MigrantoSao Tome and Principe Diaspora
41.4K Sao Tome and Principe live abroad — the #168 largest diaspora in the world
Where emigrants go
The top 3 countries receive 90% of all emigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| 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 destination region
Europe is the leading destination region at 56%
23.3K
18.1K
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about emigration from Sao Tome and Principe.
Portugal is the primary destination for emigrants
Portugal attracts 56% of all emigrants from Sao Tome and Principe, while the second-largest destination receives just 17%.
Emigration has become more concentrated over time
The top destination's share rose from 41% to 56%, with Portugal increasingly the primary choice.
A significant share of the population lives abroad
1 in 6 residents of Sao Tome and Principe has emigrated — 41.4K out of 235.5K, representing 17.6% of the population.
The share of emigrants going to Africa has declined since 1990
The share of emigrants going to Africa has shifted from 59.1% to 43.7% since 1990.
How emigration changed over time
Total emigrant population by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 13668 |
| 1995 | 18868 |
| 2000 | 24414 |
| 2005 | 28200 |
| 2010 | 29623 |
| 2015 | 33671 |
| 2020 | 37872 |
| 2024 | 41433 |
Top destinations over time
Emigration to the 5 largest destination countries
| 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 destinations
How emigration to each country has changed since the selected year
Sao Tome and Principe as an emigration source
Share of immigrants in each country who originate from Sao Tome and Principe
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
Where do Sao Tome and Principe move to?
Most Sao Tome and Principe have moved to Portugal, Angola and Gabon — these three countries account for about 90% of all Sao Tome and Principe living abroad.
How many Sao Tome and Principe live abroad?
Around 41.4K Sao Tome and Principe live abroad, making it the #168-largest emigrant population in the world.
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.
How has emigration from Sao Tome and Principe changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the emigrant population from Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 33.7K to 41.4K people, a growth of about 23%.
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