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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of South Sudan was 12,188,788 in 2025 vs 51,384,894 people in Uganda in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Sudan's population is 12,565,048 people compared to 53,495,325 in Uganda.

Population statistics:

  • Uganda's population is 4.26 times bigger than South Sudan's.
  • South Sudan is ranked the 80th most populous country in the world, while Uganda is the 30th.
  • The countries together account for 0.8% of the world: 0.15% for South Sudan vs 0.64% for Uganda.
  • For the last 10 years, South Sudan has had an average growth rate of +0.78% per year vs +3.19% in Uganda.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Sudan has increased from 7.98M people to 12.6M (57.5% growth), while Uganda has grown from 28.8M to 53.5M (85.8% growth).

South Sudan vs Uganda: population by year and forecast

South Sudan
Factual

Projection
Uganda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Sudan Uganda
2100 24,078,379 122,461,518
2099 24,072,957 122,400,118
2098 24,054,947 122,328,333
2097 24,056,753 122,230,315
2096 24,045,972 122,110,905
2095 24,037,837 121,940,556
2094 24,039,267 121,763,948
2093 24,030,512 121,549,120
2092 24,010,555 121,301,128
2091 23,991,816 121,034,858
2090 23,970,012 120,731,912
2089 23,929,017 120,392,371
2088 23,883,712 120,029,300
2087 23,848,809 119,633,372
2086 23,794,890 119,221,630
2085 23,750,772 118,780,837
2084 23,678,728 118,304,392
2083 23,609,290 117,787,304
2082 23,532,790 117,240,484
2081 23,458,146 116,673,088
2080 23,383,482 116,061,969
2079 23,286,011 115,440,209
2078 23,188,860 114,771,629
2077 23,078,416 114,085,142
2076 22,979,198 113,356,858
2075 22,860,496 112,604,741
2074 22,718,148 111,830,528
2073 22,575,682 111,038,122
2072 22,431,004 110,208,535
2071 22,280,140 109,360,734
2070 22,143,813 108,473,738
2069 21,995,874 107,576,028
2068 21,822,076 106,646,220
2067 21,654,546 105,691,752
2066 21,489,275 104,708,323
2065 21,309,913 103,707,399
2064 21,134,522 102,671,371
2063 20,957,705 101,616,654
2062 20,777,701 100,532,299
2061 20,601,672 99,421,530
2060 20,423,629 98,305,883
2059 20,227,862 97,158,930
2058 20,041,880 95,986,215
2057 19,846,671 94,793,892
2056 19,652,407 93,585,691
2055 19,457,411 92,357,892
2054 19,250,667 91,106,039
2053 19,053,773 89,831,291
2052 18,833,795 88,542,276
