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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Sudan was 11,943,408 in 2024 vs 50,448,963 people in Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Sudan's population is 12,507,858 people compared to 53,335,233 in Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • Sudan's population is 4.26 times bigger than South Sudan's.
  • South Sudan is ranked the 80th most populous country in the world, while Sudan is the 29th.
  • The countries together account for 0.79% of the world: 0.15% for South Sudan vs 0.64% for Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, South Sudan has had an average growth rate of +0.65% per year vs +2.67% in Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Sudan has increased from 7.98M people to 12.5M (56.8% growth), while Sudan has grown from 32M to 53.3M (66.7% growth).

South Sudan vs Sudan: population by year and forecast

South Sudan
Factual

Projection
Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Sudan Sudan
2100 24,086,901 137,695,876
2099 24,081,477 137,114,644
2098 24,063,461 136,500,499
2097 24,065,268 135,860,701
2096 24,054,483 135,222,218
2095 24,046,345 134,553,615
2094 24,047,776 133,902,112
2093 24,039,017 133,186,791
2092 24,019,054 132,427,642
2091 24,000,308 131,674,049
2090 23,978,496 130,893,042
2089 23,937,487 130,075,970
2088 23,892,166 129,234,968
2087 23,857,250 128,358,981
2086 23,803,312 127,463,823
2085 23,759,178 126,555,673
2084 23,687,109 125,612,419
2083 23,617,646 124,663,868
2082 23,541,119 123,716,124
2081 23,466,449 122,772,016
2080 23,391,758 121,805,246
2079 23,294,252 120,822,781
2078 23,197,067 119,802,944
2077 23,086,584 118,776,597
2076 22,987,331 117,748,457
2075 22,868,587 116,688,549
2074 22,726,189 115,601,159
2073 22,583,672 114,499,847
2072 22,438,943 113,374,089
2071 22,288,026 112,235,978
2070 22,151,650 111,102,687
2069 22,003,659 109,945,533
2068 21,829,800 108,791,037
2067 21,662,211 107,581,192
2066 21,496,881 106,357,353
2065 21,317,455 105,145,307
2064 21,142,002 103,903,801
2063 20,965,122 102,642,643
2062 20,785,055 101,354,095
2061 20,608,964 100,067,335
2060 20,430,857 98,765,585
2059 20,235,022 97,461,067
2058 20,048,974 96,135,716
2057 19,853,696 94,800,344
2056 19,659,362 93,458,640
2055 19,464,297 92,089,717
2054 19,257,481 90,711,253
2053 19,060,517 89,342,122
2052 18,840,461 87,962,125
2051 18,633,198 86,581,277
2050 18,434,212 85,194,794
2049 18,230,881 83,803,171
2048 18,021,026 82,442,635
2047 17,806,282 81,085,689
2046 17,579,173 79,725,126
2045 17,355,041 78,359,927
2044 17,121,972 77,006,049
2043 16,888,278 75,652,858
2042 16,645,354 74,312,465
2041 16,396,768 72,968,877
2040 16,142,816 71,640,015
2039 15,889,952 70,319,906
2038 15,628,043 69,001,239
2037 15,363,975 67,665,904
2036 15,091,275 66,337,650
2035 14,815,307 65,001,359
2034 14,543,511 63,664,516
2033 14,278,180 62,329,849
2032 14,007,134 61,007,985
2031 13,730,637 59,695,860
2030 13,465,615 58,384,521
2029 13,206,477 57,082,767
2028 12,947,082 55,800,806
2027 12,692,769 54,523,219
2026 12,439,296 52,894,744
2025 12,193,102 51,256,148
2024 11,943,408 50,448,963
2023 11,483,374 50,042,791
2022 11,021,177 49,383,346
2021 10,865,780 48,066,924
2020 10,698,467 46,789,231
2019 10,423,384 45,548,175
2018 10,122,977 44,230,596
2017 10,259,154 42,714,306
2016 10,830,102 41,259,892
2015 11,107,561 40,024,431
2014 11,235,073 38,823,318
2013 11,166,275 37,785,849
2012 10,756,240 36,923,178
2011 10,288,109 36,140,806
2010 9,745,953 35,414,399
2009 9,243,556 34,569,113
2008 8,817,647 33,623,980
2007 8,388,788 32,764,135
2006 7,976,526 31,992,435
2005 7,590,143 31,262,444
2004 7,233,041 30,556,637
2003 6,903,127 29,896,035
2002 6,596,806 29,228,727
2001 6,308,391 28,516,770
2000 6,032,267 27,816,745
1999 5,771,628 27,130,613
1998 5,620,068 26,458,999
1997 5,509,136 25,799,821
1996 5,356,925 25,231,528
1995 5,225,836 24,672,143
1994 5,071,184 24,043,948
1993 4,956,002 23,445,592
1992 4,909,749 22,927,355
1991 4,836,677 22,470,676
1990 4,737,633 22,021,481
1989 4,713,229 21,578,022
1988 4,848,029 21,138,431
1987 4,962,395 20,704,904
1986 4,921,240 20,288,238
1985 4,834,296 19,905,872
1984 4,750,627 19,546,528
1983 4,661,574 19,109,770
1982 4,557,686 18,486,645
1981 4,447,272 17,780,572
1980 4,339,030 17,058,905
1979 4,232,605 16,355,352
1978 4,127,657 15,695,003
1977 4,024,032 15,086,614
1976 3,921,910 14,569,716
1975 3,821,494 14,064,798
1974 3,723,259 13,580,723
1973 3,627,383 13,049,315
1972 3,542,497 12,527,856
1971 3,468,646 12,105,539
1970 3,409,614 11,695,771
1969 3,365,533 11,298,936
1968 3,321,528 10,917,999
1967 3,277,648 10,550,597
1966 3,236,423 10,197,578
1965 3,189,835 9,858,030
1964 3,129,918 9,531,109
1963 3,072,669 9,218,077
1962 3,024,308 8,919,028
1961 2,976,724 8,634,941
1960 2,931,559 8,364,489

