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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of South Sudan was 12,188,788 in 2025 vs 25,620,427 people in Syria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Sudan's population is 12,565,048 people compared to 26,956,472 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 0.48% 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 +0.78% per year vs +2.19% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Sudan has increased from 7.98M people to 12.6M (57.5% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 27M (37.3% growth).

South Sudan vs Syria: population by year and forecast

South Sudan
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Sudan Syria
2100 24,078,379 44,500,028
2099 24,072,957 44,570,009
2098 24,054,947 44,629,837
2097 24,056,753 44,692,566
2096 24,045,972 44,747,012
2095 24,037,837 44,774,686
2094 24,039,267 44,824,294
2093 24,030,512 44,853,295
2092 24,010,555 44,882,700
2091 23,991,816 44,895,349
2090 23,970,012 44,926,869
2089 23,929,017 44,925,891
2088 23,883,712 44,920,667
2087 23,848,809 44,928,298
2086 23,794,890 44,947,658
2085 23,750,772 44,913,669
2084 23,678,728 44,878,845
2083 23,609,290 44,850,592
2082 23,532,790 44,790,014
2081 23,458,146 44,723,244
2080 23,383,482 44,624,321
2079 23,286,011 44,567,127
2078 23,188,860 44,529,618
2077 23,078,416 44,484,155
2076 22,979,198 44,400,339
2075 22,860,496 44,306,882
2074 22,718,148 44,209,517
2073 22,575,682 44,102,028
2072 22,431,004 43,965,642
2071 22,280,140 43,821,617
2070 22,143,813 43,678,154
2069 21,995,874 43,530,683
2068 21,822,076 43,348,487
2067 21,654,546 43,154,741
2066 21,489,275 42,944,885
2065 21,309,913 42,695,249
2064 21,134,522 42,445,036
2063 20,957,705 42,198,056
2062 20,777,701 41,949,014
2061 20,601,672 41,695,586
2060 20,423,629 41,410,547
2059 20,227,862 41,097,942
2058 20,041,880 40,815,606
2057 19,846,671 40,534,091
2056 19,652,407 40,224,053
2055 19,457,411 39,918,930
2054 19,250,667 39,584,624
2053 19,053,773 39,242,144
2052 18,833,795 38,940,206
2051 18,626,605 38,629,604
2050 18,427,690 38,307,069
2049 18,224,430 37,986,965
2048 18,014,650 37,682,780
2047 17,799,982 37,391,752
2046 17,572,953 37,081,479
2045 17,348,901 36,744,441
2044 17,115,914 36,428,225
2043 16,882,303 36,090,851
2042 16,639,465 35,729,021
2041 16,390,966 35,352,033
2040 16,137,104 34,947,817
2039 15,884,330 34,533,772
2038 15,622,514 34,091,760
2037 15,358,539 33,612,993
2036 15,085,936 33,134,445
2035 14,810,066 32,608,669
2034 14,538,365 32,062,309
2033 14,273,128 31,477,500
2032 14,002,178 30,883,996
2031 13,725,779 30,248,264
2030 13,460,850 29,592,787
2029 13,201,804 28,871,638
2028 12,942,501 28,141,821
2027 12,688,278 27,355,002
2026 12,434,895 26,535,554
2025 12,188,788 25,620,427
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 1,734,946 people (a 16% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% 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 46.7% to 18,427,690 people with a rank change from 80th to 78th. The population of Syria will increase by 42.1% to 38,307,069 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 44.9M 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 2.05% 3.84%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of South Sudan grew by 2.05%, while Syria's population grew by 3.84%.

Live population counters

South Sudan Syria
Current population
12565048
26956472
Population rank 80/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.15% 0.32%
One net population change
2.15 minutes
33.4 seconds
One birth every
1.51 minutes
55.2 seconds
One death every
4.48 minutes
4.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline +672 +2,596
Annual growth/decline +245,380 +947,667
Annual growth/decline rate +2.05% +3.84%
Population growth rate rank 48/197 5/197
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 231,714 15,374 449,784 546,494
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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 68.1% of the population change in South Sudan is from natural causes (a gain of 1,796,238 people) and 31.9% is from migration (a loss of 842,709 people). In Syria 58% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,164,289 people) and 42% is from migration (a gain of 2,295,242 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 (1960–2025, 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/south-sudan/syria | 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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