The latest officially reported population of Sao Tome and Principe was 235,536 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sao Tome and Principe's population is 246,362 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.
Population statistics:
- The United Arab Emirates' population is 47.4 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
- Sao Tome and Principe is ranked the 176th most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
- The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
- For the last 10 years, Sao Tome and Principe has had an average growth rate of +1.82% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
- Since 2006, the population of Sao Tome and Principe has increased from 166K people to 246K (48.7% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% growth).
Sao Tome and Principe vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Sao Tome
|
UAE
|
|
| 2100 | 538,729 | 26,368,750 |
| 2099 | 537,330 | 26,130,374 |
| 2098 | 535,787 | 25,894,010 |
| 2097 | 534,124 | 25,660,062 |
| 2096 | 532,353 | 25,427,961 |
| 2095 | 530,576 | 25,197,670 |
| 2094 | 528,656 | 24,968,891 |
| 2093 | 526,643 | 24,741,434 |
| 2092 | 524,507 | 24,515,086 |
| 2091 | 522,325 | 24,289,496 |
| 2090 | 519,999 | 24,064,404 |
| 2089 | 517,612 | 23,839,033 |
| 2088 | 515,098 | 23,613,963 |
| 2087 | 512,568 | 23,388,786 |
| 2086 | 510,018 | 23,163,641 |
| 2085 | 507,340 | 22,938,169 |
| 2084 | 504,584 | 22,711,804 |
| 2083 | 501,679 | 22,484,154 |
| 2082 | 498,722 | 22,255,625 |
| 2081 | 495,689 | 22,026,183 |
| 2080 | 492,482 | 21,796,073 |
| 2079 | 489,244 | 21,565,118 |
| 2078 | 485,930 | 21,333,574 |
| 2077 | 482,450 | 21,101,274 |
| 2076 | 478,942 | 20,868,733 |
| 2075 | 475,380 | 20,636,203 |
| 2074 | 471,763 | 20,404,044 |
| 2073 | 468,114 | 20,171,659 |
| 2072 | 464,348 | 19,940,853 |
| 2071 | 460,509 | 19,710,934 |
| 2070 | 456,552 | 19,483,026 |
| 2069 | 452,449 | 19,256,572 |
| 2068 | 448,367 | 19,032,681 |
| 2067 | 444,152 | 18,811,331 |
| 2066 | 439,833 | 18,593,017 |
| 2065 | 435,561 | 18,377,364 |
| 2064 | 431,126 | 18,164,584 |
| 2063 | 426,703 | 17,955,352 |
| 2062 | 422,184 | 17,749,596 |
| 2061 | 417,686 | 17,547,827 |
| 2060 | 413,117 | 17,349,620 |
| 2059 | 408,577 | 17,153,273 |
| 2058 | 404,024 | 16,959,263 |
| 2057 | 399,413 | 16,767,893 |
| 2056 | 394,844 | 16,579,195 |
| 2055 | 390,153 | 16,392,558 |
| 2054 | 385,468 | 16,207,309 |
| 2053 | 380,737 | 16,024,789 |
| 2052 | 376,015 | 15,844,357 |
| 2051 | 371,194 | 15,665,362 |
| 2050 | 366,397 | 15,487,008 |
| 2049 | 361,591 | 15,309,031 |
| 2048 | 356,742 | 15,132,784 |
| 2047 | 351,861 | 14,958,209 |
| 2046 | 346,888 | 14,788,046 |
| 2045 | 341,838 | 14,620,902 |
| 2044 | 336,792 | 14,454,466 |
| 2043 | 331,713 | 14,289,021 |
| 2042 | 326,652 | 14,124,515 |
| 2041 | 321,594 | 13,961,010 |
| 2040 | 316,457 | 13,798,651 |
| 2039 | 311,279 | 13,637,499 |
| 2038 | 306,071 | 13,477,450 |
| 2037 | 300,875 | 13,319,346 |
