Population (Our World) in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Population (Our World) was 230,882 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
230,882
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
188th
of 239 countries
All-time high
230,882
in 2023
All-time low
1,345
in 1000
Years of data
241
1000–2023
Population in Sao Tome and Principe, 1000–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in Sao Tome and Principe is 230,882, 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 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1,345, in 1000.
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 188th of 239 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population (Our World) in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 1,345 | — |
| 1100 | 1,681 | +25.0% |
| 1200 | 2,101 | +25.0% |
| 1300 | 2,627 | +25.0% |
| 1400 | 3,283 | +25.0% |
| 1500 | 4,104 | +25.0% |
| 1600 | 5,131 | +25.0% |
| 1700 | 6,413 | +25.0% |
| 1710 | 6,973 | +8.7% |
| 1720 | 7,592 | +8.9% |
| 1730 | 8,274 | +9.0% |
| 1740 | 9,029 | +9.1% |
| 1750 | 9,863 | +9.2% |
| 1760 | 10,786 | +9.4% |
| 1770 | 11,806 | +9.5% |
| 1780 | 12,936 | +9.6% |
| 1790 | 14,186 | +9.7% |
| 1800 | 22,731 | +60.2% |
| 1801 | 22,731 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 22,731 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 22,731 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 22,731 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 22,731 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 22,731 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 22,731 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 22,731 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 22,731 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 22,731 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 22,731 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 22,731 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 22,731 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 22,731 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 22,731 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 22,731 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 22,731 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 22,731 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 22,763 | +0.1% |
| 1820 | 22,828 | +0.3% |
| 1821 | 22,925 | +0.4% |
| 1822 | 23,056 | +0.6% |
| 1823 | 23,219 | +0.7% |
| 1824 | 23,384 | +0.7% |
| 1825 | 23,549 | +0.7% |
| 1826 | 23,716 | +0.7% |
| 1827 | 23,885 | +0.7% |
| 1828 | 24,054 | +0.7% |
| 1829 | 24,224 | +0.7% |
| 1830 | 24,396 | +0.7% |
| 1831 | 24,569 | +0.7% |
| 1832 | 24,743 | +0.7% |
| 1833 | 24,919 | +0.7% |
| 1834 | 25,095 | +0.7% |
| 1835 | 25,273 | +0.7% |
| 1836 | 25,452 | +0.7% |
| 1837 | 25,633 | +0.7% |
| 1838 | 25,815 | +0.7% |
| 1839 | 25,998 | +0.7% |
| 1840 | 26,182 | +0.7% |
| 1841 | 26,367 | +0.7% |
| 1842 | 26,554 | +0.7% |
| 1843 | 26,743 | +0.7% |
| 1844 | 26,932 | +0.7% |
| 1845 | 27,123 | +0.7% |
| 1846 | 27,315 | +0.7% |
| 1847 | 27,509 | +0.7% |
| 1848 | 27,704 | +0.7% |
| 1849 | 27,901 | +0.7% |
| 1850 | 28,098 | +0.7% |
| 1851 | 28,304 | +0.7% |
| 1852 | 28,512 | +0.7% |
| 1853 | 28,721 | +0.7% |
| 1854 | 28,931 | +0.7% |
| 1855 | 29,143 | +0.7% |
| 1856 | 29,357 | +0.7% |
| 1857 | 29,572 | +0.7% |
| 1858 | 29,789 | +0.7% |
| 1859 | 30,007 | +0.7% |
| 1860 | 30,227 | +0.7% |
| 1861 | 30,448 | +0.7% |
| 1862 | 30,671 | +0.7% |
| 1863 | 30,896 | +0.7% |
| 1864 | 31,122 | +0.7% |
| 1865 | 31,351 | +0.7% |
| 1866 | 31,580 | +0.7% |
| 1867 | 31,812 | +0.7% |
| 1868 | 32,045 | +0.7% |
| 1869 | 32,280 | +0.7% |
| 1870 | 32,516 | +0.7% |
| 1871 | 32,754 | +0.7% |
| 1872 | 32,994 | +0.7% |
| 1873 | 33,236 | +0.7% |
| 1874 | 33,480 | +0.7% |
| 1875 | 33,725 | +0.7% |
| 1876 | 33,972 | +0.7% |
| 1877 | 34,221 | +0.7% |
| 1878 | 34,472 | +0.7% |
| 1879 | 34,724 | +0.7% |
| 1880 | 34,979 | +0.7% |
| 1881 | 35,235 | +0.7% |
| 1882 | 35,493 | +0.7% |
| 1883 | 35,753 | +0.7% |
| 1884 | 36,015 | +0.7% |
| 1885 | 36,279 | +0.7% |
| 1886 | 36,545 | +0.7% |
| 1887 | 36,812 | +0.7% |
| 1888 | 37,082 | +0.7% |
