Total population (thousands) in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Total population (thousands) was 237.89 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
237.89 thousands
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
186th
of 233 countries
All-time high
237.89 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
76.78 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Sao Tome and Principe, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, total population in Sao Tome and Principe stood at 237.89 thousands. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 19.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 237.89 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 76.78 thousands, in 1970.
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 186th of 233 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 76.78 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 78.47 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1972 | 80.19 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1973 | 81.9 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1974 | 83.7 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 85.64 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1976 | 87.77 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 90.07 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 92.53 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1979 | 95.06 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 97.45 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 99.64 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1982 | 101.59 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1983 | 103.43 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1984 | 105.33 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 107.45 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1986 | 109.86 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 112.44 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 115.4 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 118.48 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 121.48 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 124.48 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 126.91 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 129.31 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 131.63 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 133.84 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 135.95 thousands | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 137.97 thousands | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 139.87 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 141.63 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 143.25 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 144.78 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 147.97 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 151.88 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 155.75 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 159.66 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 163.62 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 167.66 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 171.74 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 175.84 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 179.87 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 183.74 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 187.56 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 191.32 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 194.98 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 198.56 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 202.03 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 205.35 thousands | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 208.59 thousands | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 211.78 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 215 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 219.87 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 224.05 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 228.56 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 233.19 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2025 | 237.89 thousands | +2.0% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 237.89 thousands is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12,314 thousands, 2% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 237.89 thousands is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,783 thousands, 2% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 85.21 thousands | 76.78 thousands | 95.06 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 107.11 thousands | 97.45 thousands | 118.48 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 132.31 thousands | 121.48 thousands | 141.63 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 158.22 thousands | 143.25 thousands | 175.84 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 196.38 thousands | 179.87 thousands | 211.78 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 226.43 thousands | 215 thousands | 237.89 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
- 183 New Caledonia 294.01 thousands compare
- 184 Barbados 282.56 thousands compare
- 185 French Polynesia 282.15 thousands compare
- 187 Samoa 218.7 thousands compare
- 188 Curacao 185.5 thousands compare
- 189 Saint Lucia 179.96 thousands 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 total population in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Total population in Sao Tome and Principe was 237.89 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 237.89 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 76.78 thousands in 1970.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for total population?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 186th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release