South Sudan vs Syria: Refugee population by country or territory of origin
South Sudan
2.39 million
in 2025
Syria
4.87 million
in 2025
South Sudan rank
5th
Syria rank
2nd
Refugee population by country or territory of origin over time
- South Sudan
- Syria
How they compare
Syria currently reports 4.87 million against 2.39 million in South Sudan, a difference of 2.48 million.
That makes Syria's figure about 2.0 times South Sudan's.
Across all 15 years both countries report, Syria has been ahead every year.
South Sudan ranks 5th and Syria ranks 2nd of 205 countries.
Syria has averaged higher in every one of the 2 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Sudan | Syria | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 1.11 million | 4.12 million | 3.01 million | Syria |
| 2020s | 2.30 million | 6.21 million | 3.91 million | Syria |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher refugee population by country or territory of origin, South Sudan or Syria?
- Syria, at 4.87 million against 2.39 million in South Sudan as of 2025.
- What is the difference in refugee population by country or territory of origin between South Sudan and Syria?
- 2.48 million, with Syria ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Sudan and Syria?
- 15 years are reported by both, from 2011 to 2025.
- How do South Sudan and Syria rank globally for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
- South Sudan ranks 5th and Syria ranks 2nd of 205 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Refugee population by country or territory of origin. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.