The latest officially reported population of Sao Tome and Principe was 235,536 in 2024 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sao Tome and Principe's population is 246,362 people compared to 936 in the Vatican.
Population statistics:
- Sao Tome and Principe's population is 263.2 times bigger than the Vatican's.
- Sao Tome and Principe is ranked the 176th most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
- The countries together account for 0.003% of the world: 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
- For the last 10 years, Sao Tome and Principe has had an average growth rate of +1.82% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
- Since 2006, the population of Sao Tome and Principe has increased from 166K people to 246K (48.7% growth), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 936 (0.43% growth).
Sao Tome and Principe vs Vatican: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Sao Tome
|
Vatican
|
|
| 2100 | 538,729 | 2,521 |
| 2099 | 537,330 | 2,506 |
| 2098 | 535,787 | 2,497 |
| 2097 | 534,124 | 2,482 |
| 2096 | 532,353 | 2,469 |
| 2095 | 530,576 | 2,452 |
| 2094 | 528,656 | 2,435 |
| 2093 | 526,643 | 2,421 |
| 2092 | 524,507 | 2,400 |
| 2091 | 522,325 | 2,384 |
| 2090 | 519,999 | 2,359 |
| 2089 | 517,612 | 2,337 |
| 2088 | 515,098 | 2,319 |
| 2087 | 512,568 | 2,291 |
| 2086 | 510,018 | 2,269 |
| 2085 | 507,340 | 2,248 |
| 2084 | 504,584 | 2,217 |
| 2083 | 501,679 | 2,183 |
| 2082 | 498,722 | 2,159 |
| 2081 | 495,689 | 2,129 |
| 2080 | 492,482 | 2,105 |
| 2079 | 489,244 | 2,089 |
| 2078 | 485,930 | 2,068 |
| 2077 | 482,450 | 2,050 |
| 2076 | 478,942 | 2,025 |
| 2075 | 475,380 | 2,001 |
| 2074 | 471,763 | 1,970 |
| 2073 | 468,114 | 1,944 |
| 2072 | 464,348 | 1,912 |
| 2071 | 460,509 | 1,866 |
| 2070 | 456,552 | 1,829 |
| 2069 | 452,449 | 1,795 |
| 2068 | 448,367 | 1,777 |
| 2067 | 444,152 | 1,755 |
| 2066 | 439,833 | 1,729 |
| 2065 | 435,561 | 1,701 |
| 2064 | 431,126 | 1,679 |
| 2063 | 426,703 | 1,651 |
| 2062 | 422,184 | 1,623 |
| 2061 | 417,686 | 1,595 |
| 2060 | 413,117 | 1,556 |
| 2059 | 408,577 | 1,530 |
| 2058 | 404,024 | 1,512 |
| 2057 | 399,413 | 1,493 |
| 2056 | 394,844 | 1,469 |
| 2055 | 390,153 | 1,441 |
| 2054 | 385,468 | 1,419 |
| 2053 | 380,737 | 1,382 |
| 2052 | 376,015 | 1,358 |
| 2051 | 371,194 | 1,335 |
| 2050 | 366,397 | 1,311 |
| 2049 | 361,591 | 1,283 |
| 2048 | 356,742 | 1,256 |
| 2047 | 351,861 | 1,237 |
| 2046 | 346,888 | 1,215 |
| 2045 | 341,838 | 1,192 |
| 2044 | 336,792 | 1,174 |
| 2043 | 331,713 | 1,152 |
| 2042 | 326,652 | 1,135 |
| 2041 | 321,594 | 1,105 |
| 2040 | 316,457 | 1,070 |
| 2039 | 311,279 | 1,033 |
| 2038 | 306,071 | 1,001 |
| 2037 | 300,875 | 996 |
| 2036 | 295,624 | 1,001 |
| 2035 | 290,400 | 988 |
| 2034 | 285,183 | 988 |
| 2033 | 279,990 | 974 |
| 2032 | 274,835 | 964 |
| 2031 | 269,740 | 977 |
| 2030 | 264,723 | 979 |
| 2029 | 259,705 | 985 |
| 2028 | 254,751 | 983 |
| 2027 | 249,860 | 946 |
| 2026 | 245,066 | 933 |
| 2025 | 240,286 | 927 |
| 2024 | 235,536 | 910 |
| 2023 | 230,871 | 927 |
