The duel
- 116× São Tomé and Príncipe fits inside the median country 116 times
- 31× The median country has 31 times as many people as São Tomé and Príncipe
- +4.7 years People in the median country live 4.7 years longer than in São Tomé and Príncipe
- 3.3× The median country produces 3.3 times as much per person as São Tomé and Príncipe
World median is the middle country on each statistic: half of all countries with data are above it, half below. It is not an average, so it is never pulled up or down by giants or microstates.
Land
Size, shape and altitude
How big is it, really?
São Tomé and Príncipe fits inside the median country 116 times
São Tomé and Príncipe: 960 km² (2024) · World median: 111,370 km² (2024)
How much coast is there?
The median country’s coastline is 2.1 times as long as São Tomé and Príncipe’s
São Tomé and Príncipe: 209 km (2026 edition) · World median: 440 km (2026 edition)
How high can you climb?
The median country’s highest peak towers 311 m above São Tomé and Príncipe’s
São Tomé and Príncipe: 2,024 m (2026 edition) · World median: 2,335 m (2026 edition)
How much of the land is farmed?
Farmland covers 46% of São Tomé and Príncipe, versus 38% of the median country
São Tomé and Príncipe: 46.1% (2024) · World median: 37.8% (2024)
People
Who lives there, and how closely
How many people live there?
The median country has 31 times as many people as São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe: 240,254 (2025) · World median: 7.4 million (2025)
How crowded is it?
São Tomé and Príncipe is 2.5 times as densely populated as the median country
São Tomé and Príncipe: 250 per km² (2025) · World median: 98 per km² (2025)
How tall are the men?
Men in the median country are 3.1 cm taller than in São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe: 170.4 cm (2019) · World median: 173.5 cm (2019)
How tall are the women?
The median country and São Tomé and Príncipe are practically level
São Tomé and Príncipe: 159.8 cm (2019) · World median: 160.6 cm (2019)
How old is the typical person?
The typical person in the median country is 12 years older than in São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe: 19.1 years (2023) · World median: 31.1 years (2023)
How many children per woman?
Women in São Tomé and Príncipe have 1.7 more children on average than in the median country
São Tomé and Príncipe: 3.6 children per woman (2024) · World median: 1.9 children per woman (2024)
How many people are 65 or older?
8.6% of people in the median country are 65 or older, versus 3.9% in São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe: 3.9% (2025) · World median: 8.6% (2025)
How many refugees does it host?
São Tomé and Príncipe: no data · World median: 0.8 per 1,000 (2025)
How many Nobel laureates were born there?
São Tomé and Príncipe: no data · World median: 0 (2026)
How many official languages?
São Tomé and Príncipe and the median country are practically level
São Tomé and Príncipe: 1 (2026) · World median: 1 (2026)
Money
What an economy looks like per person
How big is the economy?
The median country’s economy is 46 times the size of São Tomé and Príncipe’s
São Tomé and Príncipe: $981 million (2025) · World median: $45.5 billion (2025)
How much is produced per person?
The median country produces 3.3 times as much per person as São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe: Int$6,388 (2025) · World median: Int$21,072 (2025)
How evenly is income shared?
Income is more unequally shared in São Tomé and Príncipe than in the median country (Gini 6.3 points higher)
São Tomé and Príncipe: 40.7 (2017) · World median: 34.4 (2023)
How many live on less than $3 a day?
13% of people in São Tomé and Príncipe live on less than $3 a day, versus 1.6% in the median country
São Tomé and Príncipe: 13% (2017) · World median: 1.6% (2023)
How many people are looking for work?
Unemployment is 9.1% in São Tomé and Príncipe, versus 5.1% in the median country
São Tomé and Príncipe: 9.1% (2025) · World median: 5.1% (2025)
How much goes to the military?
São Tomé and Príncipe: no data · World median: 1.8% (2025)
How much does the central government collect in tax?
São Tomé and Príncipe: no data · World median: 17% (2024)
How expensive is it?
São Tomé and Príncipe’s price level (US = 100) is 1.4× the median country’s
São Tomé and Príncipe: 64% (2025) · World median: 45% (2025)
Health
Long lives, small beginnings
How much is spent on health?
The median country spends 2.8 times as much on health per person as São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe: $171 (2023) · World median: $470 (2023)
How long do people live?
People in the median country live 4.7 years longer than in São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe: 69.9 years (2024) · World median: 74.6 years (2024)
How many babies don’t reach their first birthday?
A baby in the median country is 38% more likely to die before turning one than in São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe: 9.2 per 1,000 (2024) · World median: 12.7 per 1,000 (2024)
How many doctors are there?
The median country has 3.6 times as many doctors per person as São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe: 0.5 per 1,000 (2022) · World median: 1.7 per 1,000 (2022)
How many hospital beds are there?
São Tomé and Príncipe has 20% more hospital beds per person than the median country
São Tomé and Príncipe: 2.9 per 1,000 (2019) · World median: 2.4 per 1,000 (2023)
How common is suicide?
