MigrantoSao Tome and Principe Diaspora
41.4K Sao Tome and Principe live abroad — 18% of the population of Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 90% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Portugal | 23121 |
| Angola | 7062 |
| Gabon | 7058 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 1936 |
| Cape Verde | 1893 |
| Luxembourg | 192 |
| Central African Republic | 82 |
| Togo | 40 |
| Guinea | 29 |
| Denmark | 9 |
| Norway | 6 |
| Greece | 4 |
| Slovakia | 1 |
| Slovenia | 0 |
By region
56% of the diaspora lives in Europe
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Key facts
The Sao Tome and Principe diaspora in numbers
Most Sao Tome and Principe abroad live in Portugal
56% of the diaspora lives in Portugal, while the next country accounts for just 17%.
The diaspora is more concentrated than in 1990
The largest country's share rose from 41% to 56%, and today that country is Portugal.
1 in 6 people born in Sao Tome and Principe lives abroad
41.4K people born in Sao Tome and Principe now live in other countries — 17.6% of a population of 235.5K.
The share of the diaspora living in Africa has declined since 1990
59.1% of the diaspora lived in Africa in 1990, compared with 43.7% today.
Sao Tome and Principe diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 13668 |
| 1995 | 18868 |
| 2000 | 24414 |
| 2005 | 28200 |
| 2010 | 29623 |
| 2015 | 33671 |
| 2020 | 37872 |
| 2024 | 41433 |
Largest communities over time
Sao Tome and Principe living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | Portugal | Angola | Gabon | Equatorial Guinea | Cape Verde |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5581 | 3112 | 2012 | 378 | 2475 |
| 1995 | 8820 | 3617 | 2690 | 501 | 3111 |
| 2000 | 12417 | 4121 | 3366 | 623 | 3747 |
| 2005 | 15388 | 5417 | 3667 | 909 | 2698 |
| 2010 | 15804 | 6593 | 4251 | 1194 | 1649 |
| 2015 | 17915 | 6441 | 5944 | 1493 | 1712 |
| 2020 | 20552 | 6852 | 6539 | 1794 | 1809 |
| 2024 | 23121 | 7062 | 7058 | 1936 | 1893 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Sao Tome and Principe in each country has changed since the selected year
Sao Tome and Principe among immigrants in other countries
Where Sao Tome and Principe make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Sao Tome and Principe live outside Sao Tome and Principe?
Around 41.4K Sao Tome and Principe live abroad, the world's #168 largest diaspora.
Where do most Sao Tome and Principe abroad live?
Most Sao Tome and Principe live in Portugal, Angola and Gabon — these three countries account for about 90% of all Sao Tome and Principe living abroad.
Which country has the largest Sao Tome and Principe population outside Sao Tome and Principe?
Portugal is home to the largest Sao Tome and Principe community abroad — 23.1K people, about 56% of all Sao Tome and Principe living abroad.
What share of the population of Sao Tome and Principe lives abroad?
About 18% of the population of Sao Tome and Principe lives abroad — that's 41.4K out of a total population of 235.5K.
Is the Sao Tome and Principe diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Sao Tome and Principe living abroad has grown from 33.7K to 41.4K, about 23%.
Where does the data on the Sao Tome and Principe diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Sao Tome and Principe who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Sao Tome and Principe
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