| 1889 | 37,354 | +0.7% |
| 1890 | 37,628 | +0.7% |
| 1891 | 37,903 | +0.7% |
| 1892 | 38,181 | +0.7% |
| 1893 | 38,461 | +0.7% |
| 1894 | 38,742 | +0.7% |
| 1895 | 39,026 | +0.7% |
| 1896 | 39,312 | +0.7% |
| 1897 | 39,600 | +0.7% |
| 1898 | 39,890 | +0.7% |
| 1899 | 40,446 | +1.4% |
| 1900 | 41,279 | +2.1% |
| 1901 | 42,404 | +2.7% |
| 1902 | 43,833 | +3.4% |
| 1903 | 45,581 | +4.0% |
| 1904 | 47,398 | +4.0% |
| 1905 | 49,288 | +4.0% |
| 1906 | 51,254 | +4.0% |
| 1907 | 53,297 | +4.0% |
| 1908 | 55,423 | +4.0% |
| 1909 | 57,096 | +3.0% |
| 1910 | 58,302 | +2.1% |
| 1911 | 59,025 | +1.2% |
| 1912 | 59,248 | +0.4% |
| 1913 | 58,954 | -0.5% |
| 1914 | 58,661 | -0.5% |
| 1915 | 58,369 | -0.5% |
| 1916 | 58,079 | -0.5% |
| 1917 | 57,790 | -0.5% |
| 1918 | 57,489 | -0.5% |
| 1919 | 57,328 | -0.3% |
| 1920 | 57,306 | -0.0% |
| 1921 | 57,425 | +0.2% |
| 1922 | 57,684 | +0.5% |
| 1923 | 58,083 | +0.7% |
| 1924 | 58,485 | +0.7% |
| 1925 | 58,890 | +0.7% |
| 1926 | 59,298 | +0.7% |
| 1927 | 59,708 | +0.7% |
| 1928 | 60,122 | +0.7% |
| 1929 | 60,474 | +0.6% |
| 1930 | 60,764 | +0.5% |
| 1931 | 60,992 | +0.4% |
| 1932 | 61,156 | +0.3% |
| 1933 | 61,257 | +0.2% |
| 1934 | 61,359 | +0.2% |
| 1935 | 61,460 | +0.2% |
| 1936 | 61,562 | +0.2% |
| 1937 | 61,664 | +0.2% |
| 1938 | 61,766 | +0.2% |
| 1939 | 61,821 | +0.1% |
| 1940 | 61,831 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 61,794 | -0.1% |
| 1942 | 61,710 | -0.1% |
| 1943 | 61,580 | -0.2% |
| 1944 | 61,451 | -0.2% |
| 1945 | 61,322 | -0.2% |
| 1946 | 61,193 | -0.2% |
| 1947 | 61,064 | -0.2% |
| 1948 | 60,936 | -0.2% |
| 1949 | 60,906 | -0.0% |
| 1950 | 60,895 | -0.0% |
| 1951 | 61,783 | +1.5% |
| 1952 | 62,611 | +1.3% |
| 1953 | 63,348 | +1.2% |
| 1954 | 64,004 | +1.0% |
| 1955 | 64,618 | +1.0% |
| 1956 | 65,241 | +1.0% |
| 1957 | 65,886 | +1.0% |
| 1958 | 66,575 | +1.0% |
| 1959 | 67,306 | +1.1% |
| 1960 | 68,028 | +1.1% |
| 1961 | 68,724 | +1.0% |
| 1962 | 69,422 | +1.0% |
| 1963 | 70,133 | +1.0% |
| 1964 | 70,881 | +1.1% |
| 1965 | 71,691 | +1.1% |
| 1966 | 72,594 | +1.3% |
| 1967 | 73,610 | +1.4% |
| 1968 | 74,783 | +1.6% |
| 1969 | 76,096 | +1.8% |
| 1970 | 77,639 | +2.0% |
| 1971 | 79,351 | +2.2% |
| 1972 | 81,061 | +2.2% |
| 1973 | 82,816 | +2.2% |
| 1974 | 84,685 | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 86,722 | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 88,939 | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 91,316 | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 93,809 | +2.7% |
| 1979 | 96,266 | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 98,563 | +2.4% |
| 1981 | 100,629 | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 102,528 | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 104,397 | +1.8% |
| 1984 | 106,410 | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 108,669 | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 111,163 | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 113,934 | +2.5% |
| 1988 | 116,955 | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 119,990 | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 122,993 | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 125,711 | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 128,127 | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 130,478 | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 132,745 | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 134,905 | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 136,974 | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 138,935 | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 140,765 | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 142,459 | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 144,029 | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 146,386 | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 149,932 | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 153,824 | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 157,721 | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 161,650 | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 165,651 | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 