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/sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Sudan increased by 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth), while Sudan gained 9,267,457 people (a 29% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Sudan gained 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth), while Sudan's population increased by 12,075,341 people (a 29.3% growth).

South Sudan was ranked 92nd most populous country in 2006 and is 80th in 2026. Sudan was ranked 36th in 2006 and ranked 29th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) South Sudan's population will grow by 47.4% to 18,434,212 people with a rank change from 80th to 78th. The population of Sudan will increase by 59.7% to 85,194,794 people and rank change from 29th to 21st.

South Sudan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 24.1M people compared to the peak of 138M people in 2100 for Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

South Sudan
Factual

Projection
Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Sudan Sudan
2100 0.02% 0.42%
2099 0.07% 0.45%
2098 -0.008% 0.47%
2097 0.04% 0.47%
2096 0.03% 0.5%
2095 -0.006% 0.49%
2094 0.04% 0.54%
2093 0.08% 0.57%
2092 0.08% 0.57%
2091 0.09% 0.6%
2090 0.17% 0.63%
2089 0.19% 0.65%
2088 0.15% 0.68%
2087 0.23% 0.7%
2086 0.19% 0.72%
2085 0.3% 0.75%
2084 0.29% 0.76%
2083 0.33% 0.77%
2082 0.32% 0.77%
2081 0.32% 0.79%
2080 0.42% 0.81%
2079 0.42% 0.85%
2078 0.48% 0.86%
2077 0.43% 0.87%
2076 0.52% 0.91%
2075 0.63% 0.94%
2074 0.63% 0.96%
2073 0.64% 0.99%
2072 0.68% 1.01%
2071 0.62% 1.02%
2070 0.67% 1.05%
2069 0.8% 1.06%
2068 0.77% 1.12%
2067 0.77% 1.15%
2066 0.84% 1.15%
2065 0.83% 1.19%
2064 0.84% 1.23%
2063 0.87% 1.27%
2062 0.85% 1.29%
2061 0.87% 1.32%
2060 0.97% 1.34%
2059 0.93% 1.38%
2058 0.98% 1.41%
2057 0.99% 1.44%
2056 1% 1.49%
2055 1.07% 1.52%
2054 1.03% 1.53%
2053 1.17% 1.57%
2052 1.11% 1.59%
2051 1.08% 1.63%
2050 1.12% 1.66%
2049 1.16% 1.65%
2048 1.21% 1.67%
2047 1.29% 1.71%
2046 1.29% 1.74%
2045 1.36% 1.76%
2044 1.38% 1.79%
2043 1.46% 1.8%
2042 1.52% 1.84%
2041 1.57% 1.85%
2040 1.59% 1.88%
2039 1.68% 1.91%
2038 1.72% 1.97%
2037 1.81% 2%
2036 1.86% 2.06%
2035 1.87% 2.1%
2034 1.86% 2.14%
2033 1.94% 2.17%
