Urban population growth in South Sudan
South Sudan: Urban population growth was 3.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population growth in South Sudan, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
South Sudan recorded 3.5% for urban population growth in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 35.4% on the previous year and up 1,189.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in South Sudan peaked at 7.9% in 1986 and was at its lowest, -4.0%, in 2017.
South Sudan ranks 32nd of 217 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population growth in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.3% | — |
| 1962 | 1.4% | +6.1% |
| 1963 | 1.4% | +1.6% |
| 1964 | 1.7% | +20.3% |
| 1965 | 1.7% | +4.2% |
| 1966 | 1.3% | -24.8% |
| 1967 | 1.1% | -12.9% |
| 1968 | 1.2% | +7.1% |
| 1969 | 1.2% | +0.1% |
| 1970 | 1.2% | -0.1% |
| 1971 | 1.6% | +35.3% |
| 1972 | 2.0% | +24.5% |
| 1973 | 2.3% | +13.3% |
| 1974 | 2.6% | +10.8% |
| 1975 | 2.6% | +0.2% |
| 1976 | 2.6% | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 2.6% | -0.6% |
| 1978 | 2.5% | -0.9% |
| 1979 | 2.5% | -1.1% |
| 1980 | 2.5% | -0.9% |
| 1981 | 2.5% | -0.7% |
| 1982 | 2.5% | -0.4% |
| 1983 | 2.6% | +5.8% |
| 1984 | 4.4% | +68.8% |
| 1985 | 6.4% | +47.4% |
| 1986 | 7.9% | +21.9% |
| 1987 | 7.6% | -3.4% |
| 1988 | 4.6% | -40.1% |
| 1989 | 3.7% | -17.8% |
| 1990 | 6.4% | +71.6% |
| 1991 | 7.1% | +9.9% |
| 1992 | 5.4% | -24.1% |
| 1993 | 3.5% | -34.2% |
| 1994 | 4.3% | +22.5% |
| 1995 | 5.0% | +15.6% |
| 1996 | 4.4% | -12.2% |
| 1997 | 4.6% | +5.2% |
| 1998 | 3.7% | -19.8% |
| 1999 | 4.2% | +14.9% |
| 2000 | 5.9% | +38.4% |
| 2001 | 5.8% | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 5.6% | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 5.6% | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 5.5% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 5.5% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 5.4% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 5.3% | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 5.2% | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 6.3% | +20.9% |
| 2010 | 6.7% | +6.9% |
| 2011 | 6.8% | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 5.8% | -14.1% |
| 2013 | 5.1% | -12.0% |
| 2014 | 2.0% | -60.7% |
| 2015 | 0.3% | -86.7% |
| 2016 | -1.1% | -515.8% |
| 2017 | -4.0% | +258.3% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | -102.1% |
| 2019 | 4.3% | +5184.1% |
| 2020 | 4.0% | -7.3% |
| 2021 | 3.0% | -26.1% |
| 2022 | 2.8% | -4.4% |
| 2023 | 5.5% | +94.5% |
| 2024 | 5.4% | -3.2% |
| 2025 | 3.5% | -35.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.4% | 1.1% | 1.7% | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.2% | 1.2% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.5% | 2.5% | 7.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.9% | 3.5% | 7.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.6% | 5.2% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.6% | -4.0% | 6.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.0% | 2.8% | 5.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
More climate change data for South Sudan
- 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)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 4.66 kt (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in South Sudan?
- Urban population growth in South Sudan was 3.5% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 7.9% in 1986.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.0% in 2017.
- How does South Sudan rank for urban population growth?
- South Sudan ranks 32nd out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,189.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Sudan data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.