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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Somalia was 19,009,151 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Somalia's population is 20,503,678 people compared to 12,507,858 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • Somalia's population is 1.64 times bigger than South Sudan's.
  • Somalia is ranked the 66th most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.4% of the world: 0.25% for Somalia vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, Somalia has had an average growth rate of +3.61% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Somalia has increased from 11M people to 20.5M (86.8% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% growth).

Somalia vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Somalia
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Somalia South Sudan
2100 68,384,185 24,086,901
2099 68,040,371 24,081,477
2098 67,702,230 24,063,461
2097 67,362,336 24,065,268
2096 66,972,933 24,054,483
2095 66,585,659 24,046,345
2094 66,179,819 24,047,776
2093 65,760,590 24,039,017
2092 65,324,261 24,019,054
2091 64,852,843 24,000,308
2090 64,362,727 23,978,496
2089 63,922,797 23,937,487
2088 63,464,036 23,892,166
2087 62,987,028 23,857,250
2086 62,447,029 23,803,312
2085 61,873,597 23,759,178
2084 61,318,916 23,687,109
2083 60,761,800 23,617,646
2082 60,187,980 23,541,119
2081 59,676,722 23,466,449
2080 59,100,915 23,391,758
2079 58,477,428 23,294,252
2078 57,852,528 23,197,067
2077 57,211,821 23,086,584
2076 56,602,463 22,987,331
2075 56,005,600 22,868,587
2074 55,330,165 22,726,189
2073 54,651,918 22,583,672
2072 53,978,548 22,438,943
2071 53,284,016 22,288,026
2070 52,573,210 22,151,650
2069 51,878,214 22,003,659
2068 51,197,653 21,829,800
2067 50,493,028 21,662,211
2066 49,779,172 21,496,881
2065 49,024,665 21,317,455
2064 48,265,876 21,142,002
2063 47,522,361 20,965,122
2062 46,785,920 20,785,055
2061 46,037,526 20,608,964
2060 45,220,507 20,430,857
2059 44,397,936 20,235,022
2058 43,659,021 20,048,974
2057 42,897,422 19,853,696
2056 42,121,542 19,659,362
2055 41,318,179 19,464,297
2054 40,513,141 19,257,481
2053 39,744,995 19,060,517
2052 38,992,177 18,840,461
2051 38,228,872 18,633,198
2050 37,471,735 18,434,212
2049 36,739,905 18,230,881
2048 35,984,999 18,021,026
2047 35,218,863 17,806,282
2046 34,462,403 17,579,173
2045 33,717,596 17,355,041
2044 32,977,674 17,121,972
2043 32,247,710 16,888,278
2042 31,537,272 16,645,354
2041 30,794,853 16,396,768
2040 30,032,324 16,142,816
2039 29,312,883 15,889,952
2038 28,583,386 15,628,043
2037 27,838,646 15,363,975
2036 27,114,453 15,091,275
2035 26,385,421 14,815,307
2034 25,687,629 14,543,511
2033 25,018,509 14,278,180
2032 24,338,597 14,007,134
2031 23,657,353 13,730,637
2030 22,965,742 13,465,615
2029 22,299,610 13,206,477
2028 21,651,582 12,947,082
2027 20,991,860 12,692,769
2026 20,322,668 12,439,296
2025 19,666,990 12,193,102
2024 19,009,151 11,943,408
2023 18,358,615 11,483,374
2022 17,801,897 11,021,177
2021 17,271,431 10,865,780
2020 16,651,191 10,698,467
2019 16,030,971 10,423,384
2018 15,452,487 10,122,977
2017 14,916,629 10,259,154
2016 14,348,740 10,830,102
2015 13,806,963 11,107,561
2014 13,339,491 11,235,073
2013 12,869,594 11,166,275
2012 12,461,160 10,756,240
2011 12,348,830 10,288,109
2010 12,261,756 9,745,953
2009 11,961,201 9,243,556
2008 11,663,084 8,817,647
2007 11,322,582 8,388,788
2006 10,975,502 7,976,526
2005 10,644,228 7,590,143
2004 10,280,998 7,233,041
2003 9,909,157 6,903,127
2002 9,550,063 6,596,806
2001 9,198,493 6,308,391
2000 8,838,713 6,032,267
1999 8,492,059 5,771,628
1998 8,155,417 5,620,068
1997 7,824,525 5,509,136
1996 7,554,474 5,356,925
1995 7,285,007 5,225,836
1994 7,026,797 5,071,184
1993 6,681,399 4,956,002
1992 6,495,107 4,909,749
1991 6,813,760 4,836,677
1990 7,082,811 4,737,633
1989 7,114,817 4,713,229
1988 7,235,360 4,848,029
1987 7,228,302 4,962,395
1986 6,974,788 4,921,240
1985 6,693,289 4,834,296
1984 6,428,389 4,750,627
1983 6,198,430 4,661,574
1982 6,003,840 4,557,686
1981 5,982,849 4,447,272
1980 5,936,154 4,339,030
1979 5,449,117 4,232,605
1978 4,814,892 4,127,657
1977 4,484,050 4,024,032
1976 4,365,812 3,921,910
1975 4,257,535 3,821,494
1974 4,151,842 3,723,259
1973 4,045,592 3,627,383
1972 3,939,436 3,542,497
1971 3,837,691 3,468,646
1970 3,738,448 3,409,614
1969 3,641,015 3,365,533
1968 3,546,590 3,321,528
1967 3,454,537 3,277,648
1966 3,365,106 3,236,423
1965 3,277,874 3,189,835
1964 3,192,796 3,129,918
1963 3,110,361 3,072,669
1962 3,030,091 3,024,308
1961 2,952,054 2,976,724
1960 2,876,331 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/somalia/south-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Somalia increased by 3,373,238 people (a 30.7% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Somalia gained 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth).

