Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in South Sudan
South Sudan: Population density (people per sq. km of land area) was 18.9 people per sq. km of land area in 2024. ▬ Flat
Population density in South Sudan, 2012–2024
Source: FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in people per sq. km of land area.
Analysis
South Sudan recorded 18.9 people per sq. km of land area for population density in 2024. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.0% on the previous year and up 6.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in South Sudan peaked at 18.9 people per sq. km of land area in 2024 and was at its lowest, 16.02 people per sq. km of land area, in 2018.
South Sudan ranks 189th of 216 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 17.02 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 2013 | 17.67 people per sq. km of land area | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 17.78 people per sq. km of land area | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 17.58 people per sq. km of land area | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 17.14 people per sq. km of land area | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 16.23 people per sq. km of land area | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 16.02 people per sq. km of land area | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 16.49 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 16.93 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 17.19 people per sq. km of land area | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 17.44 people per sq. km of land area | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 18.17 people per sq. km of land area | +4.2% |
| 2024 | 18.9 people per sq. km of land area | +4.0% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 18.9 people per sq. km of land area is below the median for low income countries, which is 65.39 people per sq. km of land area, 29% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 18.9 people per sq. km of land area is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 69.86 people per sq. km of land area, 27% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 16.99 people per sq. km of land area | 16.02 people per sq. km of land area | 17.78 people per sq. km of land area | 8 |
| 2020s | 17.73 people per sq. km of land area | 16.93 people per sq. km of land area | 18.9 people per sq. km of land area | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
- 186 Mali 20.06 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 187 Algeria 19.66 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 188 Uruguay 19.35 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 190 Congo 18.54 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 191 Finland 18.49 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 192 Belize 18.28 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for South Sudan
- Population in the largest city 18.9% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 23.67 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in largest city 500,088 (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 13.46 Hectares (2020)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
- Dollar value of all resources made available to strengthen 7.77 million (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in South Sudan?
- Population density in South Sudan was 18.9 people per sq. km of land area in 2024, according to FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest population density recorded in South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 18.9 people per sq. km of land area in 2024.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.02 people per sq. km of land area in 2018.
- How does South Sudan rank for population density?
- South Sudan ranks 189th out of 216 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population density rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Sudan data come from?
- The figures come from FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Population density (people per sq. km of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.