169,709 | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 173,808 | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 177,866 | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 181,810 | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 185,665 | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 189,452 | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 193,158 | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 196,780 | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 200,308 | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 203,702 | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 206,986 | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 210,198 | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 213,405 | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 217,450 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 221,975 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 226,313 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 230,882 | +2.0% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 230,882 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.20 million, 2% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 230,882 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.26 million, 2% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population (Our World) in Sao Tome and Principe changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | +60.2% | 14,186 | 22,731 |
| 1300 | +25.0% | 2,101 | 2,627 |
| 1500 | +25.0% | 3,283 | 4,104 |
| 1600 | +25.0% | 4,104 | 5,131 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 1,345 | 1,345 | 1,345 | 1 |
| 1100s | 1,681 | 1,681 | 1,681 | 1 |
| 1200s | 2,101 | 2,101 | 2,101 | 1 |
| 1300s | 2,627 | 2,627 | 2,627 | 1 |
| 1400s | 3,283 | 3,283 | 3,283 | 1 |
| 1500s | 4,104 | 4,104 | 4,104 | 1 |
| 1600s | 5,131 | 5,131 | 5,131 | 1 |
| 1700s | 6,413 | 6,413 | 6,413 | 1 |
| 1710s | 6,973 | 6,973 | 6,973 | 1 |
| 1720s | 7,592 | 7,592 | 7,592 | 1 |
| 1730s | 8,274 | 8,274 | 8,274 | 1 |
| 1740s | 9,029 | 9,029 | 9,029 | 1 |
| 1750s | 9,863 | 9,863 | 9,863 | 1 |
| 1760s | 10,786 | 10,786 | 10,786 | 1 |
| 1770s | 11,806 | 11,806 | 11,806 | 1 |
| 1780s | 12,936 | 12,936 | 12,936 | 1 |
| 1790s | 14,186 | 14,186 | 14,186 | 1 |
| 1800s | 22,731 | 22,731 | 22,731 | 10 |
| 1810s | 22,734 | 22,731 | 22,763 | 10 |
| 1820s | 23,484 | 22,828 | 24,224 | 10 |
| 1830s | 25,189 | 24,396 | 25,998 | 10 |
| 1840s | 27,033 | 26,182 | 27,901 | 10 |
| 1850s | 29,043 | 28,098 | 30,007 | 10 |
| 1860s | 31,243 | 30,227 | 32,280 | 10 |
| 1870s | 33,609 | 32,516 | 34,724 | 10 |
| 1880s | 36,155 | 34,979 | 37,354 | 10 |
| 1890s | 38,919 | 37,628 | 40,446 | 10 |
| 1900s | 48,685 | 41,279 | 57,096 | 10 |
| 1910s | 58,324 | 57,328 | 59,248 | 10 |
| 1920s | 58,748 | 57,306 | 60,474 | 10 |
| 1930s | 61,380 | 60,764 | 61,821 | 10 |
| 1940s | 61,379 | 60,906 | 61,831 | 10 |
| 1950s | 64,227 | 60,895 | 67,306 | 10 |
| 1960s | 71,596 | 68,028 | 76,096 | 10 |
| 1970s | 86,260 | 77,639 | 96,266 | 10 |
| 1980s | 108,324 | 98,563 | 119,990 | 10 |
| 1990s | 133,409 | 122,993 | 142,459 | 10 |
| 2000s | 160,058 | 144,029 | 177,866 | 10 |
| 2010s | 198,146 | 181,810 | 213,405 | 10 |
| 2020s | 224,155 | 217,450 | 230,882 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
- 185 New Caledonia 289,879 compare
- 186 Barbados 282,347 compare
- 187 French Polynesia 281,125 compare
- 189 Samoa 216,673 compare
- 190 Netherlands Antilles 198,009 compare
- 191 Curacao 185,437 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)
- Population growth rate 0.248 (2100)
- Population density 556.27 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 34,182 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Population in Sao Tome and Principe was 230,882 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 230,882 in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,345 in 1000.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for population?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 188th out of 239 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 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).