Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Do more people live in urban or rural areas? was 69.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
69.2%
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
110th
of 238 countries
All-time high
69.2%
in 2025
All-time low
0.0%
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Sao Tome and Principe, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Sao Tome and Principe stood at 69.2%. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 69.2% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 110th of 238 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0% | — |
| 1100 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1300 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1400 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1500 | 0.1% | +200.0% |
| 1600 | 0.4% | +200.0% |
| 1700 | 1.3% | +200.0% |
| 1710 | 1.5% | +12.7% |
| 1720 | 1.7% | +9.5% |
| 1730 | 1.8% | +9.5% |
| 1740 | 2.0% | +9.5% |
| 1750 | 2.2% | +9.5% |
| 1760 | 2.4% | +9.5% |
| 1770 | 2.6% | +9.5% |
| 1780 | 2.9% | +9.5% |
| 1790 | 3.1% | +9.5% |
| 1800 | 3.4% | +9.5% |
| 1810 | 3.8% | +9.5% |
| 1820 | 4.1% | +9.5% |
| 1830 | 4.5% | +9.5% |
| 1840 | 5.0% | +9.5% |
| 1850 | 5.4% | +9.5% |
| 1860 | 5.9% | +9.5% |
| 1870 | 6.5% | +9.5% |
| 1880 | 7.1% | +9.5% |
| 1890 | 7.8% | +9.5% |
| 1900 | 8.6% | +9.5% |
| 1910 | 9.4% | +9.5% |
| 1920 | 10.3% | +9.5% |
| 1930 | 11.2% | +9.5% |
| 1940 | 12.3% | +9.5% |
| 1950 | 13.3% | +7.9% |
| 1951 | 13.3% | +0.4% |
| 1952 | 13.4% | +0.4% |
| 1953 | 13.5% | +0.8% |
| 1954 | 13.7% | +1.2% |
| 1955 | 13.9% | +1.5% |
| 1956 | 14.1% | +1.8% |
| 1957 | 14.4% | +2.0% |
| 1958 | 14.7% | +2.2% |
| 1959 | 15.1% | +2.4% |
| 1960 | 15.4% | +2.4% |
| 1961 | 15.9% | +3.2% |
| 1962 | 16.9% | +6.1% |
| 1963 | 18.3% | +8.2% |
| 1964 | 20.0% | +9.3% |
| 1965 | 21.9% | +9.4% |
| 1966 | 23.8% | +8.9% |
| 1967 | 25.7% | +7.9% |
| 1968 | 27.4% | +6.6% |
| 1969 | 28.8% | +5.1% |
| 1970 | 29.8% | +3.3% |
| 1971 | 30.4% | +2.0% |
| 1972 | 30.8% | +1.5% |
| 1973 | 31.2% | +1.2% |
| 1974 | 31.5% | +1.0% |
| 1975 | 31.8% | +0.9% |
| 1976 | 32.1% | +0.8% |
| 1977 | 32.3% | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 32.6% | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 32.9% | +1.0% |
| 1980 | 33.3% | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 33.8% | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 34.5% | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 35.3% | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 36.3% | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 37.5% | +3.1% |
| 1986 | 38.7% | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 40.0% | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 41.3% | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 42.5% | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 43.7% | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 44.8% | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 45.8% | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 46.7% | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 47.6% | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 48.5% | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 49.4% | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 50.2% | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 51.1% | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 52.0% | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 53.0% | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 54.0% | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 55.1% | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 56.4% | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 57.9% | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 59.4% | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 61.0% | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 62.5% | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 63.9% | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 65.1% | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 66.1% | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 66.7% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 67.0% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 67.1% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 67.3% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 67.4% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 67.5% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 67.7% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 67.8% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 67.9% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 68.0% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 68.2% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 68.4% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 68.6% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 68.9% | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 69.2% | +0.4% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 69.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 50.9%, 1.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 69.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44.9%, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Do more people live in urban or rural areas? 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 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1200 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1300 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1400 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1500 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 1600 | +200.0% | 0.1% | 0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1 |
| 1700s | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1 |
| 1710s | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1 |
| 1720s | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1 |
| 1730s | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1 |
| 1740s | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1 |
| 1750s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1 |
| 1760s | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1 |
| 1770s | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1 |
| 1780s | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1 |
| 1790s | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1 |
| 1800s | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 1 |
| 1810s | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 1 |
| 1820s | 4.1% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 1 |
| 1830s | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 1 |
| 1840s | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 1 |
| 1850s | 5.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 1 |
| 1860s | 5.9% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 1 |
| 1870s | 6.5% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 1 |
| 1880s | 7.1% | 7.1% | 7.1% | 1 |
| 1890s | 7.8% | 7.8% | 7.8% | 1 |
| 1900s | 8.6% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 1 |
| 1910s | 9.4% | 9.4% | 9.4% | 1 |
| 1920s | 10.3% | 10.3% | 10.3% | 1 |
| 1930s | 11.2% | 11.2% | 11.2% | 1 |
| 1940s | 12.3% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 1 |
| 1950s | 13.9% | 13.3% | 15.1% | 10 |
| 1960s | 21.4% | 15.4% | 28.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 31.5% | 29.8% | 32.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 37.3% | 33.3% | 42.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 48.0% | 43.7% | 52.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.8% | 53.0% | 65.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 67.2% | 66.1% | 67.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 68.5% | 68.0% | 69.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
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 do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Sao Tome and Principe was 69.2% in 2025, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest do more people live in urban or rural areas? recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 69.2% in 2025.
- What is the lowest do more people live in urban or rural areas? recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for do more people live in urban or rural areas??
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 110th out of 238 countries with data for 2025.
- Is do more people live in urban or rural areas? rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. 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 (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Do more people live in urban or rural areas?. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, combining UN estimates with modeled historical data.