Africa · Northern Africa
Sudan Demographics
Sudan has a large and young population profile, with high fertility, low median age, rapid projected growth, and urbanization below the world average.
Main data sources used here are United Nations World Population Prospects 2024, World Bank World Development Indicators, UNFPA World Population Dashboard, UNSD Demographic and Social Statistics, Worldometer UN WPP tabulations, and PopulationPyramids UN WPP visualized tables.
Last updated: June 30, 2026
Core Demographic Indicators
Detailed Demographic Indicators
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population, medium-variant mid-year projection | 53,282,719 | 2026 | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| Population, latest World Bank WDI value | 50,448,963 | 2024 | World Bank WDI; UN WPP 2024 |
| Annual population growth | 3.14% | 2026 | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| Annual population growth, World Bank WDI | 0.8% | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Median age | 18.8 years | 2026 | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| Total fertility rate | 4.13 births per woman | 2026 | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| Life expectancy at birth, both sexes | 66.9 years | 2026 | Worldometer UN WPP tabulation |
| Life expectancy at birth, female | 70.2 years | 2026 | Worldometer UN WPP tabulation |
| Life expectancy at birth, male | 63.8 years | 2026 | Worldometer UN WPP tabulation |
| Urban population share | 35.4% | 2026 | UN WUP/WPP tabulation via Worldometer |
| Urban population count | 18,873,944 | 2026 | UN WUP/WPP tabulation via Worldometer |
| Population aged 0-14 | 40.2% · 20,775,077 people | 2025 | PopulationPyramids UN WPP table |
| Population aged 15-64 | 56.4% · 29,137,273 people | 2025 | PopulationPyramids UN WPP table |
| Population aged 65+ | 3.4% · 1,749,809 people | 2025 | PopulationPyramids UN WPP table |
| Net migration | +252,038 | 2026 | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| Population density | 30 people per km² | 2026 | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| Land area used for density | 1,765,048 km² | 2026 | Worldometer country area table |
| Sex ratio | 98.3 males per 100 females | 2025 | PopulationPyramids UN WPP table |
| Infant mortality rate | 36.0 deaths per 1,000 live births | 2026 | Worldometer UN WPP tabulation |
| Under-5 mortality rate | 51.0 deaths per 1,000 live births | 2026 | Worldometer UN WPP tabulation |
Table analysis
- The 2026 population value is a medium-variant projection, while the 2024 World Bank value is a reported WDI series value aligned to UN WPP population estimates.
- The age structure remains young: the 2025 age table places 40.2% of the population under age 15 and 3.4% at age 65 or older.
- The 2026 life expectancy gap is 6.4 years, with female life expectancy at 70.2 years and male life expectancy at 63.8 years.
- Migration estimates are source- and year-sensitive: the same UN WPP tabulation gives -544,257 for 2024 and +252,038 for 2026.
Population Trend
Sudan Population Trend
Selected mid-year population estimates and medium-variant projections from 1955 to 2026.
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024, tabulated by Worldometer. Values from 2025 and 2026 are medium-variant projections.
Trend analysis
- The population rose from 7.18 million in 1955 to 50.45 million in 2024 in this UN WPP-based series.
- The 2024 to 2026 movement reflects a shift from an estimated 50.45 million to a projected 53.28 million.
- The line should not be read as census counts for every year; it is a consistent UN mid-year estimate and projection series.
