Urban area over the long-term in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Urban area over the long-term was 61.99 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
61.99 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
171st
of 202 countries
All-time high
61.99 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Sao Tome and Principe, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
Sao Tome and Principe recorded 61.99 km² per grid cell for urban area over the long-term in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.3% on the previous year and up 42.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 61.99 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 171st of 202 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 area over the long-term in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0 km² per grid cell | +275.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | +275.0% |
| 1300 | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | +275.0% |
| 1400 | 0.0015 km² per grid cell | +275.0% |
| 1500 | 0.0056 km² per grid cell | +275.0% |
| 1600 | 0.0211 km² per grid cell | +275.0% |
| 1700 | 0.0791 km² per grid cell | +275.0% |
| 1710 | 0.0969 km² per grid cell | +22.5% |
| 1720 | 0.1156 km² per grid cell | +19.2% |
| 1730 | 0.138 km² per grid cell | +19.4% |
| 1740 | 0.1649 km² per grid cell | +19.5% |
| 1750 | 0.1973 km² per grid cell | +19.6% |
| 1760 | 0.2363 km² per grid cell | +19.8% |
| 1770 | 0.2833 km² per grid cell | +19.9% |
| 1780 | 0.34 km² per grid cell | +20.0% |
| 1790 | 0.4083 km² per grid cell | +20.1% |
| 1800 | 0.4909 km² per grid cell | +20.2% |
| 1810 | 0.5905 km² per grid cell | +20.3% |
| 1820 | 0.711 km² per grid cell | +20.4% |
| 1830 | 0.8567 km² per grid cell | +20.5% |
| 1840 | 1.03 km² per grid cell | +20.6% |
| 1850 | 1.25 km² per grid cell | +20.6% |
| 1860 | 1.5 km² per grid cell | +20.7% |
| 1870 | 1.82 km² per grid cell | +20.8% |
| 1880 | 2.19 km² per grid cell | +20.8% |
| 1890 | 2.65 km² per grid cell | +20.6% |
| 1900 | 3.17 km² per grid cell | +19.6% |
| 1910 | 3.68 km² per grid cell | +16.3% |
| 1920 | 4 km² per grid cell | +8.6% |
| 1930 | 4 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 4 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 4 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 4 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 4 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 4 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 4 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 4 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 4 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 4 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 4 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 4 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 4 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 4 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 4 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 4 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 4 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 4 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 4.24 km² per grid cell | +6.0% |
| 1967 | 4.6 km² per grid cell | +8.7% |
| 1968 | 5.02 km² per grid cell | +9.1% |
| 1969 | 5.48 km² per grid cell | +9.1% |
| 1970 | 5.91 km² per grid cell | +7.9% |
| 1971 | 6.26 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 1972 | 6.47 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1973 | 6.67 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1974 | 6.91 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 7.21 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 1976 | 7.49 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1977 | 7.83 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 1978 | 8.19 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 1979 | 8.55 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1980 | 8.87 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1981 | 9.21 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 9.67 km² per grid cell | +5.0% |
| 1983 | 10.15 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 1984 | 10.65 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 1985 | 11.21 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 1986 | 11.76 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 12.37 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 1988 | 13.03 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1989 | 13.73 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 1990 | 14.46 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1991 | 15.24 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 1992 | 16 km² per grid cell | +5.0% |
| 1993 | 16.78 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 1994 | 17.58 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1995 | 18.4 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 1996 | 19.19 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 1997 | 20 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1998 | 20.84 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1999 | 21.74 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 2000 | 22.7 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 2001 | 23.74 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 24.86 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 26.04 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 2004 | 27.29 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 28.58 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 29.91 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 31.3 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 32.73 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 2009 | 34.22 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 35.76 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 37.21 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 38.72 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 40.27 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 2014 | 41.86 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 43.51 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 2016 | 45.2 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 2017 | 46.95 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 48.74 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 50.58 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 