| 2036 | 295,624 | 13,163,073 |
| 2035 | 290,400 | 13,009,160 |
| 2034 | 285,183 | 12,857,729 |
| 2033 | 279,990 | 12,709,520 |
| 2032 | 274,835 | 12,564,906 |
| 2031 | 269,740 | 12,424,286 |
| 2030 | 264,723 | 12,288,186 |
| 2029 | 259,705 | 12,148,661 |
| 2028 | 254,751 | 11,999,549 |
| 2027 | 249,860 | 11,831,082 |
| 2026 | 245,066 | 11,632,806 |
| 2025 | 240,286 | 11,367,504 |
| 2024 | 235,536 | 10,986,400 |
| 2023 | 230,871 | 10,483,751 |
| 2022 | 226,305 | 10,074,977 |
| 2021 | 221,961 | 9,575,152 |
| 2020 | 217,435 | 9,401,038 |
| 2019 | 213,392 | 9,445,785 |
| 2018 | 210,187 | 9,346,701 |
| 2017 | 206,970 | 9,223,225 |
| 2016 | 203,689 | 8,935,095 |
| 2015 | 200,291 | 8,505,237 |
| 2014 | 196,767 | 8,059,440 |
| 2013 | 193,148 | 7,693,031 |
| 2012 | 189,439 | 7,391,448 |
| 2011 | 185,649 | 7,104,538 |
| 2010 | 181,802 | 6,869,838 |
| 2009 | 177,853 | 6,707,058 |
| 2008 | 173,793 | 6,302,664 |
| 2007 | 169,700 | 5,624,635 |
| 2006 | 165,638 | 5,009,100 |
| 2005 | 161,639 | 4,664,790 |
| 2004 | 157,705 | 4,428,967 |
| 2003 | 153,814 | 4,192,457 |
| 2002 | 149,922 | 3,956,826 |
| 2001 | 146,375 | 3,723,590 |
| 2000 | 144,018 | 3,493,575 |
| 1999 | 142,442 | 3,266,009 |
| 1998 | 140,751 | 3,040,421 |
| 1997 | 138,922 | 2,817,410 |
| 1996 | 136,962 | 2,597,564 |
| 1995 | 134,895 | 2,434,662 |
| 1994 | 132,732 | 2,328,188 |
| 1993 | 130,467 | 2,222,093 |
| 1992 | 128,110 | 2,114,730 |
| 1991 | 125,697 | 2,006,626 |
| 1990 | 122,980 | 1,898,220 |
| 1989 | 119,979 | 1,789,851 |
| 1988 | 116,939 | 1,681,788 |
| 1987 | 113,919 | 1,574,244 |
| 1986 | 111,150 | 1,467,383 |
| 1985 | 108,658 | 1,377,911 |
| 1984 | 106,394 | 1,305,996 |
| 1983 | 104,380 | 1,235,305 |
| 1982 | 102,508 | 1,166,370 |
| 1981 | 100,615 | 1,099,855 |
| 1980 | 98,544 | 1,015,700 |
| 1979 | 96,252 | 912,010 |
| 1978 | 93,794 | 809,274 |
| 1977 | 91,301 | 710,209 |
| 1976 | 88,922 | 615,866 |
| 1975 | 86,708 | 542,856 |
| 1974 | 84,672 | 489,087 |
| 1973 | 82,798 | 436,399 |
| 1972 | 81,041 | 385,014 |
| 1971 | 79,330 | 335,027 |
| 1970 | 77,626 | 286,536 |
| 1969 | 76,083 | 239,660 |
| 1968 | 74,765 | 199,416 |
| 1967 | 73,596 | 179,700 |
| 1966 | 72,576 | 173,976 |
| 1965 | 71,680 | 167,103 |
| 1964 | 70,865 | 159,692 |
| 1963 | 70,112 | 152,211 |
| 1962 | 69,403 | 144,946 |
| 1961 | 68,707 | 137,989 |
| 1960 | 68,012 | 131,334 |
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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sao Tome and Principe increased by 38,051 people (a 23% growth), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sao Tome and Principe gained 42,673 people (a 21% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth).
Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th most populous country in 2006 and is 176th in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th 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 the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.
