Digital 2023: 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 2023.
If you want to check whether this is our most up-to-date report on South Sudan, or if you’re looking for data on digital trends and behaviours in South Sudan for previous years, you can find our full collection of reports on South Sudan by clicking here.
You’ll also find the complete Digital 2023 report on South Sudan in the “full report” section below, but let’s start by taking a look at the key numbers for South Sudan this year.
The state of digital in South Sudan in 2023
Here are the essential headlines for digital adoption and use in South Sudan in early 2023:
There were 773.4 thousand internet users in South Sudan at the start of 2023, when internet penetration stood at 7.0 percent.
South Sudan was home to 470.4 thousand social media users in January 2023, equating to 4.3 percent of the total population.
A total of 3.58 million cellular mobile connections were active in South Sudan in early 2023, with this figure equivalent to 32.5 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 South Sudan’s population.
South Sudan’s population in 2023
South Sudan’s total population was 11.00 million in January 2023.
Data shows that South Sudan’s population increased by 167 thousand (+1.5 percent) between 2022 and 2023.
50.5 percent of South Sudan’s population is female, while 49.5 percent of the population is male.
At the start of 2023, 21.1 percent of South Sudan’s population lived in urban centres, while 78.9 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 16.7.
Here’s how South Sudan’s total population breaks down by age group:
13.1 percent is between the ages of 0 and 4.
24.7 percent is between the ages of 5 and 12.
13.2 percent is between the ages of 13 and 17.
13.9 percent is between the ages of 18 and 24.
10.2 percent is between the ages of 25 and 34.
9.4 percent is between the ages of 35 and 44.
8.0 percent is between the ages of 45 and 54.
4.5 percent is between the ages of 55 and 64.
2.9 percent is aged 65 and above.
Note: percentages may not sum to 100 percent due to rounding.
Internet use in South Sudan in 2023
There were 773.4 thousand internet users in South Sudan in January 2023.
South Sudan’s internet penetration rate stood at 7.0 percent of the total population at the start of 2023.
Kepios analysis indicates that internet users in South Sudan increased by 55 thousand (+7.6 percent) between 2022 and 2023.
For perspective, these user figures reveal that 10.22 million people in South Sudan did not use the internet at the start of 2023, suggesting that 93.0 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.
Internet connection speeds in South Sudan in 2023
Data published by Ookla indicate that internet users in South Sudan could have expected the following internet connection speeds at the start of 2023:
Median fixed internet connection speed: 2.81 Mbps.
Social media statistics for South Sudan in 2023
There were 470.4 thousand social media users in South Sudan in January 2023.
This figure might seem quite different to the values that we published in previous years, but please note that the sources we use to inform and calculate our social media user numbers have made important and wide-ranging revisions to their data over recent months.
These adjustments to source data mean that our latest numbers are not comparable with equivalent figures that we published in previous years, and readers should not regard any differences in these numbers as an actual change in social media use.
Indeed, our analysis of various data points from trusted third parties such as GWI and data.ai shows that there has been no discernible drop in overall social media use, and in almost all countries, social media use continues to increase.
As a result, readers should view any such differences as “corrections” in the data, and not as an indication that social media adoption has declined.
The number of social media users in South Sudan at the start of 2023 was equivalent to 4.3 percent of the total population, but it’s also important to note 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 450.3 thousand users aged 18 and above using social media in South Sudan at the start of 2023, which was equivalent to 8.4 percent of the total population aged 18 and above at that time.
More broadly, 60.8 percent of South Sudan’s total internet user base (regardless of age) used at least one social media platform in January 2023.
At that time, 27.4 percent of South Sudan’s social media users were female, while 72.6 percent were male.
Note: due to significant revisions in source data, we regret that we’re currently unable to provide reliable figures for the year-on-year change in social media users in South Sudan. We recommend that readers do not compare our latest figures for social media use with figures published in our previous reports, because such comparisons will deliver inaccurate results.
Facebook users in South Sudan in 2023
Data published in Meta’s advertising resources indicates that Facebook had 457.6 thousand users in South Sudan in early 2023.
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 decreased by 36 thousand (-7.3 percent) between 2022 and 2023.
