Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in South Sudan
South Sudan: Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was 3.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in South Sudan, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population growth in South Sudan is 3.9%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 4.4% on the previous year and up 539.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in South Sudan peaked at 5.4% in 2011 and was at its lowest, -5.4%, in 2017.
That places South Sudan 6th out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.3% | — |
| 1971 | 1.7% | +31.9% |
| 1972 | 2.1% | +22.7% |
| 1973 | 2.4% | +12.4% |
| 1974 | 2.6% | +10.2% |
| 1975 | 2.6% | -0.2% |
| 1976 | 2.6% | -0.4% |
| 1977 | 2.6% | -0.9% |
| 1978 | 2.5% | -1.1% |
| 1979 | 2.5% | -1.2% |
| 1980 | 2.5% | -1.1% |
| 1981 | 2.5% | -0.8% |
| 1982 | 2.5% | -0.5% |
| 1983 | 2.3% | -8.1% |
| 1984 | 1.9% | -16.0% |
| 1985 | 1.7% | -7.7% |
| 1986 | 1.8% | +2.1% |
| 1987 | 0.8% | -53.3% |
| 1988 | -2.3% | -380.0% |
| 1989 | -2.8% | +20.9% |
| 1990 | 0.5% | -118.3% |
| 1991 | 2.1% | +300.6% |
| 1992 | 1.5% | -27.5% |
| 1993 | 0.9% | -37.5% |
| 1994 | 2.3% | +145.0% |
| 1995 | 3.0% | +30.8% |
| 1996 | 2.5% | -17.5% |
| 1997 | 2.8% | +13.1% |
| 1998 | 2.0% | -28.8% |
| 1999 | 2.7% | +33.5% |
| 2000 | 4.4% | +66.0% |
| 2001 | 4.5% | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 4.5% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 4.5% | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 4.7% | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 4.8% | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 5.0% | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 5.0% | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 5.0% | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 4.7% | -5.4% |
| 2010 | 5.3% | +12.2% |
| 2011 | 5.4% | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 4.4% | -17.8% |
| 2013 | 3.7% | -15.9% |
| 2014 | 0.6% | -83.6% |
| 2015 | -1.1% | -285.8% |
| 2016 | -2.5% | +121.6% |
| 2017 | -5.4% | +114.1% |
| 2018 | -1.3% | -75.3% |
| 2019 | 2.9% | -318.8% |
| 2020 | 2.6% | -10.9% |
| 2021 | 1.6% | -40.4% |
| 2022 | 1.4% | -8.5% |
| 2023 | 4.1% | +189.3% |
| 2024 | 3.9% | -4.4% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 3.9% is above the median for low income countries, which is 2.6%, 1.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 3.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.3%, 1.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | -380.0% | 0.8% | -2.3% |
| 2019 | +318.8% | -1.3% | 2.9% |
| 1991 | +300.6% | 0.5% | 2.1% |
| 2015 | -285.8% | 0.6% | -1.1% |
| 2023 | +189.3% | 1.4% | 4.1% |
| 1994 | +145.0% | 0.9% | 2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.3% | 1.3% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.1% | -2.8% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.0% | 0.5% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.7% | 4.4% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.2% | -5.4% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.7% | 1.4% | 4.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
More population data for South Sudan
- Population regions 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 long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0243 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0933 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 17,461 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.92 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5193 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.026 (2100)
- Population density 37.73 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 1.57 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in South Sudan?
- Population growth in South Sudan was 3.9% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 5.4% in 2011.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was -5.4% in 2017.
- How does South Sudan rank for population growth?
- South Sudan ranks 6th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population growth rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 539.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Sudan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release