The current population of South Sudan is 12,507,858 people, as of 2026 based on the adjusted UN estimation. The latest officially reported number was 11,943,408 in 2024.
- South Sudan is projected to reach 24.1M people in 2100.
- South Sudan is ranked 80/197 by population and was ranked 92nd in 2006.
- For the last 20 years, South Sudan has had an average growth rate of 2.84% per year.
- Since 2006, population has increased from 7.98M people to 12.5M (56.8% growth in 20 years).
- South Sudan accounts for 0.15% of the world's population.
South Sudan population and growth rate by year
| Year | Population | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2100 | 24,086,901 | 0.02% |
| 2099 | 24,081,477 | 0.07% |
| 2098 | 24,063,461 | -0.008% |
| 2097 | 24,065,268 | 0.04% |
| 2096 | 24,054,483 | 0.03% |
| 2095 | 24,046,345 | -0.006% |
| 2094 | 24,047,776 | 0.04% |
| 2093 | 24,039,017 | 0.08% |
| 2092 | 24,019,054 | 0.08% |
| 2091 | 24,000,308 | 0.09% |
| 2090 | 23,978,496 | 0.17% |
| 2089 | 23,937,487 | 0.19% |
| 2088 | 23,892,166 | 0.15% |
| 2087 | 23,857,250 | 0.23% |
| 2086 | 23,803,312 | 0.19% |
| 2085 | 23,759,178 | 0.3% |
| 2084 | 23,687,109 | 0.29% |
| 2083 | 23,617,646 | 0.33% |
| 2082 | 23,541,119 | 0.32% |
| 2081 | 23,466,449 | 0.32% |
| 2080 | 23,391,758 | 0.42% |
| 2079 | 23,294,252 | 0.42% |
| 2078 | 23,197,067 | 0.48% |
| 2077 | 23,086,584 | 0.43% |
| 2076 | 22,987,331 | 0.52% |
| 2075 | 22,868,587 | 0.63% |
| 2074 | 22,726,189 | 0.63% |
| 2073 | 22,583,672 | 0.64% |
| 2072 | 22,438,943 | 0.68% |
| 2071 | 22,288,026 | 0.62% |
| 2070 | 22,151,650 | 0.67% |
| 2069 | 22,003,659 | 0.8% |
| 2068 | 21,829,800 | 0.77% |
| 2067 | 21,662,211 | 0.77% |
| 2066 | 21,496,881 | 0.84% |
| 2065 | 21,317,455 | 0.83% |
| 2064 | 21,142,002 | 0.84% |
| 2063 | 20,965,122 | 0.87% |
| 2062 | 20,785,055 | 0.85% |
| 2061 | 20,608,964 | 0.87% |
| 2060 | 20,430,857 | 0.97% |
| 2059 | 20,235,022 | 0.93% |
| 2058 | 20,048,974 | 0.98% |
| 2057 | 19,853,696 | 0.99% |
| 2056 | 19,659,362 | 1% |
| 2055 | 19,464,297 | 1.07% |
| 2054 | 19,257,481 | 1.03% |
| 2053 | 19,060,517 | 1.17% |
| 2052 | 18,840,461 | 1.11% |
| 2051 | 18,633,198 | 1.08% |
| 2050 | 18,434,212 | 1.12% |
| 2049 | 18,230,881 | 1.16% |
| 2048 | 18,021,026 | 1.21% |
| 2047 | 17,806,282 | 1.29% |
| 2046 | 17,579,173 | 1.29% |
| 2045 | 17,355,041 | 1.36% |
| 2044 | 17,121,972 | 1.38% |
| 2043 | 16,888,278 | 1.46% |
| 2042 | 16,645,354 | 1.52% |
| 2041 | 16,396,768 | 1.57% |
| 2040 | 16,142,816 | 1.59% |
| 2039 | 15,889,952 | 1.68% |
| 2038 | 15,628,043 | 1.72% |
| 2037 | 15,363,975 | 1.81% |
| 2036 | 15,091,275 | 1.86% |
| 2035 | 14,815,307 | 1.87% |
| 2034 | 14,543,511 | 1.86% |
| 2033 | 14,278,180 | 1.94% |
| 2032 | 14,007,134 | 2.01% |
| 2031 | 13,730,637 | 1.97% |
| 2030 | 13,465,615 | 1.96% |
