Nigeria vs South Sudan
Nigeria vs South Sudan: Median age
Median age in 2023: 17.8 years in Nigeria and 18 years in South Sudan, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in South Sudan, by 0.2 years, or 1.01 times that in Nigeria.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- South Sudan has been higher since 2022, when it overtook Nigeria.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Nigeria at 34.3 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 | Nigeria | South Sudan | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 17.8 | 18 | 30.4 |
| 2022 | 17.6 | 17.6 | 30.1 |
| 2021 | 17.4 | 17.3 | 29.8 |
| 2020 | 17.2 | 17 | 29.6 |
| 2019 | 17.1 | 16.6 | 29.3 |
| 2018 | 16.9 | 16.1 | 29 |
| 2017 | 16.8 | 16.1 | 28.8 |
| 2016 | 16.7 | 17 | 28.5 |
| 2015 | 16.7 | 17.5 | 28.3 |
| 2014 | 16.6 | 18 | 28.1 |
| 2013 | 16.6 | 18.3 | 27.8 |
| 2012 | 16.6 | 18.2 | 27.6 |
| 2011 | 16.6 | 18 | 27.4 |
| 2010 | 16.7 | 17.6 | 27.2 |
| 2009 | 16.7 | 17.3 | 27 |
| 2008 | 16.7 | 17.1 | 26.7 |
| 2007 | 16.8 | 16.8 | 26.5 |
| 2006 | 16.8 | 16.6 | 26.3 |
| 2005 | 16.8 | 16.4 | 26.1 |
| 2004 | 16.9 | 16.4 | 25.9 |
| 2003 | 16.9 | 16.4 | 25.7 |
| 2002 | 16.9 | 16.3 | 25.5 |
| 2001 | 16.9 | 16.3 | 25.3 |
| 2000 | 16.8 | 16.2 | 25.1 |
| 1999 | 16.8 | 16.1 | 24.9 |
| 1998 | 16.7 | 15.9 | 24.7 |
| 1997 | 16.6 | 15.8 | 24.4 |
| 1996 | 16.5 | 15.8 | 24.2 |
| 1995 | 16.5 | 15.8 | 24 |
| 1994 | 16.4 | 15.8 | 23.8 |
| 1993 | 16.3 | 15.9 | 23.5 |
| 1992 | 16.2 | 15.9 | 23.3 |
| 1991 | 16.2 | 15.9 | 23.1 |
| 1990 | 16.2 | 15.9 | 22.9 |
| 1989 | 16.1 | 16 | 22.8 |
| 1988 | 16.1 | 15.7 | 22.6 |
| 1987 | 16.1 | 15.4 | 22.4 |
| 1986 | 16.2 | 15.5 | 22.2 |
| 1985 | 16.2 | 15.6 | 22 |
| 1984 | 16.3 | 15.7 | 21.9 |
| 1983 | 16.4 | 15.8 | 21.8 |
| 1982 | 16.5 | 15.8 | 21.7 |
| 1981 | 16.6 | 15.9 | 21.6 |
| 1980 | 16.7 | 16 | 21.5 |
| 1979 | 16.8 | 16.1 | 21.3 |
| 1978 | 16.9 | 16.1 | 21.1 |
| 1977 | 17.1 | 16.2 | 21 |
| 1976 | 17.2 | 16.2 | 20.8 |
| 1975 | 17.3 | 16.3 | 20.7 |
| 1974 | 17.4 | 16.3 | 20.5 |
| 1973 | 17.5 | 16.4 | 20.4 |
| 1972 | 17.7 | 16.4 | 20.4 |
| 1971 | 17.8 | 16.5 | 20.3 |
| 1970 | 17.9 | 16.6 | 20.3 |
| 1969 | 18 | 16.8 | 20.3 |
| 1968 | 18.1 | 16.9 | 20.4 |
| 1967 | 18.2 | 17.1 | 20.5 |
| 1966 | 18.3 | 17.3 | 20.6 |
| 1965 | 18.3 | 17.3 | 20.8 |
| 1964 | 18.3 | 17.4 | 21 |
| 1963 | 18.3 | 17.4 | 21.2 |
| 1962 | 18.3 | 17.4 | 21.4 |
| 1961 | 18.3 | 17.4 | 21.4 |
| 1960 | 18.3 | 17.5 | 21.5 |
| 1959 | 18.3 | 17.5 | 21.5 |
| 1958 | 18.3 | 17.5 | 21.5 |
| 1957 | 18.3 | 17.6 | 21.6 |
| 1956 | 18.2 | 17.6 | 21.7 |
| 1955 | 18.2 | 17.6 | 21.8 |
| 1954 | 18.2 | 17.6 | 21.9 |
| 1953 | 18.2 | 17.6 | 22 |
| 1952 | 18.2 | 17.6 | 22.1 |
| 1951 | 18.1 | 17.5 | 22.1 |
