Urban population in South Sudan
South Sudan: Urban population was 2.64 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in South Sudan, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, urban population in South Sudan stood at 2.64 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.5% on the previous year and up 26.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in South Sudan peaked at 2.64 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 253,877, in 1960.
That places South Sudan 128th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 253,877 | — |
| 1961 | 257,145 | +1.3% |
| 1962 | 260,660 | +1.4% |
| 1963 | 264,279 | +1.4% |
| 1964 | 268,698 | +1.7% |
| 1965 | 273,379 | +1.7% |
| 1966 | 276,953 | +1.3% |
| 1967 | 280,105 | +1.1% |
| 1968 | 283,520 | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 286,980 | +1.2% |
| 1970 | 290,480 | +1.2% |
| 1971 | 295,285 | +1.7% |
| 1972 | 301,379 | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 308,437 | +2.3% |
| 1974 | 316,453 | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 324,691 | +2.6% |
| 1976 | 333,136 | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 341,744 | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 350,497 | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 359,377 | +2.5% |
| 1980 | 368,395 | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 377,576 | +2.5% |
| 1982 | 386,948 | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 397,113 | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 414,878 | +4.5% |
| 1985 | 442,518 | +6.7% |
| 1986 | 478,722 | +8.2% |
| 1987 | 516,523 | +7.9% |
| 1988 | 540,586 | +4.7% |
| 1989 | 561,208 | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 598,449 | +6.6% |
| 1991 | 642,241 | +7.3% |
| 1992 | 677,597 | +5.5% |
| 1993 | 701,909 | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 732,883 | +4.4% |
| 1995 | 770,391 | +5.1% |
| 1996 | 804,896 | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 842,873 | +4.7% |
| 1998 | 874,606 | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 912,539 | +4.3% |
| 2000 | 967,748 | +6.1% |
| 2001 | 1.03 million | +6.0% |
| 2002 | 1.09 million | +5.8% |
| 2003 | 1.15 million | +5.7% |
| 2004 | 1.21 million | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 1.28 million | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 1.35 million | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 1.43 million | +5.5% |
| 2008 | 1.50 million | +5.3% |
| 2009 | 1.60 million | +6.5% |
| 2010 | 1.71 million | +6.9% |
| 2011 | 1.83 million | +7.0% |
| 2012 | 1.94 million | +6.0% |
| 2013 | 2.04 million | +5.3% |
| 2014 | 2.08 million | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 2.09 million | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 2.07 million | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 1.99 million | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 1.99 million | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 2.07 million | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 2.16 million | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 2.23 million | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 2.29 million | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 2.42 million | +5.7% |
| 2024 | 2.55 million | +5.5% |
| 2025 | 2.64 million | +3.5% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 2.64 million is below the median for low income countries, which is 6.96 million, 38% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 2.64 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million, 55% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 270,560 | 253,877 | 286,980 | 10 |
| 1970s | 322,148 | 290,480 | 359,377 | 10 |
| 1980s | 448,447 | 368,395 | 561,208 | 10 |
| 1990s | 755,838 | 598,449 | 912,539 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.26 million | 967,748 | 1.60 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.98 million | 1.71 million | 2.09 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.38 million | 2.16 million | 2.64 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
- 125 Qatar 2.95 million compare
- 126 Slovakia 2.88 million compare
- 127 Tajikistan 2.82 million compare
- 129 Kyrgyzstan 2.55 million compare
- 130 Mongolia 2.54 million compare
- 131 Central African Republic 2.46 million compare
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 urban population in South Sudan?
- Urban population in South Sudan was 2.64 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 2.64 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 253,877 in 1960.
- How does South Sudan rank for urban population?
- South Sudan ranks 128th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.5%. 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.