| 2029 | 13,206,477 | 2% |
| 2028 | 12,947,082 | 2% |
| 2027 | 12,692,769 | 2.04% |
| 2026 | 12,439,296 | 2.02% |
| 2025 | 12,193,102 | 2.09% |
| 2024 | 11,943,408 | 4.01% |
| 2023 | 11,483,374 | 4.19% |
| 2022 | 11,021,177 | 1.43% |
| 2021 | 10,865,780 | 1.56% |
| 2020 | 10,698,467 | 2.64% |
| 2019 | 10,423,384 | 2.97% |
| 2018 | 10,122,977 | -1.33% |
| 2017 | 10,259,154 | -5.27% |
| 2016 | 10,830,102 | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 11,107,561 | -1.13% |
| 2014 | 11,235,073 | 0.62% |
| 2013 | 11,166,275 | 3.81% |
| 2012 | 10,756,240 | 4.55% |
| 2011 | 10,288,109 | 5.56% |
| 2010 | 9,745,953 | 5.44% |
| 2009 | 9,243,556 | 4.83% |
| 2008 | 8,817,647 | 5.11% |
| 2007 | 8,388,788 | 5.17% |
| 2006 | 7,976,526 | 5.09% |
| 2005 | 7,590,143 | 4.94% |
| 2004 | 7,233,041 | 4.78% |
| 2003 | 6,903,127 | 4.64% |
| 2002 | 6,596,806 | 4.57% |
| 2001 | 6,308,391 | 4.58% |
| 2000 | 6,032,267 | 4.52% |
| 1999 | 5,771,628 | 2.7% |
| 1998 | 5,620,068 | 2.01% |
| 1997 | 5,509,136 | 2.84% |
| 1996 | 5,356,925 | 2.51% |
| 1995 | 5,225,836 | 3.05% |
| 1994 | 5,071,184 | 2.32% |
| 1993 | 4,956,002 | 0.94% |
| 1992 | 4,909,749 | 1.51% |
| 1991 | 4,836,677 | 2.09% |
| 1990 | 4,737,633 | 0.52% |
| 1989 | 4,713,229 | -2.78% |
| 1988 | 4,848,029 | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 4,962,395 | 0.84% |
| 1986 | 4,921,240 | 1.8% |
| 1985 | 4,834,296 | 1.76% |
| 1984 | 4,750,627 | 1.91% |
| 1983 | 4,661,574 | 2.28% |
| 1982 | 4,557,686 | 2.48% |
| 1981 | 4,447,272 | 2.49% |
| 1980 | 4,339,030 | 2.51% |
| 1979 | 4,232,605 | 2.54% |
| 1978 | 4,127,657 | 2.58% |
| 1977 | 4,024,032 | 2.6% |
| 1976 | 3,921,910 | 2.63% |
| 1975 | 3,821,494 | 2.64% |
| 1974 | 3,723,259 | 2.64% |
| 1973 | 3,627,383 | 2.4% |
| 1972 | 3,542,497 | 2.13% |
| 1971 | 3,468,646 | 1.73% |
| 1970 | 3,409,614 | 1.31% |
| 1969 | 3,365,533 | 1.32% |
| 1968 | 3,321,528 | 1.34% |
| 1967 | 3,277,648 | 1.27% |
| 1966 | 3,236,423 | 1.46% |
| 1965 | 3,189,835 | 1.91% |
| 1964 | 3,129,918 | 1.86% |
| 1963 | 3,072,669 | 1.6% |
| 1962 | 3,024,308 | 1.6% |
| 1961 | 2,976,724 | 1.54% |
| 1960 | 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/south-sudan | CC BY 
South Sudan has a population of 12.5M as of 2026, compared to 10.8M in 2016, 7.98M in 2006, and 5.36M in 1996.
Over the past 10 years, the population has had a trend to increase by an average of 1.55% per year. South Sudan is ranked 119th out of 197 countries by a 10-year average growth rate.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that with changing growth rate trends in 20 years (in 2046) South Sudan will have 17,579,173 people (40.5% growth) with a rank change from 80th to 78th.
By the year 2100, South Sudan's population is projected to grow by 92.6% from its current level to 24.1M people.