| 1950 | 18.1 | 17.5 | 22.2 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Nigeria | South Sudan | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1817.9–18 | 18.318.3–18.3 | 30.6 |
| 2025 | 18.118–18.3 | 18.718.7–18.7 | 30.9 |
| 2026 | 18.418.1–18.6 | 1919–19.1 | 31.1 |
| 2027 | 18.618.2–18.9 | 19.419.3–19.6 | 31.3 |
| 2028 | 18.818.3–19.3 | 19.719.6–20 | 31.6 |
| 2029 | 1918.4–19.6 | 20.119.8–20.5 | 31.8 |
| 2030 | 19.318.5–20 | 20.420.1–21 | 32 |
| 2031 | 19.518.6–20.4 | 20.720.3–21.5 | 32.2 |
| 2032 | 19.718.7–20.8 | 21.120.5–22 | 32.4 |
| 2033 | 2018.8–21.2 | 21.420.7–22.6 | 32.6 |
| 2034 | 20.218.8–21.6 | 21.720.8–23.1 | 32.8 |
| 2035 | 20.518.9–22 | 2221–23.7 | 33 |
| 2036 | 20.718.9–22.4 | 22.421.1–24.4 | 33.2 |
| 2037 | 2119–22.8 | 22.721.2–25 | 33.4 |
| 2038 | 21.219–23.2 | 22.921.2–25.7 | 33.6 |
| 2039 | 21.419–23.6 | 23.221.2–26.4 | 33.8 |
| 2040 | 21.718.9–24 | 23.421.2–27.1 | 34 |
| 2041 | 21.918.9–24.4 | 23.521.2–27.8 | 34.2 |
| 2042 | 22.118.9–24.8 | 23.721.2–28.5 | 34.4 |
| 2043 | 22.318.8–25.1 | 23.821.2–29 | 34.6 |
| 2044 | 22.518.9–25.5 | 2421.2–29.4 | 34.8 |
| 2045 | 22.719–25.9 | 24.121.3–29.8 | 35 |
| 2046 | 2319.1–26.3 | 24.321.4–30.2 | 35.2 |
| 2047 | 23.219.1–26.6 | 24.521.5–30.6 | 35.4 |
| 2048 | 23.419.3–27 | 24.621.6–30.9 | 35.6 |
| 2049 | 23.719.4–27.3 | 24.821.8–31.1 | 35.9 |
| 2050 | 23.919.5–27.7 | 2521.9–31 | 36.1 |
| 2051 | 24.119.7–28.1 | 25.222.1–30.9 | 36.3 |
| 2052 | 24.419.8–28.5 | 25.422.3–30.9 | 36.5 |
| 2053 | 24.619.9–28.8 | 25.622.5–30.9 | 36.7 |
| 2054 | 24.820–29.2 | 25.922.7–31.1 | 36.9 |
| 2055 | 25.120.2–29.5 | 26.122.8–31.3 | 37.1 |
| 2056 | 25.320.3–29.8 | 26.423–31.4 | 37.3 |
| 2057 | 25.620.5–30 | 26.623.2–31.4 | 37.5 |
| 2058 | 25.820.6–30.3 | 26.923.4–31.5 | 37.6 |
| 2059 | 26.120.7–30.6 | 27.123.6–31.6 | 37.8 |
| 2060 | 26.320.8–30.9 | 27.423.8–31.9 | 37.9 |
| 2061 | 26.620.9–31.1 | 27.723.9–32.2 | 38 |
| 2062 | 26.821–31.4 | 2824–32.3 | 38.1 |
| 2063 | 27.121.1–31.6 | 28.224.2–32.4 | 38.3 |
| 2064 | 27.321.2–31.8 | 28.524.3–32.5 | 38.4 |
| 2065 | 27.521.4–32 | 28.824.4–32.6 | 38.5 |
| 2066 | 27.821.5–32.3 | 2924.5–32.7 | 38.6 |
| 2067 | 2821.6–32.5 | 29.324.7–32.9 | 38.7 |
| 2068 | 28.321.7–32.7 | 29.624.8–33.2 | 38.8 |
| 2069 | 28.521.8–32.9 | 29.824.9–33.4 | 38.9 |
| 2070 | 28.821.9–33.1 | 30.125–33.6 | 39 |
| 2071 | 2922–33.3 | 30.325.2–33.9 | 39.1 |
| 2072 | 29.222.2–33.5 | 30.525.3–33.9 | 39.2 |
| 2073 | 29.522.3–33.6 | 30.825.4–34 | 39.3 |
| 2074 | 29.722.4–33.8 | 3125.5–34.2 | 39.4 |
| 2075 | 29.922.5–34 | 31.225.6–34.5 | 39.5 |
| 2076 | 30.122.7–34.2 | 31.425.7–34.9 | 39.6 |
| 2077 | 30.322.8–34.4 | 31.625.8–35.2 | 39.7 |
| 2078 | 30.622.9–34.6 | 31.826–35.4 | 39.8 |
| 2079 | 30.823.1–34.7 | 3226.1–35.5 | 40 |
| 2080 | 3123.2–34.9 | 32.226.2–35.7 | 40.1 |
| 2081 | 31.223.4–35.1 | 32.426.4–36 | 40.2 |
