The population of Sao Tome and Principe is expected to grow by 5,000 in 2025 and reach 247,000 in 2026. Migration (including immigration and emigration) decreases population by 900 people yearly. On average there are 7,402 births and 1,442 deaths in Sao Tome and Principe per year. Rate of natural increase is approximately 2.46 percent per year. The population density of Sao Tome and Principe has changed from 98.9 in 1980 to 242.0 in 2023.
| Current population | 244,480 people at present (Monday 30th of June 2025) | |
| Median Age | 23.8 years |
| Life expectancy | 67.7 years | |
| Population density | 252.4 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 242,000 | 5,000 (2.1%) | -900 | 23.8 | 3.95 | 252 | 168,000 (69.5%) |
| 2024 | 237,000 | 5,000 (2.1%) | -951 | 23.6 | 247 | 164,000 (69.1%) | |
| 2023 | 232,000 | 5,000 (2.2%) | -951 | 23.5 | 242 | 160,000 (68.8%) | |
| 2022 | 227,000 | 4,000 (1.8%) | -951 | 23.3 | 237 | 156,000 (68.4%) | |
| 2021 | 223,000 | 5,000 (2.2%) | -951 | 23.3 | 232 | 151,000 (68.0%) | |
| 2020 | 218,000 | 5,000 (2.3%) | -951 | 23.1 | 4.22 | 227 | 147,000 (67.6%) |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -1,000 | 22.8 | 4.28 | 222 | 143,000 (67.1%) |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -1,000 | 22.8 | 4.34 | 218 | 139,000 (66.7%) |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -1,000 | 22.6 | 4.40 | 213 | 135,000 (66.2%) |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -1,000 | 22.6 | 4.46 | 208 | 131,235 (65.6%) |
| 2015 | 195,553 | 4,287 (2.2%) | -1,000 | 22.5 | 4.52 | 204 | 127,289 (65.1%) |
| 2010 | 174,776 | 3,963 (2.3%) | -1,120 | 22.1 | 4.79 | 182 | 108,199 (61.9%) |
| 2005 | 155,630 | 3,661 (2.4%) | -1,120 | 21.9 | 5.02 | 162 | 90,281 (58.0%) |
| 2000 | 138,606 | 2,720 (2.0%) | -1,120 | 22.0 | 5.28 | 144 | 74,049 (53.4%) |
| 1995 | 126,454 | 2,481 (2.0%) | -1,659 | 21.8 | 5.55 | 132 | 61,496 (48.6%) |
| 1990 | 113,893 | 2,266 (2.0%) | -1,120 | 22.1 | 5.82 | 119 | 49,712 (43.6%) |
| 1985 | 103,634 | 1,719 (1.7%) | -1,200 | 22.4 | 6.10 | 108 | 39,432 (38.0%) |
| 1980 | 94,949 | 2,300 (2.4%) | -1,200 | 22.7 | 6.39 | 99 | 31,791 (33.5%) |
| 1975 | 82,607 | 1,937 (2.3%) | -244 | 22.2 | 6.53 | 86 | 26,136 (31.6%) |
| 1970 | 74,253 | 2,012 (2.7%) | -502 | 22.6 | 6.47 | 77 | 21,918 (29.5%) |
| 1965 | 64,796 | 584 (0.9%) | -149 | 23.1 | 6.35 | 67 | 14,147 (21.8%) |
| 1960 | 64,253 | 298 (0.5%) | -1,830 | 25.9 | 6.24 | 67 | 10,327 (16.1%) |
In 2024 the population of Sao Tome and Principe was 237,000 and the average age decreased from 25.9 in 1960 to 23.6. Urban population has increased from 74,049 (53.4%) in 2000 to 168,000 (69.5%) in the current year. The population density of Sao Tome and Principe has changed from 98.9 in 1980 to 242.0 in 2023.
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -951 | 23.1 | 4.22 | 227 | 147,000 (67.6%) |
| 2025 | 242,000 | 5,000 (2.1%) | -900 | 23.8 | 3.95 | 252 | 168,000 (69.5%) |
| 2030 | 268,000 | 5,000 (1.9%) | -900 | 24.6 | 3.71 | 280 | 190,000 (70.8%) |
| 2035 | 296,000 | 6,000 (2.0%) | -900 | 25.6 | 3.49 | 308 | 213,000 (72.0%) |
| 2040 | 324,000 | 6,000 (1.9%) | -900 | 26.4 | 3.31 | 337 | 237,000 (73.2%) |
| 2045 | 352,000 | 6,000 (1.7%) | -900 | 27.3 | 3.14 | 367 | 262,000 (74.4%) |
| 2050 | 380,000 | 6,000 (1.6%) | -900 | 28.4 | 3.00 | 396 | 287,000 (75.5%) |
The life expectancy at birth should reach 70.5 (67.8 years for male and 73.4 years for females). Population density will go up to 395.6 people per square kilometer.
The demographics of Sao Tome and Principe constitutes of 122,000 women and 121,000 men, which means there are 992 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 51.2% of population (124,001) is 19 or younger, 46.3% of population (111,949) is between age 20 and 64 and 3.0% of population (7,333) is over 65.