The population of Sao Tome and Principe is expected to grow by 5,000 in 2026 and reach 253,000 in 2027. Migration (including immigration and emigration) decreases population by 900 people yearly. The population density of Sao Tome and Principe has changed from 98.9 in 1980 to 247.2 in 2024.
| Current population | 247,674 people at present (Tuesday 10th of February 2026) | |
| Median Age | 24.0 years |
| Population density | 257.7 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 247,000 | 5,000 (2.0%) | -900 | 24.0 | 258 | 173,000 (69.8%) | |
| 2025 | 242,000 | 5,000 (2.1%) | -900 | 23.8 | 3.95 | 252 | 168,000 (69.5%) |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -951 | 23.6 | 247 | 164,000 (69.1%) | |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -951 | 23.5 | 242 | 160,000 (68.8%) | |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -951 | 23.3 | 237 | 156,000 (68.4%) | |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -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 2025 the population of Sao Tome and Principe was 242,000 and the average age decreased from 25.9 in 1960 to 23.8. Urban population has increased from 74,049 (53.4%) in 2000 to 173,000 (69.8%) in the current year. The population density of Sao Tome and Principe has changed from 98.9 in 1980 to 247.2 in 2024.
| 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 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -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 124,000 women and 123,000 men, which means there are 992 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 50.2% of population (123,994) is 19 or younger, 46.5% of population (114,756) is between age 20 and 64 and 3.1% of population (7,583) is over 65.