Somalia was ranked 75th most populous country in 2006 and is 66th 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) Somalia's population will grow by 82.8% to 37,471,735 people with a rank change from 66th to 57th. The population of South Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

Somalia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.4M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Somalia
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Somalia South Sudan
2100 0.51% 0.02%
2099 0.5% 0.07%
2098 0.5% -0.008%
2097 0.58% 0.04%
2096 0.58% 0.03%
2095 0.61% -0.006%
2094 0.64% 0.04%
2093 0.67% 0.08%
2092 0.73% 0.08%
2091 0.76% 0.09%
2090 0.69% 0.17%
2089 0.72% 0.19%
2088 0.76% 0.15%
2087 0.86% 0.23%
2086 0.93% 0.19%
2085 0.9% 0.3%
2084 0.92% 0.29%
2083 0.95% 0.33%
2082 0.86% 0.32%
2081 0.97% 0.32%
2080 1.07% 0.42%
2079 1.08% 0.42%
2078 1.12% 0.48%
2077 1.08% 0.43%
2076 1.07% 0.52%
2075 1.22% 0.63%
2074 1.24% 0.63%
2073 1.25% 0.64%
2072 1.3% 0.68%
2071 1.35% 0.62%
2070 1.34% 0.67%
2069 1.33% 0.8%
2068 1.4% 0.77%
2067 1.43% 0.77%
2066 1.54% 0.84%
2065 1.57% 0.83%
2064 1.56% 0.84%
2063 1.57% 0.87%
2062 1.63% 0.85%
2061 1.81% 0.87%
2060 1.85% 0.97%
2059 1.69% 0.93%
2058 1.78% 0.98%
2057 1.84% 0.99%
2056 1.94% 1%
2055 1.99% 1.07%
2054 1.93% 1.03%
2053 1.93% 1.17%
2052 2% 1.11%
2051 2.02% 1.08%
2050 1.99% 1.12%
2049 2.1% 1.16%
2048 2.18% 1.21%
2047 2.2% 1.29%
2046 2.21% 1.29%
2045 2.24% 1.36%
2044 2.26% 1.38%
2043 2.25% 1.46%
2042 2.41% 1.52%
2041 2.54% 1.57%
2040 2.45% 1.59%
2039 2.55% 1.68%
2038 2.68% 1.72%
2037 2.67% 1.81%
2036 2.76% 1.86%
2035 2.72% 1.87%
2034 2.67% 1.86%
2033 2.79% 1.94%
2032 2.88% 2.01%
2031 3.01% 1.97%
2030 2.99% 1.96%
2029 2.99% 2%
2028 3.14% 2%
2027 3.29% 2.04%
2026 3.33% 2.02%
2025 3.46% 2.09%
2024 3.54% 4.01%
2023 3.13% 4.19%
2022 3.07% 1.43%
2021 3.72% 1.56%
2020 3.87% 2.64%
2019 3.74% 2.97%
2018 3.59% -1.33%
2017 3.96% -5.27%
2016 3.92% -2.5%
2015 3.5% -1.13%
2014 3.65% 0.62%
2013 3.28% 3.81%
2012 0.91% 4.55%
2011 0.71% 5.56%
2010 2.51% 5.44%
2009 2.56% 4.83%
2008 3.01% 5.11%
2007 3.16% 5.17%
2006 3.11% 5.09%
2005 3.53% 4.94%
2004 3.75% 4.78%
2003 3.76% 4.64%
2002 3.82% 4.57%
2001 4.07% 4.58%
2000 4.08% 4.52%
1999 4.13% 2.7%
1998 4.23% 2.01%
1997 3.57% 2.84%
1996 3.7% 2.51%
1995 3.67% 3.05%
1994 5.17% 2.32%
1993 2.87% 0.94%
1992 -4.68% 1.51%
1991 -3.8% 2.09%
1990 -0.45% 0.52%
1989 -1.67% -2.78%
1988 0.1% -2.3%
1987 3.63% 0.84%
1986 4.21% 1.8%
1985 4.12% 1.76%
1984 3.71% 1.91%
1983 3.24% 2.28%
1982 0.35% 2.48%
1981 0.79% 2.49%
1980 8.94% 2.51%
1979 13.2% 2.54%
1978 7.38% 2.58%
1977 2.71% 2.6%
1976 2.54% 2.63%
1975 2.55% 2.64%
1974 2.63% 2.64%
1973 2.69% 2.4%
1972 2.65% 2.13%
1971 2.65% 1.73%
1970 2.68% 1.31%
1969 2.66% 1.32%
1968 2.66% 1.34%
1967 2.66% 1.27%
1966 2.66% 1.46%
1965 2.66% 1.91%
1964 2.65% 1.86%
1963 2.65% 1.6%
1962 2.64% 1.6%
1961 2.63% 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/somalia/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Somalia grew by 3.54%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

