Skip to content

Population in South Sudan compared to the United States: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of South Sudan was 12,188,788 in 2025 vs 341,784,857 people in the United States in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Sudan's population is 12,565,048 people compared to 344,434,632 in the United States.

Population statistics:

  • The United States' population is 27.4 times bigger than South Sudan's.
  • South Sudan is ranked the 80th most populous country in the world, while the United States is the 3rd.
  • The countries together account for 4.3% of the world: 0.15% for South Sudan vs 4.15% for the United States.
  • For the last 10 years, South Sudan has had an average growth rate of +0.78% per year vs +0.65% in the United States.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Sudan has increased from 7.98M people to 12.6M (57.5% growth), while the United States has grown from 298M to 344M (15.4% growth).

South Sudan vs United States: population by year and forecast

South Sudan
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Sudan United States
2100 24,078,379 415,429,771
2099 24,072,957 414,829,167
2098 24,054,947 414,231,720
2097 24,056,753 413,576,381
2096 24,045,972 412,927,393
2095 24,037,837 412,225,379
2094 24,039,267 411,498,749
2093 24,030,512 410,785,729
2092 24,010,555 410,051,921
2091 23,991,816 409,320,183
2090 23,970,012 408,613,732
2089 23,929,017 407,885,645
2088 23,883,712 407,129,733
2087 23,848,809 406,421,298
2086 23,794,890 405,715,343
2085 23,750,772 405,059,379
2084 23,678,728 404,343,130
2083 23,609,290 403,612,785
2082 23,532,790 402,871,293
2081 23,458,146 402,054,554
2080 23,383,482 401,319,194
2079 23,286,011 400,554,914
2078 23,188,860 399,737,968
2077 23,078,416 398,906,565
2076 22,979,198 398,035,750
2075 22,860,496 397,109,170
2074 22,718,148 396,226,412
2073 22,575,682 395,307,725
2072 22,431,004 394,393,561
2071 22,280,140 393,415,363
2070 22,143,813 392,469,727
2069 21,995,874 391,479,981
2068 21,822,076 390,517,695
2067 21,654,546 389,543,856
2066 21,489,275 388,597,719
2065 21,309,913 387,685,327
2064 21,134,522 386,805,026
2063 20,957,705 385,911,917
2062 20,777,701 385,032,627
2061 20,601,672 384,170,837
2060 20,423,629 383,361,269
2059 20,227,862 382,542,030
2058 20,041,880 381,704,804
2057 19,846,671 380,907,023
2056 19,652,407 380,159,777
2055 19,457,411 379,430,756
2054 19,250,667 378,682,851
2053 19,053,773 377,878,421
2052 18,833,795 377,073,303
2051 18,626,605 376,229,840
2050 18,427,690 375,373,155
2049 18,224,430 374,493,150
2048 18,014,650 373,590,762
2047 17,799,982 372,626,259
2046 17,572,953 371,644,809
2045 17,348,901 370,602,914
2044 17,115,914 369,518,897
2043 16,882,303 368,375,680
2042 16,639,465 367,158,772
2041 16,390,966 365,937,822
2040 16,137,104 364,671,837
2039 15,884,330 363,367,337
2038 15,622,514 361,997,023
2037 15,358,539 360,606,236
2036 15,085,936 359,193,245
2035 14,810,066 357,750,686
2034 14,538,365 356,266,726
2033 14,273,128 354,775,032
2032 14,002,178 353,259,037
2031 13,725,779 351,721,511
2030 13,460,850 350,155,042
2029 13,201,804 348,564,667
2028 12,942,501 346,906,294
2027 12,688,278 345,257,605
2026 12,434,895 343,565,426
2025 12,188,788 341,784,857
2024 11,943,408 340,110,988
2023 11,483,374 334,914,895
2022 11,021,177 333,271,411
2021 10,865,780 331,893,745
2020 10,698,467 331,526,933
2019 10,423,384 328,329,953
2018 10,122,977 326,838,199
2017 10,259,154 325,122,128
2016 10,830,102 323,071,755
2015 11,107,561 320,738,994
2014 11,235,073 318,386,329
2013 11,166,275 316,059,947
2012 10,756,240 313,877,662
2011 10,288,109 311,583,481
2010 9,745,953 309,327,143
2009 9,243,556 306,771,529
2008 8,817,647 304,093,966
2007 8,388,788 301,231,207
2006 7,976,526 298,379,912
2005 7,590,143 295,516,599
2004 7,233,041 292,805,298
2003 6,903,127 290,107,933
2002 6,596,806 287,625,193
2001 6,308,391 284,968,955
2000 6,032,267 282,162,411
1999 5,771,628 279,294,713
1998 5,620,068 276,115,288
1997 5,509,136 272,911,760
1996 5,356,925 269,667,391
1995 5,225,836 266,557,091
1994 5,071,184 263,435,673
1993 4,956,002 260,255,352
1992 4,909,749 256,894,189
1991 4,836,677 253,492,503
1990 4,737,633 250,131,894
1989 4,713,229 246,819,222
1988 4,848,029 244,499,004
1987 4,962,395 242,288,936
1986 4,921,240 240,132,831
1985 4,834,296 237,923,734
1984 4,750,627 235,824,908
1983 4,661,574 233,792,014
1982 4,557,686 231,664,432
1981 4,447,272 229,465,744
1980 4,339,030 226,542,250
1979 4,232,605 225,055,487
1978 4,127,657 222,584,545
1977 4,024,032 220,239,425
1976 3,921,910 218,035,164
1975 3,821,494 215,973,199
1974 3,723,259 213,853,928
1973 3,627,383 211,908,788
1972 3,542,497 209,896,021
1971 3,468,646 207,660,677
1970 3,409,614 205,052,174
1969 3,365,533 202,676,946
1968 3,321,528 200,706,052
1967 3,277,648 198,712,056
1966 3,236,423 196,560,338
1965 3,189,835 194,302,963
1964 3,129,918 191,888,791
1963 3,072,669 189,241,798
1962 3,024,308 186,537,737
1961 2,976,724 183,691,481
1960 2,931,559 180,671,158