The suicide rate in the median country is 4.3 times that in São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe: 2.3 per 100k (2023) · World median: 10 per 100k (2023)
How common is obesity?
24% of adults in the median country are obese, versus 16% in São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe: 16.3% (2024) · World median: 24% (2024)
How many adults smoke?
19% of adults in the median country smoke, versus 8.3% in São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe: 8.3% (2024) · World median: 19% (2024)
Everyday life
Plates, glasses and happiness
How do people rate their lives?
São Tomé and Príncipe: no data · World median: 5.83 (2025)
How much do people drink?
São Tomé and Príncipe and the median country are nearly identical here
São Tomé and Príncipe: 4.3 litres (2023) · World median: 4.3 litres (2023)
How much meat is on the menu?
The median country has 2.2 times as much meat per person as São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe: 25.2 kg (2023) · World median: 56.2 kg (2023)
How much food is there per day?
The median country has 658 kcal more food per person per day than São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe: 2,279 kcal (2023) · World median: 2,938 kcal (2023)
How long do people work?
São Tomé and Príncipe: no data · World median: 1,974 hours (2023)
How long do people go to school?
Adults in the median country went to school 3.9 years longer than in São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe: 6 years (2023) · World median: 9.9 years (2023)
How many tourists visit?
The median country welcomed 2.1 times as many tourists per resident as São Tomé and Príncipe (2019)
São Tomé and Príncipe: 0.16 (2019) · World median: 0.34 (2024)
How many World Heritage sites?
The median country has 2 more World Heritage sites than São Tomé and Príncipe (3 against 1)
São Tomé and Príncipe: 1 (2026) · World median: 3 (2026)
How many Olympic medals has it won?
The median country has won 4 Olympic medals, São Tomé and Príncipe none
São Tomé and Príncipe: 0 (2026 edition) · World median: 4 (2026 edition)
Connected
Online, electrified, urban
How many people are online?
82% of people in the median country are online, versus 59% in São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe: 59% (2024) · World median: 82% (2024)
How fast is home internet?
Home internet in the median country is 3 times as fast as in São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe: 53 Mbps (2026) · World median: 161 Mbps (2026)
Who has electricity at home?
100% of people in the median country have electricity, versus 78% in São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe: 77.7% (2024) · World median: 100% (2024)
How many live in cities?
69% of people in São Tomé and Príncipe live in cities, versus 64% in the median country
São Tomé and Príncipe: 69% (2025) · World median: 64% (2025)
How many phones per person?
The median country has 115 mobile subscriptions per 100 people, São Tomé and Príncipe 62
São Tomé and Príncipe: 62 (2024) · World median: 115 (2024)
How much railway is there?
São Tomé and Príncipe: no data · World median: 2,141 km (2021)
How much do they fly?
Airlines from the median country fly 48% more passengers per resident than those from São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe: 0.16 (2023) · World median: 0.24 (2023)
Planet
Air, forests and energy
How much of the land is forest?
Forest covers 58% of São Tomé and Príncipe, but only 33% of the median country
São Tomé and Príncipe: 57.6% (2024) · World median: 32.8% (2024)
How much CO₂ does each person emit?
The average person in the median country emits 5 times as much CO₂ as someone in São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe: 0.6 t (2024) · World median: 3 t (2024)
How green is the power grid?
31% of the median country’s electricity is renewable, versus 11% in São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe: 11.1% (2023) · World median: 30.8% (2024)
How clean is the air?
The air in the median country carries 6% more fine dust than in São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe: 15.6 µg/m³ (2024) · World median: 16.6 µg/m³ (2024)
Safety
Measured risk, not vibes
How common is murder?
São Tomé and Príncipe: no data · World median: 2.3 per 100k (2023)
How dangerous are the roads?
Roads in the median country are 7% deadlier than in São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe: 17.4 per 100k (2023) · World median: 18.6 per 100k (2023)
Climate
What the year feels like
How warm is it?
São Tomé and Príncipe is on average 3.0 °C warmer than the median country
São Tomé and Príncipe: 26°C (2016–2025 avg) · World median: 23°C (2016–2025 avg)
How much rain falls?
São Tomé and Príncipe gets 47% more rain than the median country
São Tomé and Príncipe: 1,487 mm (2016–2025 avg) · World median: 1,014 mm (2016–2025 avg)
Quick answers
Is São Tomé and Príncipe bigger than the median country?
The median country is larger. São Tomé and Príncipe fits inside the median country 116 times.
Which has more people, São Tomé and Príncipe or the median country?
The median country has 31 times as many people as São Tomé and Príncipe (2025 estimates).
Where do people live longer, São Tomé and Príncipe or the median country?
People in the median country live 4.7 years longer than in São Tomé and Príncipe. Life expectancy at birth is 69.9 years in São Tomé and Príncipe and 74.6 in the median country.
Are people taller in São Tomé and Príncipe or the median country?
Men in the median country are 3.1 cm taller than in São Tomé and Príncipe (NCD-RisC, cohort born 2019).