Digital 2024: South Sudan
PLEASE NOTE…
We publish regular updates to the Global Digital Reports series.Click here to ensure you’re using our latest data for South Sudan.
This page contains all the latest data, insights, and trends you need to help you understand how people in South Sudan use digital devices and services in 2024.
If you want to check whether this is our most up-to-date report for South Sudan, or if you’re looking for data on digital trends and behaviours in South Sudan for previous years, you can find DataReportal’s full collection of reports on South Sudan by clicking here.
You’ll also find the complete Digital 2024 report for South Sudan in the “full report” section below, but we’ll start by taking a look at the essential headline numbers for South Sudan this year.
Just before that, we’d like to thank We Are Social and Meltwater for making the 2024 Global Digital Reports series possible.
OK, let’s get into the data…
The state of digital in South Sudan in 2024
Here are DataReportal’s essential headlines for digital adoption and use in South Sudan in early 2024:
There were 1.36 million internet users in South Sudan at the start of 2024, when internet penetration stood at 12.1 percent.
South Sudan was home to 739.0 thousand social media users in January 2024, equating to 6.6 percent of the total population.
A total of 3.97 million cellular mobile connections were active in South Sudan in early 2024, with this figure equivalent to 35.5 percent of the total population.
These headline stats offer a great overview of the “state of digital” in South Sudan, but in order to make sense of how digital trends and behaviours are evolving, we need to dig deeper into the data.
Let’s take a closer look at what the latest numbers tell us, starting with some valuable context relating to the population of South Sudan.
Population of South Sudan in 2024
The population of South Sudan stood at 11.18 million in January 2024.
Data shows that South Sudan’s population increased by 184 thousand (+1.7 percent) between early 2023 and the start of 2024.
50.4 percent of South Sudan’s population is female, while 49.6 percent of the population is male.
At the start of 2024, 21.4 percent of South Sudan’s population lived in urban centres, while 78.6 percent lived in rural areas.
Note: gender data are currently only available for “female” and “male”.
South Sudan’s population by age
The median age of South Sudan’s population is 16.9.
Here’s how South Sudan’s total population breaks down by age group:
12.9 percent is between the ages of 0 and 4.
23.8 percent is between the ages of 5 and 12.
13.5 percent is between the ages of 13 and 17.
14.6 percent is between the ages of 18 and 24.
10.4 percent is between the ages of 25 and 34.
9.1 percent is between the ages of 35 and 44.
8.0 percent is between the ages of 45 and 54.
4.6 percent is between the ages of 55 and 64.
3.0 percent is aged 65 and above.
Note: percentages may not sum to 100 percent due to rounding.
Internet use in South Sudan in 2024
There were 1.36 million internet users in South Sudan in January 2024.
South Sudan’s internet penetration rate stood at 12.1 percent of the total population at the start of 2024.
Kepios analysis indicates that internet users in South Sudan increased by 22 thousand (+1.7 percent) between January 2023 and January 2024.
For perspective, these user figures reveal that 9.82 million people in South Sudan did not use the internet at the start of 2024, suggesting that 87.9 percent of the population remained offline at the beginning of the year.
However, complexities associated with the collection and analysis of internet user data mean that it can often take several months before research is ready for publication. As a result, the latest published figures for internet use invariably under-represent reality, and actual adoption and growth may be higher than the figures shown here suggest. Please see our comprehensive notes on data for further details.
Dig deeper: for the latest insights into internet adoption and use around the world, follow our regular Global Statshot reports.
Social media statistics for South Sudan in 2024
DataReportal’s figures show that there were 739.0 thousand active social media user identities in South Sudan in January 2024.
Note: over the past year, we’ve made some important changes to how we calculate social media user numbers, and the data sources that we use to inform these calculations have also made significant and wide-ranging revisions to their published figures during that period.
As a result, our latest figure for social media use might appear to be quite different to the values that we published in previous years.
Because of this, we advise caution when comparing the social media user values published in this year’s reports with those published in previous years, especially because changes in reported values may be the result of “corrections” in the source data, as well as changes in actual user behaviour.
For clarity, Kepios analysis shows that social media users in South Sudan increased by 281 thousand (+61.5 percent) between early 2023 and the beginning of 2024.
The number of social media users in South Sudan at the start of 2024 was equivalent to 6.6 percent of the total population, but it’s important to stress that social media users may not represent unique individuals (see our detailed notes on data to learn why).
Meanwhile, data published in the ad planning tools of top social media platforms indicates that there were 738.5 thousand users aged 18 and above using social media in South Sudan at the start of 2024, which was equivalent to 13.3 percent of the total population aged 18 and above at that time.
More broadly, 54.4 percent of South Sudan’s total internet user base (regardless of age) used at least one social media platform in January 2024.
