MigrantoSouth Sudanese Diaspora
3.2M South Sudanese live abroad — 27% of the population of South Sudan
South Sudanese diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 91% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Sudan | 1507976 |
| Uganda | 923658 |
| Ethiopia | 443743 |
| Kenya | 114885 |
| DR Congo | 103594 |
| Egypt | 37915 |
| UAE | 14900 |
| Australia | 9693 |
| Central African Republic | 2388 |
| Qatar | 2172 |
| Libya | 2004 |
| Kuwait | 1999 |
| Bahrain | 1500 |
| Eritrea | 1167 |
| Yemen | 559 |
| Iraq | 301 |
| Norway | 198 |
| Israel | 122 |
| Denmark | 50 |
| Finland | 11 |
| Guinea | 1 |
| Latvia | 0 |
By region
99% of the diaspora lives in Africa
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Key facts
The South Sudanese diaspora in numbers
The community in Sudan is growing fastest
The number of South Sudanese living in Sudan has grown 489% since 2015, from 256K to 1.5M.
Most South Sudanese abroad live in Sudan
48% of the diaspora lives in Sudan, while the next country accounts for just 29%.
The diaspora is spread more widely than in 1990
The largest country's share fell from 73% to 48%.
The diaspora has grown 33% since 2020
The number of South Sudanese living abroad rose from 2.4M to 3.2M in four years.
1 in 4 people born in South Sudan lives abroad
3.2M people born in South Sudan now live in other countries — 26.5% of a population of 11.9M.
South Sudanese diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 479199 |
| 1995 | 266027 |
| 2000 | 283331 |
| 2005 | 211198 |
| 2010 | 321713 |
| 2015 | 853845 |
| 2020 | 2374400 |
| 2024 | 3168836 |
Largest communities over time
South Sudanese living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | Sudan | Uganda | Ethiopia | Kenya | DR Congo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 | 0 | 349048 | 5801 | 113409 |
| 1995 | 0 | 0 | 64067 | 53996 | 137306 |
| 2000 | 0 | 0 | 72662 | 81156 | 118742 |
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | 79562 | 62546 | 57568 |
| 2010 | 212948 | 0 | 33673 | 53218 | 4465 |
| 2015 | 255959 | 179082 | 281162 | 95765 | 8596 |
| 2020 | 867593 | 875322 | 365470 | 121553 | 90971 |
| 2024 | 1507976 | 923658 | 443743 | 114885 | 103594 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of South Sudanese in each country has changed since the selected year
South Sudanese among immigrants in other countries
Where South Sudanese make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many South Sudanese live outside South Sudan?
Around 3.2M South Sudanese live abroad, the world's #25 largest diaspora.
Where do most South Sudanese abroad live?
Most South Sudanese live in Sudan, Uganda and Ethiopia — these three countries account for about 91% of all South Sudanese living abroad.
Which country has the largest South Sudanese population outside South Sudan?
Sudan is home to the largest South Sudanese community abroad — 1.5M people, about 48% of all South Sudanese living abroad.
What share of the population of South Sudan lives abroad?
About 27% of the population of South Sudan lives abroad — that's 3.2M out of a total population of 11.9M.
Is the South Sudanese diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of South Sudanese living abroad has grown from 853.8K to 3.2M, about 271%.
Where does the data on the South Sudanese diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in South Sudan who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in South Sudan
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