| 2082 | 31.423.5–35.2 | 32.626.5–36.2 | 40.3 |
| 2083 | 31.523.7–35.4 | 32.726.7–36.2 | 40.4 |
| 2084 | 31.723.9–35.6 | 32.926.8–36.1 | 40.5 |
| 2085 | 31.924.1–35.7 | 3326.8–36 | 40.6 |
| 2086 | 32.124.2–35.9 | 33.226.9–36 | 40.7 |
| 2087 | 32.324.4–36 | 33.427.1–35.6 | 40.9 |
| 2088 | 32.424.6–36.1 | 33.527.2–35 | 41 |
| 2089 | 32.624.7–36.2 | 33.727.3–34.7 | 41.1 |
| 2090 | 32.824.9–36.3 | 33.827.4–34.4 | 41.2 |
| 2091 | 32.925–36.4 | 3427.5–34.2 | 41.3 |
| 2092 | 33.125.2–36.5 | 34.127.6–34 | 41.4 |
| 2093 | 33.325.3–36.6 | 34.227.6–34 | 41.5 |
| 2094 | 33.425.5–36.7 | 34.427.7–33.8 | 41.6 |
| 2095 | 33.625.6–36.8 | 34.527.7–33.7 | 41.7 |
| 2096 | 33.725.7–36.8 | 34.727.8–33.5 | 41.8 |
| 2097 | 33.925.8–36.9 | 34.828–33.4 | 41.9 |
| 2098 | 3426–37 | 3528.2–33.6 | 42 |
| 2099 | 34.226.1–37 | 35.128.4–33.7 | 42 |
| 2100 | 34.326.2–37.1 | 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
Nigeria vs South Sudan
Health
- Life expectancyNigeria: 54.5 years in 2023South Sudan: 57.6 years in 2023
- Child mortalityNigeria: 11.6 per 100 live births in 2024South Sudan: 9.7 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityNigeria: 69.5 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Sudan: 63.8 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionNigeria: 3.92% in 2017South Sudan: 3.7% in 2017
- Suicide rateNigeria: 7.5 per 100,000 people in 2017South Sudan: 12 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationNigeria: 228 million people in 2023South Sudan: 11.5 million people in 2023
- Population growthNigeria: 2.1% a year in 2023South Sudan: 5.86% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateNigeria: 4.48 births per woman in 2023South Sudan: 3.86 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationNigeria: 63.8% in 2025South Sudan: 21.7% in 2025
- People aged 65 and overNigeria: 3% in 2023South Sudan: 2.9% in 2023
- Net migration rateNigeria: -0.3 per 1,000 people in 2023South Sudan: 39.6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingNigeria: 0.91% of GDP in 2025South Sudan: 3.43% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsNigeria: $1.76B in 2025South Sudan: $103M in 2025
- Military spending per personNigeria: $9 in 2025South Sudan: $15 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingNigeria: 5.9% of government spending in 2025South Sudan: 18.4% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelNigeria: 223,000 people in 2020South Sudan: 53,000 people in 2020
- National powerNigeria: 1.16% of world capability in 2022South Sudan: 0.08% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersNigeria: 0.23% of the labour force in 2020South Sudan: 1.18% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsNigeria: 21 million TIV in 2025South Sudan: 10 million TIV in 2022