People & Society
South Sudan
Languages
Languages
The official language is English, while Arabic encompasses Juba and Sudanese dialects. Various ethnic languages are spoken, including Dinka, Nuer, Bari, Zande, and Shilluk.
major-language sample(s)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)
Religions
Christianity comprises 60.5% of the population, followed by folk religions at 32.9%, Islam at 6.2%, other beliefs at less than 1%, and those unaffiliated also at less than 1% (2020 estimate).
Sex ratio
at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.03 male(s)/female
total population
1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
1.22 male(s)/female
Birth rate
35.68 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
8.65 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
18.7 years
total
18.7 years (2025 est.)
female
18.7 years
Population
male
6,476,341
total
12,703,714 (2024 est.)
female
6,227,373
Nationality
noun
South Sudanese (singular and plural)
adjective
South Sudanese
Urbanization
urban population
21.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
4.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
42.1% (male 2,725,520/female 2,619,035)
15-64 years
55.3% (male 3,568,064/female 3,458,804)
65 years and over
2.6% (2024 est.) (male 182,757/female 149,534)
Ethnic groups
Dinka (Jieng) approximately 35-40%, Nuer (Naath) approximately 15%, Shilluk (Chollo), Azande, Bari, Kakwa, Kuku, Murle, Mandari, Didinga, Ndogo, Bviri, Lndi, Anuak, Bongo, Lango, Dungotona, Acholi, Baka, Fertit (2011 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
80.8 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio
76.1 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio
21.1 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
4.7 (2024 est.)
Physician density
0.04 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
5.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
2.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
18.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate
4.98 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 33.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 41.2% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 70% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 66.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 58.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 30% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
1.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
3.3% national budget (2015 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
65.8 deaths/1,000 live births
total
58.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
54.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
4.52% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
2.43 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
Population clusters are located in urban regions, especially within the western interior and along the White Nile, as illustrated in this population distribution map.
Life expectancy at birth
male
58.4 years
female
62.2 years
total population
60.3 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
692 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 15.5% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 24.9% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 60.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 84.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 75.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 39.4% of population (2022 est.)
Major urban areas - population
459,000 JUBA (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
6.6% (2014)