2051 18,626,605 87,244,950
2050 18,427,690 85,932,109
2049 18,224,430 84,607,399
2048 18,014,650 83,260,483
2047 17,799,982 81,904,082
2046 17,572,953 80,545,542
2045 17,348,901 79,185,378
2044 17,115,914 77,812,065
2043 16,882,303 76,431,508
2042 16,639,465 75,053,218
2041 16,390,966 73,680,031
2040 16,137,104 72,312,112
2039 15,884,330 70,942,351
2038 15,622,514 69,559,994
2037 15,358,539 68,166,092
2036 15,085,936 66,785,108
2035 14,810,066 65,392,706
2034 14,538,365 64,004,533
2033 14,273,128 62,616,072
2032 14,002,178 61,217,174
2031 13,725,779 59,807,490
2030 13,460,850 58,398,308
2029 13,201,804 56,989,526
2028 12,942,501 55,580,177
2027 12,688,278 54,175,341
2026 12,434,895 52,777,106
2025 12,188,788 51,384,894
2024 11,943,408 50,015,092
2023 11,483,374 48,656,601
2022 11,021,177 47,312,719
2021 10,865,780 45,910,930
2020 10,698,467 44,457,152
2019 10,423,384 42,999,637
2018 10,122,977 41,565,831
2017 10,259,154 40,177,388
2016 10,830,102 38,799,152
2015 11,107,561 37,531,446
2014 11,235,073 36,395,539
2013 11,166,275 35,337,042
2012 10,756,240 34,337,438
2011 10,288,109 33,354,543
2010 9,745,953 32,390,802
2009 9,243,556 31,451,151
2008 8,817,647 30,539,553
2007 8,388,788 29,653,430
2006 7,976,526 28,794,003
2005 7,590,143 27,963,289
2004 7,233,041 27,154,515
2003 6,903,127 26,352,124
2002 6,596,806 25,532,870
2001 6,308,391 24,745,676
2000 6,032,267 24,000,150
1999 5,771,628 23,257,281
1998 5,620,068 22,515,806
1997 5,509,136 21,856,046
1996 5,356,925 21,231,550
1995 5,225,836 20,665,667
1994 5,071,184 20,108,801
1993 4,956,002 19,445,161
1992 4,909,749 18,785,032
1991 4,836,677 18,155,901
1990 4,737,633 17,569,897
1989 4,713,229 17,010,698
1988 4,848,029 16,470,483
1987 4,962,395 15,954,170
1986 4,921,240 15,467,579
1985 4,834,296 15,023,681
1984 4,750,627 14,607,677
1983 4,661,574 14,221,881
1982 4,557,686 13,873,631
1981 4,447,272 13,556,452
1980 4,339,030 13,275,741
1979 4,232,605 13,002,163
1978 4,127,657 12,692,113
1977 4,024,032 12,359,669
1976 3,921,910 12,037,294
1975 3,821,494 11,725,240
1974 3,723,259 11,424,846
1973 3,627,383 11,144,236
1972 3,542,497 10,885,796
1971 3,468,646 10,618,206
1970 3,409,614 10,321,603
1969 3,365,533 10,014,858
1968 3,321,528 9,708,632
1967 3,277,648 9,408,924
1966 3,236,423 9,122,864
1965 3,189,835 8,849,203
1964 3,129,918 8,586,363
1963 3,072,669 8,333,663
1962 3,024,308 8,092,231
1961 2,976,724 7,862,217
1960 2,931,559 7,640,973