| 2022 | 226,305 | 951 |
| 2021 | 221,961 | 972 |
| 2020 | 217,435 | 987 |
| 2019 | 213,392 | 1,000 |
| 2018 | 210,187 | - |
| 2017 | 206,970 | 1,000 |
| 2016 | 203,689 | - |
| 2015 | 200,291 | 1,000 |
| 2014 | 196,767 | 842 |
| 2013 | 193,148 | 839 |
| 2012 | 189,439 | 836 |
| 2011 | 185,649 | 832 |
| 2010 | 181,802 | 829 |
| 2009 | 177,853 | 826 |
| 2008 | 173,793 | 824 |
| 2007 | 169,700 | 821 |
| 2006 | 165,638 | 932 |
| 2005 | 161,639 | 921 |
| 2004 | 157,705 | 921 |
| 2003 | 153,814 | 911 |
| 2002 | 149,922 | 900 |
| 2001 | 146,375 | 890 |
| 2000 | 144,018 | 880 |
| 1999 | 142,442 | - |
| 1998 | 140,751 | - |
| 1997 | 138,922 | - |
| 1996 | 136,962 | - |
| 1995 | 134,895 | - |
| 1994 | 132,732 | - |
| 1993 | 130,467 | - |
| 1992 | 128,110 | - |
| 1991 | 125,697 | - |
| 1990 | 122,980 | - |
| 1989 | 119,979 | - |
| 1988 | 116,939 | - |
| 1987 | 113,919 | - |
| 1986 | 111,150 | - |
| 1985 | 108,658 | - |
| 1984 | 106,394 | - |
| 1983 | 104,380 | - |
| 1982 | 102,508 | - |
| 1981 | 100,615 | - |
| 1980 | 98,544 | - |
| 1979 | 96,252 | - |
| 1978 | 93,794 | - |
| 1977 | 91,301 | - |
| 1976 | 88,922 | - |
| 1975 | 86,708 | - |
| 1974 | 84,672 | - |
| 1973 | 82,798 | - |
| 1972 | 81,041 | - |
| 1971 | 79,330 | - |
| 1970 | 77,626 | - |
| 1969 | 76,083 | - |
| 1968 | 74,765 | - |
| 1967 | 73,596 | - |
| 1966 | 72,576 | - |
| 1965 | 71,680 | - |
| 1964 | 70,865 | - |
| 1963 | 70,112 | - |
| 1962 | 69,403 | - |
| 1961 | 68,707 | - |
| 1960 | 68,012 | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/vatican | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sao Tome and Principe increased by 38,051 people (a 23% growth), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sao Tome and Principe gained 42,673 people (a 21% growth), while the Vatican's population decreased by 64 people (a 6.4% decline).
Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th most populous country in 2006 and is 176th in 2026. The Vatican was ranked 197th in 2006 and still ranked 197th 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 Vatican will increase by 40.1% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.
Sao Tome and Principe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 539K people compared to the peak of 2.52K people in 2100 for the Vatican.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Sao Tome
|
Vatican
|
|
| 2100 | 0.26% | 0.59% |
| 2099 | 0.29% | 0.37% |
| 2098 | 0.31% | 0.6% |
| 2097 | 0.33% | 0.53% |
| 2096 | 0.33% | 0.68% |
| 2095 | 0.36% | 0.69% |
| 2094 | 0.38% | 0.61% |
| 2093 | 0.41% | 0.85% |
| 2092 | 0.42% | 0.7% |
| 2091 | 0.45% | 1.02% |
| 2090 | 0.46% | 0.95% |
| 2089 | 0.49% | 0.8% |
| 2088 | 0.49% | 1.21% |
| 2087 | 0.5% | 0.98% |
| 2086 | 0.53% | 0.91% |
| 2085 | 0.55% | 1.42% |
| 2084 | 0.58% | 1.53% |
| 2083 | 0.59% | 1.12% |
| 2082 | 0.61% | 1.39% |
| 2081 | 0.65% | 1.15% |
| 2080 | 0.66% | 0.8% |
| 2079 | 0.68% | 0.99% |
| 2078 | 0.72% | 0.9% |
| 2077 | 0.73% | 1.19% |
| 2076 | 0.75% | 1.2% |
| 2075 | 0.77% | 1.6% |
| 2074 | 0.78% | 1.34% |
| 2073 | 0.81% | 1.65% |
