Population in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Population was 230,882 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
230,882 people
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
187th
of 238 countries
All-time high
230,882 people
in 2023
All-time low
1,345 people
in 1000
Years of data
241
1000–2023
Population in Sao Tome and Principe, 1000–2023
Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in Sao Tome and Principe is 230,882 people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 241 years on record.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 19.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 230,882 people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1,345 people, in 1000.
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 187th of 238 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 1,345 people | 1,345 people | 1,345 people | 1 |
| 1100s | 1,681 people | 1,681 people | 1,681 people | 1 |
| 1200s | 2,101 people | 2,101 people | 2,101 people | 1 |
| 1300s | 2,627 people | 2,627 people | 2,627 people | 1 |
| 1400s | 3,283 people | 3,283 people | 3,283 people | 1 |
| 1500s | 4,104 people | 4,104 people | 4,104 people | 1 |
| 1600s | 5,131 people | 5,131 people | 5,131 people | 1 |
| 1700s | 6,413 people | 6,413 people | 6,413 people | 1 |
| 1710s | 6,973 people | 6,973 people | 6,973 people | 1 |
| 1720s | 7,592 people | 7,592 people | 7,592 people | 1 |
| 1730s | 8,274 people | 8,274 people | 8,274 people | 1 |
| 1740s | 9,029 people | 9,029 people | 9,029 people | 1 |
| 1750s | 9,863 people | 9,863 people | 9,863 people | 1 |
| 1760s | 10,786 people | 10,786 people | 10,786 people | 1 |
| 1770s | 11,806 people | 11,806 people | 11,806 people | 1 |
| 1780s | 12,936 people | 12,936 people | 12,936 people | 1 |
| 1790s | 14,186 people | 14,186 people | 14,186 people | 1 |
| 1800s | 22,731 people | 22,731 people | 22,731 people | 10 |
| 1810s | 22,734 people | 22,731 people | 22,763 people | 10 |
| 1820s | 23,484 people | 22,828 people | 24,224 people | 10 |
| 1830s | 25,189 people | 24,396 people | 25,998 people | 10 |
| 1840s | 27,033 people | 26,182 people | 27,901 people | 10 |
| 1850s | 29,043 people | 28,098 people | 30,007 people | 10 |
| 1860s | 31,243 people | 30,227 people | 32,280 people | 10 |
| 1870s | 33,609 people | 32,516 people | 34,724 people | 10 |
| 1880s | 36,155 people | 34,979 people | 37,354 people | 10 |
| 1890s | 38,919 people | 37,628 people | 40,446 people | 10 |
| 1900s | 48,685 people | 41,279 people | 57,096 people | 10 |
| 1910s | 58,324 people | 57,328 people | 59,248 people | 10 |
| 1920s | 58,748 people | 57,306 people | 60,474 people | 10 |
| 1930s | 61,380 people | 60,764 people | 61,821 people | 10 |
| 1940s | 61,379 people | 60,906 people | 61,831 people | 10 |
| 1950s | 64,227 people | 60,895 people | 67,306 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 71,596 people | 68,028 people | 76,096 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 86,260 people | 77,639 people | 96,266 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 108,324 people | 98,563 people | 119,990 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 133,409 people | 122,993 people | 142,459 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 160,058 people | 144,029 people | 177,866 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 198,146 people | 181,810 people | 213,405 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 224,155 people | 217,450 people | 230,882 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
- 184 New Caledonia 289,879 people compare
- 185 Barbados 282,347 people compare
- 186 French Polynesia 281,125 people compare
- 188 Samoa 216,673 people compare
- 189 Netherlands Antilles 198,009 people compare
- 190 Curacao 185,437 people compare
More population data for Sao Tome and Principe
- 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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 3.6 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 3.6 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 3.6 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 3.64 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 3.53 children per women (2023)
- Birth rate by women's age group 86.19 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Population in Sao Tome and Principe was 230,882 people in 2023, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 230,882 people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,345 people in 1000.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for population?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 187th out of 238 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 241 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2023, based on data and estimates from different sources.