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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Rwanda was 14,256,567 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Rwanda's population is 14,975,051 people compared to 12,507,858 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 1.2 times bigger than South Sudan's.
  • Rwanda is ranked the 77th most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.33% of the world: 0.18% for Rwanda vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, Rwanda has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Rwanda has increased from 9.3M people to 15M (61% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% growth).

Rwanda vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Rwanda South Sudan
2100 33,092,520 24,086,901
2099 32,987,847 24,081,477
2098 32,907,335 24,063,461
2097 32,832,706 24,065,268
2096 32,747,490 24,054,483
2095 32,615,044 24,046,345
2094 32,529,590 24,047,776
2093 32,396,544 24,039,017
2092 32,274,083 24,019,054
2091 32,171,077 24,000,308
2090 32,068,626 23,978,496
2089 31,872,593 23,937,487
2088 31,726,882 23,892,166
2087 31,533,364 23,857,250
2086 31,379,315 23,803,312
2085 31,235,000 23,759,178
2084 31,092,940 23,687,109
2083 30,917,707 23,617,646
2082 30,733,578 23,541,119
2081 30,557,819 23,466,449
2080 30,367,298 23,391,758
2079 30,176,627 23,294,252
2078 29,997,866 23,197,067
2077 29,800,561 23,086,584
2076 29,627,021 22,987,331
2075 29,423,503 22,868,587
2074 29,225,643 22,726,189
2073 29,007,777 22,583,672
2072 28,780,763 22,438,943
2071 28,560,382 22,288,026
2070 28,316,533 22,151,650
2069 28,103,541 22,003,659
2068 27,854,906 21,829,800
2067 27,591,747 21,662,211
2066 27,355,659 21,496,881
2065 27,084,704 21,317,455
2064 26,821,315 21,142,002
2063 26,543,184 20,965,122
2062 26,296,132 20,785,055
2061 25,985,356 20,608,964
2060 25,712,904 20,430,857
2059 25,437,446 20,235,022
2058 25,106,242 20,048,974
2057 24,837,928 19,853,696
2056 24,566,784 19,659,362
2055 24,266,669 19,464,297
2054 23,976,914 19,257,481
2053 23,690,426 19,060,517
2052 23,406,346 18,840,461
2051 23,099,207 18,633,198
2050 22,800,250 18,434,212
2049 22,484,698 18,230,881
2048 22,157,938 18,021,026
2047 21,834,786 17,806,282
2046 21,540,566 17,579,173
2045 21,215,262 17,355,041
2044 20,902,695 17,121,972
2043 20,535,605 16,888,278
2042 20,201,608 16,645,354
2041 19,832,577 16,396,768
2040 19,463,015 16,142,816
2039 19,096,860 15,889,952
2038 18,761,626 15,628,043
2037 18,421,864 15,363,975
2036 18,116,691 15,091,275
2035 17,753,910 14,815,307
2034 17,421,234 14,543,511
2033 17,089,349 14,278,180
2032 16,811,505 14,007,134
2031 16,485,559 13,730,637
2030 16,167,916 13,465,615
2029 15,858,862 13,206,477
2028 15,544,959 12,947,082
2027 15,207,733 12,692,769
2026 14,888,776 12,439,296
2025 14,560,205 12,193,102
2024 14,256,567 11,943,408
2023 13,954,471 11,483,374
2022 13,651,030 11,021,177
2021 13,355,260 10,865,780
2020 13,065,837 10,698,467
2019 12,776,103 10,423,384
2018 12,487,996 10,122,977
2017 12,202,060 10,259,154
2016 11,919,183 10,830,102
2015 11,640,022 11,107,561
2014 11,364,757 11,235,073
2013 11,093,340 11,166,275
2012 10,829,901 10,756,240
2011 10,573,733 10,288,109
2010 10,317,553 9,745,953
2009 10,060,432 9,243,556
2008 9,804,269 8,817,647
2007 9,549,933 8,388,788
2006 9,299,246 7,976,526
2005 9,054,528 7,590,143
2004 8,816,844 7,233,041
2003 8,586,875 6,903,127
2002 8,400,180 6,596,806
2001 8,287,094 6,308,391
2000 8,213,931 6,032,267
1999 8,147,912 5,771,628
1998 8,081,681 5,620,068
1997 7,755,238 5,509,136
1996 6,708,764 5,356,925
1995 5,674,118 5,225,836
1994 6,792,352 5,071,184
1993 7,981,132 4,956,002
1992 7,683,266 4,909,749
1991 7,526,966 4,836,677
1990 7,375,307 4,737,633
1989 7,184,706 4,713,229
1988 6,968,071 4,848,029
1987 6,749,493 4,962,395
1986 6,531,881 4,921,240
1985 6,317,228 4,834,296
1984 6,107,627 4,750,627
1983 5,905,311 4,661,574
1982 5,711,549 4,557,686
1981 5,527,230 4,447,272
1980 5,353,259 4,339,030
1979 5,189,541 4,232,605
1978 5,035,171 4,127,657
1977 4,888,240 4,024,032
1976 4,745,954 3,921,910
1975 4,607,728 3,821,494
1974 4,474,228 3,723,259
1973 4,345,047 3,627,383
1972 4,220,335 3,542,497
1971 4,100,044 3,468,646
1970 3,980,669 3,409,614
1969 3,861,271 3,365,533
1968 3,744,010 3,321,528
1967 3,629,577 3,277,648
1966 3,521,626 3,236,423
1965 3,423,210 3,189,835
1964 3,334,834 3,129,918
1963 3,258,890 3,072,669
1962 3,186,025 3,024,308
1961 3,106,779 2,976,724
1960 3,022,294 2,931,559

