Population · Africa · 2025 data
Sao Tome and Principe Population
Sao Tome and Principe had a population of 240,254 in 2025, ranking #181 of 216 countries and territories (0.00% of the world). The population grew by 20.0% over the past ten years.
Population of Sao Tome and Principe, 1960–2025
Values in people · World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0)
Population by year (table)
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 240,254 | +2.00% |
| 2024 | 235,536 | +2.02% |
| 2023 | 230,871 | +2.02% |
| 2022 | 226,305 | +1.96% |
| 2021 | 221,961 | +2.08% |
| 2020 | 217,435 | +1.89% |
| 2019 | 213,392 | +1.52% |
| 2018 | 210,187 | +1.55% |
| 2017 | 206,970 | +1.61% |
| 2016 | 203,689 | +1.70% |
| 2015 | 200,291 | +1.79% |
| 2014 | 196,767 | +1.87% |
| 2013 | 193,148 | +1.96% |
| 2012 | 189,439 | +2.04% |
| 2011 | 185,649 | +2.12% |
| 2010 | 181,802 | +2.22% |
| 2009 | 177,853 | +2.34% |
| 2008 | 173,793 | +2.41% |
| 2007 | 169,700 | +2.45% |
| 2006 | 165,638 | +2.47% |
| 2005 | 161,639 | +2.49% |
| 2004 | 157,705 | +2.53% |
| 2003 | 153,814 | +2.60% |
| 2002 | 149,922 | +2.42% |
| 2001 | 146,375 | +1.64% |
| 2000 | 144,018 | +1.11% |
| 1999 | 142,442 | +1.20% |
| 1998 | 140,751 | +1.32% |
| 1997 | 138,922 | +1.43% |
| 1996 | 136,962 | +1.53% |
| 1995 | 134,895 | +1.63% |
| 1994 | 132,732 | +1.74% |
| 1993 | 130,467 | +1.84% |
| 1992 | 128,110 | +1.92% |
| 1991 | 125,697 | +2.21% |
| 1990 | 122,980 | +2.50% |
| 1989 | 119,979 | +2.60% |
| 1988 | 116,939 | +2.65% |
| 1987 | 113,919 | +2.49% |
| 1986 | 111,150 | +2.29% |
| 1985 | 108,658 | +2.13% |
| 1984 | 106,394 | +1.93% |
| 1983 | 104,380 | +1.83% |
| 1982 | 102,508 | +1.88% |
| 1981 | 100,615 | +2.10% |
| 1980 | 98,544 | +2.38% |
| 1979 | 96,252 | +2.62% |
| 1978 | 93,794 | +2.73% |
| 1977 | 91,301 | +2.68% |
| 1976 | 88,922 | +2.55% |
| 1975 | 86,708 | +2.40% |
| 1974 | 84,672 | +2.26% |
| 1973 | 82,798 | +2.17% |
| 1972 | 81,041 | +2.16% |
| 1971 | 79,330 | +2.20% |
| 1970 | 77,626 | +2.03% |
| 1969 | 76,083 | +1.76% |
| 1968 | 74,765 | +1.59% |
| 1967 | 73,596 | +1.41% |
| 1966 | 72,576 | +1.25% |
| 1965 | 71,680 | +1.15% |
| 1964 | 70,865 | +1.07% |
| 1963 | 70,112 | +1.02% |
| 1962 | 69,403 | +1.01% |
| 1961 | 68,707 | +1.02% |
| 1960 | 68,012 | — |
Demographics of Sao Tome and Principe
Ethnic groups
Mestico, Angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), Forros (descendants of freed slaves), Servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cabo Verde), Tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese), Asians (mostly Chinese)
Languages
Portuguese 98.4% (official), Forro 36.2%, Cabo Verdian 8.5%, French 6.8%, Angolar 6.6%, English 4.9%, Lunguie 1%, other (including sign language) 2.4%; other Portuguese-based Creoles are also spoken (2012 est.)
Religions
Catholic 55.7%, Adventist 4.1%, Assembly of God 3.4%, New Apostolic 2.9%, Mana 2.3%, Universal Kingdom of God 2%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, other 6.2%, none 21.2%, unspecified 1% (2012 est.)
Where people live
Urban population: 76.4% of total population (2023).
Largest cities
Frequently asked questions about the population of Sao Tome and Principe
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Population and demographics: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). Cities, ethnic groups, languages and religions: CIA World Factbook (public domain).