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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Sudan was 11,943,408 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Sudan's population is 12,507,858 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 2.15 times bigger than South Sudan's.
  • South Sudan is ranked the 80th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.47% of the world: 0.15% for South Sudan vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, South Sudan has had an average growth rate of +0.65% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Sudan has increased from 7.98M people to 12.5M (56.8% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

South Sudan vs Syria: population by year and forecast

South Sudan
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Sudan Syria
2100 24,086,901 44,620,090
2099 24,081,477 44,690,260
2098 24,063,461 44,750,249
2097 24,065,268 44,813,148
2096 24,054,483 44,867,740
2095 24,046,345 44,895,489
2094 24,047,776 44,945,231
2093 24,039,017 44,974,311
2092 24,019,054 45,003,795
2091 24,000,308 45,016,478
2090 23,978,496 45,048,083
2089 23,937,487 45,047,102
2088 23,892,166 45,041,864
2087 23,857,250 45,049,516
2086 23,803,312 45,068,928
2085 23,759,178 45,034,847
2084 23,687,109 44,999,929
2083 23,617,646 44,971,600
2082 23,541,119 44,910,859
2081 23,466,449 44,843,908
2080 23,391,758 44,744,718
2079 23,294,252 44,687,371
2078 23,197,067 44,649,760
2077 23,086,584 44,604,175
2076 22,987,331 44,520,132
2075 22,868,587 44,426,423
2074 22,726,189 44,328,795
2073 22,583,672 44,221,016
2072 22,438,943 44,084,262
2071 22,288,026 43,939,848
2070 22,151,650 43,795,999
2069 22,003,659 43,648,130
2068 21,829,800 43,465,442
2067 21,662,211 43,271,173
2066 21,496,881 43,060,752
2065 21,317,455 42,810,442
2064 21,142,002 42,559,554
2063 20,965,122 42,311,907
2062 20,785,055 42,062,193
2061 20,608,964 41,808,082
2060 20,430,857 41,522,274
2059 20,235,022 41,208,825
2058 20,048,974 40,925,728
2057 19,853,696 40,643,453
2056 19,659,362 40,332,578
2055 19,464,297 40,026,632
2054 19,257,481 39,691,425
2053 19,060,517 39,348,020
2052 18,840,461 39,045,268
2051 18,633,198 38,733,827
2050 18,434,212 38,410,423
2049 18,230,881 38,089,455
2048 18,021,026 37,784,449
2047 17,806,282 37,492,636
2046 17,579,173 37,181,526
2045 17,355,041 36,843,579
2044 17,121,972 36,526,509
2043 16,888,278 36,188,225
2042 16,645,354 35,825,419
2041 16,396,768 35,447,414
2040 16,142,816 35,042,107
2039 15,889,952 34,626,945
2038 15,628,043 34,183,740
2037 15,363,975 33,703,682
2036 15,091,275 33,223,843
2035 14,815,307 32,696,648
2034 14,543,511 32,148,814
2033 14,278,180 31,562,427
2032 14,007,134 30,967,322
2031 13,730,637 30,329,874
2030 13,465,615 29,672,629
2029 13,206,477 28,949,535
2028 12,947,082 28,217,748
2027 12,692,769 27,428,807
2026 12,439,296 26,607,148
2025 12,193,102 25,689,551
2024 11,943,408 24,672,760
2023 11,483,374 23,594,623
2022 11,021,177 22,462,173
2021 10,865,780 21,628,839
2020 10,698,467 21,049,429
2019 10,423,384 20,353,534
2018 10,122,977 19,577,845
2017 10,259,154 19,224,668
2016 10,830,102 19,193,834
2015 11,107,561 19,424,618
2014 11,235,073 20,273,659
2013 11,166,275 21,666,917
2012 10,756,240 22,759,763
2011 10,288,109 22,878,098
2010 9,745,953 22,482,421
2009 9,243,556 21,976,969
2008 8,817,647 21,636,564
2007 8,388,788 20,884,125
2006 7,976,526 19,637,022
2005 7,590,143 18,814,091
2004 7,233,041 18,336,875
2003 6,903,127 17,889,296
2002 6,596,806 17,468,332
2001 6,308,391 17,051,338
2000 6,032,267 16,637,888
1999 5,771,628 16,228,061
1998 5,620,068 15,820,413
1997 5,509,136 15,417,542
1996 5,356,925 15,018,104
1995 5,225,836 14,616,801
1994 5,071,184 14,208,583
1993 4,956,002 13,795,686
1992 4,909,749 13,385,571
1991 4,836,677 12,980,821
1990 4,737,633 12,579,208
1989 4,713,229 12,179,060
1988 4,848,029 11,782,264
1987 4,962,395 11,388,923
1986 4,921,240 11,002,844
1985 4,834,296 10,625,672
1984 4,750,627 10,258,398
1983 4,661,574 9,904,809
1982 4,557,686 9,572,511
1981 4,447,272 9,260,189
1980 4,339,030 8,957,663
1979 4,232,605 8,661,909
1978 4,127,657 8,372,759
1977 4,024,032 8,090,501
1976 3,921,910 7,817,320
1975 3,821,494 7,554,364
1974 3,723,259 7,302,160
1973 3,627,383 7,060,321
1972 3,542,497 6,826,024
1971 3,468,646 6,598,094
1970 3,409,614 6,380,609
1969 3,365,533 6,175,166
1968 3,321,528 5,978,742
1967 3,277,648 5,790,198
1966 3,236,423 5,609,047
1965 3,189,835 5,435,267
1964 3,129,918 5,269,087
1963 3,072,669 5,110,467
1962 3,024,308 4,959,340
1961 2,976,724 4,815,466
1960 2,931,559 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Sudan increased by 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Sudan gained 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

