Annual growth rate of urban population share in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Annual growth rate of urban population share was 0.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.5%
Change on year
up 11.7%
World rank
88th
of 236 countries
All-time high
9.0%
in 1964
All-time low
0.2%
in 2013
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Annual growth rate of urban population share in Sao Tome and Principe, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sao Tome and Principe recorded 0.5% for annual growth rate of urban population share in 2025.
That represents a change of up 11.7% on the previous year and up 137.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual growth rate of urban population share in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 9.0% in 1964 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2013.
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 88th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual growth rate of urban population share in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.1% | — |
| 1951 | 0.2% | -79.9% |
| 1952 | 0.6% | +181.0% |
| 1953 | 1.0% | +59.7% |
| 1954 | 1.3% | +32.8% |
| 1955 | 1.6% | +21.8% |
| 1956 | 1.9% | +15.5% |
| 1957 | 2.1% | +11.3% |
| 1958 | 2.3% | +8.3% |
| 1959 | 2.4% | +4.0% |
| 1960 | 2.6% | +9.3% |
| 1961 | 4.4% | +71.9% |
| 1962 | 7.0% | +58.1% |
| 1963 | 8.5% | +21.8% |
| 1964 | 9.0% | +5.9% |
| 1965 | 8.8% | -2.3% |
| 1966 | 8.1% | -8.0% |
| 1967 | 7.1% | -13.0% |
| 1968 | 5.8% | -18.4% |
| 1969 | 4.1% | -29.1% |
| 1970 | 2.6% | -36.1% |
| 1971 | 1.6% | -37.1% |
| 1972 | 1.4% | -17.4% |
| 1973 | 1.1% | -17.9% |
| 1974 | 0.9% | -15.1% |
| 1975 | 0.8% | -10.3% |
| 1976 | 0.8% | -3.5% |
| 1977 | 0.9% | +4.3% |
| 1978 | 0.9% | +11.5% |
| 1979 | 1.1% | +16.6% |
| 1980 | 1.3% | +19.1% |
| 1981 | 1.6% | +23.6% |
| 1982 | 2.2% | +32.2% |
| 1983 | 2.6% | +22.6% |
| 1984 | 3.0% | +12.7% |
| 1985 | 3.2% | +6.7% |
| 1986 | 3.3% | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 3.2% | -0.9% |
| 1988 | 3.1% | -3.9% |
| 1989 | 2.9% | -6.7% |
| 1990 | 2.6% | -10.2% |
| 1991 | 2.3% | -11.7% |
| 1992 | 2.1% | -9.6% |
| 1993 | 2.0% | -5.9% |
| 1994 | 1.9% | -5.0% |
| 1995 | 1.8% | -3.6% |
| 1996 | 1.7% | -2.2% |
| 1997 | 1.7% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 1.7% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 1.8% | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 1.8% | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 1.9% | +6.3% |
| 2002 | 2.2% | +14.6% |
| 2003 | 2.5% | +11.6% |
| 2004 | 2.6% | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 2.6% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 2.5% | -3.7% |
| 2007 | 2.3% | -7.6% |
| 2008 | 2.1% | -11.9% |
| 2009 | 1.7% | -17.4% |
| 2010 | 1.3% | -25.8% |
| 2011 | 0.7% | -42.0% |
| 2012 | 0.2% | -67.0% |
| 2013 | 0.2% | -32.4% |
| 2014 | 0.2% | +20.9% |
| 2015 | 0.2% | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 0.2% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 0.2% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 0.2% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 0.2% | +26.0% |
| 2022 | 0.3% | +35.5% |
| 2023 | 0.4% | +14.0% |
| 2024 | 0.4% | +13.4% |
| 2025 | 0.5% | +11.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.5% | 0.2% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.5% | 2.6% | 9.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.2% | 0.8% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.6% | 1.3% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.0% | 1.7% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.2% | 1.7% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.4% | 0.2% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
- 85 Republic of Moldova 0.5% compare
- 86 Iran, Islamic Republic of 0.5% compare
- 87 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 0.5% compare
- 89 Slovenia 0.4% compare
- 90 Belarus 0.4% compare
- 91 Seychelles 0.4% compare
More population data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2436 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2548 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -8.57 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2548 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 34,182 people (2100)
- Population density 556.27 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.518 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.9 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual growth rate of urban population share in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Annual growth rate of urban population share in Sao Tome and Principe was 0.5% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual growth rate of urban population share recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 9.0% in 1964.
- What is the lowest annual growth rate of urban population share recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2013.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for annual growth rate of urban population share?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 88th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual growth rate of urban population share rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 137.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual growth rate of urban population share. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average annual rate of change of the share of the population living in urban areas.