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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of South Sudan was 12,188,788 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Sudan's population is 12,565,048 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 1.82 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 0.43% 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 +0.78% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Sudan has increased from 7.98M people to 12.6M (57.5% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

South Sudan vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

South Sudan
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Sudan Zambia
2100 24,078,379 65,204,593
2099 24,072,957 64,858,778
2098 24,054,947 64,503,193
2097 24,056,753 64,136,110
2096 24,045,972 63,764,760
2095 24,037,837 63,380,692
2094 24,039,267 62,980,254
2093 24,030,512 62,578,008
2092 24,010,555 62,163,693
2091 23,991,816 61,738,437
2090 23,970,012 61,309,330
2089 23,929,017 60,868,166
2088 23,883,712 60,422,781
2087 23,848,809 59,958,303
2086 23,794,890 59,487,524
2085 23,750,772 59,011,423
2084 23,678,728 58,524,337
2083 23,609,290 58,029,088
2082 23,532,790 57,527,347
2081 23,458,146 57,016,267
2080 23,383,482 56,495,299
2079 23,286,011 55,972,223
2078 23,188,860 55,438,864
2077 23,078,416 54,895,964
2076 22,979,198 54,350,375
2075 22,860,496 53,796,265
2074 22,718,148 53,236,297
2073 22,575,682 52,666,980
2072 22,431,004 52,090,884
2071 22,280,140 51,509,551
2070 22,143,813 50,921,590
2069 21,995,874 50,324,793
2068 21,822,076 49,727,689
2067 21,654,546 49,125,817
2066 21,489,275 48,520,891
2065 21,309,913 47,909,160
2064 21,134,522 47,290,430
2063 20,957,705 46,668,252
2062 20,777,701 46,039,755
2061 20,601,672 45,407,718
2060 20,423,629 44,768,534
2059 20,227,862 44,128,619
2058 20,041,880 43,485,891
2057 19,846,671 42,843,489
2056 19,652,407 42,198,591
2055 19,457,411 41,550,105
2054 19,250,667 40,898,440
2053 19,053,773 40,247,706
2052 18,833,795 39,596,094
2051 18,626,605 38,942,292
2050 18,427,690 38,287,070
2049 18,224,430 37,626,787
2048 18,014,650 36,964,032
2047 17,799,982 36,302,603
2046 17,572,953 35,638,852
2045 17,348,901 34,974,927
2044 17,115,914 34,310,227
2043 16,882,303 33,645,797
2042 16,639,465 32,984,164
2041 16,390,966 32,323,084
2040 16,137,104 31,658,029
2039 15,884,330 30,995,204
2038 15,622,514 30,329,691
2037 15,358,539 29,662,721
2036 15,085,936 28,994,556
2035 14,810,066 28,327,922
2034 14,538,365 27,665,749
2033 14,273,128 27,006,658
2032 14,002,178 26,351,393
2031 13,725,779 25,697,754
2030 13,460,850 25,050,285
2029 13,201,804 24,409,600
2028 12,942,501 23,776,128
2027 12,688,278 23,146,922
2026 12,434,895 22,525,308
2025 12,188,788 21,913,874
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 1,734,946 people (a 16% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% 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 46.7% to 18,427,690 people with a rank change from 80th to 78th. The population of Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 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 2.05% 2.81%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of South Sudan grew by 2.05%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

South Sudan Zambia
Current population
12565048
22844606
Population rank 80/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.15% 0.27%
One net population change
2.15 minutes
52.8 seconds
One birth every
1.51 minutes
45.2 seconds
One death every
4.48 minutes
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +672 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +245,380 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +2.05% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 48/197 19/197
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 231,714 15,374 587,419 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/south-sudan/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 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 (1960–2025, 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/zambia | 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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