Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas was 36,000 people in 2020. ▲ Rising
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Sao Tome and Principe, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2020, number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Sao Tome and Principe stood at 36,000 people. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 36,000 people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 13,024 people, in 1950.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 187th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 13,024 people | — |
| 1955 | 14,286 people | +9.7% |
| 1960 | 15,683 people | +9.8% |
| 1965 | 17,222 people | +9.8% |
| 1970 | 19,096 people | +10.9% |
| 1975 | 21,284 people | +11.5% |
| 1980 | 22,502 people | +5.7% |
| 1985 | 23,155 people | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 25,066 people | +8.3% |
| 1995 | 26,828 people | +7.0% |
| 2000 | 27,949 people | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 30,372 people | +8.7% |
| 2010 | 33,068 people | +8.9% |
| 2015 | 35,390 people | +7.0% |
| 2020 | 36,000 people | +1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 13,655 people | 13,024 people | 14,286 people | 2 |
| 1960s | 16,452 people | 15,683 people | 17,222 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 20,190 people | 19,096 people | 21,284 people | 2 |
| 1980s | 22,828 people | 22,502 people | 23,155 people | 2 |
| 1990s | 25,947 people | 25,066 people | 26,828 people | 2 |
| 2000s | 29,161 people | 27,949 people | 30,372 people | 2 |
| 2010s | 34,229 people | 33,068 people | 35,390 people | 2 |
| 2020s | 36,000 people | 36,000 people | 36,000 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
- 184 Tonga 41,669 people compare
- 185 Dominica 38,586 people compare
- 186 Barbados 38,450 people compare
- 188 Hong Kong, China 34,765 people compare
- 189 Faroe Islands 32,696 people compare
- 190 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 32,284 people compare
More population data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Population regions 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 long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2548 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2436 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 366.66 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.9 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.518 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 556.27 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 34,182 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Sao Tome and Principe was 36,000 people in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 36,000 people in 2020.
- What is the lowest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 13,024 people in 1950.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 187th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of people living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.