South Sudan was ranked 92nd most populous country in 2006 and is 80th in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

South Sudan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 24.1M people compared to the peak of 45.1M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

South Sudan
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Sudan Syria
2100 0.02% -0.16%
2099 0.07% -0.13%
2098 -0.008% -0.14%
2097 0.04% -0.12%
2096 0.03% -0.06%
2095 -0.006% -0.11%
2094 0.04% -0.06%
2093 0.08% -0.07%
2092 0.08% -0.03%
2091 0.09% -0.07%
2090 0.17% 0.002%
2089 0.19% 0.01%
2088 0.15% -0.02%
2087 0.23% -0.04%
2086 0.19% 0.08%
2085 0.3% 0.08%
2084 0.29% 0.06%
2083 0.33% 0.14%
2082 0.32% 0.15%
2081 0.32% 0.22%
2080 0.42% 0.13%
2079 0.42% 0.08%
2078 0.48% 0.1%
2077 0.43% 0.19%
2076 0.52% 0.21%
2075 0.63% 0.22%
2074 0.63% 0.24%
2073 0.64% 0.31%
2072 0.68% 0.33%
2071 0.62% 0.33%
2070 0.67% 0.34%
2069 0.8% 0.42%
2068 0.77% 0.45%
2067 0.77% 0.49%
2066 0.84% 0.58%
2065 0.83% 0.59%
2064 0.84% 0.59%
2063 0.87% 0.59%
2062 0.85% 0.61%
2061 0.87% 0.69%
2060 0.97% 0.76%
2059 0.93% 0.69%
2058 0.98% 0.69%
2057 0.99% 0.77%
2056 1% 0.76%
2055 1.07% 0.84%
2054 1.03% 0.87%
2053 1.17% 0.78%
2052 1.11% 0.8%
2051 1.08% 0.84%
2050 1.12% 0.84%
2049 1.16% 0.81%
2048 1.21% 0.78%
2047 1.29% 0.84%
2046 1.29% 0.92%
2045 1.36% 0.87%
2044 1.38% 0.93%
2043 1.46% 1.01%
2042 1.52% 1.07%
2041 1.57% 1.16%
2040 1.59% 1.2%
2039 1.68% 1.3%
2038 1.72% 1.42%
2037 1.81% 1.44%
2036 1.86% 1.61%
2035 1.87% 1.7%
2034 1.86% 1.86%
2033 1.94% 1.92%
2032 2.01% 2.1%
2031 1.97% 2.21%
2030 1.96% 2.5%
2029 2% 2.59%
2028 2% 2.88%
2027 2.04% 3.09%
2026 2.02% 3.57%
2025 2.09% 4.12%
2024 4.01% 4.57%
2023 4.19% 5.04%
2022 1.43% 3.85%
2021 1.56% 2.75%
2020 2.64% 3.42%
2019 2.97% 3.96%
2018 -1.33% 1.84%
2017 -5.27% 0.16%
2016 -2.5% -1.19%
2015 -1.13% -4.19%
2014 0.62% -6.43%
2013 3.81% -4.8%
2012 4.55% -0.52%
2011 5.56% 1.76%
2010 5.44% 2.3%
2009 4.83% 1.57%
2008 5.11% 3.6%
2007 5.17% 6.35%
2006 5.09% 4.37%
2005 4.94% 2.6%
2004 4.78% 2.5%
2003 4.64% 2.41%
2002 4.57% 2.45%
2001 4.58% 2.48%
2000 4.52% 2.53%
1999 2.7% 2.58%
1998 2.01% 2.61%
1997 2.84% 2.66%
1996 2.51% 2.75%
1995 3.05% 2.87%
1994 2.32% 2.99%
1993 0.94% 3.06%
1992 1.51% 3.12%
1991 2.09% 3.19%
1990 0.52% 3.29%
1989 -2.78% 3.37%
1988 -2.3% 3.45%
1987 0.84% 3.51%
1986 1.8% 3.55%
1985 1.76% 3.58%
1984 1.91% 3.57%
1983 2.28% 3.47%
1982 2.48% 3.37%
1981 2.49% 3.38%
1980 2.51% 3.41%
1979 2.54% 3.45%
1978 2.58% 3.49%
1977 2.6% 3.49%
1976 2.63% 3.48%
1975 2.64% 3.45%
1974 2.64% 3.43%
1973 2.4% 3.43%
1972 2.13% 3.45%
1971 1.73% 3.41%
1970 1.31% 3.33%
1969 1.32% 3.29%
1968 1.34% 3.26%
1967 1.27% 3.23%
1966 1.46% 3.2%
1965 1.91% 3.15%
1964 1.86% 3.1%
1963 1.6% 3.05%
1962 1.6% 2.99%
1961 1.54% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Sudan grew by 4.01%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

