South Sudan is home to around 60 indigenous ethnic groups and 80 linguistic partitions among a population of around . Historically, most ethnic groups were lacking in formal Western political institutions, with land held by the community and elders acting as problem solvers and adjudicators. Today, most ethnic groups still embrace a cattle culture in which livestock is the main measure of wealth and used for bride wealth.
The majority of the ethnic groups in South Sudan are of African heritage who practice either Christianity or syncretisms of Christian and Traditional African religion. There is a significant minority of people, primarily tribes of Arab heritage, who practice Islam. Most tribes of African heritage have at least one clan that has embraced Islam, and some clans of tribes of Arab heritage have embraced Christianity.
Linguistic diversity is much greater in the southern half of the country, a significant majority of the people belong to either the Dinka people (25.2%) of the South Sudan population, and primary residents of the historic Upper Nile Region and Bahr el Ghazal Region or the Nuer people (18.6%) of the South Sudan population living primarily in the historic Greater Upper Nile region along with a significant number of Dinka. Both peoples speak one of the Nilo-Saharan languages and are closely related linguistically. Sixty four languages are standard language in South Sudan; however, their dialects are not all mutually intelligible.
Historically, neither the Dinka nor the Nuer or any other tribes have a tradition of centralized political authority and embrace a cattle culture where land is held by the community and livestock is the main measure of wealth. It is common to conduct cattle raids against neighbors. The tribes are fragmented into clans of politically separate communities with customs against intermarriage among clans. Processes of urbanization are a source of significant cultural change and societal conflict.
Population size
It was estimated that the population of South Sudan was with the following age structure:
Age Percent Male Female 0–14 years 46.2% 2,613,697 2,505,794 15–24 years 19.7% 1,148,967 1,030,596 25–54 years 29% 1,547,552 1,666,242 55–64 years 3.1% 186,460 154,924 65 plus years 2.1% 133,300 102,600
Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 21.IV.2008): Age group Male Female Total % Total 4 287 300 3 973 190 8 260 490 100 0–4 689 427 614 704 1 304 133 15.79 5–9 688 385 609 431 1 297 816 15.71 10–14 569 537 487 853 1 057 390 12.80 15–19 462 902 426 927 889 829 10.77 20–24 360 788 378 218 739 006 8.95 25–29 335 398 362 613 698 011 8.45 30–34 258 531 278 384 536 915 6.50 35–39 238 9855 236 828 475 813 5.76 40–44 173 493 166 211 339 704 4.11 45–49 149 941 126 159 276 100 3.34 50–54 104 812 92 453 197 265 2.39 55–59 67 845 53 950 121 795 1.47 60–64 64 236 51 395 115 631 1.40 65-69 41 455 31 700 73 155 0.89 70-74 34 785 24 502 59 287 0.72 75-79 17 424 11 495 28 919 0.35 80-84 14 314 10 200 24 514 0.30 85-89 6 731 4 251 10 9822 0.13 90-94 4 477 2 884 7 361 0.09 95+ 3 834 3 032 6 866 0.08 Age group Male Female Total Percent 0–14 1 947 349 1 711 988 3 659 337 44.30 15–64 2 216 931 2 173 138 4 390 069 53.15 65+ 123 020 88 064 211 084 2.56
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2018) (Data are projections based on the 2008 Population and Housing Census.): Age group Male Female Total % Total 6 311 618 6 011 801 12 323 4220 100 0–4 1 301 082 1 282 553 2 583 635 20.97 5–9 1 036 396 1 026 890 2 063 286 16.74 10–14 674 769 608 559 1 283 328 10.41 15–19 674 552 598 127 1 272 679 10.33 20–24 552 586 473 845 1 026 431 8.33 25–29 442 942 408 891 851 834 6.91 30–34 343 3413 360 210 703 523 5.71 35–39 317 791 343 554 661 345 5.37 40–44 243 196 261 673 504 869 4.10 45–49 221 473 218 855 440 328 3.57 50–54 157 507 150 218 307 725 2.50 55–59 130 983 109 143 240 125 1.95 60–64 86 498 75 082 161 580 1.31 65-69 50 690 39 0021 89 691 0.73 70-74 41 750 31 722 73 472 0.60 75-79 20 477 14 206 34 683 0.28 80-84 11 648 7 168 18 816 0.15 85-89 2 942 1 561 4 503 0.04 90-94 965 518 1 483 0.01 95+ 57 26 83 <0.01 Age group Male Female Total Percent 0–14 3 012 247 2 918 002 5 930 249 48.12 15–64 3 170 842 2 999 597 6 170 439 50.07 65+ 128 529 94 202 222 731 1.81