| 2072 | 0.83% | 2.49% |
| 2071 | 0.87% | 2.03% |
| 2070 | 0.91% | 1.86% |
| 2069 | 0.91% | 1.04% |
| 2068 | 0.95% | 1.27% |
| 2067 | 0.98% | 1.5% |
| 2066 | 0.98% | 1.64% |
| 2065 | 1.03% | 1.33% |
| 2064 | 1.04% | 1.69% |
| 2063 | 1.07% | 1.71% |
| 2062 | 1.08% | 1.74% |
| 2061 | 1.11% | 2.5% |
| 2060 | 1.11% | 1.7% |
| 2059 | 1.13% | 1.23% |
| 2058 | 1.15% | 1.24% |
| 2057 | 1.16% | 1.64% |
| 2056 | 1.2% | 1.93% |
| 2055 | 1.22% | 1.57% |
| 2054 | 1.24% | 2.68% |
| 2053 | 1.26% | 1.78% |
| 2052 | 1.3% | 1.67% |
| 2051 | 1.31% | 1.84% |
| 2050 | 1.33% | 2.17% |
| 2049 | 1.36% | 2.22% |
| 2048 | 1.39% | 1.5% |
| 2047 | 1.43% | 1.83% |
| 2046 | 1.48% | 1.87% |
| 2045 | 1.5% | 1.58% |
| 2044 | 1.53% | 1.93% |
| 2043 | 1.55% | 1.47% |
| 2042 | 1.57% | 2.68% |
| 2041 | 1.62% | 3.29% |
| 2040 | 1.66% | 3.59% |
| 2039 | 1.7% | 3.15% |
| 2038 | 1.73% | 0.56% |
| 2037 | 1.78% | -0.56% |
| 2036 | 1.8% | 1.31% |
| 2035 | 1.83% | 0% |
| 2034 | 1.85% | 1.52% |
| 2033 | 1.88% | 0.96% |
| 2032 | 1.89% | -1.33% |
| 2031 | 1.9% | -0.19% |
| 2030 | 1.93% | -0.56% |
| 2029 | 1.94% | 0.19% |
| 2028 | 1.96% | 3.92% |
| 2027 | 1.96% | 1.39% |
| 2026 | 1.99% | 0.6% |
| 2025 | 2.02% | 1.83% |
| 2024 | 2.02% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 2.02% | -2.53% |
| 2022 | 1.96% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 2.08% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 1.89% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 1.52% | 0% |
| 2018 | 1.55% | 0% |
| 2017 | 1.61% | 0% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | 0% |
| 2015 | 1.79% | 18.8% |
| 2014 | 1.87% | 0.36% |
| 2013 | 1.96% | 0.36% |
| 2012 | 2.04% | 0.48% |
| 2011 | 2.12% | 0.36% |
| 2010 | 2.22% | 0.36% |
| 2009 | 2.34% | 0.24% |
| 2008 | 2.41% | 0.37% |
| 2007 | 2.45% | -11.9% |
| 2006 | 2.47% | 1.19% |
| 2005 | 2.49% | 0% |
| 2004 | 2.53% | 1.1% |
| 2003 | 2.6% | 1.22% |
| 2002 | 2.42% | 1.12% |
| 2001 | 1.64% | 1.14% |
| 2000 | 1.11% | - |
| 1999 | 1.2% | - |
| 1998 | 1.32% | - |
| 1997 | 1.43% | - |
| 1996 | 1.53% | - |
| 1995 | 1.63% | - |
| 1994 | 1.74% | - |
| 1993 | 1.84% | - |
| 1992 | 1.92% | - |
| 1991 | 2.21% | - |
| 1990 | 2.5% | - |
| 1989 | 2.6% | - |
| 1988 | 2.65% | - |
| 1987 | 2.49% | - |
| 1986 | 2.29% | - |
| 1985 | 2.13% | - |
| 1984 | 1.93% | - |
| 1983 | 1.83% | - |
| 1982 | 1.88% | - |
| 1981 | 2.1% | - |
| 1980 | 2.38% | - |
| 1979 | 2.62% | - |
| 1978 | 2.73% | - |
| 1977 | 2.68% | - |
| 1976 | 2.55% | - |
| 1975 | 2.4% | - |
| 1974 | 2.26% | - |
| 1973 | 2.17% | - |
| 1972 | 2.16% | - |
| 1971 | 2.2% | - |
| 1970 | 2.03% | - |
| 1969 | 1.76% | - |
| 1968 | 1.59% | - |
| 1967 | 1.41% | - |
| 1966 | 1.25% | - |
| 1965 | 1.15% | - |
| 1964 | 1.07% | - |
| 1963 | 1.02% | - |
| 1962 | 1.01% | - |
| 1961 | 1.02% | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2001–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/vatican | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Sao Tome and Principe grew by 2.02%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.