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Rwanda increased by 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Rwanda gained 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth).

Rwanda was ranked 86th most populous country in 2006 and is 77th 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) Rwanda's population will grow by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people with a rank change from 77th to 72nd. The population of South Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

Rwanda is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 33.1M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Rwanda South Sudan
2100 0.32% 0.02%
2099 0.24% 0.07%
2098 0.23% -0.008%
2097 0.26% 0.04%
2096 0.41% 0.03%
2095 0.26% -0.006%
2094 0.41% 0.04%
2093 0.38% 0.08%
2092 0.32% 0.08%
2091 0.32% 0.09%
2090 0.62% 0.17%
2089 0.46% 0.19%
2088 0.61% 0.15%
2087 0.49% 0.23%
2086 0.46% 0.19%
2085 0.46% 0.3%
2084 0.57% 0.29%
2083 0.6% 0.33%
2082 0.58% 0.32%
2081 0.63% 0.32%
2080 0.63% 0.42%
2079 0.6% 0.42%
2078 0.66% 0.48%
2077 0.59% 0.43%
2076 0.69% 0.52%
2075 0.68% 0.63%
2074 0.75% 0.63%
2073 0.79% 0.64%
2072 0.77% 0.68%
2071 0.86% 0.62%
2070 0.76% 0.67%
2069 0.89% 0.8%
2068 0.95% 0.77%
2067 0.86% 0.77%
2066 1% 0.84%
2065 0.98% 0.83%
2064 1.05% 0.84%
2063 0.94% 0.87%
2062 1.2% 0.85%
2061 1.06% 0.87%
2060 1.08% 0.97%
2059 1.32% 0.93%
2058 1.08% 0.98%
2057 1.1% 0.99%
2056 1.24% 1%
2055 1.21% 1.07%
2054 1.21% 1.03%
2053 1.21% 1.17%
2052 1.33% 1.11%
2051 1.31% 1.08%
2050 1.4% 1.12%
2049 1.47% 1.16%
2048 1.48% 1.21%
2047 1.37% 1.29%
2046 1.53% 1.29%
2045 1.5% 1.36%
2044 1.79% 1.38%
2043 1.65% 1.46%
2042 1.86% 1.52%
2041 1.9% 1.57%
2040 1.92% 1.59%
2039 1.79% 1.68%
2038 1.84% 1.72%
2037 1.68% 1.81%
2036 2.04% 1.86%
2035 1.91% 1.87%
2034 1.94% 1.86%
2033 1.65% 1.94%
2032 1.98% 2.01%
2031 1.96% 1.97%
2030 1.95% 1.96%
2029 2.02% 2%
2028 2.22% 2%
2027 2.14% 2.04%
2026 2.26% 2.02%
2025 2.13% 2.09%
2024 2.16% 4.01%
2023 2.22% 4.19%
2022 2.21% 1.43%
2021 2.22% 1.56%
2020 2.27% 2.64%
2019 2.31% 2.97%
2018 2.34% -1.33%
2017 2.37% -5.27%
2016 2.4% -2.5%
2015 2.42% -1.13%
2014 2.45% 0.62%
2013 2.43% 3.81%
2012 2.42% 4.55%
2011 2.48% 5.56%
2010 2.56% 5.44%
2009 2.61% 4.83%
2008 2.66% 5.11%
2007 2.7% 5.17%
2006 2.7% 5.09%
2005 2.7% 4.94%
2004 2.68% 4.78%
2003 2.22% 4.64%
2002 1.36% 4.57%
2001 0.89% 4.58%
2000 0.81% 4.52%
1999 0.82% 2.7%
1998 4.21% 2.01%
1997 15.6% 2.84%
1996 18.2% 2.51%
1995 -16.5% 3.05%
1994 -14.9% 2.32%
1993 3.88% 0.94%
1992 2.08% 1.51%
1991 2.06% 2.09%
1990 2.65% 0.52%
1989 3.11% -2.78%
1988 3.24% -2.3%
1987 3.33% 0.84%
1986 3.4% 1.8%
1985 3.43% 1.76%
1984 3.43% 1.91%
1983 3.39% 2.28%
1982 3.33% 2.48%
1981 3.25% 2.49%
1980 3.15% 2.51%
1979 3.07% 2.54%
1978 3.01% 2.58%
1977 3% 2.6%
1976 3% 2.63%
1975 2.98% 2.64%
1974 2.97% 2.64%
1973 2.96% 2.4%
1972 2.93% 2.13%
1971 3% 1.73%
1970 3.09% 1.31%
1969 3.13% 1.32%
1968 3.15% 1.34%
1967 3.07% 1.27%
1966 2.87% 1.46%
1965 2.65% 1.91%
1964 2.33% 1.86%
1963 2.29% 1.6%
1962 2.55% 1.6%
1961 2.8% 1.54%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Rwanda grew by 2.16%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

