The population of São Tomé and Príncipe has grown from 187,356 in 2012 to 209,617 in 2024, according to provisional data from the country’s fifth general population Census, released by the National Institute of Statistics (INE).
During the announcement, which did not allow for questions, INE President Gueit Almeida shared that the census recorded 99,820 men and 109,787 women. Most of the population, 95%, resides on the island of São Tomé, with 4.7% living in the Autonomous Region of Príncipe.
Among the districts, Água Grande is the most populated, housing 38.5% of the total population, followed by Mé-Zóchi with 24.2%. Caué is the least populated district, accounting for just 3.5% of the population. The data also indicates that 67.2% of the population lives in urban areas, while 32.8% resides in rural regions. Notably, Príncipe is the least urbanized area, with only 31% of its population living in urban settings.
The population has been growing at an average annual rate of 1.3% between 2012 and 2024. Almeida highlighted that the census work is still ongoing, and a final report with more detailed indicators will be published in the first half of 2025.
The census data, collected from November 15 to December 15, 2024, was compiled using advanced technologies and methodologies. This approach enabled the gathering of critical information to guide economic and social development programs, focusing investments on priority areas and populations. The effort was supported by the World Bank and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).