Share of population living in the capital city in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Share of population living in the capital city was 62.1% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in the capital city in Sao Tome and Principe, 1990–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in the capital city in Sao Tome and Principe stood at 62.1%. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in the capital city in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 62.1% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 47.9%, in 1990.
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 8th of 170 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Share of population living in the capital city in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 47.9% | — |
| 1995 | 49.3% | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 54.1% | +9.7% |
| 2005 | 54.5% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 55.1% | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 57.2% | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 62.1% | +8.7% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 62.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15.7%, 4.0× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 62.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.4%, 4.6× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 48.6% | 47.9% | 49.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 54.3% | 54.1% | 54.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 56.2% | 55.1% | 57.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 62.1% | 62.1% | 62.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
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 share of population living in the capital city in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Share of population living in the capital city in Sao Tome and Principe was 62.1% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in the capital city recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 62.1% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in the capital city recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.9% in 1990.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for share of population living in the capital city?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 8th out of 170 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in the capital city rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.7%. 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 minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in the capital city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in the country's capital city. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.