52.48 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 54.29 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 56.14 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 58.05 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 59.99 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2025 | 61.99 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 61.99 km² per grid cell is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 837.49 km² per grid cell, 7% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 61.99 km² per grid cell is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 733.88 km² per grid cell, 8% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term in Sao Tome and Principe changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +275.0% | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +275.0% | 0 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +275.0% | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0004 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +275.0% | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 0.0015 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +275.0% | 0.0015 km² per grid cell | 0.0056 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +275.0% | 0.0056 km² per grid cell | 0.0211 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0015 km² per grid cell | 0.0015 km² per grid cell | 0.0015 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.0056 km² per grid cell | 0.0056 km² per grid cell | 0.0056 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.0211 km² per grid cell | 0.0211 km² per grid cell | 0.0211 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 0.0791 km² per grid cell | 0.0791 km² per grid cell | 0.0791 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 0.0969 km² per grid cell | 0.0969 km² per grid cell | 0.0969 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 0.1156 km² per grid cell | 0.1156 km² per grid cell | 0.1156 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 0.138 km² per grid cell | 0.138 km² per grid cell | 0.138 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 0.1649 km² per grid cell | 0.1649 km² per grid cell | 0.1649 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 0.1973 km² per grid cell | 0.1973 km² per grid cell | 0.1973 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 0.2363 km² per grid cell | 0.2363 km² per grid cell | 0.2363 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 0.2833 km² per grid cell | 0.2833 km² per grid cell | 0.2833 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 0.34 km² per grid cell | 0.34 km² per grid cell | 0.34 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.4083 km² per grid cell | 0.4083 km² per grid cell | 0.4083 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 0.4909 km² per grid cell | 0.4909 km² per grid cell | 0.4909 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 0.5905 km² per grid cell | 0.5905 km² per grid cell | 0.5905 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 0.711 km² per grid cell | 0.711 km² per grid cell | 0.711 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 0.8567 km² per grid cell | 0.8567 km² per grid cell | 0.8567 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 1.03 km² per grid cell | 1.03 km² per grid cell | 1.03 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 1.25 km² per grid cell | 1.25 km² per grid cell | 1.25 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 1.5 km² per grid cell | 1.5 km² per grid cell | 1.5 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 1.82 km² per grid cell | 1.82 km² per grid cell | 1.82 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 2.19 km² per grid cell | 2.19 km² per grid cell | 2.19 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 2.65 km² per grid cell | 2.65 km² per grid cell | 2.65 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 3.17 km² per grid cell | 3.17 km² per grid cell | 3.17 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 3.68 km² per grid cell | 3.68 km² per grid cell | 3.68 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 4 km² per grid cell | 4 km² per grid cell | 4 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 4 km² per grid cell | 4 km² per grid cell | 4 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 4 km² per grid cell | 4 km² per grid cell | 4 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 4 km² per grid cell | 4 km² per grid cell | 4 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.33 km² per grid cell | 4 km² per grid cell | 5.48 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.15 km² per grid cell | 5.91 km² per grid cell | 8.55 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.06 km² per grid cell | 8.87 km² per grid cell | 13.73 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.02 km² per grid cell | 14.46 km² per grid cell | 21.74 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.13 km² per grid cell | 22.7 km² per grid cell | 34.22 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.88 km² per grid cell | 35.76 km² per grid cell | 50.58 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.16 km² per grid cell | 52.48 km² per grid cell | 61.99 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
- 168 New Caledonia 78.22 km² per grid cell compare
- 169 Comoros 68.99 km² per grid cell compare
- 170 Equatorial Guinea 64.16 km² per grid cell compare
- 172 Bhutan 56.15 km² per grid cell compare
- 173 French Guiana 51.9 km² per grid cell compare
- 174 Andorra 49.24 km² per grid cell compare
More reference data data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0038 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.006 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0003 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0126 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.014 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0319 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0601 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0015 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban area over the long-term in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Urban area over the long-term in Sao Tome and Principe was 61.99 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 61.99 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 171st out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.