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Population in Sao Tome and Principe compared to the United States: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Sao Tome and Principe was 235,536 in 2024 vs 341,784,857 people in the United States in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sao Tome and Principe's population is 246,362 people compared to 344,023,146 in the United States.

Population statistics:

  • The United States' population is 1,396 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 States is the 3rd.
  • The countries together account for 4.15% of the world: 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe vs 4.15% for the United States.
  • For the last 10 years, Sao Tome and Principe has had an average growth rate of +1.82% per year vs +0.65% in the United States.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sao Tome and Principe has increased from 166K people to 246K (48.7% growth), while the United States has grown from 298M to 344M (15.3% growth).

Sao Tome and Principe vs United States: population by year and forecast

Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sao Tome United States
2100 538,729 415,429,771
2099 537,330 414,829,167
2098 535,787 414,231,720
2097 534,124 413,576,381
2096 532,353 412,927,393
2095 530,576 412,225,379
2094 528,656 411,498,749
2093 526,643 410,785,729
2092 524,507 410,051,921
2091 522,325 409,320,183
2090 519,999 408,613,732
2089 517,612 407,885,645
2088 515,098 407,129,733
2087 512,568 406,421,298
2086 510,018 405,715,343
2085 507,340 405,059,379
2084 504,584 404,343,130
2083 501,679 403,612,785
2082 498,722 402,871,293
2081 495,689 402,054,554
2080 492,482 401,319,194
2079 489,244 400,554,914
2078 485,930 399,737,968
2077 482,450 398,906,565
2076 478,942 398,035,750
2075 475,380 397,109,170
2074 471,763 396,226,412
2073 468,114 395,307,725
2072 464,348 394,393,561
2071 460,509 393,415,363
2070 456,552 392,469,727
2069 452,449 391,479,981
2068 448,367 390,517,695
2067 444,152 389,543,856
2066 439,833 388,597,719
2065 435,561 387,685,327
2064 431,126 386,805,026
2063 426,703 385,911,917
2062 422,184 385,032,627
2061 417,686 384,170,837
2060 413,117 383,361,269
2059 408,577 382,542,030
2058 404,024 381,704,804
2057 399,413 380,907,023
2056 394,844 380,159,777
2055 390,153 379,430,756
2054 385,468 378,682,851
2053 380,737 377,878,421
2052 376,015 377,073,303
2051 371,194 376,229,840
2050 366,397 375,373,155
2049 361,591 374,493,150
2048 356,742 373,590,762
2047 351,861 372,626,259
2046 346,888 371,644,809
2045 341,838 370,602,914
2044 336,792 369,518,897
2043 331,713 368,375,680
2042 326,652 367,158,772
2041 321,594 365,937,822
2040 316,457 364,671,837
2039 311,279 363,367,337
2038 306,071 361,997,023
2037 300,875 360,606,236
2036 295,624 359,193,245
2035 290,400 357,750,686
2034 285,183 356,266,726
2033 279,990 354,775,032
2032 274,835 353,259,037
2031 269,740 351,721,511
2030 264,723 350,155,042
2029 259,705 348,564,667
2028 254,751 346,906,294
2027 249,860 345,257,605
2026 245,066 343,565,426
2025 240,286 341,784,857
2024 235,536 340,110,988
2023 230,871 334,914,895
2022 226,305 333,271,411
2021 221,961 331,893,745
2020 217,435 331,526,933
2019 213,392 328,329,953
2018 210,187 326,838,199
2017 206,970 325,122,128
2016 203,689 323,071,755
2015 200,291 320,738,994
2014 196,767 318,386,329
2013 193,148 316,059,947
2012 189,439 313,877,662
2011 185,649 311,583,481
2010 181,802 309,327,143
2009 177,853 306,771,529
2008 173,793 304,093,966
2007 169,700 301,231,207
2006 165,638 298,379,912
2005 161,639 295,516,599
2004 157,705 292,805,298
2003 153,814 290,107,933
2002 149,922 287,625,193
2001 146,375 284,968,955
2000 144,018 282,162,411
1999 142,442 279,294,713
1998 140,751 276,115,288
1997 138,922 272,911,760
1996 136,962 269,667,391
1995 134,895 266,557,091
1994 132,732 263,435,673
1993 130,467 260,255,352
1992 128,110 256,894,189
1991 125,697 253,492,503
1990 122,980 250,131,894
1989 119,979 246,819,222
1988 116,939 244,499,004
1987 113,919 242,288,936
1986 111,150 240,132,831
1985 108,658 237,923,734
1984 106,394 235,824,908
1983 104,380 233,792,014
1982 102,508 231,664,432
1981 100,615 229,465,744
1980 98,544 226,542,250
1979 96,252 225,055,487
1978 93,794 222,584,545
1977 91,301 220,239,425
1976 88,922 218,035,164
1975 86,708 215,973,199
1974 84,672 213,853,928
1973 82,798 211,908,788
1972 81,041 209,896,021
1971 79,330 207,660,677
1970 77,626 205,052,174
1969 76,083 202,676,946
1968 74,765 200,706,052
1967 73,596 198,712,056
1966 72,576 196,560,338
1965 71,680 194,302,963
1964 70,865 191,888,791
1963 70,112 189,241,798
1962 69,403 186,537,737
1961 68,707 183,691,481
1960 68,012 180,671,158