Sao Tome and Principe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 539K people compared to the peak of 26.4M people in 2100 for the United Arab Emirates.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Sao Tome
|
UAE
|
|
| 2100 | 0.26% | 0.91% |
| 2099 | 0.29% | 0.91% |
| 2098 | 0.31% | 0.91% |
| 2097 | 0.33% | 0.91% |
| 2096 | 0.33% | 0.91% |
| 2095 | 0.36% | 0.92% |
| 2094 | 0.38% | 0.92% |
| 2093 | 0.41% | 0.92% |
| 2092 | 0.42% | 0.93% |
| 2091 | 0.45% | 0.94% |
| 2090 | 0.46% | 0.95% |
| 2089 | 0.49% | 0.95% |
| 2088 | 0.49% | 0.96% |
| 2087 | 0.5% | 0.97% |
| 2086 | 0.53% | 0.98% |
| 2085 | 0.55% | 1% |
| 2084 | 0.58% | 1.01% |
| 2083 | 0.59% | 1.03% |
| 2082 | 0.61% | 1.04% |
| 2081 | 0.65% | 1.06% |
| 2080 | 0.66% | 1.07% |
| 2079 | 0.68% | 1.09% |
| 2078 | 0.72% | 1.1% |
| 2077 | 0.73% | 1.11% |
| 2076 | 0.75% | 1.13% |
| 2075 | 0.77% | 1.14% |
| 2074 | 0.78% | 1.15% |
| 2073 | 0.81% | 1.16% |
| 2072 | 0.83% | 1.17% |
| 2071 | 0.87% | 1.17% |
| 2070 | 0.91% | 1.18% |
| 2069 | 0.91% | 1.18% |
| 2068 | 0.95% | 1.18% |
| 2067 | 0.98% | 1.17% |
| 2066 | 0.98% | 1.17% |
| 2065 | 1.03% | 1.17% |
| 2064 | 1.04% | 1.17% |
| 2063 | 1.07% | 1.16% |
| 2062 | 1.08% | 1.15% |
| 2061 | 1.11% | 1.14% |
| 2060 | 1.11% | 1.14% |
| 2059 | 1.13% | 1.14% |
| 2058 | 1.15% | 1.14% |
| 2057 | 1.16% | 1.14% |
| 2056 | 1.2% | 1.14% |
| 2055 | 1.22% | 1.14% |
| 2054 | 1.24% | 1.14% |
| 2053 | 1.26% | 1.14% |
| 2052 | 1.3% | 1.14% |
| 2051 | 1.31% | 1.15% |
| 2050 | 1.33% | 1.16% |
| 2049 | 1.36% | 1.16% |
| 2048 | 1.39% | 1.17% |
| 2047 | 1.43% | 1.15% |
| 2046 | 1.48% | 1.14% |
| 2045 | 1.5% | 1.15% |
| 2044 | 1.53% | 1.16% |
| 2043 | 1.55% | 1.16% |
| 2042 | 1.57% | 1.17% |
| 2041 | 1.62% | 1.18% |
| 2040 | 1.66% | 1.18% |
| 2039 | 1.7% | 1.19% |
| 2038 | 1.73% | 1.19% |
| 2037 | 1.78% | 1.19% |
| 2036 | 1.8% | 1.18% |
| 2035 | 1.83% | 1.18% |
| 2034 | 1.85% | 1.17% |
| 2033 | 1.88% | 1.15% |
| 2032 | 1.89% | 1.13% |
| 2031 | 1.9% | 1.11% |
| 2030 | 1.93% | 1.15% |
| 2029 | 1.94% | 1.24% |
| 2028 | 1.96% | 1.42% |
| 2027 | 1.96% | 1.7% |
| 2026 | 1.99% | 2.33% |
| 2025 | 2.02% | 3.47% |
| 2024 | 2.02% | 4.79% |
| 2023 | 2.02% | 4.06% |
| 2022 | 1.96% | 5.22% |
| 2021 | 2.08% | 1.85% |
| 2020 | 1.89% | -0.47% |
| 2019 | 1.52% | 1.06% |
| 2018 | 1.55% | 1.34% |
| 2017 | 1.61% | 3.22% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | 5.05% |
| 2015 | 1.79% | 5.53% |
| 2014 | 1.87% | 4.76% |
| 2013 | 1.96% | 4.08% |
| 2012 | 2.04% | 4.04% |
| 2011 | 2.12% | 3.42% |
| 2010 | 2.22% | 2.43% |
| 2009 | 2.34% | 6.42% |
| 2008 | 2.41% | 12.1% |
| 2007 | 2.45% | 12.3% |
| 2006 | 2.47% | 7.38% |
| 2005 | 2.49% | 5.32% |
| 2004 | 2.53% | 5.64% |
| 2003 | 2.6% | 5.96% |
| 2002 | 2.42% | 6.26% |
| 2001 | 1.64% | 6.58% |
| 2000 | 1.11% | 6.97% |
| 1999 | 1.2% | 7.42% |
| 1998 | 1.32% | 7.92% |
| 1997 | 1.43% | 8.46% |
| 1996 | 1.53% | 6.69% |
| 1995 | 1.63% | 4.57% |
