Urban population in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Urban population was 166,189 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Sao Tome and Principe, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Sao Tome and Principe recorded 166,189 for urban population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 23.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 166,189 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 10,494, in 1960.
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 181st of 218 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 10,494 | — |
| 1961 | 10,942 | +4.3% |
| 1962 | 11,723 | +7.1% |
| 1963 | 12,818 | +9.3% |
| 1964 | 14,158 | +10.5% |
| 1965 | 15,669 | +10.7% |
| 1966 | 17,275 | +10.2% |
| 1967 | 18,904 | +9.4% |
| 1968 | 20,479 | +8.3% |
| 1969 | 21,908 | +7.0% |
| 1970 | 23,100 | +5.4% |
| 1971 | 24,077 | +4.2% |
| 1972 | 24,969 | +3.7% |
| 1973 | 25,824 | +3.4% |
| 1974 | 26,679 | +3.3% |
| 1975 | 27,564 | +3.3% |
| 1976 | 28,502 | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 29,507 | +3.5% |
| 1978 | 30,585 | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 31,708 | +3.7% |
| 1980 | 32,858 | +3.6% |
| 1981 | 34,038 | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 35,335 | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 36,864 | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 38,654 | +4.9% |
| 1985 | 40,719 | +5.3% |
| 1986 | 43,022 | +5.7% |
| 1987 | 45,554 | +5.9% |
| 1988 | 48,272 | +6.0% |
| 1989 | 51,040 | +5.7% |
| 1990 | 53,784 | +5.4% |
| 1991 | 56,331 | +4.7% |
| 1992 | 58,670 | +4.2% |
| 1993 | 60,966 | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 63,215 | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 65,425 | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 67,611 | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 69,782 | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 71,940 | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 74,098 | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 76,281 | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 78,986 | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 82,589 | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 86,771 | +5.1% |
| 2004 | 91,276 | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 96,044 | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 100,995 | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 106,025 | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 111,000 | +4.7% |
| 2009 | 115,752 | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 120,093 | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 123,879 | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 126,988 | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 129,662 | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 132,347 | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 134,979 | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 137,535 | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 140,019 | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 142,471 | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 144,921 | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 147,951 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 151,319 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 154,729 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 158,388 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 162,216 | +2.4% |
| 2025 | 166,189 | +2.4% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 166,189 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million, 3% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 166,189 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million, 3% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 15,437 | 10,494 | 21,908 | 10 |
| 1970s | 27,252 | 23,100 | 31,708 | 10 |
| 1980s | 40,636 | 32,858 | 51,040 | 10 |
| 1990s | 64,182 | 53,784 | 74,098 | 10 |
| 2000s | 94,572 | 76,281 | 115,752 | 10 |
| 2010s | 133,289 | 120,093 | 144,921 | 10 |
| 2020s | 156,799 | 147,951 | 166,189 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
More climate change data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 133,140 kg (2023)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 23.37 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 15.5 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 7.87 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 0.0585 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 0.2811 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 0.5528 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 0.424 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 0.1288 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.0016 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Urban population in Sao Tome and Principe was 166,189 in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 166,189 in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,494 in 1960.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for urban population?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 181st out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.