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/united-states | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sao Tome and Principe increased by 38,051 people (a 23% growth), while the United States gained 24,691,843 people (a 8.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sao Tome and Principe gained 42,673 people (a 21% growth), while the United States' population increased by 20,951,391 people (a 6.49% growth).

Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th most populous country in 2006 and is 176th in 2026. The United States was ranked 3rd in 2006 and still ranked 3rd 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 States will increase by 9.11% to 375,373,155 people and will still be ranked 3rd.

Sao Tome and Principe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 539K people compared to the peak of 415M people in 2100 for the United States.

Population growth rate by year

Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sao Tome United States
2100 0.26% 0.14%
2099 0.29% 0.14%
2098 0.31% 0.16%
2097 0.33% 0.16%
2096 0.33% 0.17%
2095 0.36% 0.18%
2094 0.38% 0.17%
2093 0.41% 0.18%
2092 0.42% 0.18%
2091 0.45% 0.17%
2090 0.46% 0.18%
2089 0.49% 0.19%
2088 0.49% 0.17%
2087 0.5% 0.17%
2086 0.53% 0.16%
2085 0.55% 0.18%
2084 0.58% 0.18%
2083 0.59% 0.18%
2082 0.61% 0.2%
2081 0.65% 0.18%
2080 0.66% 0.19%
2079 0.68% 0.2%
2078 0.72% 0.21%
2077 0.73% 0.22%
2076 0.75% 0.23%
2075 0.77% 0.22%
2074 0.78% 0.23%
2073 0.81% 0.23%
2072 0.83% 0.25%
2071 0.87% 0.24%
2070 0.91% 0.25%
2069 0.91% 0.25%
2068 0.95% 0.25%
2067 0.98% 0.24%
2066 0.98% 0.24%
2065 1.03% 0.23%
2064 1.04% 0.23%
2063 1.07% 0.23%
2062 1.08% 0.22%
2061 1.11% 0.21%
2060 1.11% 0.21%
2059 1.13% 0.22%
2058 1.15% 0.21%
2057 1.16% 0.2%
2056 1.2% 0.19%
2055 1.22% 0.2%
2054 1.24% 0.21%
2053 1.26% 0.21%
2052 1.3% 0.22%
2051 1.31% 0.23%
2050 1.33% 0.23%
2049 1.36% 0.24%
2048 1.39% 0.26%
2047 1.43% 0.26%
2046 1.48% 0.28%
2045 1.5% 0.29%
2044 1.53% 0.31%
2043 1.55% 0.33%
2042 1.57% 0.33%
2041 1.62% 0.35%
2040 1.66% 0.36%
2039 1.7% 0.38%
2038 1.73% 0.39%
2037 1.78% 0.39%
2036 1.8% 0.4%
2035 1.83% 0.42%
2034 1.85% 0.42%
2033 1.88% 0.43%
2032 1.89% 0.44%
2031 1.9% 0.45%
2030 1.93% 0.46%