2008 census The "Fifth Population and Housing Census of Sudan", of Sudan as a whole, was conducted in April 2008. However the census results of Southern Sudan were rejected by Southern Sudanese officials as reportedly "the central bureau of statistics in Khartoum refused to share the national Sudan census raw data with southern Sudan centre for census, statistic and evaluation." The census showed the Southern Sudan population to be 8.26 million, however President Kiir had "suspected figures were being deflated in some regions and inflated in others, and that made the final tally 'unacceptable'." He also claimed the Southern Sudanese population to really be one-third of Sudan, while the census showed it to be only 22%. Many Southern Sudanese were also said to not have been counted "due to bad weather, really poor communication and transport networks, and some areas were unreachable, while many Southern Sudanese remained in exile in neighbouring countries, leading to 'unacceptable results', according [to] southern Sudanese authorities." The chief American technical adviser for the census in the South said the census-takers probably reached 89% of the population. If this estimate is correct, the size of the South Sudanese population is about 9.28 million.
The population count was a determining factor for the share of wealth and power each part of Sudan received. Among the accusations made against the census were that the Sudanese government deliberately manipulated the census in oil-rich regions such as the Abyei district, on the border between northern Sudan and southern Sudan. Another complication is the large population of South Sudanese refugees in the north. The central government inhibited their return.Broere, Kees. "Uitstel voor census Soedan". de Volkskrant, 15 April 2008, p. 5.
2009 census In May of 2009, Sudan started a new Southern Sudanese census ahead of the 2011 independence referendum, which is said to also include the Southern Sudanese diaspora. However this initiative was criticized as it was to leave out countries with a high share of the Southern Sudanese diaspora, and rather count countries where the diaspora share was low.
Vital statistics
The registration of vital events in South Sudan is incomplete. The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates. Population estimates account for under numeration in population censuses.
Mid-year population Live births Deaths Natural change Crude birth rate(per 1000) Crude death rate(per 1000) Natural change(per 1000) Total fertility rate Infant mortality(per 1000 live births) Life expectancy(in years)19502,492,000 115,000 83,000 32,00046.233.312.96.63236.831.251951 2,526,000 118,000 82,000 36,00046.832.614.26.63234.331.551952 2,564,000 121,000 82,000 39,00047.332.015.36.65229.631.951953 2,605,000 124,000 82,000 43,00047.731.416.46.66225.232.481954 2,649,000 127,000 82,000 46,00048.130.917.26.67221.032.931955 2,695,000 131,000 83,000 48,00048.530.717.76.68219.133.161956 2,743,000 134,000 86,000 47,00048.831.517.36.69217.932.531957 2,790,000 137,000 90,000 47,00049.132.416.76.69216.931.701958 2,831,000 140,000 104,000 36,00049.436.612.86.70217.728.171959 2,869,000 143,000 104,000 38,00049.736.413.36.71216.028.401960 2,908,000 145,000 105,000 40,00050.036.113.96.72214.228.661961 2,949,000 148,000 106,000 42,00050.235.914.36.73212.328.841962 2,992,000 151,000 107,000 44,00050.535.614.96.75210.629.121963 3,036,000 154,000 