The Director General for the National Bureau of Statistics, Augustino Ting Mayai, said on Wednesday that they plan to release the results of the 2021 Population Estimation Survey (PES) across the 10 states and three administrative areas in the country.

“The current population estimation survey thematic report and policy brief covers the economy, labor, disability, education, health and agriculture. In phase one, September 16 to September 20, 2024 the key findings will be presented in seven States,” said Mayai during a press conference in Juba.

National Bureau of Statistics plans to release the population estimation survey in the first phase in Northern Bahr El Ghazel, Western Bahr El Ghazel, Lakes, Jonglei, Western Equatoria, Warrap and Eastern Equatoria State.

Mayai noted that in phase two, the report and policy brief will be disseminated in the remaining three states and three administrative areas. 

He disclosed that population estimation survey also covers population size, structure and distribution, housing and household characteristics, education and literacy, and reproductive health.

Mayai said that the 2008 Census put the population of South Sudan at 8.2 million people with male constituting roughly 52 percent, whereas the 2021 Population Estimation Survey put the population at 12.4 million with 52 percent female.

He added that conflict and insecurity have limited large scale data collection in the country, adding that the scarcity of quality population data has resulted in significant uncertainty about the current estimate of the population.