MigrantoSouth Sudanese Diaspora
3.2M South Sudanese live abroad — the #25 largest diaspora in the world
Where emigrants go
The top 3 countries receive 91% of all emigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| 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 destination region
Africa is the leading destination region at 99%
3.1M
21.6K
9.7K
259
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about emigration from South Sudan.
Sudan is the fastest-growing major destination
Emigration to Sudan has increased by 489% since 2015, rising from 256K to 1.5M in 9 years.
Sudan is the primary destination for emigrants
Sudan attracts 48% of all emigrants from South Sudan, while the second-largest destination receives just 29%.
Emigration destinations have diversified since 1990
The top destination's share fell from 73% to 48%, indicating a broader spread of emigration patterns.
Emigration has accelerated notably since 2020
The emigrant population grew 33% from 2.4M to 3.2M, indicating an acceleration in emigration flows following COVID and recent geopolitical shifts.
How emigration changed over time
Total emigrant population by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 479199 |
| 1995 | 266027 |
| 2000 | 283331 |
| 2005 | 211198 |
| 2010 | 321713 |
| 2015 | 853845 |
| 2020 | 2374400 |
| 2024 | 3168836 |
Top destinations over time
Emigration to the 5 largest destination countries
| 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 destinations
How emigration to each country has changed since the selected year
South Sudan as an emigration source
Share of immigrants in each country who originate from South Sudan
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
Where do South Sudanese move to?
Most South Sudanese have moved to Sudan, Uganda and Ethiopia — these three countries account for about 91% of all South Sudanese living abroad.
How many South Sudanese live abroad?
Around 3.2M South Sudanese live abroad, making it the #25-largest emigrant population in the world.
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.
How has emigration from South Sudan changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the emigrant population from South Sudan has grown from 853.8K to 3.2M people, a growth of about 271%.
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