For more recent context, the same data show that the number of users that marketers could reach with ads on Facebook in South Sudan decreased by 56 thousand (-10.9 percent) between October 2022 and January 2023.
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 4.2 percent of the total population at the start of 2023.
However, Facebook restricts the use of its platform to people aged 13 and above, so it’s worth highlighting that 6.7 percent of the “eligible” audience in South Sudan uses Facebook in 2023.
For additional context, Facebook’s ad reach in South Sudan was equivalent to 59.2 percent of the local internet user base (regardless of age) in January 2023.
At the start of 2023, 27.4 percent of Facebook’s ad audience in South Sudan was female, while 72.6 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 2023
Numbers published in Meta’s advertising tools indicate that Instagram had 34.4 thousand users in South Sudan in early 2023.
The company’s recently revised figures suggest that Instagram’s ad reach in South Sudan was equivalent to 0.3 percent of the total population at the start of the year.
However, Instagram restricts the use of its platform to people aged 13 and above, so it’s helpful to know that 0.5 percent of the “eligible” audience in South Sudan uses Instagram in 2023.
It’s also worth noting that Instagram’s ad reach in South Sudan at the start of 2023 was equivalent to 4.4 percent of the local internet user base (regardless of age).
In early 2023, 24.4 percent of Instagram’s ad audience in South Sudan was female, while 75.6 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 decreased by 2,100 (-5.8 percent) between 2022 and 2023.
On a quarterly basis, the company’s data also reveal that the size of Instagram’s ad audience in South Sudan decreased by 2,650 (-7.2 percent) between October 2022 and January 2023.
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.
Facebook Messenger users in South Sudan in 2023
Data published in Meta’s advertising resources indicate that ads on Facebook Messenger reached 137.1 thousand users in South Sudan in early 2023.
The company’s recently revised audience numbers suggest that Facebook Messenger’s ad reach in South Sudan was equivalent to 1.2 percent of the total population at the start of the year.
Facebook Messenger restricts the use of its platform to people aged 13 and above though, so it’s also worth highlighting that ads reach 2.0 percent of Facebook Messenger’s “eligible” audience in South Sudan in 2023.
For additional context, Facebook Messenger’s ad reach in South Sudan is equivalent to 17.7 percent of the local internet user base (regardless of age).
At the start of 2023, 23.4 percent of Facebook Messenger’s ad audience in South Sudan was female, while 76.6 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 14 thousand (+11.6 percent) between 2022 and 2023.
On a quarterly basis, the company’s data reveal that the size of Facebook Messenger’s ad audience in South Sudan decreased by 12 thousand (-7.9 percent) between October 2022 and January 2023.
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 2023
Figures published in LinkedIn’s advertising resources indicate that LinkedIn had 60.0 thousand “members” in South Sudan in early 2023.
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 2023 reports.
The company’s advertising reach figures suggest that LinkedIn’s audience in South Sudan was equivalent to 0.5 percent of the total population at the start of 2023.
LinkedIn restricts the use of its platform to people aged 18 and above though, so it’s also helpful to know that 1.1 percent of the “eligible” audience in South Sudan uses LinkedIn in 2023.
For additional context, LinkedIn’s ad reach in South Sudan was equivalent to 7.8 percent of the local internet user base (regardless of age) at the start of the year.
In early 2023, 24.1 percent of LinkedIn’s ad audience in South Sudan was female, while 75.9 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 13 thousand (+27.7 percent) between 2022 and 2023.
On a quarterly basis, the company’s data reveal that the size of LinkedIn’s ad audience in South Sudan increased by 3,000 (+5.3 percent) between October 2022 and January 2023.
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 2023
Data from GSMA Intelligence shows that there were 3.58 million cellular mobile connections in South Sudan at the start of 2023.
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 32.5 percent of the total population in January 2023.
The number of mobile connections in South Sudan increased by 488 thousand (+15.8 percent) between 2022 and 2023.
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 2023 numbers for South Sudan:
Read our complete Digital 2023 Global Overview Report to get a comprehensive overview of the “state of digital” around the world in 2023.
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 2023: South Sudan report in the embed below (click here if you can’t see that, or if you can’t change the slides).