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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of South Sudan was 11,943,408 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current South Sudan's population is 12,507,858 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Zimbabwe's population is 1.39 times bigger than South Sudan's.
  • South Sudan is ranked the 80th most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.36% of the world: 0.15% for South Sudan vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, South Sudan has had an average growth rate of +0.65% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of South Sudan has increased from 7.98M people to 12.5M (56.8% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

South Sudan vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

South Sudan
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
South Sudan Zimbabwe
2100 24,086,901 37,483,053
2099 24,081,477 37,412,398
2098 24,063,461 37,328,255
2097 24,065,268 37,235,542
2096 24,054,483 37,142,915
2095 24,046,345 37,032,129
2094 24,047,776 36,912,747
2093 24,039,017 36,810,893
2092 24,019,054 36,688,511
2091 24,000,308 36,567,262
2090 23,978,496 36,425,606
2089 23,937,487 36,280,973
2088 23,892,166 36,141,446
2087 23,857,250 35,977,638
2086 23,803,312 35,808,135
2085 23,759,178 35,637,092
2084 23,687,109 35,456,207
2083 23,617,646 35,268,035
2082 23,541,119 35,078,904
2081 23,466,449 34,873,129
2080 23,391,758 34,658,962
2079 23,294,252 34,439,720
2078 23,197,067 34,217,295
2077 23,086,584 33,982,909
2076 22,987,331 33,739,228
2075 22,868,587 33,495,867
2074 22,726,189 33,244,838
2073 22,583,672 32,978,488
2072 22,438,943 32,706,059
2071 22,288,026 32,445,747
2070 22,151,650 32,181,119
2069 22,003,659 31,906,793
2068 21,829,800 31,631,000
2067 21,662,211 31,345,338
2066 21,496,881 31,062,884
2065 21,317,455 30,766,830
2064 21,142,002 30,479,939
2063 20,965,122 30,176,104
2062 20,785,055 29,867,679
2061 20,608,964 29,557,068
2060 20,430,857 29,252,423
2059 20,235,022 28,945,088
2058 20,048,974 28,631,679
2057 19,853,696 28,307,305
2056 19,659,362 27,990,713
2055 19,464,297 27,658,887
2054 19,257,481 27,331,920
2053 19,060,517 26,986,935
2052 18,840,461 26,643,553
2051 18,633,198 26,287,592
2050 18,434,212 25,934,893
2049 18,230,881 25,585,239
2048 18,021,026 25,228,082
2047 17,806,282 24,874,649
2046 17,579,173 24,513,443
2045 17,355,041 24,147,637
2044 17,121,972 23,783,088
2043 16,888,278 23,401,965
2042 16,645,354 23,035,288
2041 16,396,768 22,647,950
2040 16,142,816 22,273,520
2039 15,889,952 21,902,980
2038 15,628,043 21,530,130
2037 15,363,975 21,159,664
2036 15,091,275 20,791,034
2035 14,815,307 20,413,656
2034 14,543,511 20,048,019
2033 14,278,180 19,676,339
2032 14,007,134 19,311,985
2031 13,730,637 18,959,300
2030 13,465,615 18,613,738
2029 13,206,477 18,270,049
2028 12,947,082 17,933,466
2027 12,692,769 17,600,984
2026 12,439,296 17,273,208
2025 12,193,102 16,949,303
2024 11,943,408 16,634,373
2023 11,483,374 16,340,822
2022 11,021,177 16,069,056
2021 10,865,780 15,797,210
2020 10,698,467 15,526,888
2019 10,423,384 15,271,368
2018 10,122,977 15,034,452
2017 10,259,154 14,812,482
2016 10,830,102 14,600,294
2015 11,107,561 14,399,013
2014 11,235,073 14,207,359
2013 11,166,275 14,013,808
2012 10,756,240 13,817,887
2011 10,288,109 13,595,424
2010 9,745,953 13,356,548
2009 9,243,556 13,142,790
2008 8,817,647 12,959,149
2007 8,388,788 12,804,058
2006 7,976,526 12,636,445
2005 7,590,143 12,483,432
2004 7,233,041 12,365,896
2003 6,903,127 12,232,323
2002 6,596,806 12,087,653
2001 6,308,391 11,971,901
2000 6,032,267 11,892,055
1999 5,771,628 11,783,458
1998 5,620,068 11,594,297
1997 5,509,136 11,369,827
1996 5,356,925 11,158,360
1995 5,225,836 10,974,599
1994 5,071,184 10,873,148
1993 4,956,002 10,860,288
1992 4,909,749 10,702,700
1991 4,836,677 10,404,816
1990 4,737,633 10,137,281
1989 4,713,229 9,864,798
1988 4,848,029 9,583,094
1987 4,962,395 9,284,644
1986 4,921,240 8,982,578
1985 4,834,296 8,686,813
1984 4,750,627 8,391,488
1983 4,661,574 8,098,404
1982 4,557,686 7,796,496
1981 4,447,272 7,498,635
1980 4,339,030 7,041,303
1979 4,232,605 6,647,556
1978 4,127,657 6,543,575
1977 4,024,032 6,449,512
1976 3,921,910 6,287,105
1975 3,821,494 6,098,658
1974 3,723,259 5,908,328
1973 3,627,383 5,720,404
1972 3,542,497 5,542,445
1971 3,468,646 5,374,712
1970 3,409,614 5,215,918
1969 3,365,533 5,058,181
1968 3,321,528 4,900,440
1967 3,277,648 4,748,307
1966 3,236,423 4,601,217
1965 3,189,835 4,458,462
1964 3,129,918 4,320,006
1963 3,072,669 4,185,877
1962 3,024,308 4,055,959
1961 2,976,724 3,930,401
1960 2,931,559 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of South Sudan increased by 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, South Sudan gained 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

