 96,252 97,544
1978 93,794 97,204
1977 91,301 96,725
1976 88,922 95,325
1975 86,708 93,017
1974 84,672 90,683
1973 82,798 88,805
1972 81,041 87,356
1971 79,330 85,896
1970 77,626 84,401
1969 76,083 82,885
1968 74,765 81,353
1967 73,596 79,814
1966 72,576 78,002
1965 71,680 75,924
1964 70,865 73,879
1963 70,112 71,885
1962 69,403 69,940
1961 68,707 68,037
1960 68,012 66,170

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/tonga | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sao Tome and Principe increased by 38,051 people (a 23% growth), while Tonga lost 729 people (a 0.69% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sao Tome and Principe gained 43,806 people (a 21.5% growth), while Tonga's population decreased by 2,241 people (a 2.12% decline).

Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th most populous country in 2006 and is 176th in 2026. Tonga was ranked 182nd in 2006 and ranked 183rd 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 Tonga will increase by 1.51% to 104,844 people and will still be ranked 183rd.

Sao Tome and Principe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 539K people compared to the peak of 118K people in 2100 for Tonga.

Population growth rate by year

Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
Tonga
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sao Tome Tonga
2100 0.26% 0.03%
2099 0.29% 0.05%
2098 0.31% 0.03%
2097 0.33% 0.03%
2096 0.33% 0.07%
2095 0.36% 0.08%
2094 0.38% 0.07%
2093 0.41% 0.09%
2092 0.42% 0.1%
2091 0.45% 0.12%
2090 0.46% 0.13%
2089 0.49% 0.17%
2088 0.49% 0.18%
2087 0.5% 0.16%
2086 0.53% 0.19%
2085 0.55% 0.21%
2084 0.58% 0.25%
2083 0.59% 0.26%
2082 0.61% 0.25%
2081 0.65% 0.29%
2080 0.66% 0.31%
2079 0.68% 0.32%
2078 0.72% 0.32%
2077 0.73% 0.36%
2076 0.75% 0.34%
2075 0.77% 0.34%
2074 0.78% 0.35%
2073 0.81% 0.37%
2072 0.83% 0.37%
2071 0.87% 0.35%
2070 0.91% 0.33%
2069 0.91% 0.35%
2068 0.95% 0.35%
2067 0.98% 0.35%
2066 0.98% 0.3%
2065 1.03% 0.33%
2064 1.04% 0.32%
2063 1.07% 0.3%
2062 1.08% 0.29%
2061 1.11% 0.26%
2060 1.11% 0.26%
2059 1.13% 0.24%
2058 1.15% 0.23%
2057 1.16% 0.2%
2056 1.2% 0.2%
2055 1.22% 0.2%
2054 1.24% 0.2%
2053 1.26% 0.19%
2052 1.3% 0.2%
2051 1.31% 0.22%
2050 1.33% 0.2%
2049 1.36% 0.24%
2048 1.39% 0.22%
2047 1.43% 0.29%
2046 1.48% 0.29%
2045 1.5% 0.32%
2044 1.53% 0.27%
2043 1.55% 0.24%
2042 1.57% 0.24%
2041 1.62% 0.21%
2040 1.66% 0.16%
2039 1.7% 0.22%
2038 1.73% 0.13%
2037 1.78% 0.08%
2036 1.8% 0.05%
2035 1.83% 0.009%
2034 1.85% -0.02%
2033 1.88% -0.04%
2032 1.89% -0.13%
2031 1.9% -0.16%
2030 1.93% -0.25%
2029 1.94% -0.31%
2028 1.96% -0.34%
2027 1.96% -0.43%
2026 1.99% -0.44%
2025 2% -0.42%
2024 2.02% -0.4%
2023 2.02% -0.42%
2022 1.96% -0.42%
2021 2.08% -0.2%
2020 1.89% 0.03%
2019 1.52% 0.1%
2018 1.55% 0.2%
2017 1.61% -0.16%
2016 1.7% -0.54%
2015 1.79% -0.48%
2014 1.87% -0.44%
2013 1.96% -0.36%
2012 2.04% -0.1%
2011 2.12% 0.16%
2010 2.22% 0.18%
2009 2.34% 0.17%
2008 2.41% 0.28%
2007 2.45% 0.45%
2006 2.47% 0.55%
2005 2.49% 0.57%
2004 2.53% 0.58%
2003 2.6% 0.57%
2002 2.42% 0.57%
2001 1.64% 0.6%
2000 1.11% 0.62%
1999 1.2% 0.65%
1998 1.32% 0.71%
1997 1.43% 0.4%
1996 1.53% 0.05%
1995 1.63% 0.06%
1994 1.74% 0.06%
1993 1.84% 0.08%
1992 1.92% 0.13%
1991 2.21% 0.2%
1990 2.5% 0.3%
1989 2.6% 0.44%
1988 2.65% 0.6%
1987 2.49% 0.37%
1986 2.29% 0.03%
1985 2.13% -0.006%
1984 1.93% -0.008%
1983 1.83% 0.02%
1982 1.88% 0.07%
1981 2.1% 0.14%
1980 2.38% 0.23%
1979 2.62% 0.35%
1978 2.73% 0.5%
1977 2.68% 1.47%
1976 2.55% 2.48%
1975 2.4% 2.57%
1974 2.26% 2.11%
1973 2.17% 1.66%
1972 2.16% 1.7%
1971 2.2% 1.77%
1970 2.03% 1.83%
1969 1.76% 1.88%
1968 1.59% 1.93%
1967 1.41% 2.32%
1966 1.25% 2.74%
1965 1.15% 2.77%
1964 1.07% 2.77%
1963 1.02% 2.78%
1962 1.01% 2.8%
1961 1.02% 2.82%

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/tonga | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Sao Tome and Principe grew by 2%, while Tonga's population declined by 0.42%.

