South Sudan Demographics: Median age, Gender, Religion

Median age in South Sudan, 1960–2100

In 1960, the median age in South Sudan was 18.6 years compared to the world's average of 22.5 years. As of 2024, the median age had increased to 19.4 years, compared with the average of 31.6 years in other countries. Ranked 129th for median age 64 years ago (old to young), South Sudan ranks 173rd currently.

According to the United Nations projections, the median age in South Sudan is expected to increase to 36.2 years by 2100. The aging demographics forecast is based on previous years' birth rates and increasing life expectancy.

Demographic pyramid: age and gender distribution

Chart Table

South Sudan

Male

Female

Age range	Share of population
	South Sudan
	Male	Female
80+	0.11%	0.2%
75-79	0.19%	0.29%
70-74	0.35%	0.49%
65-69	0.6%	0.77%
60-64	0.9%	1.1%
55-59	1.28%	1.52%
50-54	1.82%	2.09%
45-49	2.29%	2.58%
40-44	2.5%	2.81%
35-39	2.16%	2.42%
30-34	2.52%	2.67%
25-29	3.29%	3.27%
20-24	5.13%	5.07%
15-19	6.39%	6.29%
10-14	7.05%	6.91%
5-9	6.08%	5.96%
0-4	6.55%	6.38%

The chart above is a variation of the population pyramid and represents the age and gender structure. South Sudan has average demographic potential with 73.6% of people in the 0-34 age group (ranked 34/196).

Working-age demographic by year

Chart Table

South Sudan

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Working age share
	South Sudan	World
2100	67.2%	59.6%
2099	67.3%	59.6%
2098	67.4%	59.7%
2097	67.5%	59.7%
2096	67.6%	59.7%
2095	67.6%	59.7%
2094	67.7%	59.7%
2093	67.7%	59.8%
2092	67.7%	59.8%
2091	67.7%	59.8%
2090	67.6%	59.8%
2089	67.6%	59.8%
2088	67.5%	59.8%
2087	67.4%	59.8%
2086	67.3%	59.8%
2085	67.2%	59.9%
2084	67.1%	59.9%
2083	66.9%	60%
2082	66.8%	60.1%
2081	66.7%	60.3%
2080	66.7%	60.4%
2079	66.7%	60.6%
2078	66.8%	60.7%
2077	66.9%	60.9%
2076	67.1%	61%
2075	67.3%	61.1%
2074	67.5%	61.3%
2073	67.6%	61.4%
