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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Sudan was 11,943,408 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Sudan's population is 12,507,858 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 1.81 times bigger than South Sudan's.
  • South Sudan is ranked the 80th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.42% of the world: 0.15% for South Sudan vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, South Sudan has had an average growth rate of +0.65% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Sudan has increased from 7.98M people to 12.5M (56.8% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

South Sudan vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

South Sudan
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Sudan Zambia
2100 24,086,901 65,217,429
2099 24,081,477 64,871,545
2098 24,063,461 64,515,891
2097 24,065,268 64,148,736
2096 24,054,483 63,777,313
2095 24,046,345 63,393,169
2094 24,047,776 62,992,652
2093 24,039,017 62,590,327
2092 24,019,054 62,175,930
2091 24,000,308 61,750,591
2090 23,978,496 61,321,399
2089 23,937,487 60,880,148
2088 23,892,166 60,434,676
2087 23,857,250 59,970,107
2086 23,803,312 59,499,234
2085 23,759,178 59,023,040
2084 23,687,109 58,535,857
2083 23,617,646 58,040,512
2082 23,541,119 57,538,672
2081 23,466,449 57,027,491
2080 23,391,758 56,506,421
2079 23,294,252 55,983,242
2078 23,197,067 55,449,777
2077 23,086,584 54,906,771
2076 22,987,331 54,361,075
2075 22,868,587 53,806,856
2074 22,726,189 53,246,777
2073 22,583,672 52,677,348
2072 22,438,943 52,101,139
2071 22,288,026 51,519,691
2070 22,151,650 50,931,614
2069 22,003,659 50,334,700
2068 21,829,800 49,737,479
2067 21,662,211 49,135,488
2066 21,496,881 48,530,443
2065 21,317,455 47,918,592
2064 21,142,002 47,299,740
2063 20,965,122 46,677,439
2062 20,785,055 46,048,819
2061 20,608,964 45,416,657
2060 20,430,857 44,777,347
2059 20,235,022 44,137,306
2058 20,048,974 43,494,451
2057 19,853,696 42,851,923
2056 19,659,362 42,206,898
2055 19,464,297 41,558,284
2054 19,257,481 40,906,492
2053 19,060,517 40,255,629
2052 18,840,461 39,603,888
2051 18,633,198 38,949,958
2050 18,434,212 38,294,607
2049 18,230,881 37,634,194
2048 18,021,026 36,971,309
2047 17,806,282 36,309,749
2046 17,579,173 35,645,868
2045 17,355,041 34,981,812
2044 17,121,972 34,316,981
2043 16,888,278 33,652,420
2042 16,645,354 32,990,657
2041 16,396,768 32,329,447
2040 16,142,816 31,664,262
2039 15,889,952 31,001,305
2038 15,628,043 30,335,662
2037 15,363,975 29,668,561
2036 15,091,275 29,000,264
2035 14,815,307 28,333,498
2034 14,543,511 27,671,195
2033 14,278,180 27,011,974
2032 14,007,134 26,356,580
2031 13,730,637 25,702,812
2030 13,465,615 25,055,216
2029 13,206,477 24,414,405
2028 12,947,082 23,780,809
2027 12,692,769 23,151,479
2026 12,439,296 22,529,742
2025 12,193,102 21,918,187
2024 11,943,408 21,314,956
2023 11,483,374 20,723,965
2022 11,021,177 20,152,938
2021 10,865,780 19,603,607
2020 10,698,467 19,059,395
2019 10,423,384 18,513,839
2018 10,122,977 17,973,569
2017 10,259,154 17,441,320
2016 10,830,102 16,914,423
2015 11,107,561 16,399,089
2014 11,235,073 15,895,315
2013 11,166,275 15,398,997
2012 10,756,240 14,913,629
2011 10,288,109 14,437,796
2010 9,745,953 13,965,594
2009 9,243,556 13,490,389
2008 8,817,647 13,021,324
2007 8,388,788 12,565,085
2006 7,976,526 12,129,553
2005 7,590,143 11,718,819
2004 7,233,041 11,338,198
2003 6,903,127 10,983,595
2002 6,596,806 10,647,949
2001 6,308,391 10,325,185
2000 6,032,267 10,017,631
1999 5,771,628 9,740,005
1998 5,620,068 9,482,408
1997 5,509,136 9,237,063
1996 5,356,925 9,004,053
1995 5,225,836 8,785,763
1994 5,071,184 8,576,269
1993 4,956,002 8,373,921
1992 4,909,749 8,176,680
1991 4,836,677 7,981,650
1990 4,737,633 7,786,169
1989 4,713,229 7,589,216
1988 4,848,029 7,391,440
1987 4,962,395 7,191,282
1986 4,921,240 6,986,471
1985 4,834,296 6,780,953
1984 4,750,627 6,580,490
1983 4,661,574 6,381,038
1982 4,557,686 6,178,637
1981 4,447,272 5,983,289
1980 4,339,030 5,802,833
1979 4,232,605 5,631,728
1978 4,127,657 5,465,374
1977 4,024,032 5,302,480
1976 3,921,910 5,143,842
1975 3,821,494 4,990,086
1974 3,723,259 4,842,746
1973 3,627,383 4,702,693
1972 3,542,497 4,569,309
1971 3,468,646 4,442,525
1970 3,409,614 4,321,718
1969 3,365,533 4,197,116
1968 3,321,528 4,065,593
1967 3,277,648 3,936,343
1966 3,236,423 3,812,003
1965 3,189,835 3,692,086
1964 3,129,918 3,577,017
1963 3,072,669 3,465,907
1962 3,024,308 3,358,099
1961 2,976,724 3,254,086
1960 2,931,559 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Sudan increased by 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Sudan gained 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

