MigrantoImmigrants in Sao Tome and Principe
1.9K foreign-born residents — the #221 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 84% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Cape Verde | 1115 |
| Angola | 292 |
| Gabon | 192 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 118 |
| Portugal | 95 |
| Mozambique | 93 |
By region of origin
Africa is the leading region of origin at 95%
1.8K
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Sao Tome and Principe.
Cape Verde is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
Cape Verde accounts for 59% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 15%.
Immigration sources have diversified since 1990
The top source country's share fell from 78% to 59%, indicating a broader spread of origins.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 5483 |
| 1995 | 4846 |
| 2000 | 4277 |
| 2005 | 3360 |
| 2010 | 2640 |
| 2015 | 2338 |
| 2020 | 2084 |
| 2024 | 1905 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | Cape Verde | Angola | Gabon | Equatorial Guinea | Portugal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 4250 | 468 | 11 | 305 | 206 |
| 1995 | 3343 | 556 | 221 | 286 | 212 |
| 2000 | 2488 | 654 | 436 | 268 | 218 |
| 2005 | 1956 | 514 | 342 | 210 | 171 |
| 2010 | 1538 | 404 | 268 | 165 | 134 |
| 2015 | 1363 | 358 | 237 | 146 | 118 |
| 2020 | 1220 | 319 | 210 | 129 | 104 |
| 2024 | 1115 | 292 | 192 | 118 | 95 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Sao Tome and Principe as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Sao Tome and Principe
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Sao Tome and Principe?
Around 1.9K foreign-born residents live in Sao Tome and Principe, making it the #221-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in Sao Tome and Principe come from?
Most immigrants in Sao Tome and Principe come from Cape Verde, Angola and Gabon — these three countries account for about 84% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of Sao Tome and Principe are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 1% of the population of Sao Tome and Principe — that's 1.9K out of a total population of 235.5K.
How has immigration to Sao Tome and Principe changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Sao Tome and Principe has fallen from 2.3K to 1.9K people, a decline of about 19%.
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