South Sudan Syria
Current population
12507858
26829400
Population rank 80/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.15% 0.32%
One net population change
1.14 minutes
29.3 seconds
One birth every
1.6 minutes
1.01 minutes
One death every
4.76 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,260 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +460,034 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +4.01% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 6/197
One migration net change every
1.43 hours
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change +6,145 +421,693
Net migration rank 50/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 914,001 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 62/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 7.7% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 77/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Sudan
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Sudan Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 6,145 - 421,693
2024 - 15,374 - 546,494
2023 217,966 455,000 402,713 757,309
2022 211,166 40,259 369,750 735,142
2021 213,567 -154,359 350,560 211,220
2020 212,332 62,935 327,992 269,050
2019 209,708 65,198 293,762 500,985
2018 168,497 157,408 242,530 514,102
2017 72,193 -670,477 237,214 -287,501
2016 110,553 -654,225 236,007 -124,063
2015 148,542 -159,822 253,977 -827,496
2014 227,611 -471,523 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 315,983 65,337 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 312,974 125,771 475,520 -999,267
2011 303,181 194,325 543,950 -256,888
2010 287,409 299,402 558,666 -54,359
2009 278,859 139,129 559,314 -52,703
2008 268,268 165,557 576,593 -402,393
2007 256,546 167,350 529,162 801,514
2006 246,706 153,926 480,616 682,911
2005 239,272 132,869 468,960 13,382
2004 231,877 110,182 461,209 10,881
2003 225,822 91,951 457,000 -33,920
2002 212,014 82,847 453,967 -35,096
2001 204,108 77,856 451,503 -36,383
2000 196,055 74,227 446,211 -34,425
1999 180,721 70,271 439,261 -31,394
1998 -12,157 64,285 433,447 -26,025
1997 121,454 48,280 429,887 -31,571
1996 116,728 17,953 430,765 -30,197
1995 110,417 17,077 430,172 -28,122
1994 165,407 16,407 426,996 -12,630
1993 32,779 15,772 420,244 -8,828
1992 28,874 15,077 412,878 -4,063
1991 87,873 14,327 410,830 -10,154
1990 82,900 12,988 409,177 -6,620
1989 83,735 -130,821 406,111 -8,379
1988 -125,447 -97,065 404,285 -8,426
1987 5,756 -11,976 399,159 -8,335
1986 99,502 -10,973 390,821 -9,485
1985 95,342 -9,986 379,231 -6,221
1984 90,970 -8,984 366,768 -5,245
1983 104,107 -7,986 355,375 -9,729
1982 118,641 -6,983 319,664 -721
1981 115,163 -5,994 330,237 -24,536
1980 112,307 -4,997 332,464 -33,114
1979 109,540 -3,997 324,943 -32,793
1978 107,352 -2,998 316,724 -30,567
1977 104,886 -1,997 306,630 -28,275
1976 102,346 -995 294,267 -26,268
1975 99,882 -395 282,299 -24,389
1974 97,181 -192 270,735 -24,242
1973 94,765 0 254,687 -17,502
1972 74,803 193 249,027 -17,610
1971 72,308 394 239,610 -15,167
1970 44,776 587 230,117 -19,594
1969 42,015 786 219,114 -18,749
1968 44,213 995 209,454 -16,968
1967 41,357 1,194 199,223 -14,618
1966 38,523 1,386 191,122 -13,434
1965 51,682 1,591 182,560 -12,704
1964 64,786 1,785 174,549 -12,044
1963 46,333 1,591 166,555 -11,817
1962 47,406 1,386 159,155 -11,641
1961 45,186 1,194 151,485 -11,237
1960 42,945 995 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-sudan/syria | 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 Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 people).

As of 2024, 914,001 residents or 7.7% of the population were not native-born in South Sudan, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

Biggest cities by population

South Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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