South Sudan population pyramid 2026
12,436,037 people in 2026 (projected). South Sudan’s young pyramid is cut by war: UN estimates show deaths exceeding births in 1988 and a notch among children born about 2017–21.
- 2026 population
- 12.4Mrank 80 of 237
- Median age
- 19.0 yearsoldest rank 209
- Fertility rate
- 3.63births per woman · above replacement
- Structure
- Youthful3.2% age 65+
South Sudan population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
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The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
South Sudan age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 37.1% of the population, while 3.2% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 59.8% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies South Sudan’s age structure as youthful; the guide to expansive population pyramids explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 67.4: about 67 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (62.1 children and 5.3 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes South Sudan’s population pyramid
Conflict written into the age structure
Few pyramids show the imprint of war as plainly. Southern Sudan endured civil war from 1955 to 1972 and again from 1983 to 2005, and in the UN reconstruction life expectancy was below 30 years in 1970 and 1990, lower than in 1950. In 1988, a year of severe war-related famine, deaths are estimated to have exceeded births, and the 2000 pyramid shows the consequence: the 10–14 band, born about 1986–90, is about 30% smaller than the band below it. Those same cohorts are now in their late thirties, and the 35–39 band in 2026 is a notch about 13% narrower than its neighbours.
The 2005 peace agreement and independence in 2011 were followed by a recovery in survival and births and by the return of many refugees; net migration between 2000 and 2023 was a gain of about 0.55 million. The 15–19 band, born about 2007–11, forms a bulge in 2026. Civil war broke out again in late 2013, displacing millions, and the 5–9 band, born about 2017–21, is a notch about 11% smaller than its neighbours. That timing coincides with the conflict, although the chart cannot separate lower births from child deaths and displacement abroad.
Missing adult men and an uncertain baseline
From the mid-thirties upward women increasingly outnumber men: about 89 men per 100 women at ages 40–44, 87 at 50–54 and 81 at 60–64. Men’s shorter lives (55.0 years against 61.0 for women) explain part of this, and excess male deaths during the wars are often cited as a further cause. These numbers should be read with care. South Sudan has not held a full census since 2008, and the UN figures are reconstructions with wide uncertainty, especially for ages and migration; the guide to population projections explains how such estimates are built.
Underneath the scars the shape is broadly expansive. Fertility has fallen from more than seven children per woman before 2000 to about 3.6, but births are still about three times deaths. The most similar age structures today include Eritrea and Liberia. Under the medium scenario the population grows from about 12.4 million to 18.3 million by 2050 and is still rising slowly in 2100.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
Comparing each five-year band with its neighbours picks out the cohorts that break a smooth slope. These irregularities usually record past surges or deficits in births, or migration concentrated at particular ages; the pattern alone does not identify which. The guide to baby booms and echo cohorts explains how to date and interpret them.
| Age band in 2026 | Born about | Feature | Versus neighbouring bands |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35–39 | 1987–1991 | Notch (smaller cohort) | −13% |
| 5–9 | 2017–2021 | Notch (smaller cohort) | −11% |
Births outnumber deaths in 2026 (deaths were higher in 1988); the medium scenario projects deaths to exceed births from 2097. Children under 15 outnumber people aged 65 and older in every pyramid year through 2100.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, South Sudan is projected to record 365,962 births (about 1,002 births a day) and 123,090 deaths, a natural increase of 242,872. Net migration adds +7,974 people, ranking #81 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 8,432,183 births, 3,060,974 deaths, and cumulative net migration of +551,123. Over that period the balance of births and deaths moved the total more than migration did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of +133,459 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 61.0 years32.7 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 55.0 years28.1 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 13.0 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 62.2per 1,000 births · 236 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 96.5per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 28.4 yearssex ratio at birth 103.5
Women in South Sudan are projected to live 6.0 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 236 to 62.2 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #6 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 28.4 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for South Sudan
The median age of 19.0 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 3.63 births per woman is above the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 58.0 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,436,037 | #80 | Largest first |
| Median age | 19.0 years | #209 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 3.63 | #34 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | +2.0% | #44 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 58.0 years | #235 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 3.2% | #209 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in South Sudan
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0–4 | 1,603,972 | 12.9% | 812.4K / 791.6K |
| 2 | 15–19 | 1,595,022 | 12.8% | 803.4K / 791.6K |
| 3 | 10–14 | 1,586,447 | 12.8% | 801K / 785.4K |
| 4 | 5–9 | 1,422,011 | 11.4% | 717.4K / 704.6K |
| 5 | 20–24 | 1,350,182 | 10.9% | 677.4K / 672.8K |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, South Sudan has 6,114,992 males and 6,321,045 females. That is 96.7 males per 100 females, ranking #157 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 49.2% of the population and females for 50.8%. There are 206,053 more females than males overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 71.7 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 103.5 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, close to the biological norm of about 105 (compare the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How South Sudan has changed since 1950
The population has increased from 2,493,283 in 1950 to 12,436,037 in 2026, a change of 399%. Over the same span, median age moved from 17.5 to 19.0 years.
The under-15 share changed from 42.7% to 37.1%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 3.5% to 3.2%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, South Sudan’s population is projected to grow by about 47%, reaching 18,341,974 in 2050. The median age changes from 19.0 to 25.0 years.
