Population of Sao Tome and Principe
As of May 2025, the population of Sao Tome and Principe is 240.2 thousand. The number of inhabitants has increased by 5 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 1.95%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 17.7 years in 2015 to 19.2 years in 2025. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 69.1 years and population density is 251 inhabitants per square kilometer.
Population Growth
The population growth rate of Sao Tome and Principe peaked in 2002, reaching around 2.62% annually, but has since declined to approximately 1.93% in 2025. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 4.84 thousand in 2020 to nearly 4.65 thousand in 2025.
Life Expectancy
In Sao Tome and Principe, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 63.7 years in 2005 to 69.1 years in 2025, representing an increase of more than 5 years over the past 2 decades.
Most populous cities in Sao Tome and Principe
The cities of Sao Tome and Principe are small, with the 5 most populated adding up to around 80.4 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is São Tomé, São Tomé Island, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 53.3 thousand inhabitants. It is followed by Neves, São Tomé Island with 8.4 thousand and Água Izé, São Tomé Island with 7.4 thousand.
These are the 20 most populous cities in Sao Tome and Principe:
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | São Tomé, São Tomé Island | 53,300 |
| 2 | Neves, São Tomé Island | 8,391 |
| 3 | Água Izé, São Tomé Island | 7,445 |
| 4 | Folha Fede, São Tomé Island | 6,685 |
| 5 | Almas, São Tomé Island | 4,601 |
| 6 | Pantufo, São Tomé Island | 3,977 |
| 7 | Changra, São Tomé Island | 1,224 |
| 8 | Santo António, Príncipe | 1,156 |
| 9 | Cova Barro, São Tomé Island | 1,026 |
| 10 | Micondo, São Tomé Island | 1,022 |
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Belém, São Tomé Island | 932 |
| 12 | Monta Alegre, São Tomé Island | 913 |
| 13 | Batepá, São Tomé Island | 909 |
| 14 | Obolongo, São Tomé Island | 835 |
| 15 | Obo Izaquente, São Tomé Island | 795 |
| 16 | Margarida Manuel, São Tomé Island | 775 |
| 17 | Capela, São Tomé Island | 761 |
| 18 | Maianço, São Tomé Island | 749 |
| 19 | Diogo Simão, São Tomé Island | 703 |
| 20 | Ototó, São Tomé Island | 686 |