Population of South Sudan
As of July 2026, the population of South Sudan is 12.4 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 251 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 2.03%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 17 years in 2016 to 19 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 58 years and population density is 22 inhabitants per square kilometer.
Population Growth
The population growth rate of South Sudan peaked in 2010, reaching around 6.02% annually, but has since declined to approximately 2.02% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 672.96 thousand in 2023 to nearly 250.85 thousand in 2026.
Life Expectancy
In South Sudan, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 54.7 years in 2006 to 58 years in 2026, representing an increase of more than 3 years over the past 2 decades.
Most populous cities in South Sudan
The cities of South Sudan are mostly small, but 5 stand out with more than 100 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is Juba, Central Equatoria, with approximately 450 thousand inhabitants. It is followed by Winejok, Northern Bahr al Ghazal with 300 thousand and Yei, Central Equatoria with 260.7 thousand.
These are the 20 most populous cities in South Sudan:
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Juba, Central Equatoria | 450,000 |
| 2 | Winejok, Northern Bahr al Ghazal | 300,000 |
| 3 | Yei, Central Equatoria | 260,720 |
| 4 | Malakal, Upper Nile | 160,765 |
| 5 | Wau, Western Bahr al Ghazal | 127,384 |
| 6 | Kuacjok, Warrap | 78,000 |
| 7 | Pajok, Eastern Equatoria | 49,000 |
| 8 | Gogrial, Warrap | 44,600 |
| 9 | Yambio, Western Equatoria | 40,382 |
| 10 | Aweil, Northern Bahr al Ghazal | 38,745 |
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Rumbek, Lakes | 32,083 |
| 12 | Bor, Jonglei | 26,782 |
| 13 | Torit, Eastern Equatoria | 20,048 |
| 14 | Leer, Unity | 17,827 |
| 15 | Tonj, Warrap | 17,338 |
| 16 | Kafia Kingi, Western Bahr al Ghazal | 16,000 |
| 17 | Maridi, Western Equatoria | 14,224 |
| 18 | Yirol, Lakes | 11,650 |
| 19 | Tambura, Western Equatoria | 9,500 |
| 20 | Kodok, Upper Nile | 7,709 |