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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Rwanda was 14,569,341 in 2025 vs 12,188,788 people in South Sudan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Rwanda's population is 15,062,056 people compared to 12,565,048 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 +2.28% per year vs +0.78% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Rwanda has increased from 9.3M people to 15.1M (62% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.6M (57.5% growth).

Rwanda vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Rwanda South Sudan
2100 33,113,283 24,078,379
2099 33,008,545 24,072,957
2098 32,927,982 24,054,947
2097 32,853,307 24,056,753
2096 32,768,037 24,045,972
2095 32,635,508 24,037,837
2094 32,550,001 24,039,267
2093 32,416,870 24,030,512
2092 32,294,333 24,010,555
2091 32,191,262 23,991,816
2090 32,088,747 23,970,012
2089 31,892,591 23,929,017
2088 31,746,789 23,883,712
2087 31,553,150 23,848,809
2086 31,399,004 23,794,890
2085 31,254,597 23,750,772
2084 31,112,448 23,678,728
2083 30,937,106 23,609,290
2082 30,752,861 23,532,790
2081 30,576,992 23,458,146
2080 30,386,351 23,383,482
2079 30,195,560 23,286,011
2078 30,016,688 23,188,860
2077 29,819,259 23,078,416
2076 29,645,610 22,979,198
2075 29,441,964 22,860,496
2074 29,243,980 22,718,148
2073 29,025,977 22,575,682
2072 28,798,822 22,431,004
2071 28,578,302 22,280,140
2070 28,334,300 22,143,813
2069 28,121,174 21,995,874
2068 27,872,383 21,822,076
2067 27,609,059 21,654,546
2066 27,372,823 21,489,275
2065 27,101,698 21,309,913
2064 26,838,144 21,134,522
2063 26,559,838 20,957,705
2062 26,312,631 20,777,701
2061 26,001,660 20,601,672
2060 25,729,037 20,423,629
2059 25,453,407 20,227,862
2058 25,121,995 20,041,880
2057 24,853,512 19,846,671
2056 24,582,198 19,652,407
2055 24,281,895 19,457,411
2054 23,991,958 19,250,667
2053 23,705,290 19,053,773
2052 23,421,032 18,833,795
2051 23,113,700 18,626,605
2050 22,814,556 18,427,690
2049 22,498,806 18,224,430
2048 22,171,841 18,014,650
2047 21,848,486 17,799,982
2046 21,554,082 17,572,953
2045 21,228,573 17,348,901
2044 20,915,810 17,115,914
2043 20,548,490 16,882,303
2042 20,214,283 16,639,465
2041 19,845,021 16,390,966
2040 19,475,227 16,137,104
2039 19,108,842 15,884,330
2038 18,773,398 15,622,514
2037 18,433,422 15,358,539
2036 18,128,058 15,085,936
2035 17,765,049 14,810,066
2034 17,432,165 14,538,365
2033 17,100,072 14,273,128
2032 16,822,053 14,002,178
2031 16,495,903 13,725,779
2030 16,178,061 13,460,850
2029 15,868,812 13,201,804
2028 15,554,713 12,942,501
2027 15,217,275 12,688,278
2026 14,898,118 12,434,895
2025 14,569,341 12,188,788
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,734,946 people (a 16% 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 51.5% to 22,814,556 people with a rank change from 77th to 72nd. The population of South Sudan will increase by 46.7% to 18,427,690 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 2.19% 2.05%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Rwanda grew by 2.19%, while South Sudan's population grew by 2.05%.

Live population counters

Rwanda South Sudan
Current population
15062056
12565048
Population rank 77/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.15%
One net population change
1.69 minutes
2.15 minutes
One birth every
1.31 minutes
1.51 minutes
One death every
6.25 minutes
4.48 minutes
Daily growth/decline +857 +672
Annual growth/decline +312,774 +245,380
Annual growth/decline rate +2.19% +2.05%
Population growth rate rank 40/197 48/197
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 316,025 -15,582 231,714 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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 94% of the population change in Rwanda is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 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, 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 (1960–2025, 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/rwanda/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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