Net migration in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Net migration was -650 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Sao Tome and Principe, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, net migration in Sao Tome and Principe stood at -650.
The figure is down 7.6% on the previous year and up 64.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 0 in 2020 and was at its lowest, -2,798, in 2000.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 105th out of 218 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.
Net migration in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -860 | — |
| 1961 | -960 | +11.6% |
| 1962 | -927 | -3.4% |
| 1963 | -886 | -4.4% |
| 1964 | -819 | -7.6% |
| 1965 | -765 | -6.6% |
| 1966 | -688 | -10.1% |
| 1967 | -606 | -11.9% |
| 1968 | -520 | -14.2% |
| 1969 | -469 | -9.8% |
| 1970 | -279 | -40.5% |
| 1971 | -430 | +54.1% |
| 1972 | -517 | +20.2% |
| 1973 | -525 | +1.5% |
| 1974 | -474 | -9.7% |
| 1975 | -392 | -17.3% |
| 1976 | -302 | -23.0% |
| 1977 | -255 | -15.6% |
| 1978 | -279 | +9.4% |
| 1979 | -491 | +76.0% |
| 1980 | -770 | +56.8% |
| 1981 | -1,067 | +38.6% |
| 1982 | -1,203 | +12.7% |
| 1983 | -1,203 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -1,041 | -13.5% |
| 1985 | -828 | -20.5% |
| 1986 | -614 | -25.8% |
| 1987 | -470 | -23.5% |
| 1988 | -465 | -1.1% |
| 1989 | -571 | +22.8% |
| 1990 | -727 | +27.3% |
| 1991 | -1,362 | +87.3% |
| 1992 | -1,432 | +5.1% |
| 1993 | -1,527 | +6.6% |
| 1994 | -1,644 | +7.7% |
| 1995 | -1,829 | +11.3% |
| 1996 | -1,974 | +7.9% |
| 1997 | -2,153 | +9.1% |
| 1998 | -2,364 | +9.8% |
| 1999 | -2,594 | +9.7% |
| 2000 | -2,798 | +7.9% |
| 2001 | -1,289 | -53.9% |
| 2002 | -690 | -46.5% |
| 2003 | -816 | +18.3% |
| 2004 | -894 | +9.6% |
| 2005 | -941 | +5.3% |
| 2006 | -1,031 | +9.6% |
| 2007 | -1,127 | +9.3% |
| 2008 | -1,203 | +6.7% |
| 2009 | -1,328 | +10.4% |
| 2010 | -1,529 | +15.1% |
| 2011 | -1,616 | +5.7% |
| 2012 | -1,739 | +7.6% |
| 2013 | -1,787 | +2.8% |
| 2014 | -1,801 | +0.8% |
| 2015 | -1,809 | +0.4% |
| 2016 | -1,793 | -0.9% |
| 2017 | -1,779 | -0.8% |
| 2018 | -1,757 | -1.2% |
| 2019 | -1,716 | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 2021 | -782 | — |
| 2022 | -592 | -24.3% |
| 2023 | -592 | -0.0% |
| 2024 | -604 | +2.0% |
| 2025 | -650 | +7.6% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's -650 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -10,230, 6% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's -650 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -5,646, 12% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +100.0% | -1,716 | 0 |
| 1991 | -87.3% | -727 | -1,362 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -750 | -960 | -469 | 10 |
| 1970s | -394.4 | -525 | -255 | 10 |
| 1980s | -823.2 | -1,203 | -465 | 10 |
| 1990s | -1,761 | -2,594 | -727 | 10 |
| 2000s | -1,212 | -2,798 | -690 | 10 |
| 2010s | -1,733 | -1,809 | -1,529 | 10 |
| 2020s | -536.67 | -782 | 0 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
More financial sector data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Net migration in Sao Tome and Principe was -650 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 0 in 2020.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was -2,798 in 2000.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for net migration?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 105th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 64.1%. 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 Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.