Population Statistics
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South Sudan
There is no accurate demographic data in South Sudan. Previous censuses are widely regarded as being of poor quality.
Population 1
| 12,703,714 |
|---|
| 2024 est. |
Language
| English | Official |
|---|---|
| Juba Arabic | (lingua franca) |
| Sudanese Arabic | |
| Dinka | |
| Nuer | |
| Bari | |
| Zande | |
| Shilluk |
There are over 60 indigenous languages spoken in South Sudan, most of which are classied as Nilo-Saharan languages. diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic and Sudanic languages.17
Religion
| Christian | 60.5% |
|---|---|
| Animist / Folk Religions | 32.9% |
| Muslim | 6.2% |
| Other / Unaffiliated | 0.4% |
(2020 est.)2
Other religious groups with small populations include the Baha’i Faith, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism.3
Ethnicity 4 5
| Dinka | 35.8% |
|---|---|
| Nuer | 15.6% |
| Other | 48.6% |
Others including Shilluk, Azande, Bari, Kakwa, Kuku, Murle, Mandari, Didinga, Ndogo, Bviri, Lndi, Anuak, Bongo, Lango, Dungotona, Acholi, Baka, Fertit [2011 est.]4
Accurate statistical data on the ethnic composition of the Sudanese population is unavailable.
South Sudanese in Australia
These demographic statistics pertain to individuals in Australia who were born in South Sudan, as reported in the 2021 Australian Housing and Population Census. The data specifically represents responses from first-generation migrants and does not encompass the total number of people in Australia who may identify as South Sudanese.
Population 6
8,255
This figure refers to the number of Australian residents that were born in South Sudan. However, as the majority of people who identify as South Sudanese were technically born in the Republic of Sudan before the division of the two countries, many list “Sudan” as their birthplace and consequently get categorised as North Sudanese. Community leaders estimate that there are approximately 20,000 South Sudanese people in Australia.7
Citizenship
| Australian citizen | 79.7% |
|---|---|
| Not an Australian citizen | 19.2% |
Median Age
37
Gender
| Male | 49.2% |
|---|---|
| Female | 50.8% |
Religion
| Catholic | 36.8% |
|---|---|
| Anglican | 29.4% |
| No Religion | 4.9% |
| Presbyterian | 3.9% |
| Other Religion | 10.9% |
| Not Stated | 2.9% |
Ancestry
| South Sudanese | 55.7% |
|---|---|
| Sudanese | 15.1% |
| Dinka | 7.1% |
| Australian | 3.4% |
| English | 2.6% |
These are the top ancestry responses of people born in South Sudan. Respondents were able to provide up to two answers. Therefore, the sum of all ancestry responses exceeds the total number of people.
Language Spoken at Home
| Dinka | 49.8% |
|---|---|
| Arabic | 18.5% |
| English | 7.5% |
| Nuer | 5.5% |
| Bari | 3.7% |
| Madi | 3.5% |
| Acholi | 3.5% |
| Other Languages | 5.5% |
Of those who speak a language other than English at home, 86.5% speak English fluently.
Diaspora
| Victoria | 37.8% |
|---|---|
| Queensland | 17.9% |
| Western Australia | 16.0% |
| New South Wales | 11.0% |
| Other | 17.3% |
Arrival to Australia
| Prior to 1991 | 0.4% |
|---|---|
| 1991 - 2000 | 4.7% |
| 2001 - 2010 | 74.3% |
| 2011 - 2015 | 9.6% |
| 2016 - 2021 | 8.5% |
Australians with South Sudanese Ancestry
16,581
This figure represents the total number of people in Australia who reported South Sudanese, Dinka, Nuer, Bari or Acholi ancestry in the 2021 Census, including individuals born in Australia and other countries. It captures the responses of first-, second-, and third-generation migrants who may identify as South Sudanese, regardless of their place of birth.8