111,000 43,00050.836.514.36.76217.628.831964 3,089,000 158,000 96,000 61,00051.131.219.96.78205.433.151965 3,144,000 161,000 113,000 48,00051.335.915.46.80213.329.291966 3,185,000 165,000 130,000 35,00051.740.711.06.82221.426.081967 3,222,000 167,000 129,000 38,00052.040.111.96.84219.026.411968 3,262,000 170,000 129,000 41,00052.239.612.66.86216.626.711969 3,302,000 173,000 134,000 39,00052.340.511.86.87217.126.091970 3,342,000 175,000 133,000 42,00052.539.912.56.88214.726.401971 3,397,000 178,000 111,000 67,00052.432.719.76.89197.931.581972 3,465,000 181,000 112,000 69,00052.332.419.96.90195.731.911973 3,542,000 184,000 98,000 87,00052.027.624.46.91184.136.481974 3,630,000 188,000 100,000 88,00051.727.524.26.92182.436.511975 3,718,000 191,000 101,000 90,00051.427.324.16.92180.436.751976 3,809,000 194,000 103,000 91,00051.027.123.96.92178.336.841977 3,901,000 197,000 104,000 94,00050.626.624.06.91176.137.331978 3,996,000 201,000 105,000 96,00050.226.224.06.90174.237.651979 4,093,000 204,000 106,000 98,00049.825.923.96.87172.337.921980 4,192,000 207,000 106,000 101,00049.325.324.06.85170.438.421981 4,294,000 210,000 107,000 103,00048.924.924.06.83168.538.781982 4,398,000 214,000 108,000 106,00048.624.624.06.81166.739.111983 4,503,000 228,000 125,000 103,00050.627.822.87.13167.435.491984 4,603,000 240,000 142,000 98,00052.230.921.37.44167.332.671985 4,707,000 254,000 144,000 110,00053.930.623.37.77164.933.151986 4,820,000 262,000 146,000 116,00054.330.324.07.91162.533.631987 4,894,000 265,000 232,000 33,00054.147.56.67.95171.821.911988 4,815,000 269,000 362,000 −93,00055.374.6 −19.28.01400.612.411989 4,707,000 267,000 162,000 105,00055.833.921.97.99158.129.681990 4,751,000 263,000 162,000 102,00055.534.121.47.99155.429.941991 4,867,000 269,000 165,000 104,00055.333.921.48.00152.630.151992 4,957,000 273,000 226,000 46,00055.145.79.48.00157.922.721993 5,018,000 274,000 229,000 45,00054.845.79.08.01154.822.701994 5,143,000 280,000 108,000 172,00054.521.033.57.99134.244.381995 5,302,000 286,000 173,000 113,00054.032.721.37.96138.930.951996 5,435,000 292,000 175,000 118,00053.932.221.77.99135.331.301997 5,589,000 297,000 172,000 125,00053.431.022.57.97130.432.241998 5,699,000 299,000 317,000 −18,00052.855.9 −3.17.82215.218.391999 5,850,000 304,000 120,000 184,00052.320.631.77.67115.543.222000 6,114,000 313,000 113,000 200,00051.418.632.87.51109.646.032001 6,394,000 322,000 113,000 208,00050.617.832.87.37104.946.882002 6,686,000 329,000 114,000 214,00049.517.232.37.19100.347.492003 6,992,000 330,000 106,000 223,00047.515.332.26.8594.950.252004 7,317,000 330,000 106,000 224,00045.514.730.86.5290.950.922005 7,663,000 331,000 107,000 224,00043.514.029.56.1786.551.552006 8,030,000 331,000 108,000 223,00041.613.528.05.8283.052.022007 8,418,000 340,000 108,000 232,00040.812.927.95.6479.452.862008 8,824,000 356,000 109,000 247,00040.712.528.25.5575.753.542009 9,229,000 371,000 112,000 259,00040.512.228.35.4772.853.892010 9,714,000 384,000 112,000 273,00040.211.728.55.3869.454.812011 10,243,000 409,000 118,000 291,00040.311.628.75.2967.154.942012 10,702,000 424,000 118,000 306,00039.911.128.85.2064.855.872013 11,106,000 435,000 123,000 312,00039.311.128.15.1164.155.752014 11,213,000 441,000 132,000 309,00038.511.527.05.0264.054.972015 11,194,000 409,000 125,000 285,00036.311.125.34.9463.855.572016 11,066,000 400,000 125,000 275,00035.211.024.14.8663.855.542017 10,658,000 359,000 121,000 238,00032.711.021.64.7863.955.312018 10,395,000 318,000 112,000 206,00030.110.619.64.7063.655.952019 10,448,000 303,000 110,000 194,00029.110.518.54.6263.755.912020 10,561,000 315,000 103,000 212,00029.49.619.84.1663.857.62021 10,836,000 323,000 109,000 214,00029.710.019.74.0563.957.02022 10,895,000 320,000 109,000 211,00029.19.919.23.9663.957.22023 11,147,000 328,000 110,000 218,00028.69.619.03.8660.657.6
Ethnic groups