Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — Sao Tome and Principe

Urban population share in Sao Tome and Principe in 2025 — 69.2%. Ranked 94 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 53.7 pp.

2025 69.2% +0.3 pp vs 2024
World rank 94of 217
Period maximum 69.2%2025
Period minimum 15.4%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — Sao Tome and Principe, 1960–202502040608019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 15.4%1962: 16.9%1964: 20%1966: 23.8%1968: 27.4%1970: 29.8%1972: 30.8%1974: 31.5%1976: 32.1%1978: 32.6%1980: 33.3%1982: 34.5%1984: 36.3%1986: 38.7%1988: 41.3%1990: 43.7%1992: 45.8%1994: 47.6%1996: 49.4%1998: 51.1%2000: 53%2002: 55.1%2004: 57.9%2006: 61%2008: 63.9%2010: 66.1%2012: 67%2014: 67.3%2016: 67.5%2018: 67.8%2020: 68%2022: 68.4%2024: 68.9%2025: 69.2%
Change over the period: +53.7 pp Annual average: 0.83 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sao Tome and Principe

Sao Tome and Principe 69.2%
World 57.8%
Middle Africa computed 50.9%
Urban population share — Sao Tome and Principe, by year Sao Tome and Principe All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 69.2 +0.3 pp
2024 68.9 +0.3 pp
2023 68.6 +0.2 pp
2022 68.4 +0.2 pp
2021 68.2 +0.1 pp
2020 68 +0.1 pp
2019 67.9 +0.1 pp
2018 67.8 +0.1 pp
2017 67.7 +0.1 pp
2016 67.5 +0.1 pp
2015 67.4 +0.1 pp
2014 67.3 +0.1 pp
2013 67.1 +0.1 pp
2012 67 +0.3 pp
2011 66.7 +0.7 pp
2010 66.1 +1 pp
2009 65.1 +1.2 pp
2008 63.9 +1.4 pp
2007 62.5 +1.5 pp
2006 61 +1.6 pp
2005 59.4 +1.5 pp
2004 57.9 +1.5 pp
2003 56.4 +1.3 pp
2002 55.1 +1.1 pp
2001 54 +1 pp
2000 53 +0.9 pp
1999 52 +0.9 pp
1998 51.1 +0.9 pp
1997 50.2 +0.9 pp
1996 49.4 +0.9 pp
1995 48.5 +0.9 pp
1994 47.6 +0.9 pp
1993 46.7 +0.9 pp
1992 45.8 +1 pp
1991 44.8 +1.1 pp
1990 43.7 +1.2 pp
1989 42.5 +1.3 pp
1988 41.3 +1.3 pp
1987 40 +1.3 pp
1986 38.7 +1.2 pp
1985 37.5 +1.1 pp
1984 36.3 +1 pp
1983 35.3 +0.8 pp
1982 34.5 +0.6 pp
1981 33.8 +0.5 pp
1980 33.3 +0.4 pp
1979 32.9 +0.3 pp
1978 32.6 +0.3 pp
1977 32.3 +0.3 pp
1976 32.1 +0.3 pp
1975 31.8 +0.3 pp
1974 31.5 +0.3 pp
1973 31.2 +0.4 pp
1972 30.8 +0.5 pp
1971 30.4 +0.6 pp
1970 29.8 +1 pp
1969 28.8 +1.4 pp
1968 27.4 +1.7 pp
1967 25.7 +1.9 pp
1966 23.8 +1.9 pp
1965 21.9 +1.9 pp
1964 20 +1.7 pp
1963 18.3 +1.4 pp
1962 16.9 +1 pp
1961 15.9 +0.5 pp
1960 15.4

About the indicator

The share of population living in urban settlements, as a percent of the total. One caveat is central: each country sets the criteria for a city itself — in some places it is a settlement of 2,000 residents or more, in others 20,000, in others administrative status. Cross-country comparisons of urbanization are therefore always approximate, while the trend within a single country is informative.

Important: Sharp jumps in individual years are usually explained not by people moving but by changes in the administrative boundaries of cities.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.