Sao Tome and Principe vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 148 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 267 times as many people as Sao Tome and Principe (65.49 million vs 244,972). South Africa's economy is 444 times the size of Sao Tome and Principe's ($424.75 billion vs $956.97 million GDP).
Comparing Sao Tome and Principe and South Africa: Sao Tome and Principe leads on Major Urban Areas Population (80,000 people) against South Africa (10.32 people); Sao Tome and Principe leads on Televisions (23,000) against South Africa (6); South Africa leads on Annual Forest Area Change Rate (87,566 %) against Sao Tome and Principe (26.00 %). Across 148 compared metrics, Sao Tome and Principe wins on 55 and South Africa wins on 82.
- Communications: 8 metrics compared
- Economy: 51 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 22 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 1 metric compared
- People and Society: 35 metrics compared
- Transportation: 3 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
8 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇹 Sao Tome and Principe | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 2.99 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 59.12 % | 78.36 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 61.46 % | 75.66 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 62% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 2.99 Mbps | 5.35 Mbps★ | |
| Radios | 38,000★ | 17 | |
| Televisions | 23,000★ | 6 | |
| Waterways | none | NA |
Economy
51 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇹 Sao Tome and Principe | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 1,941★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 26 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 25.87 °C★ | 18.35 °C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 146,000 | 446.7★ | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 973.94 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | Sao Tome, the capital city, has roughly a quarter of the nation's population; Santo Antonio is the largest town on Principe; the northern areas of both islands have the highest population densities, as shown in this population distribution map | the population is concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Pretoria; the eastern half of the country is more densely populated than the west, as shown in this population distribution map | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 32.42 sq km★ | 9.88 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 31.7 %★ | 9.6 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 0 Cubic meters per year | 4.8 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 2.18 | 51.35★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 4 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇹 Sao Tome and Principe | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 7.58 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 162.5★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 442 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 960 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 209 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 159.05 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 100 | 16,700★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇹 Sao Tome and Principe | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 26.2 % | 61.59 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 6 | 9★ | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 45 index | 41 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 45 index★ | 41 index | |
| Independence | 12 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 2.07 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 116 per 100,000★ | 286 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 45 | 41★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
22 metricsMilitary and Security
1 metric| Metric | 🇸🇹 Sao Tome and Principe | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 1,000 | 78,150★ |
People and Society
35 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇹 Sao Tome and Principe | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currently married (Percent) | 52.18 %★ | 33.25 % | |
| Life expectancy at birth | 74.84 years★ | 71.98 years | |
| Median age of population | 19.66 years | 29 years★ | |
| Population Change | 4,939.1 persons | 673,269.7 persons★ | |
| Population density | 254.93 per sq. km | 53.74 per sq. km★ | |
| Total population | 244,971.5 persons | 65.49M persons★ | |
| Academic Freedom Index | 0.64 | 0.83★ | |
| Beer Consumption per Capita | 0.86 liters | 3.65 liters★ | |
| Birth Rate (%) | 25.87 %★ | 17.21 % | |
| Contraceptive Prevalence Rate | 49.7 % | 54.6 %★ | |
| Crude Birth Rate | 28.09 per 1,000 people★ | 18.48 per 1,000 people | |
| Death Rate (%) | 5.84 %★ | 6.56 % | |
| Education Expenditure (% of GDP) | 5 % of GDP | 6 % of GDP★ | |
| Female population of reproductive age | 62,534.65 persons | 18.20M persons★ | |
| Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%) | 13 % | 22.39 %★ | |
| Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate | 2.99 % | 5.35 %★ | |
| Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth | 102.61 male/female | 103.52 male/female★ | |
| Human Development Index | 0.37 | 0.48★ | |
| Labor Force Participation Rate | 34,500★ | 27.77 | |
| Length of paid parental leave for mother | 0 days | 0 days | |
| Major Urban Areas Population | 80,000 people★ | 10.32 people | |
| Mean Male Height (cm) | 167.38★ | 166.68 | |
| Military Service Age and Obligation | limited information; 18 is the minimum age for compulsory military service (reportedly not enforced) and 17 years of age (with parental permission) for voluntary service (2024) | 18 | |
| Old-Age Dependency Ratio | 6.69 %★ | 9.65 % | |
| Percentage of population by degree of urbanization | 84.32 %★ | 79.63 % | |
| Physician Density | 0.46 people/sq km | 0.79 people/sq km★ | |
| Population Growth Rate | 1.39 %★ | 1.06 % | |
| Population living in slums | 79.89 %★ | 23.64 % | |
| Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio | 38.78 | 30.33★ | |
| Total deaths | 1,284.4 persons★ | 540,582.7 persons | |
| Total demand for family planning (Percent) | 57.43 % | 62.02 %★ | |
| Total fertility rate | 3.47 per woman★ | 2.17 per woman | |
| Total net-migration | -568.4 persons | 39,599.6 persons★ | |
| Under-five mortality rate | 11.62 per live births★ | 28.89 per live births | |
| Urban Population Annual Growth Rate | 2.42 %★ | 1.34 % |
Transportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇸🇹 Sao Tome and Principe | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.39★ | 0.37 | |
| Airports | 2 | 573★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 10 | 90★ |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇸🇹 Sao Tome and Principe | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 47.52M USD | 4.96B USD★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Sao Tome and Principe vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Sao Tome and Principe or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 267 times as many people as Sao Tome and Principe (65.49 million vs 244,972). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Sao Tome and Principe or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 444 times the size of Sao Tome and Principe's ($424.75 billion vs $956.97 million GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Sao Tome and Principe or South Africa?▾
South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $3,906 in Sao Tome and Principe (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).