South Sudan Demographics: Median age, Gender, Religion

Median age history and projection chart in
South Sudan vs World

Table

Year	Median age
	South Sudan	World
1960	18.6	22.5
1961	18.5	22.5
1962	18.5	22.4
1963	18.4	22.2
1964	18.4	22
1965	18.3	21.8
1966	18.3	21.7
1967	18.2	21.6
1968	18	21.5
1969	17.9	21.5
1970	17.7	21.4
1971	17.6	21.4
1972	17.5	21.5
1973	17.5	21.5
1974	17.4	21.6
1975	17.4	21.7
1976	17.3	21.9
1977	17.2	22
1978	17.2	22.2
1979	17.1	22.3
1980	17.1	22.5
1981	17	22.6
1982	16.9	22.7
1983	16.8	22.9
1984	16.8	23
1985	16.7	23.2
1986	16.6	23.3
1987	16.5	23.4
1988	16.8	23.6
1989	17.1	23.8
1990	17	23.9
1991	17	24.1
1992	17	24.3
1993	16.9	24.5
1994	16.9	24.7
1995	16.9	25
1996	16.9	25.2
1997	16.9	25.4
1998	17	25.7
1999	17.1	25.9
2000	17.2	26.1
2001	17.3	26.3
2002	17.3	26.5
2003	17.3	26.7
2004	17.4	27
2005	17.6	27.2
2006	17.8	27.4
2007	18	27.6
2008	18.2	27.8
2009	18.4	28
2010	18.7	28.2
2011	19	28.4
2012	19.2	28.6
2013	19.3	28.9
2014	19	29.1
2015	18.6	29.3
2016	18.2	29.5
2017	17.4	29.8
2018	17.3	30
2019	17.8	30.3
2020	18.2	30.6
2021	18.4	30.8
2022	18.7	31
2023	19	31.3
2024	19.4	31.6
2025	19.7	31.9
2026	20	32.1
2027	20.4	32.3
2028	20.7	32.6
2029	21.1	32.8
2030	21.4	33
2031	21.7	33.2
2032	22.1	33.4
2033	22.4	33.6
2034	22.7	33.8
2035	23	34
2036	23.4	34.2
2037	23.7	34.4
2038	23.9	34.6
2039	24.2	34.8
2040	24.3	35
2041	24.5	35.2
2042	24.7	35.4
2043	24.8	35.6
2044	24.9	35.8
2045	25.1	36
2046	25.3	36.2
2047	25.4	36.4
2048	25.6	36.6
2049	25.8	36.8
2050	26	37.1

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 to the world's average of 31.6 years. 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 around 26 years by 2050. The aging demographics forecast is based on previous years' birth rates and increasing life expectancy.

South Sudan demographic pyramid: age and gender distribution

Table

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

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).

