Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate was 3.6 births per woman in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
3.6 births per woman
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
39th
of 215 countries
All-time high
6.53 births per woman
in 1974
All-time low
3.6 births per woman
in 2024
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Sao Tome and Principe, 1960–2024
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
In 2024, total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Sao Tome and Principe stood at 3.6 births per woman. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 19.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 6.53 births per woman in 1974 and was at its lowest, 3.6 births per woman, in 2024.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 39th out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | births per woman | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 6.24 births per woman | — |
| 1961 | 6.26 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1962 | 6.28 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1963 | 6.31 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1964 | 6.33 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1965 | 6.35 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1966 | 6.37 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 6.39 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1968 | 6.42 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1969 | 6.44 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 6.47 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1971 | 6.49 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1972 | 6.51 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1973 | 6.53 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 1974 | 6.53 births per woman | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 6.53 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 6.52 births per woman | -0.2% |
| 1977 | 6.5 births per woman | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 6.47 births per woman | -0.5% |
| 1979 | 6.43 births per woman | -0.6% |
| 1980 | 6.39 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 1981 | 6.33 births per woman | -0.8% |
| 1982 | 6.28 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1983 | 6.22 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1984 | 6.16 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1985 | 6.1 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1986 | 6.05 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1987 | 5.99 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1988 | 5.94 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1989 | 5.88 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 5.83 births per woman | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 5.77 births per woman | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 5.7 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 5.63 births per woman | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 5.56 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 5.55 births per woman | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 5.47 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 5.4 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 5.3 births per woman | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 5.23 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 5.16 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 5.1 births per woman | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 5.06 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 5.01 births per woman | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 4.96 births per woman | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 4.94 births per woman | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 4.93 births per woman | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 4.96 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 4.91 births per woman | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 4.84 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 4.77 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 4.72 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 4.66 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 4.58 births per woman | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 4.49 births per woman | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 4.35 births per woman | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 4.2 births per woman | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 4.07 births per woman | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 3.98 births per woman | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 3.9 births per woman | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 3.83 births per woman | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 3.76 births per woman | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 3.69 births per woman | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 3.64 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 3.6 births per woman | -1.3% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 3.6 births per woman is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.12 births per woman, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 3.6 births per woman is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.91 births per woman, 92% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.34 births per woman | 6.24 births per woman | 6.44 births per woman | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.5 births per woman | 6.43 births per woman | 6.53 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.13 births per woman | 5.88 births per woman | 6.39 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.55 births per woman | 5.23 births per woman | 5.83 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.99 births per woman | 4.84 births per woman | 5.16 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.37 births per woman | 3.9 births per woman | 4.77 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.7 births per woman | 3.6 births per woman | 3.83 births per woman | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
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 total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Sao Tome and Principe was 3.6 births per woman in 2024, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 6.53 births per woman in 1974.
- What is the lowest total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.6 births per woman in 2024.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 39th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The total fertility rate summarizes the total number of births a woman would have, if she experienced the birth rates seen in women of each age group in one particular year across her childbearing years. The wanted fertility is an estimate of what the total fertility rate would be if all unwanted births were avoided, based on survey data.