2032 2.01% 2.2%
2031 1.97% 2.25%
2030 1.96% 2.28%
2029 2% 2.3%
2028 2% 2.34%
2027 2.04% 3.08%
2026 2.02% 3.2%
2025 2.09% 1.6%
2024 4.01% 0.81%
2023 4.19% 1.34%
2022 1.43% 2.74%
2021 1.56% 2.73%
2020 2.64% 2.72%
2019 2.97% 2.98%
2018 -1.33% 3.55%
2017 -5.27% 3.53%
2016 -2.5% 3.09%
2015 -1.13% 3.09%
2014 0.62% 2.75%
2013 3.81% 2.34%
2012 4.55% 2.16%
2011 5.56% 2.05%
2010 5.44% 2.45%
2009 4.83% 2.81%
2008 5.11% 2.62%
2007 5.17% 2.41%
2006 5.09% 2.34%
2005 4.94% 2.31%
2004 4.78% 2.21%
2003 4.64% 2.28%
2002 4.57% 2.5%
2001 4.58% 2.52%
2000 4.52% 2.53%
1999 2.7% 2.54%
1998 2.01% 2.55%
1997 2.84% 2.25%
1996 2.51% 2.27%
1995 3.05% 2.61%
1994 2.32% 2.55%
1993 0.94% 2.26%
1992 1.51% 2.03%
1991 2.09% 2.04%
1990 0.52% 2.06%
1989 -2.78% 2.08%
1988 -2.3% 2.09%
1987 0.84% 2.05%
1986 1.8% 1.92%
1985 1.76% 1.84%
1984 1.91% 2.29%
1983 2.28% 3.37%
1982 2.48% 3.97%
1981 2.49% 4.23%
1980 2.51% 4.3%
1979 2.54% 4.21%
1978 2.58% 4.03%
1977 2.6% 3.55%
1976 2.63% 3.59%
1975 2.64% 3.56%
1974 2.64% 4.07%
1973 2.4% 4.16%
1972 2.13% 3.49%
1971 1.73% 3.5%
1970 1.31% 3.51%
1969 1.32% 3.49%
1968 1.34% 3.48%
1967 1.27% 3.46%
1966 1.46% 3.44%
1965 1.91% 3.43%
1964 1.86% 3.4%
1963 1.6% 3.35%
1962 1.6% 3.29%
1961 1.54% 3.23%

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/south-sudan/sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Sudan grew by 4.01%, while Sudan's population grew by 0.81%.

Live population counters

South Sudan Sudan
Current population
12507858
53335233
Population rank 80/197 29/197
Percent of world population 0.15% 0.64%
One net population change
1.14 minutes
1.29 minutes
One birth every
1.6 minutes
18.7 seconds
One death every
4.76 minutes
1.64 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,260 +1,113
Annual growth/decline +460,034 +406,172
Annual growth/decline rate +4.01% +0.81%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 116/197
One migration net change every
1.43 hours
1.81 minutes
Annual migration change +6,145 +291,469
Net migration rank 50/196 6/196
Foreign-born residents 914,001 2,397,113
Foreign-born residents rank 62/195 29/195
Foreign-born share of population 7.7% 4.8%
Foreign-born share rank 77/195 94/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Sudan
Natural

