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Population in Ethiopia compared to South Sudan: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ethiopia was 135,472,051 in 2025 vs 12,188,788 people in South Sudan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ethiopia's population is 140,722,974 people compared to 12,565,048 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 11.2 times bigger than South Sudan's.
  • Ethiopia is ranked the 10th most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 1.84% of the world: 1.69% for Ethiopia vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, Ethiopia has had an average growth rate of +2.69% per year vs +0.78% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ethiopia has increased from 80.7M people to 141M (74.4% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.6M (57.5% growth).

Ethiopia vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ethiopia South Sudan
2100 371,078,260 24,078,379
2099 369,338,252 24,072,957
2098 367,513,542 24,054,947
2097 365,567,496 24,056,753
2096 363,536,294 24,045,972
2095 361,596,042 24,037,837
2094 359,531,317 24,039,267
2093 357,460,480 24,030,512
2092 355,389,829 24,010,555
2091 353,218,632 23,991,816
2090 350,960,021 23,970,012
2089 348,751,618 23,929,017
2088 346,517,326 23,883,712
2087 344,162,324 23,848,809
2086 341,671,994 23,794,890
2085 339,167,930 23,750,772
2084 336,649,520 23,678,728
2083 334,083,247 23,609,290
2082 331,401,460 23,532,790
2081 328,715,487 23,458,146
2080 326,013,981 23,383,482
2079 323,282,865 23,286,011
2078 320,422,535 23,188,860
2077 317,492,915 23,078,416
2076 314,518,328 22,979,198
2075 311,487,723 22,860,496
2074 308,416,133 22,718,148
2073 305,383,505 22,575,682
2072 302,258,564 22,431,004
2071 299,119,280 22,280,140
2070 295,963,235 22,143,813
2069 292,756,723 21,995,874
2068 289,522,748 21,822,076
2067 286,191,689 21,654,546
2066 282,905,709 21,489,275
2065 279,576,283 21,309,913
2064 276,197,958 21,134,522
2063 272,782,685 20,957,705
2062 269,340,926 20,777,701
2061 265,803,351 20,601,672
2060 262,269,354 20,423,629
2059 258,692,767 20,227,862
2058 255,205,644 20,041,880
2057 251,656,356 19,846,671
2056 248,002,497 19,652,407
2055 244,426,069 19,457,411
2054 240,794,405 19,250,667
2053 237,155,110 19,053,773
2052 233,479,314 18,833,795
2051 229,733,593 18,626,605
2050 226,055,085 18,427,690
2049 222,351,471 18,224,430
2048 218,627,197 18,014,650
2047 214,883,954 17,799,982
2046 211,161,780 17,572,953
2045 207,461,987 17,348,901
2044 203,749,820 17,115,914
2043 200,035,613 16,882,303
2042 196,351,202 16,639,465
2041 192,689,672 16,390,966
2040 189,023,384 16,137,104
2039 185,365,776 15,884,330
2038 181,733,067 15,622,514
2037 178,124,993 15,358,539
2036 174,515,366 15,085,936
2035 170,904,339 14,810,066
2034 167,316,305 14,538,365
2033 163,763,376 14,273,128
2032 160,167,364 14,002,178
2031 156,590,018 13,725,779
2030 153,023,174 13,460,850
2029 149,461,578 13,201,804
2028 145,944,350 12,942,501
2027 142,419,893 12,688,278
2026 138,930,724 12,434,895
2025 135,472,051 12,188,788
2024 132,059,767 11,943,408
2023 128,691,692 11,483,374
2022 125,384,287 11,021,177
2021 122,138,588 10,865,780
2020 118,917,671 10,698,467
2019 115,737,383 10,423,384
2018 112,664,152 10,122,977
2017 109,666,481 10,259,154
2016 106,718,162 10,830,102
2015 103,867,135 11,107,561
2014 101,115,610 11,235,073
2013 98,438,751 11,166,275
2012 95,798,767 10,756,240
2011 93,149,970 10,288,109
2010 90,538,514 9,745,953
2009 88,007,636 9,243,556
2008 85,543,668 8,817,647
2007 83,103,217 8,388,788
2006 80,703,490 7,976,526
2005 78,367,470 7,590,143
2004 76,077,206 7,233,041
2003 73,832,663 6,903,127
2002 71,635,517 6,596,806
2001 69,487,762 6,308,391
2000 67,411,494 6,032,267
1999 65,374,561 5,771,628
1998 63,363,524 5,620,068
1997 61,404,539 5,509,136
1996 59,467,635 5,356,925
1995 57,537,335 5,225,836
1994 55,611,508 5,071,184
1993 53,708,891 4,956,002
1992 51,853,747 4,909,749
1991 49,717,198 4,836,677
1990 47,609,755 4,737,633
1989 45,879,690 4,713,229
1988 44,150,825 4,848,029
1987 42,460,039 4,962,395
1986 41,037,656 4,921,240
1985 39,842,136 4,834,296
1984 38,735,722 4,750,627
1983 37,740,817 4,661,574
1982 36,701,290 4,557,686
1981 35,304,012 4,447,272
1980 34,428,514 4,339,030
1979 34,238,652 4,232,605
1978 33,734,592 4,127,657
1977 33,167,272 4,024,032
1976 32,534,418 3,921,910
1975 31,723,252 3,821,494
1974 30,957,273 3,723,259
1973 30,166,785 3,627,383
1972 29,374,608 3,542,497
1971 28,600,106 3,468,646
1970 27,829,128 3,409,614
1969 27,072,571 3,365,533
1968 26,337,930 3,321,528
1967 25,620,276 3,277,648
1966 24,952,689 3,236,423
1965 24,310,612 3,189,835
1964 23,666,548 3,129,918
1963 23,051,637 3,072,669
1962 22,465,126 3,024,308
1961 21,906,102 2,976,724
1960 21,376,693 2,931,559