2072	67.8%	61.5%
2071	67.9%	61.6%
2070	68.1%	61.7%
2069	68.2%	61.8%
2068	68.3%	61.9%
2067	68.4%	62%
2066	68.5%	62%
2065	68.5%	62.1%
2064	68.5%	62.1%
2063	68.3%	62.1%
2062	68.2%	62.2%
2061	68%	62.2%
2060	67.7%	62.3%
2059	67.5%	62.3%
2058	67.2%	62.4%
2057	66.9%	62.4%
2056	66.6%	62.5%
2055	66.2%	62.7%
2054	65.9%	62.8%
2053	65.4%	62.9%
2052	65%	63.1%
2051	64.5%	63.2%
2050	64.2%	63.4%
2049	63.8%	63.5%
2048	63.5%	63.6%
2047	63.1%	63.8%
2046	62.8%	63.9%
2045	62.5%	64%
2044	62.3%	64.1%
2043	62.1%	64.2%
2042	61.9%	64.3%
2041	61.8%	64.4%
2040	61.7%	64.5%
2039	61.6%	64.7%
2038	61.6%	64.8%
2037	61.6%	64.9%
2036	61.7%	65.1%
2035	61.7%	65.2%
2034	61.8%	65.3%
2033	61.9%	65.4%
2032	61.9%	65.4%
2031	61.9%	65.4%
2030	61.8%	65.4%
2029	61.4%	65.4%
2028	60.9%	65.4%
2027	60.1%	65.4%
2026	59.3%	65.2%
2025	58.5%	65.1%
2024	58.1%	65.1%
2023	57.2%	65%
2022	56.3%	64.9%
2021	55.6%	64.9%
2020	54.9%	64.8%
2019	53.8%	64.9%
2018	52.5%	64.9%
2017	52.4%	65%
2016	53.7%	65.1%
2015	54.4%	65.1%
2014	55%	65.2%
2013	55.6%	65.2%
2012	55.5%	65.2%
2011	55.3%	65.2%
2010	54.7%	65.1%
2009	54.1%	65%
2008	53.7%	64.9%
2007	53.2%	64.7%
2006	52.7%	64.5%
2005	52.2%	64.3%
2004	51.7%	64%
2003	51.6%	63.7%
2002	51.8%	63.4%
2001	52%	63.1%
2000	52.1%	62.8%
1999	52%	62.5%
1998	51.7%	62.2%
1997	51.5%	61.9%
1996	51.6%	61.7%
1995	51.7%	61.5%
1994	51.8%	61.3%
1993	51.9%	61.2%
1992	52.1%	61.1%
1991	52.2%	61%
1990	52.2%	60.9%
1989	52.3%	60.8%
1988	51.5%	60.7%
1987	50.7%	60.5%
1986	50.8%	60.4%
1985	50.9%	60.1%
1984	51.1%	59.9%
1983	51.3%	59.6%
1982	51.4%	59.3%
1981	51.6%	59%
1980	51.8%	58.7%
1979	51.9%	58.4%
1978	52.1%	58%
1977	52.3%	57.7%
1976	52.4%	57.5%
1975	52.5%	57.4%
1974	52.7%	57.3%
1973	52.8%	57.3%
1972	52.9%	57.2%
1971	53.1%	57.1%
1970	53.2%	57%
1969	53.4%	56.9%
1968	53.5%	56.9%
1967	53.7%	56.9%
1966	53.9%	56.8%
1965	54.1%	56.9%
1964	54.3%	57%
1963	54.5%	57.2%
1962	54.6%	57.4%
1961	54.6%	57.5%
1960	54.6%	57.6%