South Sudan was ranked 92nd most populous country in 2006 and is 80th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

South Sudan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 24.1M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

South Sudan
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Sudan Zambia
2100 0.02% 0.53%
2099 0.07% 0.55%
2098 -0.008% 0.57%
2097 0.04% 0.58%
2096 0.03% 0.61%
2095 -0.006% 0.64%
2094 0.04% 0.64%
2093 0.08% 0.67%
2092 0.08% 0.69%
2091 0.09% 0.7%
2090 0.17% 0.72%
2089 0.19% 0.74%
2088 0.15% 0.77%
2087 0.23% 0.79%
2086 0.19% 0.81%
2085 0.3% 0.83%
2084 0.29% 0.85%
2083 0.33% 0.87%
2082 0.32% 0.9%
2081 0.32% 0.92%
2080 0.42% 0.93%
2079 0.42% 0.96%
2078 0.48% 0.99%
2077 0.43% 1%
2076 0.52% 1.03%
2075 0.63% 1.05%
2074 0.63% 1.08%
2073 0.64% 1.11%
2072 0.68% 1.13%
2071 0.62% 1.15%
2070 0.67% 1.19%
2069 0.8% 1.2%
2068 0.77% 1.23%
2067 0.77% 1.25%
2066 0.84% 1.28%
2065 0.83% 1.31%
2064 0.84% 1.33%
2063 0.87% 1.37%
2062 0.85% 1.39%
2061 0.87% 1.43%
2060 0.97% 1.45%
2059 0.93% 1.48%
2058 0.98% 1.5%
2057 0.99% 1.53%
2056 1% 1.56%
2055 1.07% 1.59%
2054 1.03% 1.62%
2053 1.17% 1.65%
2052 1.11% 1.68%
2051 1.08% 1.71%
2050 1.12% 1.75%
2049 1.16% 1.79%
2048 1.21% 1.82%
2047 1.29% 1.86%
2046 1.29% 1.9%
2045 1.36% 1.94%
2044 1.38% 1.97%
2043 1.46% 2.01%
2042 1.52% 2.05%
2041 1.57% 2.1%
2040 1.59% 2.14%
2039 1.68% 2.19%
2038 1.72% 2.25%
2037 1.81% 2.3%
2036 1.86% 2.35%
2035 1.87% 2.39%
2034 1.86% 2.44%
2033 1.94% 2.49%
2032 2.01% 2.54%
2031 1.97% 2.58%
2030 1.96% 2.62%
2029 2% 2.66%
2028 2% 2.72%
2027 2.04% 2.76%
2026 2.02% 2.79%
2025 2.09% 2.83%
2024 4.01% 2.85%
2023 4.19% 2.83%
2022 1.43% 2.8%
2021 1.56% 2.86%
2020 2.64% 2.95%
2019 2.97% 3.01%
2018 -1.33% 3.05%
2017 -5.27% 3.12%
2016 -2.5% 3.14%
2015 -1.13% 3.17%
2014 0.62% 3.22%
2013 3.81% 3.25%
2012 4.55% 3.3%
2011 5.56% 3.38%
2010 5.44% 3.52%
2009 4.83% 3.6%
2008 5.11% 3.63%
2007 5.17% 3.59%
2006 5.09% 3.5%
2005 4.94% 3.36%
2004 4.78% 3.23%
2003 4.64% 3.15%
2002 4.57% 3.13%
2001 4.58% 3.07%
2000 4.52% 2.85%
1999 2.7% 2.72%
1998 2.01% 2.66%
1997 2.84% 2.59%
1996 2.51% 2.48%
1995 3.05% 2.44%
1994 2.32% 2.42%
1993 0.94% 2.41%
1992 1.51% 2.44%
1991 2.09% 2.51%
1990 0.52% 2.6%
1989 -2.78% 2.68%
1988 -2.3% 2.78%
1987 0.84% 2.93%
1986 1.8% 3.03%
1985 1.76% 3.05%
1984 1.91% 3.13%
1983 2.28% 3.28%
1982 2.48% 3.26%
1981 2.49% 3.11%
1980 2.51% 3.04%
1979 2.54% 3.04%
1978 2.58% 3.07%
1977 2.6% 3.08%
1976 2.63% 3.08%
1975 2.64% 3.04%
1974 2.64% 2.98%
1973 2.4% 2.92%
1972 2.13% 2.85%
1971 1.73% 2.8%
1970 1.31% 2.97%
1969 1.32% 3.24%
1968 1.34% 3.28%
1967 1.27% 3.26%
1966 1.46% 3.25%
1965 1.91% 3.22%
1964 1.86% 3.21%
1963 1.6% 3.21%
1962 1.6% 3.2%
1961 1.54% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Sudan grew by 4.01%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