South Sudan was ranked 92nd most populous country in 2006 and is 80th in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

South Sudan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 24.1M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

South Sudan
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
South Sudan Zimbabwe
2100 0.02% 0.19%
2099 0.07% 0.23%
2098 -0.008% 0.25%
2097 0.04% 0.25%
2096 0.03% 0.3%
2095 -0.006% 0.32%
2094 0.04% 0.28%
2093 0.08% 0.33%
2092 0.08% 0.33%
2091 0.09% 0.39%
2090 0.17% 0.4%
2089 0.19% 0.39%
2088 0.15% 0.46%
2087 0.23% 0.47%
2086 0.19% 0.48%
2085 0.3% 0.51%
2084 0.29% 0.53%
2083 0.33% 0.54%
2082 0.32% 0.59%
2081 0.32% 0.62%
2080 0.42% 0.64%
2079 0.42% 0.65%
2078 0.48% 0.69%
2077 0.43% 0.72%
2076 0.52% 0.73%
2075 0.63% 0.76%
2074 0.63% 0.81%
2073 0.64% 0.83%
2072 0.68% 0.8%
2071 0.62% 0.82%
2070 0.67% 0.86%
2069 0.8% 0.87%
2068 0.77% 0.91%
2067 0.77% 0.91%
2066 0.84% 0.96%
2065 0.83% 0.94%
2064 0.84% 1.01%
2063 0.87% 1.03%
2062 0.85% 1.05%
2061 0.87% 1.04%
2060 0.97% 1.06%
2059 0.93% 1.09%
2058 0.98% 1.15%
2057 0.99% 1.13%
2056 1% 1.2%
2055 1.07% 1.2%
2054 1.03% 1.28%
2053 1.17% 1.29%
2052 1.11% 1.35%
2051 1.08% 1.36%
2050 1.12% 1.37%
2049 1.16% 1.42%
2048 1.21% 1.42%
2047 1.29% 1.47%
2046 1.29% 1.51%
2045 1.36% 1.53%
2044 1.38% 1.63%
2043 1.46% 1.59%
2042 1.52% 1.71%
2041 1.57% 1.68%
2040 1.59% 1.69%
2039 1.68% 1.73%
2038 1.72% 1.75%
2037 1.81% 1.77%
2036 1.86% 1.85%
2035 1.87% 1.82%
2034 1.86% 1.89%
2033 1.94% 1.89%
2032 2.01% 1.86%
2031 1.97% 1.86%
2030 1.96% 1.88%
2029 2% 1.88%
2028 2% 1.89%
2027 2.04% 1.9%
2026 2.02% 1.91%
2025 2.09% 1.89%
2024 4.01% 1.8%
2023 4.19% 1.69%
2022 1.43% 1.72%
2021 1.56% 1.74%
2020 2.64% 1.67%
2019 2.97% 1.58%
2018 -1.33% 1.5%
2017 -5.27% 1.45%
2016 -2.5% 1.4%
2015 -1.13% 1.35%
2014 0.62% 1.38%
2013 3.81% 1.42%
2012 4.55% 1.64%
2011 5.56% 1.79%
2010 5.44% 1.63%
2009 4.83% 1.42%
2008 5.11% 1.21%
2007 5.17% 1.33%
2006 5.09% 1.23%
2005 4.94% 0.95%
2004 4.78% 1.09%
2003 4.64% 1.2%
2002 4.57% 0.97%
2001 4.58% 0.67%
2000 4.52% 0.92%
1999 2.7% 1.63%
1998 2.01% 1.97%
1997 2.84% 1.9%
1996 2.51% 1.67%
1995 3.05% 0.93%
1994 2.32% 0.12%
1993 0.94% 1.47%
1992 1.51% 2.86%
1991 2.09% 2.64%
1990 0.52% 2.76%
1989 -2.78% 2.94%
1988 -2.3% 3.21%
1987 0.84% 3.36%
1986 1.8% 3.4%
1985 1.76% 3.52%
1984 1.91% 3.62%
1983 2.28% 3.87%
1982 2.48% 3.97%
1981 2.49% 6.49%
1980 2.51% 5.92%
1979 2.54% 1.59%
1978 2.58% 1.46%
1977 2.6% 2.58%
1976 2.63% 3.09%
1975 2.64% 3.22%
1974 2.64% 3.29%
1973 2.4% 3.21%
1972 2.13% 3.12%
1971 1.73% 3.04%
1970 1.31% 3.12%
1969 1.32% 3.22%
1968 1.34% 3.2%
1967 1.27% 3.2%
1966 1.46% 3.2%
1965 1.91% 3.2%
1964 1.86% 3.2%
1963 1.6% 3.2%
1962 1.6% 3.19%
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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of South Sudan grew by 4.01%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

