Migration trends in Sao Tome and Principe

Africa

41.4K people from Sao Tome and Principe have built lives abroad. That's 17.6% of the country population, spread across 14 different countries

235.5K

Population

1.9K

Immigrants

41.4K

Emigrants

−39.5K

Outflow

Every 7th person born in Sao Tome and Principe now lives abroad

The #168 largest source of emigrants worldwide

Top corridors

The largest migration routes in Sao Tome and Principe

Where people move to

23.1K55.8%

7.1K17.0%

7.1K17.0%

Where people come from

1.1K58.5%

29215.3%

19210.1%

Key moments

How migration has changed since 1990

1990

5.5K immigrants · 13.7K emigrants

2005

Immigration contracted — the foreign-born population fell 21%

Today

Since 1990: roughly the same number of foreign-born residents and roughly the same number of citizens living abroad

Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)

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