2029 1.94% 0.48%
2028 1.96% 0.48%
2027 1.96% 0.49%
2026 1.99% 0.52%
2025 2.02% 0.49%
2024 2.02% 1.55%
2023 2.02% 0.49%
2022 1.96% 0.42%
2021 2.08% 0.11%
2020 1.89% 0.97%
2019 1.52% 0.46%
2018 1.55% 0.53%
2017 1.61% 0.63%
2016 1.7% 0.73%
2015 1.79% 0.74%
2014 1.87% 0.74%
2013 1.96% 0.7%
2012 2.04% 0.74%
2011 2.12% 0.73%
2010 2.22% 0.83%
2009 2.34% 0.88%
2008 2.41% 0.95%
2007 2.45% 0.96%
2006 2.47% 0.97%
2005 2.49% 0.93%
2004 2.53% 0.93%
2003 2.6% 0.86%
2002 2.42% 0.93%
2001 1.64% 0.99%
2000 1.11% 1.03%
1999 1.2% 1.15%
1998 1.32% 1.17%
1997 1.43% 1.2%
1996 1.53% 1.17%
1995 1.63% 1.18%
1994 1.74% 1.22%
1993 1.84% 1.31%
1992 1.92% 1.34%
1991 2.21% 1.34%
1990 2.5% 1.34%
1989 2.6% 0.95%
1988 2.65% 0.91%
1987 2.49% 0.9%
1986 2.29% 0.93%
1985 2.13% 0.89%
1984 1.93% 0.87%
1983 1.83% 0.92%
1982 1.88% 0.96%
1981 2.1% 1.29%
1980 2.38% 0.66%
1979 2.62% 1.11%
1978 2.73% 1.06%
1977 2.68% 1.01%
1976 2.55% 0.95%
1975 2.4% 0.99%
1974 2.26% 0.92%
1973 2.17% 0.96%
1972 2.16% 1.08%
1971 2.2% 1.27%
1970 2.03% 1.17%
1969 1.76% 0.98%
1968 1.59% 1%
1967 1.41% 1.09%
1966 1.25% 1.16%
1965 1.15% 1.26%
1964 1.07% 1.4%
1963 1.02% 1.45%
1962 1.01% 1.55%
1961 1.02% 1.67%
1960 - 1.6%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/united-states | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Sao Tome and Principe grew by 2.02%, while the United States' population grew by 0.49%.

Live population counters

Sao Tome United States
Current population
246362
344023146
Population rank 176/197 3/197
Percent of world population 0.003% 4.15%
One net population change
1.88 hours
18.9 seconds
One birth every
1.35 hours
8.8 seconds
One death every
6.81 hours
10.2 seconds
Daily growth/decline +13 +4,586
Annual growth/decline +4,665 +1,673,869
Annual growth/decline rate +2.02% +0.49%
Population growth rate rank 49/197 134/197
One migration net change every
13.5 hours
25.7 seconds
Annual migration change -650 +1,230,663
Net migration rank 90/196 2/196
Foreign-born residents 1,955 52,375,047
Foreign-born residents rank 194/195 1/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 15.2%
Foreign-born share rank 162/195 41/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sao Tome and Principe
Natural