South Sudan Zimbabwe
Current population
12507858
17361868
Population rank 80/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.15% 0.21%
One net population change
1.14 minutes
1.79 minutes
One birth every
1.6 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
4.76 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,260 +804
Annual growth/decline +460,034 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +4.01% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 60/197
One migration net change every
1.43 hours
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change +6,145 -54,555
Net migration rank 50/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 914,001 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 62/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 7.7% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 77/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

South Sudan
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
South Sudan Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 6,145 - -54,555
2024 - 15,374 - -60,528
2023 217,966 455,000 372,505 -97,380
2022 211,166 40,259 371,243 -102,828
2021 213,567 -154,359 349,908 -74,623
2020 212,332 62,935 354,790 -89,440
2019 209,708 65,198 348,798 -103,107
2018 168,497 157,408 345,883 -117,758
2017 72,193 -670,477 344,035 -128,241
2016 110,553 -654,225 348,772 -140,181
2015 148,542 -159,822 356,203 -162,220
2014 227,611 -471,523 366,350 -177,029
2013 315,983 65,337 374,757 -176,972
2012 312,974 125,771 371,135 -177,061
2011 303,181 194,325 359,572 -108,714
2010 287,409 299,402 335,570 -108,671
2009 278,859 139,129 309,316 -108,689
2008 268,268 165,557 280,527 -113,858
2007 256,546 167,350 261,805 -118,299
2006 246,706 153,926 248,963 -57,257
2005 239,272 132,869 248,545 -134,212
2004 231,877 110,182 248,307 -127,550
2003 225,822 91,951 243,057 -96,667
2002 212,014 82,847 244,170 -101,212
2001 204,108 77,856 227,909 -139,361
2000 196,055 74,227 236,343 -165,181
1999 180,721 70,271 232,393 -86,343
1998 -12,157 64,285 225,614 6,645
1997 121,454 48,280 216,288 395
1996 116,728 17,953 205,269 978
1995 110,417 17,077 206,695 -45,428
1994 165,407 16,407 216,343 -174,723
1993 32,779 15,772 228,045 -243,947
1992 28,874 15,077 255,291 75,788
1991 87,873 14,327 260,943 3,749
1990 82,900 12,988 265,444 4,948
1989 83,735 -130,821 270,838 3,736
1988 -125,447 -97,065 277,498 11,327
1987 5,756 -11,976 286,766 21,308
1986 99,502 -10,973 289,894 6,154
1985 95,342 -9,986 290,756 4,718
1984 90,970 -8,984 290,052 5,124
1983 104,107 -7,986 286,545 4,456
1982 118,641 -6,983 279,934 32,899
1981 115,163 -5,994 271,361 11,523
1980 112,307 -4,997 241,179 390,593
1979 109,540 -3,997 223,657 -67,937
1978 107,352 -2,998 222,979 -170,727
1977 104,886 -1,997 225,139 -89,270
1976 102,346 -995 221,419 -32,495
1975 99,882 -395 216,947 -28,988
1974 97,181 -192 208,806 -16,105
1973 94,765 0 201,885 -18,733
1972 74,803 193 193,725 -20,959
1971 72,308 394 185,427 -22,719
1970 44,776 587 178,979 -24,102
1969 42,015 786 172,626 -12,028
1968 44,213 995 166,865 -11,997
1967 41,357 1,194 161,205 -11,814
1966 38,523 1,386 156,014 -11,211
1965 51,682 1,591 151,164 -10,465
1964 64,786 1,785 145,848 -9,631
1963 46,333 1,591 140,984 -8,936
1962 47,406 1,386 136,317 -8,529
1961 45,186 1,194 131,531 -8,204
1960 42,945 995 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/south-sudan/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 people).

As of 2024, 914,001 residents or 7.7% of the population were not native-born in South Sudan, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

Biggest cities by population

South Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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