South Sudan is populated by about 64 ethnic groups. The Dinka are the largest ethnic group recorded, followed by the Nuer as the second largest tribe in South Sudan, the Shilluk follows as the third in number. it's disputed that Bari is 4th according to their territory which is Juba county. Zande, also known as Azande, are the fifth largest tribe in South Sudan with a total population of 100,000 followed by Balanda with a population of 80,000.
Map of the ethnic groups of South Sudan This article
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(January 2025 )
While composed of many ethnic groups, the Fertit in Lol State have formed a unique identity.
More information Ethnic Group, Size ...
Ethnic Group
Size
Region
Language
Language Family
Acholi 30,000-50,000[ 1]
Equatoria (Imatong State )Southern Luo (Acholi dialect )Nilotic
Aja 300
Bahr el Ghazal (Western )Aja Central Sudanic
Anuak 100,000[ 2]
Greater Upper Nile (Boma State )Anuak Nilotic
Atuot 100,000[ 3]
Bahr el Ghazal (Eastern Lakes State )Reel Nilotic
Avukaya 50,000[ 4]
Equatoria (Maridi State )Avokaya Central Sudanic
Bai 6,300
Bahr el Ghazal Bai Ubangian
Baka 25,000-30,000[ 5]
Equatoria (Maridi State )Baka Central Sudanic
Balanda Boor 40,000-50,000[ 6]
Bahr el Ghazal (Wau State ), Equatoria (Tambura State )Belanda Bor Nilotic
Balanda Bviri Bahr el Ghazal Belanda Viri Ubangian
Banda 22,500
Bahr el Ghazal Ubangian
Bari 672,000
Equatoria (Jubek State )Bari Nilotic
Binga Bahr el Ghazal (Lol State )Central Sudanic
Bongo 19,000
Bahr el Ghazal Bongo Central Sudanic
Boya (Larim) 20,000-25,000[ 7]
Equatoria (Kapoeta State )Laarim Surmic
Burun (Maban) 100,000[ 8]
Greater Upper Nile (Maban County )Burun Nilotic
Didinga 150,000[ 9]
Equatoria (Kapoeta State )Didinga Surmic
Dinka 4,500,000[ 10]
Bahr el Ghazal , Greater Upper Nile Dinka Nilotic
Dongotono 120,000[ 11]
Equatoria (Eastern )Dongotono Nilotic
Gbaya/Kerish Bahr el Ghazal (Western )Gbaya/Kerish Ubangian
Gollo Bahr el Ghazal Golomo
Ubangian
Ifoto Equatoria Lotuko [ 12] Nilotic
Imatong 16,000
Equatoria Lotuko [ 13] Nilotic
Indri 600
Bahr el Ghazal (Lol )Indri Ubangian
Jiye Greater Upper Nile (Boma )Nilotic
Jur Beli 100,000[ 14]
Bahr el Ghazal Beli Central Sudanic
Jur Modo
300,000[ 15]
Western Equatoria State Mödö Central Sudanic
Jur Mananger 20,000-30,000[ 16]
Bahr el Ghazal Nilotic
Kakwa 134,000
Equatoria (Yei River State ) 450,000 to 480,000Kakwa Nilotic
Kaligi (Feroghe) 23,000
Bahr el Ghazal Kaligi Ubangian
Kara Bahr el Ghazal Tar Gula Central Sudanic
Keliko 27,000
Equatoria (Yei River State )Keliko Central Sudanic
Ketebo 45,000
Eastern Equatoria State
Oketeboi and Lokathan
Nilotic
Kuku 30,000-35,000[ 17]
Equatoria (Kajo-Keji County ) Kutuk na Kuku Nilotic
Lango 25,000-30,000[ 18]
Equatoria (Imatong State )Lango Nilotic
Logir 15,000
Equatoria Lotuko [ 19] Nilotic
Lokoya 30,000[ 20]
Equatoria (Jubek State and Imatong State )Lokoya Nilotic
Lopit 25,000-30,000[ 21]
Equatoria (Imatong State )Lopit Nilotic
Lugbara 15,000-25,000[ 22]
Equatoria (Yei River State )Lugbara Central Sudanic
Lotuko (Otuho) 70,000[ 23]
Equatoria (Imatong State )Otuho Nilotic
Lulubo 30,000-40,000[ 24]
Equatoria (Jubek State and Imatong State )Olu’bo Central Sudanic
Luwo (also known as Jur Chol) 60,000-70,000[ 25]
Bahr el Ghazal Jur or Luo Nilotic
Madi 30,000
Equatoria (Imatong State )Ma'di Central Sudanic
Makaraka (Adio) Equatoria
Mangayat Bahr el Ghazal (Lol State )Mangaya Ubangian
Morokodo 40,000[ 26]
Equatoria Morokodo Central Sudanic
Moru 80,000-100,000[ 27]
Equatoria (Maridi State )Moru Central Sudanic
Mundari 70,000-100,000[ 28]
Equatoria (Terekeka State )Mundari Nilotic
Mundu 50,000-60,000[ 29]
Equatoria (Maridi State )Mündü Ubangian
Murle 300,000-400,000[ 30]
Greater Upper Nile (Boma State )Murle Surmic
Ndogo 40,000[ 31]
Bahr el Ghazal Ndogo Ubangian
Ngulgule 1,900
Bahr el Ghazal Nyolge Daju
Nuer 2,000,000
Greater Upper Nile Nuer Nilotic
Nyangatom 11,000
Equatoria (Ilemi Triangle )Nyangatom Nilotic
Nyangwara 25,000-30,000[ 32]
Equatoria (Jubek State and Terekeka State )Bari Nilotic
Pari 11,000[ 33]
Equatoria (Imatong State )Päri Nilotic
Pojulu 800,000[ 34]
Equatoria (Jubek State and Yei River State )Bari Nilotic
Sere 10,000[ 35]
Bahr el Ghazal Sere Ubangian
Shilluk 1,965,000[ 36]
Greater Upper Nile (Fashoda State )Shilluk Nilotic
Suri (Kichepo) 30,000[ 37]
Greater Upper Nile (Boma State )Baale Surmic
Tennet 25,000-30,000
Equatoria (Imatong State )Tennet Surmic
Thuri (Shatt) 70,000[ 38]
Bahr el Ghazal Thuri Nilotic
Toposa 274,000
Equatoria (Kapoeta State )Toposa Nilotic
Uduk 9,700
Greater Upper Nile (Northern Upper Nile State )Uduk Koman
Yulu 2,500
Bahr el Ghazal Yulu Central Sudanic
Zande (Azande) 878,000
Equatoria Zande Zande
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