| Year | Population | Data type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 53,282,719 | Medium-variant projection | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 2025 | 51,662,147 | Medium-variant projection | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 2024 | 50,448,963 | Mid-year estimate | UN WPP 2024; World Bank WDI |
| 2023 | 50,042,791 | Mid-year estimate | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 2022 | 49,383,346 | Mid-year estimate | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 2020 | 46,789,231 | Mid-year estimate | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 2015 | 40,024,431 | Mid-year estimate | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 2010 | 35,414,399 | Mid-year estimate | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 2005 | 31,262,444 | Mid-year estimate | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 2000 | 27,816,745 | Mid-year estimate | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 1995 | 24,672,143 | Mid-year estimate | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 1990 | 22,021,481 | Mid-year estimate | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 1985 | 19,905,872 | Mid-year estimate | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 1980 | 17,058,905 | Mid-year estimate | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 1975 | 14,064,798 | Mid-year estimate | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 1970 | 11,695,771 | Mid-year estimate | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 1965 | 9,858,030 | Mid-year estimate | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 1960 | 8,364,489 | Mid-year estimate | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 1955 | 7,181,692 | Mid-year estimate | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
Detailed Population History Table
| Year | Population | Yearly % change | Yearly change | Net migration | Median age | Fertility rate | Density | Urban pop % | Urban population | World share | Global rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 53,282,719 | 3.14% | 1,620,572 | 252,038 | 18.8 | 4.13 | 30 | 35.4% | 18,873,944 | 0.64% | 29 | UN WPP 2024 medium variant via Worldometer |
| 2025 | 51,662,147 | 2.4% | 1,213,184 | 291,469 | 18.5 | 4.19 | 29 | 35.3% | 18,220,482 | 0.63% | 30 | UN WPP 2024 medium variant via Worldometer |
| 2024 | 50,448,963 | 0.81% | 406,172 | -544,257 | 18.4 | 4.26 | 29 | 34.9% | 17,593,905 | 0.62% | 30 | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer; World Bank WDI for total population |
| 2023 | 50,042,791 | 1.34% | 659,445 | -1,349,998 | 18.3 | 4.32 | 28 | 34.0% | 16,993,683 | 0.62% | 30 | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 2022 | 49,383,346 | 2.73% | 1,297,058 | -26,668 | 18.1 | 4.38 | 28 | 33.2% | 16,419,594 | 0.62% | 30 | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 2020 | 46,789,231 | 3.17% | 1,352,960 | -65,933 | 17.8 | 4.54 | 27 | 32.8% | 15,349,424 | 0.59% | 31 | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 2015 | 40,024,431 | 2.48% | 922,006 | 66,476 | 16.8 | 4.90 | 23 | 32.7% | 13,099,314 | 0.54% | 33 | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 2010 | 35,414,399 | 2.53% | 830,391 | -339,466 | 16.3 | 5.14 | 20 | 32.1% | 11,378,101 | 0.50% | 35 | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 2005 | 31,262,444 | 2.36% | 689,140 | -199,378 | 16.0 | 5.40 | 18 | 32.4% | 10,126,640 | 0.47% | 36 | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 2000 | 27,816,745 | 2.43% | 628,920 | -165,030 | 15.8 | 5.60 | 16 | 31.8% | 8,855,115 | 0.45% | 37 | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 1995 | 24,672,143 | 2.30% | 530,132 | -144,670 | 15.7 | 5.86 | 14 | 31.5% | 7,768,800 | 0.43% | 37 | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 1990 | 22,021,481 | 2.04% | 423,122 | -254,825 | 15.8 | 6.07 | 12 | 26.2% | 5,764,212 | 0.41% | 38 | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
Data analysis
- Sudan’s population more than doubled between 1990 and 2024, rising from 22.0 million to 50.4 million.
- The fertility rate in this table declines from 6.07 births per woman in 1990 to 4.26 in 2024 and 4.13 in the 2026 projection.
- Urban population share rises from 26.2% in 1990 to 35.4% in 2026.
- Net migration changes direction across years; the 2023 and 2024 rows show large negative values, while the 2025 and 2026 rows are medium-variant projection values.
Age-Sex Population Structure
Sudan Population Pyramid
Population by age group and sex, national projection reference year 2020.
Source: UNSD Demographic and Social Statistics country table, population estimates by sex and age group, 1 July 2020. Male values are stored as negative numbers only for left-side pyramid rendering.
Age-sex analysis
- The widest single age group in the 2020 age-sex table is 0-4, with 5.65 million people.
- Male counts exceed female counts in the youngest age groups from 0-4 through 25-29.
- Female counts exceed male counts from 30-34 through 45-49 in this 2020 national projection table.