Age dependency chart

Table

Year	Age dependency ratio
	South Sudan			World
	Total	Young	Old	Total	Young	Old
1960	83.3%	78%	5.34%	73.5%	64.9%	8.62%
1961	83.2%	78%	5.25%	73.8%	65.1%	8.67%
1962	83.3%	78.1%	5.16%	74.1%	65.4%	8.73%
1963	83.6%	78.5%	5.05%	74.9%	66.1%	8.79%
1964	84.2%	79.2%	4.96%	75.5%	66.6%	8.85%
1965	84.9%	80%	4.89%	75.8%	66.8%	8.93%
1966	85.6%	80.8%	4.77%	75.9%	66.9%	9%
1967	86.2%	81.6%	4.65%	75.9%	66.8%	9.07%
1968	86.8%	82.3%	4.54%	75.8%	66.6%	9.14%
1969	87.4%	83%	4.44%	75.7%	66.5%	9.2%
1970	88%	83.6%	4.34%	75.5%	66.2%	9.26%
1971	88.5%	84.2%	4.29%	75.2%	65.9%	9.33%
1972	89%	84.7%	4.28%	74.9%	65.6%	9.39%
1973	89.5%	85.2%	4.3%	74.6%	65.1%	9.46%
1974	89.9%	85.6%	4.34%	74.4%	64.9%	9.54%
1975	90.4%	86%	4.38%	74.2%	64.6%	9.64%
1976	90.9%	86.4%	4.42%	74%	64.3%	9.72%
1977	91.4%	86.9%	4.47%	73.5%	63.7%	9.79%
1978	91.9%	87.4%	4.52%	72.4%	62.5%	9.84%
1979	92.5%	88%	4.56%	71.3%	61.4%	9.88%
1980	93.2%	88.6%	4.61%	70.4%	60.5%	9.89%
1981	93.8%	89.2%	4.65%	69.5%	59.6%	9.85%
1982	94.5%	89.8%	4.69%	68.7%	58.9%	9.79%
1983	95.1%	90.4%	4.73%	67.9%	58.1%	9.72%
1984	95.7%	91%	4.76%	67%	57.3%	9.68%
1985	96.3%	91.5%	4.79%	66.3%	56.6%	9.68%
1986	96.7%	91.9%	4.82%	65.7%	55.9%	9.71%
1987	97.3%	92.5%	4.85%	65.2%	55.4%	9.75%
1988	94.3%	89.7%	4.62%	64.8%	54.9%	9.81%
1989	91.1%	86.7%	4.42%	64.4%	54.5%	9.89%
1990	91.5%	87%	4.47%	64.2%	54.3%	9.97%
1991	91.6%	87.1%	4.51%	64%	53.9%	10.1%
1992	92%	87.5%	4.54%	63.7%	53.6%	10.2%
1993	92.6%	88.1%	4.57%	63.5%	53.2%	10.3%
1994	93%	88.4%	4.61%	63.1%	52.7%	10.4%
1995	93.3%	88.6%	4.66%	62.7%	52.2%	10.5%
1996	93.8%	89.1%	4.7%	62.1%	51.5%	10.6%
1997	94.1%	89.4%	4.74%	61.5%	50.8%	10.7%
1998	93.2%	88.6%	4.69%	60.7%	50%	10.7%
1999	92.3%	87.6%	4.65%	60%	49.2%	10.8%
2000	92%	87.3%	4.67%	59.3%	48.4%	10.9%
2001	92.2%	87.5%	4.7%	58.5%	47.6%	11%
2002	93%	88.2%	4.74%	57.8%	46.7%	11.1%
2003	93.7%	89%	4.78%	57%	45.9%	11.1%
2004	93.2%	88.5%	4.78%	56.3%	45.1%	11.2%
2005	91.7%	86.9%	4.76%	55.6%	44.3%	11.3%
2006	89.9%	85.2%	4.73%	55%	43.6%	11.4%
2007	88%	83.3%	4.71%	54.5%	43.1%	11.4%
2008	86.3%	81.6%	4.68%	54.1%	42.6%	11.5%
2009	84.9%	80.2%	4.67%	53.8%	42.2%	11.6%
2010	82.9%	78.2%	4.64%	53.5%	41.9%	11.6%
2011	80.9%	76.3%	4.61%	53.4%	41.6%	11.8%
2012	80.1%	75.5%	4.61%	53.3%	41.4%	11.9%
2013	79.9%	75.3%	4.62%	53.4%	41.2%	12.1%
2014	81.9%	77.2%	4.65%	53.5%	41.1%	12.4%
2015	83.9%	79.2%	4.66%	53.6%	40.9%	12.7%
2016	86.1%	81.4%	4.69%	53.7%	40.7%	13%
2017	90.7%	85.9%	4.81%	53.9%	40.6%	13.3%
2018	90.4%	85.5%	4.88%	54.1%	40.4%	13.7%
2019	85.8%	80.9%	4.88%	54.2%	40.1%	14%
2020	82.2%	77.3%	4.91%	54.2%	39.8%	14.4%
2021	79.8%	74.9%	4.97%	54.2%	39.5%	14.7%
2022	77.6%	72.6%	5.04%	54%	39%	15%
2023	74.7%	69.6%	5.09%	53.9%	38.5%	15.4%
2024	72.1%	67%	5.15%	53.7%	38%	15.7%