The share of working-age demographics aged 15-64 in South Sudan changed from 51.7% to 58.1% between 2004 and 2024.

Age dependency by year

Age dependency is the ratio of people not in the labor force (children under 15 and adults 64+) to people aged 15 to 64. Age dependency in South Sudan decreased from 93.2% to 72.1% between 2004 and 2024 with a decreased share of children and an increased proportion of people aged 65+

Share of young demographic (0-14 years) by year

Chart Table

South Sudan

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Share of 0-14
	South Sudan	World
2100	20.1%	16.5%
2099	20.2%	16.6%
2098	20.3%	16.6%
2097	20.3%	16.7%
2096	20.4%	16.8%
2095	20.5%	16.8%
2094	20.6%	16.9%
2093	20.7%	17%
2092	20.9%	17%
2091	21%	17.1%
2090	21.1%	17.2%
2089	21.2%	17.2%
2088	21.3%	17.3%
2087	21.5%	17.4%
2086	21.6%	17.4%
2085	21.8%	17.5%
2084	21.9%	17.5%
2083	22.1%	17.6%
2082	22.3%	17.7%
2081	22.4%	17.7%
2080	22.6%	17.8%
2079	22.8%	17.8%
2078	23%	17.9%
2077	23.2%	17.9%
2076	23.3%	18%
2075	23.5%	18%
2074	23.7%	18.1%
2073	23.9%	18.2%
2072	24.1%	18.2%
2071	24.3%	18.3%
2070	24.5%	18.3%
2069	24.7%	18.4%
2068	25%	18.5%
2067	25.2%	18.6%
2066	25.4%	18.6%
2065	25.6%	18.7%
2064	25.8%	18.8%
2063	26%	18.9%
2062	26.3%	19.1%
2061	26.5%	19.2%
2060	26.7%	19.3%
2059	27%	19.4%
2058	27.2%	19.5%
2057	27.5%	19.6%
2056	27.8%	19.8%
2055	28.1%	19.9%
2054	28.5%	20%
2053	28.8%	20.1%
2052	29.2%	20.2%
2051	29.5%	20.3%
2050	29.9%	20.4%
2049	30.3%	20.5%
2048	30.8%	20.6%
2047	31.2%	20.7%
2046	31.6%	20.8%
2045	32%	20.9%
2044	32.4%	20.9%
2043	32.7%	21%
2042	33%	21.1%
2041	33.3%	21.2%
2040	33.6%	21.2%
2039	33.8%	21.3%
2038	33.9%	21.4%
2037	34.1%	21.5%
2036	34.2%	21.6%
2035	34.3%	21.8%
2034	34.4%	22%
2033	34.3%	22.2%
2032	34.4%	22.4%
2031	34.6%	22.7%
2030	34.8%	23%
2029	35.2%	23.3%
2028	35.8%	23.6%
2027	36.6%	23.9%
2026	37.5%	24.2%
2025	38.4%	24.6%
2024	38.9%	24.7%
2023	39.9%	25%
2022	40.9%	25.3%
2021	41.6%	25.6%
2020	42.4%	25.8%
2019	43.6%	26%
2018	44.9%	26.2%
2017	45%	26.4%
2016	43.7%	26.5%
2015	43.1%	26.6%
2014	42.5%	26.8%
2013	41.9%	26.9%
2012	41.9%	27%
2011	42.2%	27.1%
2010	42.8%	27.3%
2009	43.4%	27.5%
2008	43.8%	27.6%
2007	44.3%	27.9%
2006	44.8%	28.1%
2005	45.3%	28.5%
2004	45.8%	28.8%
2003	45.9%	29.2%
2002	45.7%	29.6%
2001	45.5%	30%
2000	45.5%	30.4%
1999	45.6%	30.8%
1998	45.8%	31.1%
1997	46%	31.5%
1996	46%	31.8%
1995	45.8%	32.1%
1994	45.8%	32.3%
1993	45.7%	32.5%
1992	45.6%	32.7%
1991	45.5%	32.9%
1990	45.4%	33%
1989	45.4%	33.2%
1988	46.2%	33.4%
1987	46.9%	33.6%
1986	46.7%	33.8%
1985	46.6%	34%
1984	46.5%	34.3%
1983	46.3%	34.6%
1982	46.2%	34.9%
1981	46%	35.2%
1980	45.8%	35.5%
1979	45.7%	35.9%
1978	45.5%	36.3%
1977	45.4%	36.7%
1976	45.3%	36.9%
1975	45.2%	37.1%
1974	45.1%	37.2%
1973	45%	37.3%
1972	44.8%	37.5%
1971	44.7%	37.6%
1970	44.5%	37.7%
1969	44.3%	37.8%
1968	44%	37.9%
1967	43.8%	38%
1966	43.5%	38%
1965	43.3%	38%
1964	43%	38%
1963	42.8%	37.8%
1962	42.6%	37.6%
1961	42.6%	37.5%
1960	42.5%	37.4%

The share of children aged 0-14 in South Sudan decreased from 45.8% to 38.9% between 2004 and 2024 due to changes in birth rates.