Migration
Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Sudan Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 6,145 - 291,469
2024 - 15,374 - -544,257
2023 217,966 455,000 1,361,564 -1,349,998
2022 211,166 40,259 1,333,992 -26,668
2021 213,567 -154,359 1,293,817 31,664
2020 212,332 62,935 1,295,781 -65,933
2019 209,708 65,198 1,291,747 -39,491
2018 168,497 157,408 1,257,387 125,499
2017 72,193 -670,477 1,208,046 441,623
2016 110,553 -654,225 1,174,422 84,728
2015 148,542 -159,822 1,145,259 66,476
2014 227,611 -471,523 1,097,962 92,504
2013 315,983 65,337 1,078,446 -194,001
2012 312,974 125,771 1,073,062 -232,196
2011 303,181 194,325 1,070,888 -347,024
2010 287,409 299,402 1,068,381 -339,466
2009 278,859 139,129 1,041,810 -80,159
2008 268,268 165,557 1,001,826 -73,188
2007 256,546 167,350 992,819 -201,769
2006 246,706 153,926 963,740 -211,387
2005 239,272 132,869 907,017 -199,378
2004 231,877 110,182 889,382 -185,392
2003 225,822 91,951 898,226 -281,001
2002 212,014 82,847 897,965 -180,603
2001 204,108 77,856 880,284 -173,745
2000 196,055 74,227 858,536 -165,030
1999 180,721 70,271 835,840 -157,090
1998 -12,157 64,285 814,752 -150,271
1997 121,454 48,280 802,245 -148,368
1996 116,728 17,953 792,926 -310,221
1995 110,417 17,077 780,700 -144,670
1994 165,407 16,407 764,645 -144,324
1993 32,779 15,772 743,249 -166,861
1992 28,874 15,077 731,177 -271,093
1991 87,873 14,327 714,612 -261,341
1990 82,900 12,988 699,953 -254,825
1989 83,735 -130,821 683,743 -241,979
1988 -125,447 -97,065 672,604 -235,213
1987 5,756 -11,976 658,416 -228,756
1986 99,502 -10,973 649,649 -245,968
1985 95,342 -9,986 583,382 -222,315
1984 90,970 -8,984 577,405 -219,755
1983 104,107 -7,986 570,198 -54,325
1982 118,641 -6,983 606,362 124,007
1981 115,163 -5,994 585,087 96,697
1980 112,307 -4,997 552,930 208,602
1979 109,540 -3,997 524,942 120,613
1978 107,352 -2,998 497,987 177,153
1977 104,886 -1,997 483,089 58,540
1976 102,346 -995 470,019 22,147
1975 99,882 -395 454,813 62,843
1974 97,181 -192 444,456 6,023
1973 94,765 0 439,201 173,143
1972 74,803 193 428,340 2,238
1971 72,308 394 417,641 -3,577
1970 44,776 587 401,013 4,479
1969 42,015 786 385,712 2,476
1968 44,213 995 370,917 2,776
1967 41,357 1,194 356,599 4,508
1966 38,523 1,386 342,118 2,813
1965 51,682 1,591 327,799 6,367
1964 64,786 1,785 315,166 4,505
1963 46,333 1,591 302,132 4,263
1962 47,406 1,386 287,317 4,387
1961 45,186 1,194 272,562 3,904
1960 42,945 995 262,235 2,194

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-sudan/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). In Sudan 95.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 12,459,977 people) and 4.88% is from migration (a loss of 639,596 people).

As of 2024, 914,001 residents or 7.7% of the population were not native-born in South Sudan, compared to 2,397,113 people or 4.8% in Sudan.

Biggest cities by population

South Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K
Sudan
City Population
Khartoum 5.34M
Omdurman 2.81M
Khartoum North 936K
Port Sudan 580K
El-Obeid 560K
Kassala 536K
Kosti 528K
Nyala 493K
El-Gadarif 355K
Al-Fashir 286K

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/south-sudan/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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