Ethiopia vs South Sudan
Ethiopia vs South Sudan: Median age
Median age in 2023: 18.7 years in Ethiopia and 18 years in South Sudan, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Ethiopia, by 0.8 years, or 1.04 times that in South Sudan.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- Ethiopia has been higher since 2016, when it overtook South Sudan.
- In 2023, Ethiopia ranked 199 and South Sudan ranked 209 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Ethiopia at 36.6 years and South Sudan at 35.2 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 30.4 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | Ethiopia | South Sudan | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 18.7 | 18 | 30.4 |
| 2022 | 18.5 | 17.6 | 30.1 |
| 2021 | 18.3 | 17.3 | 29.8 |
| 2020 | 18.1 | 17 | 29.6 |
| 2019 | 17.9 | 16.6 | 29.3 |
| 2018 | 17.7 | 16.1 | 29 |
| 2017 | 17.5 | 16.1 | 28.8 |
| 2016 | 17.3 | 17 | 28.5 |
| 2015 | 17 | 17.5 | 28.3 |
| 2014 | 16.8 | 18 | 28.1 |
| 2013 | 16.5 | 18.3 | 27.8 |
| 2012 | 16.3 | 18.2 | 27.6 |
| 2011 | 16 | 18 | 27.4 |
| 2010 | 15.8 | 17.6 | 27.2 |
| 2009 | 15.6 | 17.3 | 27 |
| 2008 | 15.4 | 17.1 | 26.7 |
| 2007 | 15.3 | 16.8 | 26.5 |
| 2006 | 15.2 | 16.6 | 26.3 |
| 2005 | 15.1 | 16.4 | 26.1 |
| 2004 | 15.1 | 16.4 | 25.9 |
| 2003 | 15 | 16.4 | 25.7 |
| 2002 | 15 | 16.3 | 25.5 |
| 2001 | 15 | 16.3 | 25.3 |
| 2000 | 15.1 | 16.2 | 25.1 |
| 1999 | 15.2 | 16.1 | 24.9 |
| 1998 | 15.3 | 15.9 | 24.7 |
| 1997 | 15.4 | 15.8 | 24.4 |
| 1996 | 15.5 | 15.8 | 24.2 |
| 1995 | 15.5 | 15.8 | 24 |
| 1994 | 15.6 | 15.8 | 23.8 |
| 1993 | 15.7 | 15.9 | 23.5 |
| 1992 | 15.8 | 15.9 | 23.3 |
| 1991 | 15.8 | 15.9 | 23.1 |
| 1990 | 15.8 | 15.9 | 22.9 |
| 1989 | 15.8 | 16 | 22.8 |
| 1988 | 15.9 | 15.7 | 22.6 |
| 1987 | 15.9 | 15.4 | 22.4 |
| 1986 | 15.8 | 15.5 | 22.2 |
| 1985 | 15.8 | 15.6 | 22 |
| 1984 | 15.7 | 15.7 | 21.9 |
| 1983 | 15.6 | 15.8 | 21.8 |
| 1982 | 15.6 | 15.8 | 21.7 |
| 1981 | 15.7 | 15.9 | 21.6 |
| 1980 | 15.7 | 16 | 21.5 |
| 1979 | 15.8 | 16.1 | 21.3 |
| 1978 | 15.8 | 16.1 | 21.1 |
| 1977 | 15.9 | 16.2 | 21 |
| 1976 | 16 | 16.2 | 20.8 |
| 1975 | 16.2 | 16.3 | 20.7 |
| 1974 | 16.3 | 16.3 | 20.5 |
| 1973 | 16.5 | 16.4 | 20.4 |
| 1972 | 16.7 | 16.4 | 20.4 |
| 1971 | 16.8 | 16.5 | 20.3 |
| 1970 | 17 | 16.6 | 20.3 |
| 1969 | 17.2 | 16.8 | 20.3 |
| 1968 | 17.4 | 16.9 | 20.4 |
| 1967 | 17.5 | 17.1 | 20.5 |
| 1966 | 17.5 | 17.3 | 20.6 |
| 1965 | 17.5 | 17.3 | 20.8 |
| 1964 | 17.6 | 17.4 | 21 |
| 1963 | 17.6 | 17.4 | 21.2 |
| 1962 | 17.6 | 17.4 | 21.4 |
| 1961 | 17.5 | 17.4 | 21.4 |
| 1960 | 17.5 | 17.5 | 21.5 |
| 1959 | 17.5 | 17.5 | 21.5 |
| 1958 | 17.5 | 17.5 | 21.5 |
| 1957 | 17.4 | 17.6 | 21.6 |
| 1956 | 17.4 | 17.6 | 21.7 |
| 1955 | 17.3 | 17.6 | 21.8 |
| 1954 | 17.3 | 17.6 | 21.9 |
| 1953 | 17.2 | 17.6 | 22 |
| 1952 | 17.2 | 17.6 | 22.1 |
| 1951 | 17.1 | 17.5 | 22.1 |
