South Sudan hosts more than 661,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, UN data shows

South Sudan is hosting 661,529 refugees and asylum-seekers, the vast majority of them Sudanese nationals fleeing the ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan, according to data from the United Nations refugee agency and the government’s Commission for Refugee Affairs.

The figures, covering late August, show that the displaced population includes 183,313 households across 31 locations nationwide.

Sudanese nationals account for 95% of the total, or 621,766 people. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the second-largest country of origin, with nearly 15,000 people, followed by smaller populations from Ethiopia, Eritrea and the Central African Republic.

The UN Refugee Agency, known as UNHCR, said the South Sudanese government continues to grant prima facie refugee status to people fleeing the conflict in Sudan. The policy allows eligible Sudanese nationals fleeing the war to be recognized as refugees without requiring individual status determination.

Women’s and children make up 75% of the refugee and asylum-seeker population, highlighting the significant humanitarian needs among those arriving in the country.

About 11% of the population has been identified as having specific needs, including people with disabilities, serious medical conditions and unaccompanied children.

The influx has placed additional pressure on humanitarian services and local infrastructure. According to the data, 57% of the displaced population lives in temporary humanitarian camps, while 29% reside in rural areas and 14% in urban locations.

Doro hosts the largest reported refugee population, with more than 107,000 people, followed by the Renk border transit area, which accommodates nearly 88,000.

The data also identifies agricultural skills among the refugee population. More than 29,000 registered adults are classified as market-oriented skilled agricultural workers, alongside subsistence farmers, fishers and livestock herders.

UNHCR reported that more than 452,000 registered individuals older than 5 had undergone biometric enrollment, a process intended to support identity management and the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

South Sudan has continued to receive people fleeing Sudan’s war, which has driven large-scale displacement into neighboring countries and increased humanitarian demands across the region.