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/south-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ethiopia increased by 26,014,672 people (a 32.2% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ethiopia gained 34,004,812 people (a 31.9% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,734,946 people (a 16% growth).

Ethiopia was ranked 16th most populous country in 2006 and is 10th in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Ethiopia's population will grow by 60.6% to 226,055,085 people with a rank change from 10th to 7th. The population of South Sudan will increase by 46.7% to 18,427,690 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

Ethiopia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 371M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ethiopia South Sudan
2100 0.47% 0.02%
2099 0.5% 0.07%
2098 0.53% -0.008%
2097 0.56% 0.04%
2096 0.54% 0.03%
2095 0.57% -0.006%
2094 0.58% 0.04%
2093 0.58% 0.08%
2092 0.61% 0.08%
2091 0.64% 0.09%
2090 0.63% 0.17%
2089 0.64% 0.19%
2088 0.68% 0.15%
2087 0.73% 0.23%
2086 0.74% 0.19%
2085 0.75% 0.3%
2084 0.77% 0.29%
2083 0.81% 0.33%
2082 0.82% 0.32%
2081 0.83% 0.32%
2080 0.84% 0.42%
2079 0.89% 0.42%
2078 0.92% 0.48%
2077 0.95% 0.43%
2076 0.97% 0.52%
2075 1% 0.63%
2074 0.99% 0.63%
2073 1.03% 0.64%
2072 1.05% 0.68%
2071 1.07% 0.62%
2070 1.1% 0.67%
2069 1.12% 0.8%
2068 1.16% 0.77%
2067 1.16% 0.77%
2066 1.19% 0.84%
2065 1.22% 0.83%
2064 1.25% 0.84%
2063 1.28% 0.87%
2062 1.33% 0.85%
2061 1.35% 0.87%
2060 1.38% 0.97%
2059 1.37% 0.93%
2058 1.41% 0.98%
2057 1.47% 0.99%
2056 1.46% 1%
2055 1.51% 1.07%
2054 1.53% 1.03%
2053 1.57% 1.17%
2052 1.63% 1.11%
2051 1.63% 1.08%
2050 1.67% 1.12%
2049 1.7% 1.16%
2048 1.74% 1.21%
2047 1.76% 1.29%
2046 1.78% 1.29%
2045 1.82% 1.36%
2044 1.86% 1.38%
2043 1.88% 1.46%
2042 1.9% 1.52%
2041 1.94% 1.57%
2040 1.97% 1.59%
2039 2% 1.68%
2038 2.03% 1.72%
2037 2.07% 1.81%
2036 2.11% 1.86%
2035 2.14% 1.87%
2034 2.17% 1.86%
2033 2.25% 1.94%
2032 2.28% 2.01%
2031 2.33% 1.97%
2030 2.38% 1.96%
2029 2.41% 2%
2028 2.47% 2%
2027 2.51% 2.04%
2026 2.55% 2.02%
2025 2.58% 2.05%
2024 2.62% 4.01%
2023 2.64% 4.19%
2022 2.66% 1.43%
2021 2.71% 1.56%
2020 2.75% 2.64%
2019 2.73% 2.97%
2018 2.73% -1.33%
2017 2.76% -5.27%
2016 2.74% -2.5%
2015 2.72% -1.13%
2014 2.72% 0.62%
2013 2.76% 3.81%
2012 2.84% 4.55%
2011 2.88% 5.56%
2010 2.88% 5.44%
2009 2.88% 4.83%
2008 2.94% 5.11%
2007 2.97% 5.17%
2006 2.98% 5.09%
2005 3.01% 4.94%
2004 3.04% 4.78%
2003 3.07% 4.64%
2002 3.09% 4.57%
2001 3.08% 4.58%
2000 3.12% 4.52%
1999 3.17% 2.7%
1998 3.19% 2.01%
1997 3.26% 2.84%
1996 3.35% 2.51%
1995 3.46% 3.05%
1994 3.54% 2.32%
1993 3.58% 0.94%
1992 4.3% 1.51%
1991 4.43% 2.09%
1990 3.77% 0.52%
1989 3.92% -2.78%
1988 3.98% -2.3%
1987 3.47% 0.84%
1986 3% 1.8%
1985 2.86% 1.76%
1984 2.64% 1.91%
1983 2.83% 2.28%
1982 3.96% 2.48%
1981 2.54% 2.49%
1980 0.55% 2.51%
1979 1.49% 2.54%
1978 1.71% 2.58%
1977 1.95% 2.6%
1976 2.56% 2.63%
1975 2.47% 2.64%
1974 2.62% 2.64%
1973 2.7% 2.4%
1972 2.71% 2.13%
1971 2.77% 1.73%
1970 2.79% 1.31%
1969 2.79% 1.32%
1968 2.8% 1.34%
1967 2.68% 1.27%
1966 2.64% 1.46%
1965 2.72% 1.91%
1964 2.67% 1.86%
1963 2.61% 1.6%
1962 2.55% 1.6%
1961 2.48% 1.54%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ethiopia grew by 2.58%, while South Sudan's population grew by 2.05%.

