Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in South Sudan
South Sudan: Internally displaced persons was 1.57 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Internally displaced persons in South Sudan, 2011–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for internally displaced persons in South Sudan is 1.57 million, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 15.8% on the previous year and down 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, internally displaced persons in South Sudan peaked at 2.14 million in 2022 and was at its lowest, 350,000, in 2011.
That places South Sudan 15th out of 104 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Internally displaced persons in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 350,000 | — |
| 2012 | 350,000 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 383,000 | +9.4% |
| 2014 | 1.50 million | +291.2% |
| 2015 | 1.70 million | +13.3% |
| 2016 | 1.85 million | +8.8% |
| 2017 | 1.90 million | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 1.87 million | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 1.58 million | -15.2% |
| 2020 | 1.54 million | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 1.90 million | +22.9% |
| 2022 | 2.14 million | +12.9% |
| 2023 | 1.68 million | -21.3% |
| 2024 | 1.36 million | -19.2% |
| 2025 | 1.57 million | +15.8% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 1.57 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 518,555, 3.0× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 1.57 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 27,570, 57.1× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Internally displaced persons in South Sudan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +291.2% | 383,000 | 1.50 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 1.28 million | 350,000 | 1.90 million | 9 |
| 2020s | 1.70 million | 1.36 million | 2.14 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
More population data for South Sudan
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 17,461 Persons (2050)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0933 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0243 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.4787 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0243 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.57 million people (2100)
- Population density 37.73 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5193 % change on previous year (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is internally displaced persons in South Sudan?
- Internally displaced persons in South Sudan was 1.57 million in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest internally displaced persons recorded in South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 2.14 million in 2022.
- What is the lowest internally displaced persons recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 350,000 in 2011.
- How does South Sudan rank for internally displaced persons?
- South Sudan ranks 15th out of 104 countries with data for 2025.
- Is internally displaced persons rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Sudan data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Internally displaced persons (IDPs). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).