| 1994 | 1.74% | 4.77% |
| 1993 | 1.84% | 5.08% |
| 1992 | 1.92% | 5.39% |
| 1991 | 2.21% | 5.71% |
| 1990 | 2.5% | 6.05% |
| 1989 | 2.6% | 6.43% |
| 1988 | 2.65% | 6.83% |
| 1987 | 2.49% | 7.28% |
| 1986 | 2.29% | 6.49% |
| 1985 | 2.13% | 5.51% |
| 1984 | 1.93% | 5.72% |
| 1983 | 1.83% | 5.91% |
| 1982 | 1.88% | 6.05% |
| 1981 | 2.1% | 8.29% |
| 1980 | 2.38% | 11.4% |
| 1979 | 2.62% | 12.7% |
| 1978 | 2.73% | 13.9% |
| 1977 | 2.68% | 15.3% |
| 1976 | 2.55% | 13.4% |
| 1975 | 2.4% | 11% |
| 1974 | 2.26% | 12.1% |
| 1973 | 2.17% | 13.3% |
| 1972 | 2.16% | 14.9% |
| 1971 | 2.2% | 16.9% |
| 1970 | 2.03% | 19.6% |
| 1969 | 1.76% | 20.2% |
| 1968 | 1.59% | 11% |
| 1967 | 1.41% | 3.29% |
| 1966 | 1.25% | 4.11% |
| 1965 | 1.15% | 4.64% |
| 1964 | 1.07% | 4.91% |
| 1963 | 1.02% | 5.01% |
| 1962 | 1.01% | 5.04% |
| 1961 | 1.02% | 5.07% |
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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Sao Tome and Principe grew by 2.02%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.
Live population counters
|
Sao Tome
|
UAE
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
246362
|
11686438
|
| Population rank | 176/197 | 84/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.003% | 0.14% |
| One net population change |
1.88 hours
|
1.05 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.35 hours
|
5.13 minutes
|
| One death every |
6.81 hours
|
53.8 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +13 | +1,377 |
| Annual growth/decline | +4,665 | +502,649 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.02% | +4.79% |
| Population growth rate rank | 49/197 | 3/197 |
| One migration net change every |
13.5 hours
|
3.32 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -650 | +158,634 |
| Net migration rank | 90/196 | 8/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 1,955 | 8,157,000 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 194/195 | 8/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.8% | 74% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 162/195 | 2/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sao Tome
|
UAE
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -650 | - | 158,634 |
| 2024 | - | -604 | - | 278,439 |
| 2023 | 5,221 | -592 | 92,698 | 300,004 |
| 2022 | 5,102 | -592 | 81,758 | 322,773 |
| 2021 | 4,954 | -782 | 76,802 | 421,663 |
| 2020 | 4,874 | 0 | 87,871 | 92,541 |
| 2019 | 4,932 | -1,716 | 86,296 | -125,186 |
| 2018 | 4,957 | -1,757 | 86,840 | 14,611 |
| 2017 | 5,007 | -1,779 | 89,382 | 34,155 |
| 2016 | 5,125 | -1,793 | 87,028 | 195,317 |
| 2015 | 5,269 | -1,809 | 85,044 | 342,468 |
| 2014 | 5,381 | -1,801 | 84,277 | 360,174 |
| 2013 | 5,449 | -1,787 | 82,977 | 279,269 |
| 2012 | 5,501 | -1,739 | 78,682 | 225,921 |
| 2011 | 5,445 | -1,616 | 73,496 | 215,183 |
| 2010 | 5,391 | -1,529 | 69,907 | 161,842 |
| 2009 | 5,349 | -1,328 | 66,521 | 163,643 |