Live population counters
|
Sao Tome
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
246362
|
936
|
| Population rank | 176/197 | 197/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.003% | 0.00001% |
| One net population change |
1.88 hours
|
1 month
|
| One birth every |
1.35 hours
|
n/a |
| One death every |
6.81 hours
|
n/a |
| Daily growth/decline | +13 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline | +4,665 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.02% | +0% |
| Population growth rate rank | 49/197 | 163/197 |
| One migration net change every |
13.5 hours
|
n/a |
| Annual migration change | -650 | n/a |
| Net migration rank | 90/196 | |
| Foreign-born residents | 1,955 | n/a |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 194/195 | |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.8% | n/a |
| Foreign-born share rank | 162/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sao Tome
|
Vatican
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -650 | - | - |
| 2024 | - | -604 | - | - |
| 2023 | 5,221 | -592 | - | - |
| 2022 | 5,102 | -592 | - | - |
| 2021 | 4,954 | -782 | - | - |
| 2020 | 4,874 | 0 | - | - |
| 2019 | 4,932 | -1,716 | - | - |
| 2018 | 4,957 | -1,757 | - | - |
| 2017 | 5,007 | -1,779 | - | - |
| 2016 | 5,125 | -1,793 | - | - |
| 2015 | 5,269 | -1,809 | - | - |
| 2014 | 5,381 | -1,801 | - | - |
| 2013 | 5,449 | -1,787 | - | - |
| 2012 | 5,501 | -1,739 | - | - |
| 2011 | 5,445 | -1,616 | - | - |
| 2010 | 5,391 | -1,529 | - | - |
| 2009 | 5,349 | -1,328 | - | - |
| 2008 | 5,297 | -1,203 | - | - |
| 2007 | 5,226 | -1,127 | - | - |
| 2006 | 5,057 | -1,031 | - | - |
| 2005 | 4,897 | -941 | - | - |
| 2004 | 4,810 | -894 | - | - |
| 2003 | 4,702 | -816 | - | - |
| 2002 | 4,591 | -690 | - | - |
| 2001 | 4,471 | -1,289 | - | - |
| 2000 | 4,334 | -2,798 | - | - |
| 1999 | 4,221 | -2,594 | - | - |
| 1998 | 4,120 | -2,364 | - | - |
| 1997 | 4,041 | -2,153 | - | - |
| 1996 | 3,993 | -1,974 | - | - |
| 1995 | 3,948 | -1,829 | - | - |
| 1994 | 3,860 | -1,644 | - | - |
| 1993 | 3,841 | -1,527 | - | - |
| 1992 | 3,822 | -1,432 | - | - |
| 1991 | 3,801 | -1,362 | - | - |
| 1990 | 3,719 | -727 | - | - |
| 1989 | 3,576 | -571 | - | - |
| 1988 | 3,544 | -465 | - | - |
| 1987 | 3,440 | -470 | - | - |
| 1986 | 3,180 | -614 | - | - |
| 1985 | 3,242 | -828 | - | - |
| 1984 | 3,163 | -1,041 | - | - |
| 1983 | 3,100 | -1,203 | - | - |
| 1982 | 3,047 | -1,203 | - | - |
| 1981 | 3,015 | -1,067 | - | - |
| 1980 | 2,965 | -770 | - | - |
| 1979 | 2,893 | -491 | - | - |
| 1978 | 2,800 | -279 | - | - |
| 1977 | 2,705 | -255 | - | - |
| 1976 | 2,608 | -302 | - | - |
| 1975 | 2,515 | -392 | - | - |
| 1974 | 2,422 | -474 | - | - |
| 1973 | 2,329 | -525 | - | - |
| 1972 | 2,232 | -517 | - | - |
| 1971 | 2,127 | -430 | - | - |
| 1970 | 1,980 | -279 | - | - |
| 1969 | 1,862 | -469 | - | - |
| 1968 | 1,767 | -520 | - | - |
| 1967 | 1,693 | -606 | - | - |
| 1966 | 1,642 | -688 | - | - |
| 1965 | 1,611 | -765 | - | - |
| 1964 | 1,600 | -819 | - | - |
| 1963 | 1,609 | -886 | - | - |
| 1962 | 1,625 | -927 | - | - |
| 1961 | 1,657 | -960 | - | - |
| 1960 | 1,547 | -860 | - | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/vatican | CC BY
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Population differences between Sao Tome and Principe and the Vatican
|
Sao Tome
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 70.3 years | 83.4 years |
| Average age | 25.1 years | n/a |
| Median age | 20.3 years | n/a |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.7:50.3 | n/a |
| Fertility rate | 3.64 births per woman | n/a |
| Population density | 661 ppl/mi² | 5,493 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/vatican | 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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