| 1950 | 17 | 17.5 | 22.2 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Ethiopia | South Sudan | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 18.918.9–18.9 | 18.318.3–18.3 | 30.6 |
| 2025 | 19.119.1–19.2 | 18.718.7–18.7 | 30.9 |
| 2026 | 19.319.2–19.4 | 1919–19.1 | 31.1 |
| 2027 | 19.619.4–19.7 | 19.419.3–19.6 | 31.3 |
| 2028 | 19.819.5–20 | 19.719.6–20 | 31.6 |
| 2029 | 2019.6–20.3 | 20.119.8–20.5 | 31.8 |
| 2030 | 20.219.7–20.7 | 20.420.1–21 | 32 |
| 2031 | 20.419.7–21 | 20.720.3–21.5 | 32.2 |
| 2032 | 20.619.8–21.3 | 21.120.5–22 | 32.4 |
| 2033 | 20.719.8–21.6 | 21.420.7–22.6 | 32.6 |
| 2034 | 20.919.9–22 | 21.720.8–23.1 | 32.8 |
| 2035 | 21.119.9–22.3 | 2221–23.7 | 33 |
| 2036 | 21.319.9–22.7 | 22.421.1–24.4 | 33.2 |
| 2037 | 21.520–23 | 22.721.2–25 | 33.4 |
| 2038 | 21.720–23.3 | 22.921.2–25.7 | 33.6 |
| 2039 | 21.920.1–23.7 | 23.221.2–26.4 | 33.8 |
| 2040 | 22.120.2–24 | 23.421.2–27.1 | 34 |
| 2041 | 22.320.3–24.3 | 23.521.2–27.8 | 34.2 |
| 2042 | 22.620.4–24.7 | 23.721.2–28.5 | 34.4 |
| 2043 | 22.820.6–25.1 | 23.821.2–29 | 34.6 |
| 2044 | 23.120.7–25.4 | 2421.2–29.4 | 34.8 |
| 2045 | 23.320.8–25.8 | 24.121.3–29.8 | 35 |
| 2046 | 23.620.9–26.2 | 24.321.4–30.2 | 35.2 |
| 2047 | 23.821.1–26.6 | 24.521.5–30.6 | 35.4 |
| 2048 | 24.121.3–26.9 | 24.621.6–30.9 | 35.6 |
| 2049 | 24.421.5–27.3 | 24.821.8–31.1 | 35.9 |
| 2050 | 24.621.7–27.7 | 2521.9–31 | 36.1 |
| 2051 | 24.921.9–28.1 | 25.222.1–30.9 | 36.3 |
| 2052 | 25.122.1–28.5 | 25.422.3–30.9 | 36.5 |
| 2053 | 25.422.3–28.9 | 25.622.5–30.9 | 36.7 |
| 2054 | 25.622.5–29.2 | 25.922.7–31.1 | 36.9 |
| 2055 | 25.922.7–29.6 | 26.122.8–31.3 | 37.1 |
| 2056 | 26.222.9–29.9 | 26.423–31.4 | 37.3 |
| 2057 | 26.423–30.2 | 26.623.2–31.4 | 37.5 |
| 2058 | 26.723.2–30.5 | 26.923.4–31.5 | 37.6 |
| 2059 | 26.923.4–30.8 | 27.123.6–31.6 | 37.8 |
| 2060 | 27.223.5–31 | 27.423.8–31.9 | 37.9 |
| 2061 | 27.423.7–31.3 | 27.723.9–32.2 | 38 |
| 2062 | 27.723.8–31.6 | 2824–32.3 | 38.1 |
| 2063 | 27.924–31.8 | 28.224.2–32.4 | 38.3 |
| 2064 | 28.224.2–32.1 | 28.524.3–32.5 | 38.4 |
| 2065 | 28.424.3–32.3 | 28.824.4–32.6 | 38.5 |
| 2066 | 28.724.4–32.6 | 2924.5–32.7 | 38.6 |
| 2067 | 28.924.6–32.8 | 29.324.7–32.9 | 38.7 |
| 2068 | 29.224.7–33 | 29.624.8–33.2 | 38.8 |
| 2069 | 29.424.8–33.2 | 29.824.9–33.4 | 38.9 |
| 2070 | 29.624.9–33.4 | 30.125–33.6 | 39 |
| 2071 | 29.925.1–33.6 | 30.325.2–33.9 | 39.1 |
| 2072 | 30.125.2–33.8 | 30.525.3–33.9 | 39.2 |
| 2073 | 30.425.4–34 | 30.825.4–34 | 39.3 |
| 2074 | 30.625.6–34.2 | 3125.5–34.2 | 39.4 |
| 2075 | 30.925.7–34.4 | 31.225.6–34.5 | 39.5 |
| 2076 | 31.125.8–34.6 | 31.425.7–34.9 | 39.6 |
| 2077 | 31.426–34.8 | 31.625.8–35.2 | 39.7 |
| 2078 | 31.626.2–34.9 | 31.826–35.4 | 39.8 |
| 2079 | 31.826.3–35.1 | 3226.1–35.5 | 40 |
| 2080 | 32.126.5–35.3 | 32.226.2–35.7 | 40.1 |
| 2081 | 32.326.6–35.4 | 32.426.4–36 | 40.2 |
| 2082 | 32.626.8–35.6 | 32.626.5–36.2 | 40.3 |