Rwanda South Sudan
Current population
14975051
12507858
Population rank 77/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.15%
One net population change
1.74 minutes
1.14 minutes
One birth every
1.33 minutes
1.6 minutes
One death every
6.35 minutes
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +828 +1,260
Annual growth/decline +302,096 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate +2.16% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 7/197
One migration net change every
1.4 hours
1.43 hours
Annual migration change +6,282 +6,145
Net migration rank 48/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 513,316 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 80/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.6% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 109/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Rwanda
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Rwanda South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 6,282 - 6,145
2024 - -15,582 - 15,374
2023 312,762 -9,001 217,966 455,000
2022 312,145 -9,001 211,166 40,259
2021 309,895 -21,492 213,567 -154,359
2020 312,692 -22,251 212,332 62,935
2019 313,525 -24,492 209,708 65,198
2018 312,512 -25,323 168,497 157,408
2017 310,323 -25,634 72,193 -670,477
2016 305,549 -24,474 110,553 -654,225
2015 299,114 -21,862 148,542 -159,822
2014 292,779 -19,505 227,611 -471,523
2013 286,331 -16,779 315,983 65,337
2012 282,584 -25,260 312,974 125,771
2011 282,922 -27,915 303,181 194,325
2010 286,848 -29,501 287,409 299,402
2009 287,034 -30,128 278,859 139,129
2008 287,334 -31,913 268,268 165,557
2007 285,791 -32,537 256,546 167,350
2006 282,149 -34,008 246,706 153,926
2005 275,121 -33,830 239,272 132,869
2004 265,273 -31,214 231,877 110,182
2003 251,243 -25,355 225,822 91,951
2002 239,036 -91,518 212,014 82,847
2001 230,845 -152,197 204,108 77,856
2000 221,276 -153,588 196,055 74,227
1999 210,518 -146,162 180,721 70,271
1998 197,185 -129,089 -12,157 64,285
1997 174,687 410,106 121,454 48,280
1996 140,455 1,367,700 116,728 17,953
1995 121,137 439,995 110,417 17,077
1994 -719,479 -2,078,111 165,407 16,407
1993 183,926 236,110 32,779 15,772
1992 188,025 -12,334 28,874 15,077
1991 196,431 -59,519 87,873 14,327
1990 207,895 -41,483 82,900 12,988
1989 217,632 -2,826 83,735 -130,821
1988 223,759 -5,285 -125,447 -97,065
1987 225,744 -7,062 5,756 -11,976
1986 225,526 -8,982 99,502 -10,973
1985 223,794 -11,031 95,342 -9,986
1984 219,337 -12,899 90,970 -8,984
1983 212,750 -14,560 104,107 -7,986
1982 205,147 -15,818 118,641 -6,983
1981 195,769 -16,453 115,163 -5,994
1980 184,988 -16,359 112,307 -4,997
1979 174,477 -15,669 109,540 -3,997
1978 163,779 -13,838 107,352 -2,998
1977 155,011 -11,084 104,886 -1,997
1976 147,665 -7,027 102,346 -995
1975 140,596 -4,791 99,882 -395
1974 135,743 -4,535 97,181 -192
1973 131,021 -3,862 94,765 0
1972 126,403 -4,156 74,803 193
1971 122,567 -4,230 72,308 394
1970 119,273 1,149 44,776 587
1969 115,394 2,983 42,015 786
1968 111,422 4,728 44,213 995
1967 108,053 4,655 41,357 1,194
1966 105,128 -1,930 38,523 1,386
1965 103,422 -9,774 51,682 1,591
1964 102,562 -19,458 64,786 1,785
1963 94,296 -25,524 46,333 1,591
1962 102,548 -25,594 47,406 1,386
1961 102,051 -20,508 45,186 1,194
1960 100,627 -13,198 42,945 995

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 93.8% of the population change in Rwanda is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people). In South Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 people).

As of 2024, 513,316 residents or 3.6% of the population were not native-born in Rwanda, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

Biggest cities by population

Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K
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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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