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+

South Sudan working age demographic chart

Table

Year	Working age population share
	South Sudan	World
1960	54.6%	57.6%
1961	54.6%	57.5%
1962	54.6%	57.4%
1963	54.5%	57.2%
1964	54.3%	57%
1965	54.1%	56.9%
1966	53.9%	56.8%
1967	53.7%	56.9%
1968	53.5%	56.9%
1969	53.4%	56.9%
1970	53.2%	57%
1971	53.1%	57.1%
1972	52.9%	57.2%
1973	52.8%	57.3%
1974	52.7%	57.3%
1975	52.5%	57.4%
1976	52.4%	57.5%
1977	52.3%	57.7%
1978	52.1%	58%
1979	51.9%	58.4%
1980	51.8%	58.7%
1981	51.6%	59%
1982	51.4%	59.3%
1983	51.3%	59.6%
1984	51.1%	59.9%
1985	50.9%	60.1%
1986	50.8%	60.4%
1987	50.7%	60.5%
1988	51.5%	60.7%
1989	52.3%	60.8%
1990	52.2%	60.9%
1991	52.2%	61%
1992	52.1%	61.1%
1993	51.9%	61.2%
1994	51.8%	61.3%
1995	51.7%	61.5%
1996	51.6%	61.7%
1997	51.5%	61.9%
1998	51.7%	62.2%
1999	52%	62.5%
2000	52.1%	62.8%
2001	52%	63.1%
2002	51.8%	63.4%
2003	51.6%	63.7%
2004	51.7%	64%
2005	52.2%	64.3%
2006	52.7%	64.5%
2007	53.2%	64.7%
2008	53.7%	64.9%
2009	54.1%	65%
2010	54.7%	65.1%
2011	55.3%	65.2%
2012	55.5%	65.2%
2013	55.6%	65.2%
2014	55%	65.2%
2015	54.4%	65.1%
2016	53.7%	65.1%
2017	52.4%	65%
2018	52.5%	64.9%
2019	53.8%	64.9%
2020	54.9%	64.8%
2021	55.6%	64.9%
2022	56.3%	64.9%
2023	57.2%	65%
2024	58.1%	65.1%
2025	58.9%	65.2%
2026	59.8%	65.3%
2027	60.5%	65.4%
2028	61.1%	65.4%
2029	61.6%	65.4%
2030	61.8%	65.4%
2031	61.9%	65.4%
2032	61.9%	65.4%
2033	61.8%	65.4%
2034	61.7%	65.3%
2035	61.7%	65.2%
2036	61.6%	65%
2037	61.6%	64.9%
2038	61.6%	64.7%
2039	61.7%	64.6%
2040	61.7%	64.5%
2041	61.8%	64.4%
2042	62%	64.3%
2043	62.2%	64.2%
2044	62.4%	64.1%
2045	62.7%	63.9%
2046	63%	63.8%
2047	63.3%	63.7%
2048	63.6%	63.6%
2049	64%	63.4%
2050	64.4%	63.3%

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

Share of young population (0-14 years)

Table

Year	Share of population 0-14 years old
	South Sudan	World
1960	42.5%	37.4%
1961	42.6%	37.5%
1962	42.6%	37.6%
1963	42.8%	37.8%
1964	43%	38%
1965	43.3%	38%
1966	43.5%	38%
1967	43.8%	38%
1968	44%	37.9%
1969	44.3%	37.8%
1970	44.5%	37.7%
1971	44.7%	37.6%
1972	44.8%	37.5%
1973	45%	37.3%
1974	45.1%	37.2%
1975	45.2%	37.1%
1976	45.3%	36.9%
1977	45.4%	36.7%
1978	45.5%	36.3%
1979	45.7%	35.9%
1980	45.8%	35.5%
1981	46%	35.2%
1982	46.2%	34.9%
1983	46.3%	34.6%
1984	46.5%	34.3%
1985	46.6%	34%
1986	46.7%	33.8%
1987	46.9%	33.6%
1988	46.2%	33.4%
1989	45.4%	33.2%
1990	45.4%	33%
1991	45.5%	32.9%
1992	45.6%	32.7%
1993	45.7%	32.5%
1994	45.8%	32.3%
1995	45.8%	32.1%
1996	46%	31.8%
1997	46%	31.5%
1998	45.8%	31.1%
1999	45.6%	30.8%
2000	45.5%	30.4%
2001	45.5%	30%
2002	45.7%	29.6%
2003	45.9%	29.2%
2004	45.8%	28.8%
2005	45.3%	28.5%
2006	44.8%	28.1%
2007	44.3%	27.9%
2008	43.8%	27.6%
2009	43.4%	27.5%
2010	42.8%	27.3%
2011	42.2%	27.1%
2012	41.9%	27%
2013	41.9%	26.9%
2014	42.5%	26.8%
2015	43.1%	26.6%
2016	43.7%	26.5%
2017	45%	26.4%
2018	44.9%	26.2%
2019	43.6%	26%
2020	42.4%	25.8%
2021	41.6%	25.6%
2022	40.9%	25.3%
2023	39.9%	25%
2024	38.9%	24.7%
2025	38%	24.4%
2026	37.1%	24.1%
2027	36.2%	23.8%
2028	35.5%	23.4%
2029	35%	23.1%
2030	34.7%	22.8%
2031	34.5%	22.6%
2032	34.4%	22.3%
2033	34.3%	22.1%
2034	34.3%	21.9%
2035	34.2%	21.7%
2036	34.1%	21.6%
2037	34%	21.5%
2038	33.8%	21.4%
2039	33.7%	21.3%
2040	33.4%	21.2%
2041	33.2%	21.1%
2042	32.9%	21%
2043	32.5%	21%
2044	32.2%	20.9%
2045	31.8%	20.8%
2046	31.4%	20.7%
2047	31%	20.7%
2048	30.5%	20.6%
2049	30.1%	20.5%
2050	29.7%	20.4%

