Population growth (annual %) (World Population) in South Sudan
South Sudan: Population growth (annual %) (World Population) was 2.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in South Sudan, 1961–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population growth in South Sudan is 2.0%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 48.2% on the previous year and up 278.2% 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.
South Sudan ranks 48th of 218 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth (annual %) (World Population) in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.5% | — |
| 1962 | 1.6% | +3.7% |
| 1963 | 1.6% | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 1.8% | +16.4% |
| 1965 | 1.9% | +2.7% |
| 1966 | 1.4% | -23.5% |
| 1967 | 1.3% | -12.7% |
| 1968 | 1.3% | +5.1% |
| 1969 | 1.3% | -1.0% |
| 1970 | 1.3% | -1.1% |
| 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% |
| 2025 | 2.0% | -48.2% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 2.0% is below the median for low income countries, which is 2.6%, 80% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 2.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.3%, 90% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth (annual %) (World Population) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.9% | 9 |
| 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 | 2.6% | 1.4% | 4.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
More climate change data for South Sudan
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 0 kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 30,624 kt (2023)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 9,725 kt (2023)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 20,899 kt (2023)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 36.7 kt (2023)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 746.39 kt (2023)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 0 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 0 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 130.58 kt (2023)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in South Sudan?
- Population growth in South Sudan was 2.0% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division.
- 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 48th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population growth rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 278.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Sudan data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.