Total population (thousands) in South Sudan
South Sudan: Total population (thousands) was 12,067 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
12,067 thousands
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
80th
of 233 countries
All-time high
12,067 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
3,387 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in South Sudan, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, total population in South Sudan stood at 12,067 thousands. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 8.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in South Sudan peaked at 12,067 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3,387 thousands, in 1970.
South Sudan ranks 80th of 233 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3,387 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 3,432 thousands | +1.3% |
| 1972 | 3,505 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 3,580 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1974 | 3,675 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 3,772 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1976 | 3,871 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 3,973 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 4,075 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 4,180 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 4,285 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 4,393 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1982 | 4,502 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 4,614 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 4,710 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1985 | 4,792 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1986 | 4,877 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1987 | 4,966 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 4,959 thousands | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 4,737 thousands | -4.5% |
| 1990 | 4,690 thousands | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 4,786 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 4,888 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 4,932 thousands | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 4,980 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 5,162 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1996 | 5,290 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 5,424 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1998 | 5,594 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 5,646 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 5,897 thousands | +4.4% |
| 2001 | 6,167 thousands | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 6,449 thousands | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 6,744 thousands | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 7,062 thousands | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 7,404 thousands | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 7,776 thousands | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 8,177 thousands | +5.2% |
| 2008 | 8,601 thousands | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 9,035 thousands | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 9,453 thousands | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 10,039 thousands | +6.2% |
| 2012 | 10,537 thousands | +5.0% |
| 2013 | 10,976 thousands | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 11,357 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 11,113 thousands | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 11,102 thousands | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 10,558 thousands | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 9,960 thousands | -5.7% |
| 2019 | 10,286 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 10,561 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 10,836 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 10,896 thousands | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 11,147 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 11,820 thousands | +6.0% |
| 2025 | 12,067 thousands | +2.1% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 12,067 thousands is below the median for low income countries, which is 23,812 thousands, 51% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 12,067 thousands is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,783 thousands, 82% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3,745 thousands | 3,387 thousands | 4,180 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 4,683 thousands | 4,285 thousands | 4,966 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 5,139 thousands | 4,690 thousands | 5,646 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 7,331 thousands | 5,897 thousands | 9,035 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 10,538 thousands | 9,453 thousands | 11,357 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 11,221 thousands | 10,561 thousands | 12,067 thousands | 6 |
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)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Population density 37.73 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.57 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total population in South Sudan?
- Total population in South Sudan was 12,067 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 12,067 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,387 thousands in 1970.
- How does South Sudan rank for total population?
- South Sudan ranks 80th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Sudan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release