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+)

Table

Year	Share of population 65+ years old
	South Sudan	World
1960	2.91%	4.97%
1961	2.86%	4.99%
1962	2.81%	5.01%
1963	2.75%	5.02%
1964	2.69%	5.04%
1965	2.64%	5.08%
1966	2.57%	5.12%
1967	2.5%	5.16%
1968	2.43%	5.2%
1969	2.37%	5.24%
1970	2.31%	5.28%
1971	2.28%	5.32%
1972	2.26%	5.37%
1973	2.27%	5.42%
1974	2.28%	5.47%
1975	2.3%	5.53%
1976	2.32%	5.59%
1977	2.34%	5.65%
1978	2.35%	5.71%
1979	2.37%	5.77%
1980	2.39%	5.81%
1981	2.4%	5.81%
1982	2.41%	5.8%
1983	2.42%	5.79%
1984	2.43%	5.8%
1985	2.44%	5.82%
1986	2.45%	5.86%
1987	2.46%	5.91%
1988	2.38%	5.95%
1989	2.31%	6.01%
1990	2.33%	6.07%
1991	2.35%	6.14%
1992	2.37%	6.21%
1993	2.37%	6.29%
1994	2.39%	6.37%
1995	2.41%	6.45%
1996	2.43%	6.53%
1997	2.44%	6.61%
1998	2.43%	6.68%
1999	2.42%	6.76%
2000	2.43%	6.84%
2001	2.45%	6.92%
2002	2.46%	7.01%
2003	2.47%	7.1%
2004	2.47%	7.18%
2005	2.48%	7.26%
2006	2.49%	7.34%
2007	2.5%	7.41%
2008	2.51%	7.47%
2009	2.53%	7.52%
2010	2.54%	7.58%
2011	2.55%	7.66%
2012	2.56%	7.78%
2013	2.57%	7.92%
2014	2.56%	8.08%
2015	2.53%	8.26%
2016	2.52%	8.45%
2017	2.52%	8.65%
2018	2.56%	8.88%
2019	2.63%	9.1%
2020	2.69%	9.33%
2021	2.76%	9.53%
2022	2.84%	9.74%
2023	2.91%	9.98%
2024	2.99%	10.2%
2025	3.08%	10.4%
2026	3.16%	10.6%
2027	3.25%	10.8%
2028	3.34%	11.1%
2029	3.43%	11.5%
2030	3.52%	11.7%
2031	3.62%	12%
2032	3.73%	12.3%
2033	3.84%	12.6%
2034	3.96%	12.8%
2035	4.09%	13.1%
2036	4.23%	13.4%
2037	4.38%	13.7%
2038	4.53%	13.9%
2039	4.68%	14.1%
2040	4.84%	14.3%
2041	4.99%	14.5%
2042	5.14%	14.7%
2043	5.28%	14.9%
2044	5.41%	15%
2045	5.54%	15.2%
2046	5.65%	15.4%
2047	5.75%	15.7%
2048	5.82%	15.9%
2049	5.88%	16.1%
2050	5.91%	16.3%

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