Migration
United States
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sao Tome United States
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -650 - 1,230,663
2024 - -604 - 1,286,132
2023 5,221 -592 502,372 1,322,668
2022 5,102 -592 399,926 1,319,009
2021 4,954 -782 199,137 674,787
2020 4,874 0 208,862 329,769
2019 4,932 -1,716 887,476 1,774,500
2018 4,957 -1,757 955,022 1,764,961
2017 5,007 -1,779 1,028,037 1,864,738
2016 5,125 -1,793 1,197,627 1,889,129
2015 5,269 -1,809 1,270,126 1,722,127
2014 5,381 -1,801 1,357,281 1,672,598
2013 5,449 -1,787 1,322,711 1,663,885
2012 5,501 -1,739 1,411,822 1,632,007
2011 5,445 -1,616 1,441,697 1,624,033
2010 5,391 -1,529 1,548,182 1,594,453
2009 5,349 -1,328 1,717,920 1,387,306
2008 5,297 -1,203 1,794,154 1,416,841
2007 5,226 -1,127 1,897,757 1,371,353
2006 5,057 -1,031 1,849,955 1,347,750
2005 4,897 -941 1,684,445 1,369,224
2004 4,810 -894 1,698,271 1,313,467
2003 4,702 -816 1,653,615 1,331,376
2002 4,591 -690 1,581,938 1,336,518
2001 4,471 -1,289 1,595,826 1,312,455
2000 4,334 -2,798 1,664,758 1,248,392
1999 4,221 -2,594 1,564,050 1,156,311
1998 4,120 -2,364 1,573,857 1,225,134
1997 4,041 -2,153 1,501,014 1,116,922
1996 3,993 -1,974 1,510,137 1,141,648
1995 3,948 -1,829 1,546,031 1,173,016
1994 3,860 -1,644 1,633,302 1,179,309
1993 3,841 -1,527 1,717,685 1,228,478
1992 3,822 -1,432 1,875,328 1,304,880
1991 3,801 -1,362 1,926,543 1,202,426
1990 3,719 -727 2,026,068 1,084,720
1989 3,576 -571 1,875,826 400,998
1988 3,544 -465 1,735,943 460,778
1987 3,440 -470 1,720,252 480,815
1986 3,180 -614 1,656,917 493,082
1985 3,242 -828 1,689,258 598,777
1984 3,163 -1,041 1,627,192 622,793
1983 3,100 -1,203 1,636,544 662,840
1982 3,047 -1,203 1,714,317 600,149
1981 3,015 -1,067 1,652,153 583,070
1980 2,965 -770 1,608,450 595,916
1979 2,893 -491 1,597,894 503,559
1978 2,800 -279 1,402,283 556,521
1977 2,705 -255 1,431,556 577,060
1976 2,608 -302 1,264,604 635,590
1975 2,515 -392 1,252,644 655,078
1974 2,422 -474 1,218,968 706,978
1973 2,329 -525 1,165,499 783,163
1972 2,232 -517 1,301,355 833,543
1971 2,127 -430 1,640,519 833,549
1970 1,980 -279 1,824,965 744,902
1969 1,862 -469 1,702,487 523,740
1968 1,767 -520 1,565,507 594,514
1967 1,693 -606 1,669,181 585,410
1966 1,642 -688 1,749,387 637,692
1965 1,611 -765 1,943,030 644,902
1964 1,600 -819 2,245,099 618,635
1963 1,609 -886 2,289,826 639,495
1962 1,625 -927 2,406,337 625,617
1961 1,657 -960 2,571,681 580,333
1960 1,547 -860 2,565,530 422,708

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/united-states | 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 States 35.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 8,005,866 people) and 64.2% is from migration (a gain of 14,334,286 people).

As of 2024, 1,955 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 52,375,047 people or 15.2% in the United States.

Biggest cities by population

Sao Tome
City Population
Sao Tome 65.5K
Trindade 6.64K
United States
City Population
New York 8.8M
Los Angeles 3.9M
Chicago 2.75M
Houston 2.3M
Phoenix 1.61M
Philadelphia 1.6M
San Antonio 1.43M
San Diego 1.39M
Dallas 1.3M
San Jose 1.01M

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/united-states | 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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