Rural population growth in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Rural population growth was 1.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in Sao Tome and Principe, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population growth in Sao Tome and Principe stood at 1.0%.
The figure is down 11.9% on the previous year and down 26.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 2.3% in 1978 and was at its lowest, -1.5%, in 2007.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 53rd out of 207 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -0.7% | -1.3% | 0.4% | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.8% | 0.6% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.7% | 0.3% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.1% | -0.7% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | -1.0% | -1.5% | -0.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.0% | -0.6% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.3% | 1.0% | 1.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
More agriculture & rural data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.1% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.9% (2023)
- Rural population 30.8% (2025)
- Rural population 74,065 (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 12.2% (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 119.62 million current US$ (2025)
- Land under cereal production 393 hectares (2023)
- Cereal yield 2,004 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal production 786.98 metric tons (2023)
- Fertilizer consumption 68 kilograms per hectare of arable land (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Rural population growth in Sao Tome and Principe was 1.0% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 2.3% in 1978.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.5% in 2007.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for rural population growth?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 53rd out of 207 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual rural population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear rural population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.