What is the population of Sao Tome and Principe in 2026?
Sao Tome and Principe has a population of 240,254 people (2025 estimate), which is 188th in the world and about 0.00% of the global total.
Officially Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
Population 2025
240,254
0.00% of world population
World Bank, 2025Annual Growth
+1.98%
+4,764 people a year
World Bank, 2025Density
240/km²
960 km² land area
World Bank, 2023Median Age
19.5 years
Life expectancy 69.9 years
Our World in Data, 2025About Sao Tome and Principe
With a population of 240,254 and a median age of 19.5 years, São Tomé and Príncipe ranks 186th globally and has a notably young demographic. The country spans 960 km² at a population density of 240 people per km², with 69% of residents living in urban areas. An annual growth rate of 2% and fertility rate of 3.6 births per woman indicate a rapidly expanding workforce.
Life expectancy stands at 69.9 years, while GDP per capita reaches $4,084. The nation gained independence in 1975 and uses the São Tomé and Príncipe dobra as its currency, with Portuguese as the official language.
This summary is AI-generated from the indicators on this page. The figures themselves come from the sources cited beside each value.
Country Facts
- Capital
- São Tomé
- Continent
- Africa
- ISO codes
- ST · STP
- Demonym
- Sao Tomean
- Currency
- São Tomé and Príncipe dobra (STN Db)
- State inception
- 1975
- Time zone
- UTC±00:00
- Driving side
- Right
- Calling code
- +239
- Internet TLD
- .st
- Land neighbours
- No land borders
Languages
- Portuguese
Demographics
Economy
Health
Education
Not published for Sao Tome and Principe: Mean Years of Schooling.
Environment
Infrastructure
Quality of Life
Not published for Sao Tome and Principe: Happiness Index.
Geography
Military
None of our sources publish these indicators for Sao Tome and Principe.
Age & Gender Distribution
Population by five-year age band, UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Male Female
- Age 0–14
- 37.8%
- Age 15–64
- 58.3%
- Age 65+
- 3.9%
| Age band | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 100+ | 0 | 0 |
| 95-99 | 4 | 12 |
| 90-94 | 42 | 92 |
| 85-89 | 174 | 339 |
| 80-84 | 396 | 664 |
| 75-79 | 640 | 852 |
| 70-74 | 1,125 | 1,293 |
| 65-69 | 1,700 | 1,857 |
| 60-64 | 2,480 | 2,662 |
| 55-59 | 3,202 | 3,115 |
| 50-54 | 4,184 | 3,960 |
| 45-49 | 5,388 | 5,247 |
| 40-44 | 6,476 | 6,511 |
| 35-39 | 6,542 | 6,722 |
| 30-34 | 7,015 | 7,131 |
| 25-29 | 8,316 | 8,592 |
| 20-24 | 10,914 | 11,392 |
| 15-19 | 13,636 | 13,763 |
| 10-14 | 14,366 | 14,324 |
| 5-9 | 14,701 | 14,535 |
| 0-4 | 15,778 | 15,396 |
Population History & Projection (1950–2100)
Observed population to 2024, then the UN medium-variant projection.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 60,874 |
| 1960 | 68,012 |
| 1970 | 77,626 |
| 1980 | 98,544 |
| 1990 | 122,980 |
| 2000 | 144,018 |
| 2010 | 181,802 |
| 2020 | 217,435 |
| 2030 | 264,565 |
| 2040 | 315,842 |
| 2050 | 365,115 |
| 2060 | 411,255 |
| 2070 | 453,954 |
| 2080 | 489,154 |
| 2090 | 515,961 |
| 2100 | 534,014 |
How Sao Tome and Principe Compares
Population against the ten most populous countries.
- India1.46B
- China1.41B
- United States341.8M
- Indonesia285.7M
- Pakistan255.2M
- Nigeria237.5M
- Brazil212.8M
- Bangladesh175.7M
- Russia143.5M
- Ethiopia135.5M
- Sao Tome and Principe240K
| Name | Population |
|---|---|
| India | 1.46B |
| China | 1.41B |
| United States | 341.8M |
| Indonesia | 285.7M |
| Pakistan | 255.2M |
| Nigeria | 237.5M |
| Brazil | 212.8M |
| Bangladesh | 175.7M |
| Russia | 143.5M |
| Ethiopia | 135.5M |
| Sao Tome and Principe | 240K |
Sao Tome and Principe Population FAQ
Is the population of Sao Tome and Principe growing or shrinking?
Sao Tome and Principe's population is growing at +1.98% per year, a change of roughly 4,764 people annually.
What is the capital of Sao Tome and Principe?
The capital of Sao Tome and Principe is São Tomé.
How densely populated is Sao Tome and Principe?
Sao Tome and Principe has 240/km² across 960 km² of land area.
What is life expectancy in Sao Tome and Principe?
Life expectancy at birth in Sao Tome and Principe is 69.9 years (2024).
What is the median age in Sao Tome and Principe?
The median age in Sao Tome and Principe is 19.5 years, meaning half the population is younger than that and half older.
Which continent is Sao Tome and Principe in?
Sao Tome and Principe is in Africa.