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/uganda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Sudan increased by 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth), while Uganda gained 10,005,149 people (a 34.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Sudan gained 1,734,946 people (a 16% growth), while Uganda's population increased by 14,696,173 people (a 37.9% growth).

South Sudan was ranked 92nd most populous country in 2006 and is 80th in 2026. Uganda was ranked 38th in 2006 and ranked 30th 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 Uganda will increase by 60.6% to 85,932,109 people and rank change from 30th to 20th.

South Sudan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 24.1M people compared to the peak of 122M people in 2100 for Uganda.

Population growth rate by year

South Sudan
Factual

Projection
Uganda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Sudan Uganda
2100 0.02% 0.05%
2099 0.07% 0.06%
2098 -0.008% 0.08%
2097 0.04% 0.1%
2096 0.03% 0.14%
2095 -0.006% 0.15%
2094 0.04% 0.18%
2093 0.08% 0.2%
2092 0.08% 0.22%
2091 0.09% 0.25%
2090 0.17% 0.28%
2089 0.19% 0.3%
2088 0.15% 0.33%
2087 0.23% 0.35%
2086 0.19% 0.37%
2085 0.3% 0.4%
2084 0.29% 0.44%
2083 0.33% 0.47%
2082 0.32% 0.49%
2081 0.32% 0.53%
2080 0.42% 0.54%
2079 0.42% 0.58%
2078 0.48% 0.6%
2077 0.43% 0.64%
2076 0.52% 0.67%
2075 0.63% 0.69%
2074 0.63% 0.71%
2073 0.64% 0.75%
2072 0.68% 0.78%
2071 0.62% 0.82%
2070 0.67% 0.83%
2069 0.8% 0.87%
2068 0.77% 0.9%
2067 0.77% 0.94%
2066 0.84% 0.97%
2065 0.83% 1.01%
2064 0.84% 1.04%
2063 0.87% 1.08%
2062 0.85% 1.12%
2061 0.87% 1.13%
2060 0.97% 1.18%
2059 0.93% 1.22%
2058 0.98% 1.26%
2057 0.99% 1.29%
2056 1% 1.33%
2055 1.07% 1.37%
2054 1.03% 1.42%
2053 1.17% 1.46%
2052 1.11% 1.49%
2051 1.08% 1.53%
2050 1.12% 1.57%
2049 1.16% 1.62%
2048 1.21% 1.66%
2047 1.29% 1.69%
2046 1.29% 1.72%
2045 1.36% 1.76%
2044 1.38% 1.81%
2043 1.46% 1.84%
2042 1.52% 1.86%
2041 1.57% 1.89%
2040 1.59% 1.93%
2039 1.68% 1.99%
2038 1.72% 2.04%
2037 1.81% 2.07%
2036 1.86% 2.13%
2035 1.87% 2.17%
2034 1.86% 2.22%
2033 1.94% 2.29%
2032 2.01% 2.36%
2031 1.97% 2.41%
2030 1.96% 2.47%
2029 2% 2.54%
2028 2% 2.59%
2027 2.04% 2.65%
2026 2.02% 2.71%
2025 2.05% 2.74%
2024 4.01% 2.79%
2023 4.19% 2.84%
2022 1.43% 3.05%
2021 1.56% 3.27%
2020 2.64% 3.39%
2019 2.97% 3.45%
2018 -1.33% 3.46%
2017 -5.27% 3.55%
2016 -2.5% 3.38%
2015 -1.13% 3.12%
2014 0.62% 3%
2013 3.81% 2.91%
2012 4.55% 2.95%
2011 5.56% 2.98%
2010 5.44% 2.99%
2009 4.83% 2.98%
2008 5.11% 2.99%
2007 5.17% 2.98%
2006 5.09% 2.97%
2005 4.94% 2.98%
2004 4.78% 3.04%
2003 4.64% 3.21%
2002 4.57% 3.18%
2001 4.58% 3.11%
2000 4.52% 3.19%
1999 2.7% 3.29%
1998 2.01% 3.02%
1997 2.84% 2.94%
1996 2.51% 2.74%
1995 3.05% 2.77%
1994 2.32% 3.41%
1993 0.94% 3.51%
1992 1.51% 3.47%
1991 2.09% 3.34%
1990 0.52% 3.29%
1989 -2.78% 3.28%
1988 -2.3% 3.24%
1987 0.84% 3.15%
1986 1.8% 2.95%
1985 1.76% 2.85%
1984 1.91% 2.71%
1983 2.28% 2.51%
1982 2.48% 2.34%
1981 2.49% 2.11%
1980 2.51% 2.1%
1979 2.54% 2.44%
1978 2.58% 2.69%
1977 2.6% 2.68%
1976 2.63% 2.66%
1975 2.64% 2.63%
1974 2.64% 2.52%
1973 2.4% 2.37%
1972 2.13% 2.52%
1971 1.73% 2.87%
1970 1.31% 3.06%
1969 1.32% 3.15%
1968 1.34% 3.19%
1967 1.27% 3.14%
1966 1.46% 3.09%
1965 1.91% 3.06%
1964 1.86% 3.03%
1963 1.6% 2.98%
1962 1.6% 2.93%
1961 1.54% 2.9%

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/uganda | CC BY

In 2025, the population of South Sudan grew by 2.05%, while Uganda's population grew by 2.74%.

Live population counters

South Sudan Uganda
Current population
12565048
53495325
Population rank 80/197 30/197
Percent of world population 0.15% 0.64%
One net population change
2.15 minutes
23.1 seconds
One birth every
1.51 minutes
18.3 seconds
One death every
4.48 minutes
2.2 minutes
Daily growth/decline +672 +3,753
Annual growth/decline +245,380 +1,369,802
Annual growth/decline rate +2.05% +2.74%
Population growth rate rank 48/197 21/197
One migration net change every
1.43 hours
4.43 minutes
Annual migration change +6,145 -119,059
Net migration rank 50/196 183/196
Foreign-born residents 914,001 2,057,759
Foreign-born residents rank 62/195 37/195
Foreign-born share of population 7.7% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 77/195 106/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Sudan
Natural