Natural change and net migration by year
| Year | Population change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Natural | Net migration | |
| 2025 | - | - | 6,145 |
| 2024 | - | - | 15,374 |
| 2023 | 672,966 | 217,966 | 455,000 |
| 2022 | 251,425 | 211,166 | 40,259 |
| 2021 | 59,208 | 213,567 | -154,359 |
| 2020 | 275,267 | 212,332 | 62,935 |
| 2019 | 274,906 | 209,708 | 65,198 |
| 2018 | 325,905 | 168,497 | 157,408 |
| 2017 | -598,284 | 72,193 | -670,477 |
| 2016 | -543,672 | 110,553 | -654,225 |
| 2015 | -11,280 | 148,542 | -159,822 |
| 2014 | -243,912 | 227,611 | -471,523 |
| 2013 | 381,320 | 315,983 | 65,337 |
| 2012 | 438,745 | 312,974 | 125,771 |
| 2011 | 497,506 | 303,181 | 194,325 |
| 2010 | 586,811 | 287,409 | 299,402 |
| 2009 | 417,988 | 278,859 | 139,129 |
| 2008 | 433,825 | 268,268 | 165,557 |
| 2007 | 423,896 | 256,546 | 167,350 |
| 2006 | 400,632 | 246,706 | 153,926 |
| 2005 | 372,141 | 239,272 | 132,869 |
| 2004 | 342,059 | 231,877 | 110,182 |
| 2003 | 317,773 | 225,822 | 91,951 |
| 2002 | 294,861 | 212,014 | 82,847 |
| 2001 | 281,964 | 204,108 | 77,856 |
| 2000 | 270,282 | 196,055 | 74,227 |
| 1999 | 250,992 | 180,721 | 70,271 |
| 1998 | 52,128 | -12,157 | 64,285 |
| 1997 | 169,734 | 121,454 | 48,280 |
| 1996 | 134,681 | 116,728 | 17,953 |
| 1995 | 127,494 | 110,417 | 17,077 |
| 1994 | 181,814 | 165,407 | 16,407 |
| 1993 | 48,551 | 32,779 | 15,772 |
| 1992 | 43,951 | 28,874 | 15,077 |
| 1991 | 102,200 | 87,873 | 14,327 |
| 1990 | 95,888 | 82,900 | 12,988 |
| 1989 | -47,086 | 83,735 | -130,821 |
| 1988 | -222,512 | -125,447 | -97,065 |
| 1987 | -6,220 | 5,756 | -11,976 |
| 1986 | 88,529 | 99,502 | -10,973 |
| 1985 | 85,356 | 95,342 | -9,986 |
| 1984 | 81,986 | 90,970 | -8,984 |
| 1983 | 96,121 | 104,107 | -7,986 |
| 1982 | 111,658 | 118,641 | -6,983 |
| 1981 | 109,169 | 115,163 | -5,994 |
| 1980 | 107,310 | 112,307 | -4,997 |
| 1979 | 105,543 | 109,540 | -3,997 |
| 1978 | 104,354 | 107,352 | -2,998 |
| 1977 | 102,889 | 104,886 | -1,997 |
| 1976 | 101,351 | 102,346 | -995 |
| 1975 | 99,487 | 99,882 | -395 |
| 1974 | 96,989 | 97,181 | -192 |
| 1973 | 94,765 | 94,765 | 0 |
| 1972 | 74,996 | 74,803 | 193 |
| 1971 | 72,702 | 72,308 | 394 |
| 1970 | 45,363 | 44,776 | 587 |
| 1969 | 42,801 | 42,015 | 786 |
| 1968 | 45,208 | 44,213 | 995 |
| 1967 | 42,551 | 41,357 | 1,194 |
| 1966 | 39,909 | 38,523 | 1,386 |
| 1965 | 53,273 | 51,682 | 1,591 |
| 1964 | 66,571 | 64,786 | 1,785 |
| 1963 | 47,924 | 46,333 | 1,591 |
| 1962 | 48,792 | 47,406 | 1,386 |
| 1961 | 46,380 | 45,186 | 1,194 |
| 1960 | 43,940 | 42,945 | 995 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/south-sudan | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 57.4% of the population change in South Sudan 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, 914,001 residents or 7.7% of the population were not native-born in South Sudan, compared to 230,732 and 2.4% in 2010.
South Sudan population clock
South Sudan
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
12507858
|
80/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.15% | 80/197 |
| One net population change |
1.14 minutes
|
45/197 |
| One birth every |
1.6 minutes
|
68/196 |
| One death every |
4.76 minutes
|
79/196 |
| Daily growth/decline | +1,260 | 45/197 |
| Annual growth/decline | +460,034 | 45/197 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +4.01% | 7/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.43 hours
|
50/196 |
| Annual migration change | +6,145 | 50/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 914,001 | 62/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 7.7% | 77/195 |
Largest cities by population
Compare countries by 7 more topics
South Sudan population statistics
|
South Sudan
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 58 years | 73.8 years |
| Average age | 24.3 years | 33.8 years |
| Median age | 19.4 years | 31.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.2:50.8 | 50.3:49.7 |
| Fertility rate | 3.86 births per woman | 2.2 births per woman |
| Population density | 51 ppl/mi² | 144 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/south-sudan | CC BY
Help us show the world through your eyes
Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.
Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.