South Sudan Zambia
Current population
12507858
22697916
Population rank 80/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.15% 0.27%
One net population change
1.14 minutes
53.4 seconds
One birth every
1.6 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
4.76 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,260 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +460,034 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +4.01% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 21/197
One migration net change every
1.43 hours
1.34 hours
Annual migration change +6,145 +6,562
Net migration rank 50/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 914,001 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 62/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 7.7% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 77/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Sudan
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Sudan Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 6,145 - 6,562
2024 - 15,374 - 7,381
2023 217,966 455,000 577,660 9,521
2022 211,166 40,259 563,456 -8,566
2021 213,567 -154,359 535,629 8,143
2020 212,332 62,935 536,484 8,156
2019 209,708 65,198 528,089 18,385
2018 168,497 157,408 515,644 18,431
2017 72,193 -670,477 504,630 25,789
2016 110,553 -654,225 497,521 25,860
2015 148,542 -159,822 491,021 16,261
2014 227,611 -471,523 483,663 16,574
2013 315,983 65,337 476,846 15,542
2012 312,974 125,771 469,406 8,958
2011 303,181 194,325 459,743 13,569
2010 287,409 299,402 448,337 22,761
2009 278,859 139,129 434,458 44,867
2008 268,268 165,557 419,560 39,249
2007 256,546 167,350 403,729 49,945
2006 246,706 153,926 387,891 29,517
2005 239,272 132,869 368,756 35,316
2004 231,877 110,182 349,352 7,819
2003 225,822 91,951 331,189 20,845
2002 212,014 82,847 316,041 3,206
2001 204,108 77,856 302,682 23,582
2000 196,055 74,227 293,186 -4,338
1999 180,721 70,271 283,297 -16,888
1998 -12,157 64,285 275,568 -26,796
1997 121,454 48,280 268,198 -26,276
1996 116,728 17,953 262,468 -38,358
1995 110,417 17,077 257,897 -45,423
1994 165,407 16,407 252,023 -45,504
1993 32,779 15,772 245,917 -47,739
1992 28,874 15,077 239,953 -43,656
1991 87,873 14,327 237,957 -44,203
1990 82,900 12,988 235,835 -38,619
1989 83,735 -130,821 233,429 -36,736
1988 -125,447 -97,065 230,118 -31,270
1987 5,756 -11,976 227,813 -26,338
1986 99,502 -10,973 224,768 -16,610
1985 95,342 -9,986 221,351 -18,474
1984 90,970 -8,984 216,695 -18,652
1983 104,107 -7,986 212,712 -11,849
1982 118,641 -6,983 207,621 -3,676
1981 115,163 -5,994 202,822 -16,072
1980 112,307 -4,997 198,817 -24,664
1979 109,540 -3,997 197,578 -29,515
1978 107,352 -2,998 194,933 -30,284
1977 104,886 -1,997 191,557 -30,423
1976 102,346 -995 186,762 -30,612
1975 99,882 -395 182,258 -30,886
1974 97,181 -192 174,484 -31,178
1973 94,765 0 168,258 -31,472
1972 74,803 193 161,648 -31,672
1971 72,308 394 155,249 -31,651
1970 44,776 587 149,380 -31,370
1969 42,015 786 142,660 -11,469
1968 44,213 995 137,315 -5,447
1967 41,357 1,194 131,938 -5,298
1966 38,523 1,386 127,164 -5,129
1965 51,682 1,591 122,814 -5,023
1964 64,786 1,785 117,197 -4,851
1963 46,333 1,591 114,555 -4,676
1962 47,406 1,386 110,173 -4,428
1961 45,186 1,194 106,318 -4,043
1960 42,945 995 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-sudan/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 914,001 residents or 7.7% of the population were not native-born in South Sudan, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

Biggest cities by population

South Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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