Live population counters

Sao Tome Tonga
Current population
247495
103283
Population rank 176/197 183/197
Percent of world population 0.003% 0.001%
One net population change
1.86 hours
20.3 hours
One birth every
1.32 hours
3.65 hours
One death every
6.73 hours
13.1 hours
Daily growth/decline +13 -1
Annual growth/decline +4,718 -433
Annual growth/decline rate +2% -0.42%
Population growth rate rank 50/197 181/197
One migration net change every
13.5 hours
4.09 hours
Annual migration change -650 -2,150
Net migration rank 90/196 99/196
Foreign-born residents 1,955 3,581
Foreign-born residents rank 194/195 187/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 3.4%
Foreign-born share rank 162/195 113/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sao Tome and Principe
Natural

Migration
Tonga
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sao Tome Tonga
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -650 - -2,150
2024 5,315 -604 1,729 -2,149
2023 5,221 -592 1,744 -2,173
2022 5,102 -592 1,772 -2,218
2021 4,954 -782 1,773 -2,220
2020 4,874 0 1,816 -1,807
2019 4,932 -1,716 1,841 -1,778
2018 4,957 -1,757 1,873 -1,723
2017 5,007 -1,779 1,912 -1,642
2016 5,125 -1,793 1,989 -2,591
2015 5,269 -1,809 2,064 -2,610
2014 5,381 -1,801 2,135 -2,622
2013 5,449 -1,787 2,199 -2,637
2012 5,501 -1,739 2,255 -2,578
2011 5,445 -1,616 2,298 -2,198
2010 5,391 -1,529 2,332 -2,097
2009 5,349 -1,328 2,358 -2,204
2008 5,297 -1,203 2,397 -2,177
2007 5,226 -1,127 2,423 -2,057
2006 5,057 -1,031 2,459 -1,875
2005 4,897 -941 2,495 -1,906
2004 4,810 -894 2,478 -1,876
2003 4,702 -816 2,448 -1,844
2002 4,591 -690 2,396 -1,815
2001 4,471 -1,289 2,358 -1,766
2000 4,334 -2,798 2,346 -1,721
1999 4,221 -2,594 2,352 -1,710
1998 4,120 -2,364 2,344 -1,665
1997 4,041 -2,153 2,332 -1,589
1996 3,993 -1,974 2,393 -2,338
1995 3,948 -1,829 2,476 -2,422
1994 3,860 -1,644 2,547 -2,484
1993 3,841 -1,527 2,594 -2,532
1992 3,822 -1,432 2,622 -2,524
1991 3,801 -1,362 2,637 -2,484
1990 3,719 -727 2,641 -2,409
1989 3,576 -571 2,644 -2,280
1988 3,544 -465 2,649 -2,138
1987 3,440 -470 2,646 -1,970
1986 3,180 -614 2,704 -2,650
1985 3,242 -828 2,762 -2,775
1984 3,163 -1,041 2,814 -2,823
1983 3,100 -1,203 2,840 -2,840
1982 3,047 -1,203 2,853 -2,814
1981 3,015 -1,067 2,882 -2,778
1980 2,965 -770 2,885 -2,708
1979 2,893 -491 2,884 -2,604
1978 2,800 -279 2,862 -2,457
1977 2,705 -255 2,822 -2,273
1976 2,608 -302 2,769 -523
1975 2,515 -392 2,709 -346
1974 2,422 -474 2,650 -344
1973 2,329 -525 2,617 -1,168
1972 2,232 -517 2,605 -1,153
1971 2,127 -430 2,611 -1,138
1970 1,980 -279 2,628 -1,122
1969 1,862 -469 2,632 -1,101
1968 1,767 -520 2,614 -1,078
1967 1,693 -606 2,603 -1,060
1966 1,642 -688 2,550 -465
1965 1,611 -765 2,498 -426
1964 1,600 -819 2,445 -428
1963 1,609 -886 2,394 -426
1962 1,625 -927 2,343 -420
1961 1,657 -960 2,284 -401
1960 1,547 -860 2,230 -384

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/tonga | 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 Tonga 47% is from natural causes (a gain of 18,513 people) and 53% is from migration (a loss of 20,911 people).

As of 2024, 1,955 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 3,581 people or 3.4% in Tonga.

Biggest cities by population

Sao Tome
City Population
Sao Tome 65.5K
Trindade 6.64K
Tonga
City Population
Nukualofa 23.2K
Mua 5K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

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/tonga | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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