Total population (thousands) in Sudan
Sudan: Total population (thousands) was 50,849 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
50,849 thousands
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
30th
of 233 countries
All-time high
50,849 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
11,493 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Sudan, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total population in Sudan is 50,849 thousands, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 29.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Sudan peaked at 50,849 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 11,493 thousands, in 1970.
Sudan ranks 30th of 233 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Sudan, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 11,493 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 11,898 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1972 | 12,313 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1973 | 12,743 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 13,356 thousands | +4.8% |
| 1975 | 13,806 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1976 | 14,324 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1977 | 14,816 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1978 | 15,357 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 16,033 thousands | +4.4% |
| 1980 | 16,678 thousands | +4.0% |
| 1981 | 17,440 thousands | +4.6% |
| 1982 | 18,122 thousands | +3.9% |
| 1983 | 18,852 thousands | +4.0% |
| 1984 | 19,368 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 19,725 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1986 | 20,086 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1987 | 20,490 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 20,920 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 21,357 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 21,799 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 22,244 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 22,697 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 23,157 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 23,734 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 24,354 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 24,990 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 25,473 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 26,127 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 26,791 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 27,470 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 28,164 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 28,870 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 29,587 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 30,205 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 30,909 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 31,616 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 32,369 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 33,160 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 34,088 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 35,050 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 35,779 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 36,503 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 37,344 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 38,228 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 39,419 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 40,630 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 41,890 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 43,539 thousands | +3.9% |
| 2019 | 44,922 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 46,174 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 47,404 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 48,730 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 50,037 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 50,049 thousands | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 50,849 thousands | +1.6% |
Sudan compared with similar countries
- Sudan's 50,849 thousands is above the median for low income countries, which is 23,812 thousands, 2.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sudan's 50,849 thousands is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,783 thousands, 3.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13,614 thousands | 11,493 thousands | 16,033 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 19,304 thousands | 16,678 thousands | 21,357 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 24,137 thousands | 21,799 thousands | 26,791 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 30,644 thousands | 27,470 thousands | 34,088 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 39,330 thousands | 35,050 thousands | 44,922 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 48,874 thousands | 46,174 thousands | 50,849 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sudan
More population data for Sudan
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4226 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.64 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4226 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5289 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 84,494 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.31 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3723 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Population density 73.28 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 9.54 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total population in Sudan?
- Total population in Sudan was 50,849 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 50,849 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 11,493 thousands in 1970.
- How does Sudan rank for total population?
- Sudan ranks 30th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this 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