Share of old population (65+) by year

Chart Table

South Sudan

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Share of 65+ years old
	South Sudan	World
2100	12.7%	23.9%
2099	12.5%	23.8%
2098	12.3%	23.7%
2097	12.2%	23.6%
2096	12%	23.5%
2095	11.8%	23.4%
2094	11.7%	23.4%
2093	11.6%	23.3%
2092	11.4%	23.2%
2091	11.3%	23.1%
2090	11.3%	23.1%
2089	11.2%	23%
2088	11.2%	22.9%
2087	11.1%	22.8%
2086	11.1%	22.7%
2085	11%	22.6%
2084	11%	22.5%
2083	11%	22.4%
2082	10.9%	22.2%
2081	10.8%	22%
2080	10.7%	21.8%
2079	10.5%	21.6%
2078	10.2%	21.4%
2077	9.89%	21.2%
2076	9.53%	21%
2075	9.17%	20.8%
2074	8.8%	20.6%
2073	8.44%	20.4%
2072	8.08%	20.3%
2071	7.72%	20.1%
2070	7.37%	19.9%
2069	7.02%	19.8%
2068	6.7%	19.6%
2067	6.4%	19.5%
2066	6.13%	19.3%
2065	5.9%	19.2%
2064	5.73%	19.1%
2063	5.63%	18.9%
2062	5.58%	18.8%
2061	5.54%	18.6%
2060	5.53%	18.5%
2059	5.54%	18.3%
2058	5.57%	18.1%
2057	5.6%	17.9%
2056	5.63%	17.7%
2055	5.65%	17.5%
2054	5.67%	17.2%
2053	5.77%	17%
2052	5.87%	16.7%
2051	5.91%	16.4%
2050	5.9%	16.2%
2049	5.86%	16%
2048	5.79%	15.8%
2047	5.7%	15.5%
2046	5.6%	15.3%
2045	5.48%	15.1%
2044	5.35%	14.9%
2043	5.21%	14.8%
2042	5.06%	14.6%
2041	4.91%	14.4%
2040	4.76%	14.2%
2039	4.61%	14%
2038	4.45%	13.8%
2037	4.3%	13.5%
2036	4.16%	13.3%
2035	4.02%	13%
2034	3.9%	12.7%
2033	3.78%	12.4%
2032	3.67%	12.2%
2031	3.57%	11.9%
2030	3.48%	11.6%
2029	3.38%	11.3%
2028	3.29%	11%
2027	3.2%	10.7%
2026	3.12%	10.5%
2025	3.03%	10.3%
2024	2.99%	10.2%
2023	2.91%	9.98%
2022	2.84%	9.74%
2021	2.76%	9.53%
2020	2.69%	9.33%
2019	2.63%	9.1%
2018	2.56%	8.88%
2017	2.52%	8.65%
2016	2.52%	8.45%
2015	2.53%	8.26%
2014	2.56%	8.08%
2013	2.57%	7.92%
2012	2.56%	7.78%
2011	2.55%	7.66%
2010	2.54%	7.58%
2009	2.53%	7.52%
2008	2.51%	7.47%
2007	2.5%	7.41%
2006	2.49%	7.34%
2005	2.48%	7.26%
2004	2.47%	7.18%
2003	2.47%	7.1%
2002	2.46%	7.01%
2001	2.45%	6.92%
2000	2.43%	6.84%
1999	2.42%	6.76%
1998	2.43%	6.68%
1997	2.44%	6.61%
1996	2.43%	6.53%
1995	2.41%	6.45%
1994	2.39%	6.37%
1993	2.37%	6.29%
1992	2.37%	6.21%
1991	2.35%	6.14%
1990	2.33%	6.07%
1989	2.31%	6.01%
1988	2.38%	5.95%
1987	2.46%	5.91%
1986	2.45%	5.86%
1985	2.44%	5.82%
1984	2.43%	5.8%
1983	2.42%	5.79%
1982	2.41%	5.8%
1981	2.4%	5.81%
1980	2.39%	5.81%
1979	2.37%	5.77%
1978	2.35%	5.71%
1977	2.34%	5.65%
1976	2.32%	5.59%
1975	2.3%	5.53%
1974	2.28%	5.47%
1973	2.27%	5.42%
1972	2.26%	5.37%
1971	2.28%	5.32%
1970	2.31%	5.28%
1969	2.37%	5.24%
1968	2.43%	5.2%
1967	2.5%	5.16%
1966	2.57%	5.12%
1965	2.64%	5.08%
1964	2.69%	5.04%
1963	2.75%	5.02%
1962	2.81%	5.01%
1961	2.86%	4.99%
1960	2.91%	4.97%

The share of older people aged 65 and over in South Sudan increased from 2.47% to 2.99% between 2004 and 2024.

Median age map

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1x