Live population counters

Ethiopia South Sudan
Current population
140722974
12565048
Population rank 10/197 80/197
Percent of world population 1.69% 0.15%
One net population change
9.27 seconds
2.15 minutes
One birth every
7.59 seconds
1.51 minutes
One death every
40.6 seconds
4.48 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,349 +672
Annual growth/decline +3,412,284 +245,380
Annual growth/decline rate +2.58% +2.05%
Population growth rate rank 24/197 48/197
One migration net change every
21.9 minutes
1.43 hours
Annual migration change +24,054 +6,145
Net migration rank 31/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 1,168,455 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 53/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 157/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ethiopia
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ethiopia South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 24,054 - 6,145
2024 3,379,409 30,069 231,714 15,374
2023 3,338,649 -11,996 217,966 455,000
2022 3,300,114 -11,996 211,166 40,259
2021 3,204,673 -1,377 213,567 -154,359
2020 3,199,718 38,866 212,332 62,935
2019 3,132,780 -10,807 209,708 65,198
2018 3,015,231 9,302 168,497 157,408
2017 2,899,143 71,766 72,193 -670,477
2016 2,809,889 115,823 110,553 -654,225
2015 2,713,529 62,785 148,542 -159,822
2014 2,623,647 103,122 227,611 -471,523
2013 2,546,020 80,955 315,983 65,337
2012 2,533,398 119,517 312,974 125,771
2011 2,527,811 116,793 303,181 194,325
2010 2,498,048 80,213 287,409 299,402
2009 2,467,118 16,315 278,859 139,129
2008 2,465,283 -20,780 268,268 165,557
2007 2,436,753 -381 256,546 167,350
2006 2,393,585 -30,512 246,706 153,926
2005 2,353,375 -44,421 239,272 132,869
2004 2,296,999 -25,430 231,877 110,182
2003 2,231,223 -13,744 225,822 91,951
2002 2,189,683 -12,925 212,014 82,847
2001 2,137,791 -19,063 204,108 77,856
2000 2,083,622 -49,891 196,055 74,227
1999 2,010,987 29,142 180,721 70,271
1998 1,984,989 -3,011 -12,157 64,285
1997 1,945,112 -9,119 121,454 48,280
1996 1,896,364 41,456 116,728 17,953
1995 1,831,068 91,727 110,417 17,077
1994 1,788,133 140,715 165,407 16,407
1993 1,734,851 141,545 32,779 15,772
1992 1,673,839 160,106 28,874 15,077
1991 1,579,416 859,737 87,873 14,327
1990 1,479,663 296,014 82,900 12,988
1989 1,441,769 242,614 83,735 -130,821
1988 1,393,356 379,966 -125,447 -97,065
1987 1,356,853 251,387 5,756 -11,976
1986 1,050,277 186,227 99,502 -10,973
1985 997,050 157,476 95,342 -9,986
1984 920,670 137,632 90,970 -8,984
1983 863,472 68,022 104,107 -7,986
1982 1,080,853 66,702 118,641 -6,983
1981 1,018,838 628,135 115,163 -5,994
1980 1,007,516 -903,529 112,307 -4,997
1979 987,203 -711,455 109,540 -3,997
1978 943,388 -210,991 107,352 -2,998
1977 929,381 -527,133 104,886 -1,997
1976 899,577 -36,125 102,346 -995
1975 801,425 -42,540 99,882 -395
1974 777,306 -4,232 97,181 -192
1973 807,535 347 94,765 0
1972 779,808 -3,375 74,803 193
1971 787,047 -14,510 72,308 394
1970 760,821 8,589 44,776 587
1969 736,428 7,258 42,015 786
1968 715,602 9,992 44,213 995
1967 695,283 14,437 41,357 1,194
1966 616,281 9,160 38,523 1,386
1965 642,359 16,348 51,682 1,591
1964 618,667 10,749 64,786 1,785
1963 590,998 9,418 46,333 1,591
1962 563,650 8,960 47,406 1,386
1961 538,518 6,938 45,186 1,194
1960 511,694 1,696 42,945 995

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/south-sudan | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.1% of the population change in Ethiopia is from natural causes (a gain of 30,993,135 people) and 0.93% is from migration (a gain of 292,435 people). In South Sudan 68.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,796,238 people) and 31.9% is from migration (a loss of 842,709 people).

As of 2024, 1,168,455 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Ethiopia, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

Biggest cities by population

Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K
South Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/south-sudan | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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