- The 80+ row is grouped as an open-ended age band, so it is not directly comparable with 5-year closed age groups.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Male share | Female share | Sex ratio | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 2,873,465 | 2,773,594 | 5,647,059 | 50.9% | 49.1% | 103.6 | 2020 | UNSD Demographic and Social Statistics |
| 5-9 | 2,571,562 | 2,483,977 | 5,055,532 | 50.9% | 49.1% | 103.5 | 2020 | UNSD Demographic and Social Statistics |
| 10-14 | 2,304,529 | 2,216,524 | 4,521,059 | 51.0% | 49.0% | 104.0 | 2020 | UNSD Demographic and Social Statistics |
| 15-19 | 2,280,148 | 2,152,491 | 4,432,638 | 51.4% | 48.6% | 105.9 | 2020 | UNSD Demographic and Social Statistics |
| 20-24 | 2,158,344 | 1,943,776 | 4,102,116 | 52.6% | 47.4% | 111.0 | 2020 | UNSD Demographic and Social Statistics |
| 25-29 | 1,821,785 | 1,665,559 | 3,487,349 | 52.2% | 47.8% | 109.4 | 2020 | UNSD Demographic and Social Statistics |
| 30-34 | 1,442,332 | 1,474,329 | 2,916,654 | 49.5% | 50.5% | 97.8 | 2020 | UNSD Demographic and Social Statistics |
| 35-39 | 1,179,849 | 1,330,120 | 2,509,965 | 47.0% | 53.0% | 88.7 | 2020 | UNSD Demographic and Social Statistics |
| 40-44 | 1,000,575 | 1,110,734 | 2,111,309 | 47.4% | 52.6% | 90.1 | 2020 | UNSD Demographic and Social Statistics |
| 45-49 | 855,408 | 909,671 | 1,765,081 | 48.5% | 51.5% | 94.0 | 2020 | UNSD Demographic and Social Statistics |
| 50-54 | 717,995 | 717,820 | 1,435,807 | 50.0% | 50.0% | 100.0 | 2020 | UNSD Demographic and Social Statistics |
| 55-59 | 545,001 | 511,980 | 1,056,992 | 51.6% | 48.4% | 106.4 | 2020 | UNSD Demographic and Social Statistics |
| 60-64 | 404,866 | 374,598 | 779,458 | 51.9% | 48.1% | 108.1 | 2020 | UNSD Demographic and Social Statistics |
| 65-69 | 275,266 | 247,207 | 522,480 | 52.7% | 47.3% | 111.4 | 2020 | UNSD Demographic and Social Statistics |
| 70-74 | 199,364 | 173,388 | 372,747 | 53.5% | 46.5% | 115.0 | 2020 | UNSD Demographic and Social Statistics |
| 75-79 | 125,079 | 106,375 | 231,456 | 54.0% | 46.0% | 117.6 | 2020 | UNSD Demographic and Social Statistics |
| 80+ | 103,574 | 92,332 | 195,909 | 52.9% | 47.1% | 112.2 | 2020 | UNSD Demographic and Social Statistics |
Table analysis
- The detailed age-sex table uses 2020 national projection data, not the 2025 or 2026 UN WPP population total.
- The youth bands are the largest: ages 0-14 sum to more than 15.2 million in the broad 2020 table.
- The 20-24 group has one of the highest sex ratios in the 2020 table at 111.0 males per 100 females.
- Some row totals differ slightly from sex sums in source-published tables because the source presents projected counts with tabulation differences.
Sex Ratio by Age Group
Males per 100 females by 5-year age group, 2020.
Source: UNSD Demographic and Social Statistics, 2020 national projection table. A sex ratio above 100 means more males than females in the age group.
Age Structure, Fertility and Life Expectancy
Age Structure
Broad age groups as a share of total population, 2025.
Source: PopulationPyramids UN WPP 2024 visualized table for Sudan, 2025.
Fertility Compared With Replacement Level
Total fertility rate in births per woman.
Source: UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer for Sudan 2026; replacement level shown as a broad demographic benchmark.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Both sexes, female and male life expectancy, 2026.