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/south-sudan/united-states | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Sudan increased by 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth), while the United States gained 24,691,843 people (a 8.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Sudan gained 1,734,946 people (a 16% growth), while the United States' population increased by 21,362,877 people (a 6.61% growth).

South Sudan was ranked 92nd most populous country in 2006 and is 80th in 2026. The United States was ranked 3rd in 2006 and still ranked 3rd 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 the United States will increase by 8.98% to 375,373,155 people and will still be ranked 3rd.

South Sudan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 24.1M people compared to the peak of 415M people in 2100 for the United States.

Population growth rate by year

South Sudan
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Sudan United States
2100 0.02% 0.14%
2099 0.07% 0.14%
2098 -0.008% 0.16%
2097 0.04% 0.16%
2096 0.03% 0.17%
2095 -0.006% 0.18%
2094 0.04% 0.17%
2093 0.08% 0.18%
2092 0.08% 0.18%
2091 0.09% 0.17%
2090 0.17% 0.18%
2089 0.19% 0.19%
2088 0.15% 0.17%
2087 0.23% 0.17%
2086 0.19% 0.16%
2085 0.3% 0.18%
2084 0.29% 0.18%
2083 0.33% 0.18%
2082 0.32% 0.2%
2081 0.32% 0.18%
2080 0.42% 0.19%
2079 0.42% 0.2%
2078 0.48% 0.21%
2077 0.43% 0.22%
2076 0.52% 0.23%
2075 0.63% 0.22%
2074 0.63% 0.23%
2073 0.64% 0.23%
2072 0.68% 0.25%
2071 0.62% 0.24%
2070 0.67% 0.25%
2069 0.8% 0.25%
2068 0.77% 0.25%
2067 0.77% 0.24%
2066 0.84% 0.24%
2065 0.83% 0.23%
2064 0.84% 0.23%
2063 0.87% 0.23%
2062 0.85% 0.22%
2061 0.87% 0.21%
2060 0.97% 0.21%
2059 0.93% 0.22%
2058 0.98% 0.21%
2057 0.99% 0.2%
2056 1% 0.19%
2055 1.07% 0.2%
2054 1.03% 0.21%
2053 1.17% 0.21%
2052 1.11% 0.22%
2051 1.08% 0.23%
2050 1.12% 0.23%
2049 1.16% 0.24%
2048 1.21% 0.26%
2047 1.29% 0.26%
2046 1.29% 0.28%
2045 1.36% 0.29%
2044 1.38% 0.31%
2043 1.46% 0.33%
2042 1.52% 0.33%
2041 1.57% 0.35%
2040 1.59% 0.36%
2039 1.68% 0.38%
2038 1.72% 0.39%
2037 1.81% 0.39%
2036 1.86% 0.4%
2035 1.87% 0.42%
2034 1.86% 0.42%
2033 1.94% 0.43%
2032 2.01% 0.44%
2031 1.97% 0.45%
2030 1.96% 0.46%