Somalia South Sudan
Current population
20503678
12507858
Population rank 66/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.25% 0.15%
One net population change
48.5 seconds
1.14 minutes
One birth every
40 seconds
1.6 minutes
One death every
2.91 minutes
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,782 +1,260
Annual growth/decline +650,536 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate +3.54% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 8/197 7/197
One migration net change every
43.6 minutes
1.43 hours
Annual migration change +12,077 +6,145
Net migration rank 40/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 77,972 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 140/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 180/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Somalia
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Somalia South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 12,077 - 6,145
2024 - 26,859 - 15,374
2023 608,203 46,217 217,966 455,000
2022 551,450 -92,434 211,166 40,259
2021 566,399 35,506 213,567 -154,359
2020 561,311 77,259 212,332 62,935
2019 548,756 53,124 209,708 65,198
2018 514,244 40,844 168,497 157,408
2017 478,556 38,067 72,193 -670,477
2016 495,132 124,017 110,553 -654,225
2015 481,573 -17,178 148,542 -159,822
2014 464,481 6,065 227,611 -471,523
2013 448,518 20,723 315,983 65,337
2012 399,468 -51,833 312,974 125,771
2011 203,213 -326,192 303,181 194,325
2010 385,571 -88,448 287,409 299,402
2009 405,784 -101,795 278,859 139,129
2008 394,258 -102,035 268,268 165,557
2007 380,303 8,476 256,546 167,350
2006 372,597 -67,200 246,706 153,926
2005 363,117 -5,955 239,272 132,869
2004 351,959 17,353 231,877 110,182
2003 341,192 33,174 225,822 91,951
2002 331,215 12,603 212,014 82,847
2001 319,059 40,274 204,108 77,856
2000 306,651 53,580 196,055 74,227
1999 295,523 37,548 180,721 70,271
1998 284,779 55,426 -12,157 64,285
1997 271,894 49,692 121,454 48,280
1996 264,807 -46,291 116,728 17,953
1995 254,509 65,888 110,417 17,077
1994 246,950 -50,921 165,407 16,407
1993 232,960 261,815 32,779 15,772
1992 57,495 -179,675 28,874 15,077
1991 53,052 -568,166 87,873 14,327
1990 225,162 -248,155 82,900 12,988
1989 225,255 -266,281 83,735 -130,821
1988 215,599 -415,660 -125,447 -97,065
1987 231,580 -17,391 5,756 -11,976
1986 218,416 74,424 99,502 -10,973
1985 207,960 62,183 95,342 -9,986
1984 199,017 60,630 90,970 -8,984
1983 190,775 9,505 104,107 -7,986
1982 182,793 6,115 118,641 -6,983
1981 185,211 -332,129 115,163 -5,994
1980 174,790 65,519 112,307 -4,997
1979 151,016 582,746 109,540 -3,997
1978 132,689 402,005 107,352 -2,998
1977 124,818 2,170 104,886 -1,997
1976 113,319 -3,831 102,346 -995
1975 108,998 -1,934 99,882 -395
1974 104,813 -495 97,181 -192
1973 108,038 143 94,765 0
1972 104,493 -351 74,803 193
1971 101,196 -1,850 72,308 394
1970 98,025 1,104 44,776 587
1969 95,045 690 42,015 786
1968 92,208 906 44,213 995
1967 89,497 1,498 41,357 1,194
1966 86,930 941 38,523 1,386
1965 84,448 2,142 51,682 1,591
1964 82,042 1,518 64,786 1,785
1963 79,859 1,449 46,333 1,591
1962 77,737 1,496 47,406 1,386
1961 75,513 1,336 45,186 1,194
1960 73,850 750 42,945 995

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 94.4% of the population change in Somalia is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 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, 77,972 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Somalia, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

Biggest cities by population

Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K
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/somalia/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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