South Sudan’s population is projected to rise from 16.4 million in 2026 to 20.3 million by 2030, according to a new report launched by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in Juba on Wednesday.
The Population Situation Analysis (PSA) 2026 attributes the projected increase to natural population growth and regional migration.
The report estimates that 47% of the population is under 15, while 79% is below 35, highlighting the need for increased investment in education, healthcare and employment opportunities.
“Without timely and credible data, national planning risks being guided by assumptions rather than evidence,” said NBS Director General Dr. Augustino Ting Mayai at the launch.
The report projects that three states will receive more than 60% of net migration by 2030, although the bureau did not identify the states.
Government agencies and development partners attending the launch pledged to incorporate the findings into development plans and programmes to help guide resource allocation and service delivery.
South Sudan has not conducted a population and housing census since before independence, leaving policymakers dependent on surveys, administrative records and demographic estimates for planning.
The country is preparing for general elections scheduled for December 22, 2026.
The National Elections Commission has said it will use the 2008 population census and 2010 constituency boundaries for the polls.
The new projections are intended to guide development planning and resource allocation as the country prepares for the elections without conducting a new census.