At that time, 28.5 percent of South Sudan’s social media users were female, while 71.5 percent were male.
Note: gender data are currently only available for “female” and “male”.
Facebook users in South Sudan in 2024
Data published in Meta’s advertising resources indicates that Facebook had 739.0 thousand users in South Sudan in early 2024.
However, Meta has made important changes to the way its advertising resources report audience reach data over recent months – including making significant revisions to its base audience data for Facebook – so the figures shown here may not be directly comparable with figures published in our previous reports.
To learn more about these changes, please see this article, as well as our comprehensive notes on data.
Facebook user growth in South Sudan
Figures published in Meta’s own tools indicate that Facebook’s potential ad reach in South Sudan increased by 281 thousand (+61.5 percent) between January 2023 and January 2024.
For more recent context, the same data show that the number of users that marketers could reach with ads on Facebook in South Sudan increased by 42 thousand (+6.0 percent) between October 2023 and January 2024.
However, it’s important to stress that these advertising reach figures are not the same as the monthly active users figures that Meta reports in its investor earnings announcements, and they should not be interpreted as such.
As the company states within its ad planning tools,
“Estimated audience size is not a proxy for monthly or daily active users, or for engagement. Estimates aren’t designed to match population, census estimates or other sources, and may differ depending on factors such as how many accounts across Meta technologies a person has, how many temporary visitors are in a particular geographic location at a given time, and Meta user-reported demographics.”
As a result, changes in ad reach may not necessarily indicate any change in the platform’s overall user base.
But despite these caveats, Meta’s ad reach data still offers valuable insights into how Facebook use is evolving.
Facebook adoption in South Sudan
Facebook’s ad reach in South Sudan was equivalent to 6.6 percent of the total population at the start of 2024.
However, Meta only allows people aged 13 and above to use Facebook, so it’s worth highlighting that 10.5 percent of the “eligible” audience in South Sudan uses Meta in 2024.
For additional context, Facebook’s ad reach in South Sudan was equivalent to 54.4 percent of the local internet user base (regardless of age) in January 2024.
At the start of 2024, 28.5 percent of Facebook’s ad audience in South Sudan was female, while 71.5 percent was male.
Note: Meta’s advertising resources only publish audience gender data for “female” and “male” users.
▶ Looking for more Facebook stats? Click here to explore our in-depth Facebook data for every country in the world.
Instagram users in South Sudan in 2024
Numbers published in Meta’s advertising tools indicate that Instagram had 58.7 thousand users in South Sudan in early 2024.
The company’s regularly revised figures suggest that Instagram’s ad reach in South Sudan was equivalent to 0.5 percent of the total population at the start of the year.
However, Meta only allows people aged 13 and above to use Instagram, so it’s worth highlighting that 0.8 percent of the “eligible” audience in South Sudan uses Instagram in 2024.
It’s also worth noting that Instagram’s ad reach in South Sudan at the start of 2024 was equivalent to 4.3 percent of the local internet user base (regardless of age).
In early 2024, 25.6 percent of Instagram’s ad audience in South Sudan was female, while 74.4 percent was male.
Note: Meta’s advertising resources only publish audience gender data for “female” and “male” users.
Instagram user growth in South Sudan
Data published in Meta’s planning tools show that Instagram’s potential ad reach in South Sudan increased by 24 thousand (+70.7 percent) between January 2023 and January 2024.
On a quarterly basis, the company’s data also reveal that the size of Instagram’s ad audience in South Sudan increased by 8,050 (+15.9 percent) between October 2023 and January 2024.
As we noted in the Facebook section above though, changes in the audience reach figures published in Meta’s ad planning tools do not necessarily correlate with overall changes in its platforms’ active user bases.
▶ Looking for more Instagram stats? Click here to explore our in-depth Instagram data for every country in the world.
TikTok users in South Sudan in 2024
Figures published in ByteDance’s advertising resources indicate that TikTok had 324.0 thousand users aged 18 and above in South Sudan in early 2024.
Note that ByteDance allows marketers to target TikTok ads to users aged 13 and above via its advertising tools, but these tools only show audience data for users aged 18 and above.
For context, ByteDance’s figures indicate that TikTok ads reached 5.8 percent of all adults aged 18 and above in South Sudan at the start of 2024.
Meanwhile, TikTok’s ad reach in South Sudan was equivalent to 23.9 percent of the local internet user base at the beginning of the year, regardless of age.
In early 2024, 31.5 percent of TikTok’s ad audience in South Sudan was female, while 68.5 percent was male.
Note: ByteDance’s advertising resources only publish audience gender data for “female” and “male” users.
Having said that, ad audiences often only account for a subset of a platform’s total users, and given that TikTok’s ad tools only publish data for users aged 18 and above, it’s important to remember that trends in TikTok’s ad reach figures may not necessarily match changes in the platform’s overall user base.
