Nations by Numbers

Sub-Saharan Africa

Sao Tome and Principe in numbers

Sao Tome and Principe is in Sub-Saharan Africa and is classed by the World Bank as lower middle income. Its capital is Sao Tome. Its population was 240,254 in 2025, ranking 181 of 217 countries. GDP per person was US$4,084 in 2025.

Population240,2542025
GDPUS$981.3 million2025
GDP per personUS$4,0842025
Life expectancy69.92024
Area9602024
Urban share69.2%2025

People

Population

240,254
2025 · +67% since 2000 · Rank 181 of 217

Population growth (annual %)

1.98%
2025 · 1.10% in 2000 · Rank 51 of 217

Population density (people per km²)

245.3
2024 · +64% since 2000 · Rank 57 of 216

Urban population (% of total)

69.2%
2025 · 53.0% in 2000 · Rank 94 of 217

Population aged 0 to 14 (% of total)

37.5%
2025 · 42.8% in 2000 · Rank 39 of 217

Population aged 65 and over (% of total)

3.9%
2025 · 4.2% in 2000 · Rank 168 of 217

Fertility rate (births per woman)

3.60
2024 · -30% since 2000 · Rank 39 of 217

Health and living standards

Life expectancy at birth (years)

69.9
2024 · +14% since 2000 · Rank 155 of 217

Under-5 mortality (per 1,000 live births)

13.6
2024 · -83% since 2000 · Rank 102 of 196

Health spending per person (current US$)

US$171
2023 · +245% since 2000 · Rank 133 of 193

Access to electricity (% of population)

77.7%
2024 · 52.9% in 2000 · Rank 172 of 215

Internet users (% of population)

59.1%
2024 · 4.6% in 2000 · Rank 140 of 186

Primary school enrolment (% gross)

110.4%
2017 · 120.2% in 2002

Economy

GDP (current US$)

US$981.3 million
2025 · +1,188% since 2000 · Rank 200 of 210

GDP per person (current US$)

US$4,084
2025 · +672% since 2000 · Rank 149 of 210

GDP per person, PPP (current international $)

Int$6,388
2025 · +249% since 2000 · Rank 158 of 199

GDP growth (annual %)

1.03%
2025 · 0.45% in 2000 · Rank 173 of 210

Inflation, consumer prices (annual %)

11.05%
2025 · 12.21% in 2000 · Rank 21 of 180

Unemployment (% of labour force, ILO estimate)

9.1%
2025 · 14.4% in 2000 · Rank 44 of 187

Exports of goods and services (% of GDP)

13.3%
2025 · 9.3% in 2008 · Rank 167 of 183

Personal remittances received (% of GDP)

3.7%
2025 · 0.6% in 2000 · Rank 66 of 176

Land and environment

Land and water area (km²)

960
2024 · +0% since 2000 · Rank 178 of 216

Forest area (% of land area)

57.6%
2024 · 61.0% in 2000 · Rank 39 of 214

CO₂ emissions per person (tonnes)

0.63
2024 · +65% since 2000 · Rank 154 of 203

Elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa

AngolaBurundiBeninBurkina FasoBotswanaCentral African RepublicCote d'IvoireCameroonCongo, Dem. Rep.Congo, Rep.ComorosCabo Verde

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators, updated 8 October 2026. Each figure is the latest year available for Sao Tome and Principe. Rankings compare countries with data from the same or recent years.