Source: Worldometer demographics table based on UN WPP 2024.
Chart analysis
- The age structure chart places 40.2% of Sudan’s 2025 population under age 15.
- The 2026 fertility rate of 4.13 births per woman is almost twice the replacement-level benchmark of 2.1.
- Female life expectancy is 6.4 years higher than male life expectancy in the 2026 source table.
Urbanization and Migration
Urban Population Share
Share of total population living in urban areas.
Source: UN World Urbanization Prospects and UN WPP tabulation via Worldometer. Urban classification follows national definitions used in the UN urban series.
Net Migration in Selected Years
Average annual net migration values in the UN WPP-based table.
Source: UN WPP 2024 tabulated by Worldometer. Net migration is immigrants minus emigrants; negative values indicate more people leaving than entering.
Data analysis
- The urban share rises from 26.2% in 1990 to 35.4% in the 2026 table.
- Net migration is highly volatile in this series, with the 2023 row showing -1.35 million.
- The 2025 and 2026 migration values are medium-variant projection rows and should not be treated as observed migration counts.
Population Projection Scenario
Population Projection to 2050
UN WPP medium-variant projection values at five-year intervals.
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024, medium-fertility variant, tabulated by Worldometer.
| Year | Projected population | Yearly % change | Net migration assumption | Median age | Fertility rate | Urban pop % | Scenario | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 58,571,616 | 2.54% | -98,345 | 19.4 | 3.88 | 37.2% | Medium variant | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 2035 | 65,148,317 | 2.15% | -79,439 | 20.3 | 3.60 | 40.0% | Medium variant | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 2040 | 71,730,599 | 1.94% | -94,085 | 21.4 | 3.36 | 43.2% | Medium variant | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 2045 | 78,415,203 | 1.80% | -81,583 | 22.7 | 3.17 | 46.4% | Medium variant | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
| 2050 | 85,206,383 | 1.68% | -76,893 | 24.0 | 3.00 | 49.6% | Medium variant | UN WPP 2024 via Worldometer |
Projection analysis
- The medium-variant projection reaches 85.2 million by 2050.
- Projected fertility declines from 3.88 in 2030 to 3.00 in 2050.
- The projected median age rises from 19.4 in 2030 to 24.0 in 2050.
- Population projections are scenario-based estimates, not guaranteed predictions.
Largest Urban Areas
| Rank | Urban area | Population estimate | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Khartum (Khartoum) | 6,809,355 | 2025 | Worldometer urban area table |
| 2 | Nyala | 950,803 | 2025 | Worldometer urban area table |
| 3 | Kebkabiya | 694,415 | 2025 | Worldometer urban area table |
| 4 | Al-Ubayyid | 659,964 | 2025 | Worldometer urban area table |
| 5 | Al-Fashir | 633,077 | 2025 | Worldometer urban area table |
| 6 | Ad Daein | 581,730 | 2025 | Worldometer urban area table |
| 7 | Buram | 537,169 | 2025 | Worldometer urban area table |
| 8 | Port Sudan | 517,023 | 2025 | Worldometer urban area table |
| 9 | Timerein | 486,586 | 2025 | Worldometer urban area table |
| 10 | Kosti | 431,504 | 2025 | Worldometer urban area table |
Table analysis
- Khartoum is the largest listed urban area, with an estimated 6.81 million people in 2025.
- The table uses urban-area estimates and should not be read as administrative municipality populations.
- Only the top 10 listed urban areas are shown here to keep the page compact on mobile screens.
Demographic Overview
Sudan’s UN WPP-based population series rises from 50.4 million in 2024 to a projected 53.3 million in 2026 and 85.2 million by 2050 under the medium variant.
The 2025 broad age table shows a young profile: 40.2% under age 15, 56.4% ages 15-64, and 3.4% ages 65 and older.
The 2026 fertility rate is 4.13 births per woman, far above the 2.1 replacement-level benchmark used for broad comparison.