▶ Looking for more TikTok stats? Click here to explore our in-depth TikTok data for every country in the world.
Facebook Messenger users in South Sudan in 2024
Data published in Meta’s advertising resources indicate that ads on Facebook Messenger reached 315.3 thousand users in South Sudan in early 2024.
The company’s frequently revised audience numbers suggest that Facebook Messenger’s ad reach in South Sudan was equivalent to 2.8 percent of the total population at the start of the year.
Meta only allows people aged 13 and above to use Facebook Messenger though, so it’s worth highlighting that 4.5 percent of Facebook Messenger’s “eligible” audience in South Sudan in 2024.
For additional context, Facebook Messenger’s ad reach in South Sudan is equivalent to 23.2 percent of the local internet user base (regardless of age).
At the start of 2024, 26.0 percent of Facebook Messenger’s ad audience in South Sudan was female, while 74.0 percent was male.
Notes: Meta’s advertising resources only publish audience gender data for “female” and “male” users.
Facebook Messenger user growth in South Sudan
Data published in Meta’s planning tools show that Facebook Messenger’s potential ad reach in South Sudan increased by 178 thousand (+130 percent) between January 2023 and January 2024.
On a quarterly basis, the company’s data reveal that the size of Facebook Messenger’s ad audience in South Sudan increased by 63 thousand (+24.9 percent) between October 2023 and January 2024.
However, as we noted in the Facebook section above, changes in the audience reach figures published in Meta’s ad planning tools do not necessarily correlate with overall changes in its platforms’ active user bases.
▶ Looking for more Facebook Messenger stats? Click here to explore our in-depth Facebook Messenger data for every country in the world.
LinkedIn users in South Sudan in 2024
Figures published in LinkedIn’s advertising resources indicate that LinkedIn had 82.0 thousand “members” in South Sudan in early 2024.
However, note that LinkedIn’s advertising tools publish audience reach data based on total registered members, rather than the monthly active users that form the basis of the ad reach figures published by most other social media platforms.
As a result, these LinkedIn figures are not directly comparable with the figures for other social media platforms published on this page, or in our Digital 2024 reports.
The company’s advertising reach figures suggest that LinkedIn’s audience in South Sudan was equivalent to 0.7 percent of the total population at the start of 2024.
LinkedIn prevents people below the age of 18 from using its platform though, so it’s also helpful to know that 1.5 percent of the “eligible” audience in South Sudan uses LinkedIn in 2024.
For additional context, LinkedIn’s ad reach in South Sudan was equivalent to 6.0 percent of the local internet user base (regardless of age) at the start of the year.
In early 2024, 23.5 percent of LinkedIn’s ad audience in South Sudan was female, while 76.5 percent was male.
Note: LinkedIn’s advertising resources only publish audience gender data for “female” and “male” users.
LinkedIn user growth in South Sudan
Data published in LinkedIn’s planning tools show that LinkedIn’s potential ad reach in South Sudan increased by 22 thousand (+36.7 percent) between the start of 2023 and the beginning of 2024.
On a quarterly basis, the company’s data reveal that the size of LinkedIn’s ad audience in South Sudan increased by 7,000 (+9.3 percent) between October 2023 and January 2024.
However, because LinkedIn’s ad audience figures are based on total registered members rather than monthly active users, it’s unclear whether these trends might reflect changes in active LinkedIn use too.
▶ Looking for more LinkedIn stats? Click here to explore our in-depth LinkedIn data for every country in the world.
Mobile connections in South Sudan in 2024
Data from GSMA Intelligence shows that there were 3.97 million cellular mobile connections in South Sudan at the start of 2024.
However, note that many people around the world make use of more than one mobile connection – for example, they might have one connection for personal use, and another one for work – so it’s not unusual for mobile connection figures to significantly exceed figures for total population.
GSMA Intelligence’s numbers indicate that mobile connections in South Sudan were equivalent to 35.5 percent of the total population in January 2024.
The number of mobile connections in South Sudan increased by 285 thousand (+7.7 percent) between the start of 2023 and the start of 2024.
Additional resources
Just before we get to the full report, here are some suggestions for further reading, which will provide additional context for our full set of Digital 2024 numbers for South Sudan:
Read our complete Digital 2024 Global Overview Report to get a comprehensive overview of the “state of digital” around the world in 2024.
Click here to see all of the Global Digital Reports we’ve published on South Sudan over the past decade.
Explore all of our reports on countries in Eastern Africa by clicking here.
Visit our complete online reports library to find all of the (free!) reports in the Global Digital Reports series.
If you’d like to receive updates when we publish new reports, click here to sign up for our newsletter.
Full report
You’ll find our complete Digital 2024: South Sudan report in the embed below (click here if you can’t see that, or if you can’t change the slides).