Birth rates and death rates in South Sudan
South Sudan: Birth rates and death rates was 9.61 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
9.61 deaths per 1,000 people
Change on year
down 3.0%
World rank
56th
of 236 countries
All-time high
77.74 deaths per 1,000 people
in 1988
All-time low
9.3 deaths per 1,000 people
in 2019
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Birth rates and death rates in South Sudan, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 1,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for birth rates and death rates in South Sudan is 9.61 deaths per 1,000 people, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 3.0% on the previous year and down 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, birth rates and death rates in South Sudan peaked at 77.74 deaths per 1,000 people in 1988 and was at its lowest, 9.3 deaths per 1,000 people, in 2019.
That places South Sudan 56th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Birth rates and death rates in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | deaths per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 35.09 deaths per 1,000 people | — |
| 1951 | 34.4 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.9% |
| 1952 | 33.91 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.4% |
| 1953 | 33.43 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.4% |
| 1954 | 33.03 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.2% |
| 1955 | 32.67 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.1% |
| 1956 | 33.11 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.3% |
| 1957 | 33.91 deaths per 1,000 people | +2.4% |
| 1958 | 37.93 deaths per 1,000 people | +11.8% |
| 1959 | 37.65 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
| 1960 | 37.38 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
| 1961 | 37.11 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
| 1962 | 36.83 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
| 1963 | 37.6 deaths per 1,000 people | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 32.28 deaths per 1,000 people | -14.2% |
| 1965 | 36.85 deaths per 1,000 people | +14.2% |
| 1966 | 41.58 deaths per 1,000 people | +12.8% |
| 1967 | 41.12 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.1% |
| 1968 | 40.67 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.1% |
| 1969 | 41.8 deaths per 1,000 people | +2.8% |
| 1970 | 41.36 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.1% |
| 1971 | 33.72 deaths per 1,000 people | -18.5% |
| 1972 | 33.4 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.9% |
| 1973 | 28.14 deaths per 1,000 people | -15.8% |
| 1974 | 27.84 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.1% |
| 1975 | 27.54 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.1% |
| 1976 | 27.28 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.0% |
| 1977 | 26.93 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 1978 | 26.68 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.0% |
| 1979 | 26.39 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.1% |
| 1980 | 26.1 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.1% |
| 1981 | 25.77 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 1982 | 25.37 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.5% |
| 1983 | 28.75 deaths per 1,000 people | +13.3% |
| 1984 | 31.69 deaths per 1,000 people | +10.2% |
| 1985 | 30.96 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.3% |
| 1986 | 30.41 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.8% |
| 1987 | 49.4 deaths per 1,000 people | +62.5% |
| 1988 | 77.74 deaths per 1,000 people | +57.4% |
| 1989 | 35.34 deaths per 1,000 people | -54.5% |
| 1990 | 34.8 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.6% |
| 1991 | 34.25 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.6% |
| 1992 | 46.66 deaths per 1,000 people | +36.2% |
| 1993 | 46.06 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 20.09 deaths per 1,000 people | -56.4% |
| 1995 | 31.58 deaths per 1,000 people | +57.2% |
| 1996 | 30.85 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 29.59 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.1% |
| 1998 | 53.37 deaths per 1,000 people | +80.3% |
| 1999 | 19.36 deaths per 1,000 people | -63.7% |
| 2000 | 17.32 deaths per 1,000 people | -10.6% |
| 2001 | 16.57 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.3% |
| 2002 | 15.89 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 14.06 deaths per 1,000 people | -11.5% |
| 2004 | 13.46 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 12.78 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.0% |
| 2006 | 12.25 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.1% |
| 2007 | 11.72 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.3% |
| 2008 | 11.2 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.5% |
| 2009 | 10.86 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 10.39 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.3% |
| 2011 | 10.32 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 10.04 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 10 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 17.93 deaths per 1,000 people | +79.4% |
| 2015 | 22.03 deaths per 1,000 people | +22.9% |
| 2016 | 24.84 deaths per 1,000 people | +12.8% |
| 2017 | 25.77 deaths per 1,000 people | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 12.42 deaths per 1,000 people | -51.8% |
| 2019 | 9.3 deaths per 1,000 people | -25.1% |
| 2020 | 9.59 deaths per 1,000 people | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 10.04 deaths per 1,000 people | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 9.91 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 9.61 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.0% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 9.61 deaths per 1,000 people is above the median for low income countries, which is 7.05 deaths per 1,000 people, 1.4× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 9.61 deaths per 1,000 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.2 deaths per 1,000 people, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Birth rates and death rates in South Sudan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +80.3% | 29.59 deaths per 1,000 people | 53.37 deaths per 1,000 people |
| 2014 | +79.4% | 10 deaths per 1,000 people | 17.93 deaths per 1,000 people |
| 1987 | +62.5% | 30.41 deaths per 1,000 people | 49.4 deaths per 1,000 people |
| 1999 | -63.7% | 53.37 deaths per 1,000 people | 19.36 deaths per 1,000 people |
| 1988 | +57.4% | 49.4 deaths per 1,000 people | 77.74 deaths per 1,000 people |
| 1995 | +57.2% | 20.09 deaths per 1,000 people | 31.58 deaths per 1,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 34.51 deaths per 1,000 people | 32.67 deaths per 1,000 people | 37.93 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 38.32 deaths per 1,000 people | 32.28 deaths per 1,000 people | 41.8 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 29.93 deaths per 1,000 people | 26.39 deaths per 1,000 people | 41.36 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 36.15 deaths per 1,000 people | 25.37 deaths per 1,000 people | 77.74 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 34.66 deaths per 1,000 people | 19.36 deaths per 1,000 people | 53.37 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.61 deaths per 1,000 people | 10.86 deaths per 1,000 people | 17.32 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.31 deaths per 1,000 people | 9.3 deaths per 1,000 people | 25.77 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.79 deaths per 1,000 people | 9.59 deaths per 1,000 people | 10.04 deaths per 1,000 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
- 53 Belgium 9.71 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 54 North Korea 9.68 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 55 Denmark 9.63 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 57 Aruba 9.58 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 58 United Kingdom 9.52 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 59 Guadeloupe 9.46 deaths per 1,000 people compare
More health data for South Sudan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.47 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.665 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 12,029 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 57 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.93 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2015)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0637 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.92 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2015)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0654 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is birth rates and death rates in South Sudan?
- Birth rates and death rates in South Sudan was 9.61 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest birth rates and death rates recorded in South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 77.74 deaths per 1,000 people in 1988.
- What is the lowest birth rates and death rates recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.3 deaths per 1,000 people in 2019.
- How does South Sudan rank for birth rates and death rates?
- South Sudan ranks 56th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is birth rates and death rates rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Sudan data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Birth rates and death rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of deaths in a year per 1,000 people in the population.