2029 2% 0.48%
2028 2% 0.48%
2027 2.04% 0.49%
2026 2.02% 0.52%
2025 2.05% 0.49%
2024 4.01% 1.55%
2023 4.19% 0.49%
2022 1.43% 0.42%
2021 1.56% 0.11%
2020 2.64% 0.97%
2019 2.97% 0.46%
2018 -1.33% 0.53%
2017 -5.27% 0.63%
2016 -2.5% 0.73%
2015 -1.13% 0.74%
2014 0.62% 0.74%
2013 3.81% 0.7%
2012 4.55% 0.74%
2011 5.56% 0.73%
2010 5.44% 0.83%
2009 4.83% 0.88%
2008 5.11% 0.95%
2007 5.17% 0.96%
2006 5.09% 0.97%
2005 4.94% 0.93%
2004 4.78% 0.93%
2003 4.64% 0.86%
2002 4.57% 0.93%
2001 4.58% 0.99%
2000 4.52% 1.03%
1999 2.7% 1.15%
1998 2.01% 1.17%
1997 2.84% 1.2%
1996 2.51% 1.17%
1995 3.05% 1.18%
1994 2.32% 1.22%
1993 0.94% 1.31%
1992 1.51% 1.34%
1991 2.09% 1.34%
1990 0.52% 1.34%
1989 -2.78% 0.95%
1988 -2.3% 0.91%
1987 0.84% 0.9%
1986 1.8% 0.93%
1985 1.76% 0.89%
1984 1.91% 0.87%
1983 2.28% 0.92%
1982 2.48% 0.96%
1981 2.49% 1.29%
1980 2.51% 0.66%
1979 2.54% 1.11%
1978 2.58% 1.06%
1977 2.6% 1.01%
1976 2.63% 0.95%
1975 2.64% 0.99%
1974 2.64% 0.92%
1973 2.4% 0.96%
1972 2.13% 1.08%
1971 1.73% 1.27%
1970 1.31% 1.17%
1969 1.32% 0.98%
1968 1.34% 1%
1967 1.27% 1.09%
1966 1.46% 1.16%
1965 1.91% 1.26%
1964 1.86% 1.4%
1963 1.6% 1.45%
1962 1.6% 1.55%
1961 1.54% 1.67%
1960 - 1.6%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/south-sudan/united-states | CC BY

In 2025, the population of South Sudan grew by 2.05%, while the United States' population grew by 0.49%.

Live population counters

South Sudan United States
Current population
12565048
344434632
Population rank 80/197 3/197
Percent of world population 0.15% 4.15%
One net population change
2.15 minutes
18.9 seconds
One birth every
1.51 minutes
8.75 seconds
One death every
4.48 minutes
10.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +672 +4,586
Annual growth/decline +245,380 +1,673,869
Annual growth/decline rate +2.05% +0.49%
Population growth rate rank 48/197 128/197
One migration net change every
1.43 hours
25.7 seconds
Annual migration change +6,145 +1,230,663
Net migration rank 50/196 2/196
Foreign-born residents 914,001 52,375,047
Foreign-born residents rank 62/195 1/195
Foreign-born share of population 7.7% 15.2%
Foreign-born share rank 77/195 41/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Sudan
Natural