| 2083 | 32.827–35.8 | 32.726.7–36.2 | 40.4 |
| 2084 | 3327.1–36 | 32.926.8–36.1 | 40.5 |
| 2085 | 33.327.3–36.2 | 3326.8–36 | 40.6 |
| 2086 | 33.527.5–36.4 | 33.226.9–36 | 40.7 |
| 2087 | 33.727.7–36.6 | 33.427.1–35.6 | 40.9 |
| 2088 | 3427.9–36.7 | 33.527.2–35 | 41 |
| 2089 | 34.228–36.9 | 33.727.3–34.7 | 41.1 |
| 2090 | 34.428.2–37 | 33.827.4–34.4 | 41.2 |
| 2091 | 34.728.4–37.2 | 3427.5–34.2 | 41.3 |
| 2092 | 34.928.6–37.4 | 34.127.6–34 | 41.4 |
| 2093 | 35.128.8–37.5 | 34.227.6–34 | 41.5 |
| 2094 | 35.328.9–37.7 | 34.427.7–33.8 | 41.6 |
| 2095 | 35.629.1–37.8 | 34.527.7–33.7 | 41.7 |
| 2096 | 35.829.3–37.9 | 34.727.8–33.5 | 41.8 |
| 2097 | 3629.5–38 | 34.828–33.4 | 41.9 |
| 2098 | 36.229.7–38.1 | 3528.2–33.6 | 42 |
| 2099 | 36.429.9–38.1 | 35.128.4–33.7 | 42 |
| 2100 | 36.630–38.2 | 35.228.5–33.8 | 42.1 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- Half the people are older than this age and half are younger.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Ethiopia vs South Sudan
Health
- Life expectancyEthiopia: 67.3 years in 2023South Sudan: 57.6 years in 2023
- Child mortalityEthiopia: 4.5 per 100 live births in 2024South Sudan: 9.7 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityEthiopia: 33 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Sudan: 63.8 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionEthiopia: 3.82% in 2017South Sudan: 3.7% in 2017
- Suicide rateEthiopia: 9.6 per 100,000 people in 2017South Sudan: 12 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationEthiopia: 129 million people in 2023South Sudan: 11.5 million people in 2023
- Population growthEthiopia: 2.59% a year in 2023South Sudan: 5.86% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateEthiopia: 3.99 births per woman in 2023South Sudan: 3.86 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationEthiopia: 24.1% in 2025South Sudan: 21.7% in 2025
- People aged 65 and overEthiopia: 3.2% in 2023South Sudan: 2.9% in 2023
- Net migration rateEthiopia: -0.1 per 1,000 people in 2023South Sudan: 39.6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingEthiopia: 0.49% of GDP in 2025South Sudan: 3.43% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsEthiopia: $785M in 2025South Sudan: $103M in 2025
- Military spending per personEthiopia: $4 in 2025South Sudan: $15 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingEthiopia: 4.1% of government spending in 2025South Sudan: 18.4% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelEthiopia: 138,000 people in 2020South Sudan: 53,000 people in 2020
- National powerEthiopia: 0.85% of world capability in 2022South Sudan: 0.08% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersEthiopia: 0.28% of the labour force in 2020South Sudan: 1.18% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsEthiopia: 63 million TIV in 2025South Sudan: 10 million TIV in 2022