The 65+ share is projected to rise by 2.7 percentage points to 5.9%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 29.7%. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The population is still rising at the end of the UN medium projection in 2100, when it reaches 23,840,772. The page therefore does not assign a peak year beyond the available horizon.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2,493,283 | 17.5 | 7.12 | 30.2 | 123,007 | 87,482 | −995 | +1.4% |
| 1960 | 2,931,559 | 17.5 | 7.16 | 28.1 | 152,520 | 109,576 | +995 | +1.5% |
| 1970 | 3,409,614 | 16.6 | 7.29 | 25.6 | 185,783 | 141,008 | +587 | +1.3% |
| 1980 | 4,339,030 | 16.0 | 7.33 | 38.0 | 225,547 | 113,239 | −4,997 | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 4,737,633 | 15.9 | 7.38 | 28.6 | 247,745 | 164,844 | +12,988 | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 6,032,268 | 16.2 | 6.80 | 47.6 | 300,504 | 104,447 | +74,227 | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 9,745,954 | 17.6 | 5.32 | 57.5 | 388,645 | 101,244 | +299,402 | +6.0% |
| 2020 | 10,698,467 | 17.0 | 4.16 | 57.6 | 314,978 | 102,646 | +62,935 | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 11,483,374 | 18.0 | 3.86 | 57.6 | 328,308 | 110,339 | +455,000 | +5.9% |
| 2024* | 11,943,408 | 18.3 | 3.79 | 57.7 | 349,013 | 117,290 | +15,374 | +2.1% |
| 2026* | 12,436,037 | 19.0 | 3.63 | 58.0 | 365,962 | 123,090 | +7,974 | +2.0% |
| 2030* | 13,457,454 | 20.4 | 3.37 | 58.5 | 395,444 | 134,983 | +1,826 | +1.9% |
| 2040* | 16,101,480 | 23.4 | 2.88 | 59.6 | 401,579 | 162,145 | +11,894 | +1.6% |
| 2050* | 18,341,974 | 25.0 | 2.55 | 60.8 | 391,870 | 187,956 | −6,990 | +1.1% |
| 2060* | 20,307,632 | 27.4 | 2.33 | 61.9 | 389,244 | 211,945 | −1,048 | +0.9% |
| 2070* | 21,989,974 | 30.1 | 2.18 | 63.0 | 378,524 | 239,322 | −4,234 | +0.6% |
| 2080* | 23,186,729 | 32.2 | 2.05 | 64.1 | 357,986 | 283,129 | −950 | +0.3% |
| 2090* | 23,741,231 | 33.8 | 1.96 | 65.2 | 341,804 | 319,853 | −368 | +0.1% |
| 2100* | 23,840,772 | 35.2 | 1.89 | 66.2 | 322,475 | 332,108 | +15,732 | +0.0% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 812,357 | 791,615 | 1,603,972 | 12.9% |
| 5–9 | 717,381 | 704,630 | 1,422,011 | 11.4% |
| 10–14 | 801,025 | 785,422 | 1,586,447 | 12.8% |
| 15–19 | 803,416 | 791,606 | 1,595,022 | 12.8% |
| 20–24 | 677,409 | 672,773 | 1,350,182 | 10.9% |
| 25–29 | 467,882 | 465,692 | 933,574 | 7.5% |
| 30–34 | 320,289 | 331,021 | 651,310 | 5.2% |
| 35–39 | 258,864 | 287,488 | 546,352 | 4.4% |
| 40–44 | 286,722 | 323,837 | 610,559 | 4.9% |
| 45–49 | 282,363 | 319,979 | 602,342 | 4.8% |
| 50–54 | 235,731 | 271,154 | 506,885 | 4.1% |
| 55–59 | 170,095 | 202,507 | 372,602 | 3.0% |
| 60–64 | 117,386 | 144,338 | 261,724 | 2.1% |
| 65–69 | 78,486 | 100,850 | 179,336 | 1.4% |
| 70–74 | 47,077 | 64,725 | 111,802 | 0.9% |
| 75–79 | 24,025 | 36,856 | 60,881 | 0.5% |
| 80–84 | 10,661 | 18,552 | 29,213 | 0.2% |
| 85–89 | 3,309 | 6,523 | 9,832 | 0.1% |
| 90–94 | 495 | 1,370 | 1,865 | 0.0% |
| 95–99 | 16 | 105 | 121 | 0.0% |
| 100+ | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to South Sudan’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- Sao Tome and Principe96% overlap · median age 19.7
- Liberia95% overlap · median age 19.0
- Republic of the Congo95% overlap · median age 18.7
- Eritrea95% overlap · median age 19.5
- Nigeria94% overlap · median age 18.3
- Zimbabwe94% overlap · median age 18.3
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for South Sudan.
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APA
World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). South Sudan Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/south-sudan/
MLA
“South Sudan Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/south-sudan/.
Chicago
World Population Pyramid. “South Sudan Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/south-sudan/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of South Sudan in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, South Sudan's population in 2026 is projected at 12,436,037.
What is the median age in South Sudan?
The projected median age in South Sudan in 2026 is 19.0 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in South Sudan?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 3.63 births per woman, above the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is South Sudan's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will grow by about 47%, from 12.4M to 18.3M.
What share of South Sudan is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 3.2% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 5.9%.
How many babies are born in South Sudan each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 365,962 births and 123,090 deaths in 2026, about 1,002 births a day. Births exceed deaths by 242,872.
What is life expectancy in South Sudan for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 61.0 years for women and 55.0 years for men, a gap of 6.0 years in favour of women.
Does South Sudan have more immigrants or emigrants?
South Sudan is projected to gain about 7,974 more people through migration than it loses in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of +551,123.
What is the sex ratio in South Sudan?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 96.7 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.