Migration
United States
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Sudan United States
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 6,145 - 1,230,663
2024 231,714 15,374 544,178 1,286,132
2023 217,966 455,000 502,372 1,322,668
2022 211,166 40,259 399,926 1,319,009
2021 213,567 -154,359 199,137 674,787
2020 212,332 62,935 208,862 329,769
2019 209,708 65,198 887,476 1,774,500
2018 168,497 157,408 955,022 1,764,961
2017 72,193 -670,477 1,028,037 1,864,738
2016 110,553 -654,225 1,197,627 1,889,129
2015 148,542 -159,822 1,270,126 1,722,127
2014 227,611 -471,523 1,357,281 1,672,598
2013 315,983 65,337 1,322,711 1,663,885
2012 312,974 125,771 1,411,822 1,632,007
2011 303,181 194,325 1,441,697 1,624,033
2010 287,409 299,402 1,548,182 1,594,453
2009 278,859 139,129 1,717,920 1,387,306
2008 268,268 165,557 1,794,154 1,416,841
2007 256,546 167,350 1,897,757 1,371,353
2006 246,706 153,926 1,849,955 1,347,750
2005 239,272 132,869 1,684,445 1,369,224
2004 231,877 110,182 1,698,271 1,313,467
2003 225,822 91,951 1,653,615 1,331,376
2002 212,014 82,847 1,581,938 1,336,518
2001 204,108 77,856 1,595,826 1,312,455
2000 196,055 74,227 1,664,758 1,248,392
1999 180,721 70,271 1,564,050 1,156,311
1998 -12,157 64,285 1,573,857 1,225,134
1997 121,454 48,280 1,501,014 1,116,922
1996 116,728 17,953 1,510,137 1,141,648
1995 110,417 17,077 1,546,031 1,173,016
1994 165,407 16,407 1,633,302 1,179,309
1993 32,779 15,772 1,717,685 1,228,478
1992 28,874 15,077 1,875,328 1,304,880
1991 87,873 14,327 1,926,543 1,202,426
1990 82,900 12,988 2,026,068 1,084,720
1989 83,735 -130,821 1,875,826 400,998
1988 -125,447 -97,065 1,735,943 460,778
1987 5,756 -11,976 1,720,252 480,815
1986 99,502 -10,973 1,656,917 493,082
1985 95,342 -9,986 1,689,258 598,777
1984 90,970 -8,984 1,627,192 622,793
1983 104,107 -7,986 1,636,544 662,840
1982 118,641 -6,983 1,714,317 600,149
1981 115,163 -5,994 1,652,153 583,070
1980 112,307 -4,997 1,608,450 595,916
1979 109,540 -3,997 1,597,894 503,559
1978 107,352 -2,998 1,402,283 556,521
1977 104,886 -1,997 1,431,556 577,060
1976 102,346 -995 1,264,604 635,590
1975 99,882 -395 1,252,644 655,078
1974 97,181 -192 1,218,968 706,978
1973 94,765 0 1,165,499 783,163
1972 74,803 193 1,301,355 833,543
1971 72,308 394 1,640,519 833,549
1970 44,776 587 1,824,965 744,902
1969 42,015 786 1,702,487 523,740
1968 44,213 995 1,565,507 594,514
1967 41,357 1,194 1,669,181 585,410
1966 38,523 1,386 1,749,387 637,692
1965 51,682 1,591 1,943,030 644,902
1964 64,786 1,785 2,245,099 618,635
1963 46,333 1,591 2,289,826 639,495
1962 47,406 1,386 2,406,337 625,617
1961 45,186 1,194 2,571,681 580,333
1960 42,945 995 2,565,530 422,708

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/south-sudan/united-states | 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 the United States 34% is from natural causes (a gain of 7,192,763 people) and 66% is from migration (a gain of 13,947,820 people).

As of 2024, 914,001 residents or 7.7% of the population were not native-born in South Sudan, compared to 52,375,047 people or 15.2% in the United States.

Biggest cities by population

South Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K
United States
City Population
New York 8.8M
Los Angeles 3.9M
Chicago 2.75M
Houston 2.3M
Phoenix 1.61M
Philadelphia 1.6M
San Antonio 1.43M
San Diego 1.39M
Dallas 1.3M
San Jose 1.01M

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/united-states | 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:

  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)

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.