The 2025 sex ratio is 98.3 males per 100 females in the PopulationPyramids UN WPP table, while the detailed UNSD 2020 age-sex table shows varied ratios by age band.
Urban population share is listed at 35.4% in 2026, with Khartoum the largest urban area in the available urban-area table.
Current-year values are model-based estimates or projections. Age-sex rows, urban-area estimates, and WDI headline indicators do not always share the same reference year.
Data Sources and Methodology
| Source | Year or release | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| United Nations DESA, World Population Prospects | 2024 revision | Population estimates, projections, fertility, median age, net migration, density, and demographic trend values, mainly through WPP-derived tabulations. |
| World Bank World Development Indicators | 2024 latest visible values | 2024 headline population and annual growth cross-check, plus indicator-source context for WDI population series. |
| UNFPA World Population Dashboard | 2025 country page | 2025 total population confirmation and definitions for total population, age shares, fertility, and life expectancy. |
| UNSD Demographic and Social Statistics | 2020 country age-sex table | Detailed age-sex population structure and population pyramid by 5-year age group. |
| Worldometer UN WPP and UN WUP tabulations | 2026 page using UN WPP 2024 | Dense historical table, forecast table, life expectancy by sex, infant mortality, under-5 mortality, urban population count, density, world share and global rank. |
| PopulationPyramids UN WPP visualization | 2025 country page | Broad age groups, male/female population totals, and total sex ratio. |
Method note
- Population values are treated as mid-year estimates or projections unless a table states otherwise.
- Projection rows are kept separate from historical estimate rows where the module focuses on future population.
- Age-sex structure uses 2020 UNSD data because that is the available detailed age-by-sex table in the current source set.
- Values are rounded for display in cards and chart labels; HTML tables preserve the available full figures where practical.
Indicator Definitions
| Indicator | Definition | Unit | Source note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | Estimated national population at mid-year. | People | UN WPP-based estimates and projections. |
| Yearly change | Annual or period-equivalent change in total population. | People or percent | Worldometer tabulates UN WPP values and defines period handling in its table notes. |
| Net migration | Immigrants minus emigrants during the relevant period. | People | Model-based WPP migration component; not a border-crossing count. |
| Fertility rate | Average number of children a woman would have under the age-specific fertility rates of the period. | Births per woman | UN WPP-based total fertility rate. |
| Life expectancy at birth | Period measure of years a newborn would live if current age-specific mortality rates applied throughout life. | Years | UN WPP-based life expectancy tabulation. |
| Urban population share | Share of population living in areas classified as urban under national definitions used in UN urban data. | Percent | Urban definitions can differ across countries. |
| Sex ratio | Male population divided by female population, multiplied by 100. | Males per 100 females | Computed from visible male and female counts where age-sex rows are shown. |
Methodological Safety Note
Methodological Safety Note: Sudan demographic values can differ by source because resident population, mid-year estimate, national projection, WDI series value, and UN medium-variant projection are not the same measurement type. Projection values for 2025 onward are scenario-based estimates and should not be read as observed counts. Urban population depends on national urban definitions used in the UN urban series. Net migration is a modelled balance, not a direct count of all entries and exits. The 2020 age-sex table is older than the 2025 and 2026 headline values, so it should be used for structure rather than as the latest total population benchmark. Rounded shares and displayed totals may not sum exactly.
Data FAQ
What is Sudan’s population?
Sudan’s population is listed at 50,448,963 in the 2024 World Bank WDI population series and at 53,282,719 in the 2026 UN WPP medium-variant projection tabulated by Worldometer.
Is Sudan’s population young or old?
Sudan has a young age structure. The 2025 broad age table places 40.2% of the population under age 15 and 3.4% at age 65 or older.
What is Sudan’s fertility rate?
The 2026 UN WPP-based fertility value shown here is 4.13 births per woman, above the broad replacement-level benchmark of 2.1 births per woman.
Why do some Sudan population values differ across the page?
The page separates 2024 WDI values, 2025 UN WPP visualized values, 2026 medium-variant projections, and 2020 age-sex projection data. These are different source-year and measurement combinations.