| 2008 | 5,297 | -1,203 | 55,426 | 523,207 |
| 2007 | 5,226 | -1,127 | 55,048 | 722,380 |
| 2006 | 5,057 | -1,031 | 54,338 | 399,306 |
| 2005 | 4,897 | -941 | 60,046 | 174,926 |
| 2004 | 4,810 | -894 | 60,344 | 176,319 |
| 2003 | 4,702 | -816 | 59,118 | 177,237 |
| 2002 | 4,591 | -690 | 55,922 | 178,988 |
| 2001 | 4,471 | -1,289 | 52,789 | 178,779 |
| 2000 | 4,334 | -2,798 | 49,993 | 178,469 |
| 1999 | 4,221 | -2,594 | 46,198 | 180,469 |
| 1998 | 4,120 | -2,364 | 41,176 | 183,329 |
| 1997 | 4,041 | -2,153 | 38,207 | 183,310 |
| 1996 | 3,993 | -1,974 | 37,886 | 180,296 |
| 1995 | 3,948 | -1,829 | 38,685 | 68,938 |
| 1994 | 3,860 | -1,644 | 42,976 | 62,352 |
| 1993 | 3,841 | -1,527 | 41,324 | 65,545 |
| 1992 | 3,822 | -1,432 | 42,119 | 65,739 |
| 1991 | 3,801 | -1,362 | 41,409 | 66,943 |
| 1990 | 3,719 | -727 | 41,339 | 67,118 |
| 1989 | 3,576 | -571 | 40,148 | 68,132 |
| 1988 | 3,544 | -465 | 38,861 | 68,991 |
| 1987 | 3,440 | -470 | 37,741 | 69,493 |
| 1986 | 3,180 | -614 | 36,829 | 69,655 |
| 1985 | 3,242 | -828 | 34,855 | 37,605 |
| 1984 | 3,163 | -1,041 | 33,250 | 38,124 |
| 1983 | 3,100 | -1,203 | 31,480 | 38,536 |
| 1982 | 3,047 | -1,203 | 29,585 | 38,276 |
| 1981 | 3,015 | -1,067 | 27,560 | 37,600 |
| 1980 | 2,965 | -770 | 25,005 | 78,148 |
| 1979 | 2,893 | -491 | 21,987 | 82,238 |
| 1978 | 2,800 | -279 | 18,879 | 82,359 |
| 1977 | 2,705 | -255 | 15,787 | 81,111 |
| 1976 | 2,608 | -302 | 12,876 | 78,903 |
| 1975 | 2,515 | -392 | 11,859 | 42,380 |
| 1974 | 2,422 | -474 | 10,835 | 42,474 |
| 1973 | 2,329 | -525 | 9,822 | 42,243 |
| 1972 | 2,232 | -517 | 8,818 | 41,888 |
| 1971 | 2,127 | -430 | 7,839 | 41,425 |
| 1970 | 1,980 | -279 | 6,922 | 40,792 |
| 1969 | 1,862 | -469 | 6,138 | 39,902 |
| 1968 | 1,767 | -520 | 5,588 | 28,866 |
| 1967 | 1,693 | -606 | 5,264 | -283 |
| 1966 | 1,642 | -688 | 4,955 | 1,516 |
| 1965 | 1,611 | -765 | 4,675 | 2,598 |
| 1964 | 1,600 | -819 | 4,410 | 3,126 |
| 1963 | 1,609 | -886 | 4,157 | 3,264 |
| 1962 | 1,625 | -927 | 3,901 | 3,212 |
| 1961 | 1,657 | -960 | 3,657 | 3,141 |
| 1960 | 1,547 | -860 | 3,418 | 3,102 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 30.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 857,996 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,958,520 people).
As of 2024, 1,955 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Sao Tome and Principe and the United Arab Emirates
|
Sao Tome
|
UAE
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 70.3 years | 83.4 years |
| Average age | 25.1 years | 32.1 years |
| Median age | 20.3 years | 32.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.7:50.3 | 63.9:36.1 |
| Fertility rate | 3.64 births per woman | 1.2 births per woman |
| Population density | 661 ppl/mi² | 424 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/united-arab-emirates | 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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