South Sudan population estimated to be 12.4 million

South Sudan’s transitional government said the new population estimate is about 12.4 million.

 This was revealed last week by the Minister of Information Michael Makuei Lueth who said the results were confirmed after survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics in 2021.

“The population of South Sudan according to the estimate in 2021 when it was prepared is within the range of 12.4 million. This is the estimation and of course, this does not mean that it is a substitute for the population census,” Makuei told journalists in Juba.

“It is an indication that we have increased in population because in the last population census we were I think 8 million according to the 2008 population census, and this time the assessment is within the range of 12 million and as such it is an indication that there is a progress,” he added.

Makuei said that the assessment estimates could be less than the results of an actual population census because it was done remotely.

“The estimation is less than the actual population census because it is only done on numerical basis and periodic assessment using satellite of course, and satellite sometimes can lead to mistakes when there are clouds in that area it will not be in a position to take proper images,” he said.

South Sudan is supposed to hold national election at the end of the extended transition period in December 2024. The population census is critical in demarcation of constituencies and boundaries.

In addition, the population census is critical for voter registration.