Migration
Uganda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Sudan Uganda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 6,145 - -119,059
2024 231,714 15,374 1,483,898 -117,924
2023 217,966 455,000 1,477,166 -126,181
2022 211,166 40,259 1,455,576 -118,843
2021 213,567 -154,359 1,423,377 43,464
2020 212,332 62,935 1,397,288 43,464
2019 209,708 65,198 1,367,044 107,210
2018 168,497 157,408 1,332,600 60,724
2017 72,193 -670,477 1,290,658 92,879
2016 110,553 -654,225 1,249,565 123,379
2015 148,542 -159,822 1,224,839 -62,366
2014 227,611 -471,523 1,201,599 -92,273
2013 315,983 65,337 1,184,250 -176,579
2012 312,974 125,771 1,167,473 -175,936
2011 303,181 194,325 1,147,263 -173,005
2010 287,409 299,402 1,121,564 -168,322
2009 278,859 139,129 1,090,600 -164,553
2008 268,268 165,557 1,055,935 -158,790
2007 256,546 167,350 1,029,893 -154,773
2006 246,706 153,926 999,958 -156,232
2005 239,272 132,869 969,096 -151,386
2004 231,877 110,182 938,623 -138,770
2003 225,822 91,951 901,374 -96,429
2002 212,014 82,847 868,756 -35,149
2001 204,108 77,856 836,751 -95,956
2000 196,055 74,227 803,069 -52,824
1999 180,721 70,271 775,166 -39,695
1998 -12,157 64,285 741,175 6,277
1997 121,454 48,280 727,523 -155,461
1996 116,728 17,953 699,707 -22,795
1995 110,417 17,077 697,218 -242,378
1994 165,407 16,407 675,092 -16,198
1993 32,779 15,772 650,032 18,349
1992 28,874 15,077 627,139 24,723
1991 87,873 14,327 602,740 3,643
1990 82,900 12,988 587,291 -21,688
1989 83,735 -130,821 565,367 -12,576
1988 -125,447 -97,065 547,759 -20,113
1987 5,756 -11,976 527,397 -22,415
1986 99,502 -10,973 487,693 -19,485
1985 95,342 -9,986 462,534 -42,942
1984 90,970 -8,984 421,241 -8,818
1983 104,107 -7,986 404,940 -45,776
1982 118,641 -6,983 390,820 -53,497
1981 115,163 -5,994 380,028 -83,010
1980 112,307 -4,997 370,287 -105,900
1979 109,540 -3,997 381,626 -98,863
1978 107,352 -2,998 371,930 -34,606
1977 104,886 -1,997 365,216 -37,671
1976 102,346 -995 359,458 -42,259
1975 99,882 -395 354,278 -47,359
1974 97,181 -192 345,773 -51,910
1973 94,765 0 340,780 -73,439
1972 74,803 193 335,935 -86,409
1971 72,308 394 328,294 -42,642
1970 44,776 587 333,202 -25,646
1969 42,015 786 320,486 -14,548
1968 44,213 995 309,725 -3,214
1967 41,357 1,194 296,692 -3,773
1966 38,523 1,386 282,225 -3,021
1965 51,682 1,591 271,830 -3,716
1964 64,786 1,785 260,733 -3,169
1963 46,333 1,591 250,885 -3,058
1962 47,406 1,386 241,513 -6,470
1961 45,186 1,194 232,894 -7,893
1960 42,945 995 225,080 -7,586

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/south-sudan/uganda | 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 Uganda 99.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 13,702,011 people) and 0.33% is from migration (a gain of 45,806 people).

As of 2024, 914,001 residents or 7.7% of the population were not native-born in South Sudan, compared to 2,057,759 people or 4.1% in Uganda.

Biggest cities by population

South Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K
Uganda
City Population
Kampala 1.68M
Mbale 586K
Arua 385K
Kira Town 317K
Jinja 279K
Gulu 177K
Kasese 134K
Entebbe 70K
Tororo 42.9K

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/uganda | 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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