The Data Dilemma: Why South Sudanese Canadians Remain Largely Invisible in National Statistics 

By Leon Nyerere 

June 8, 2025 – How many South Sudanese Canadians live in Canada? It’s a seemingly simple question that opens a complicated and frustrating search for clarity. 

Unlike many immigrant groups, South Sudanese Canadians face a unique identity challenge. Most arrived in Canada before South Sudan gained independence in 2011, meaning their country of origin was officially recorded as “Sudan.” This classification, found on Canadian immigration documents and passports, continues to skew data collection—particularly in government statistics. 

Attempts to determine the population size of South Sudanese Canadians quickly reveal significant inconsistencies. A Wikipedia entry, for instance, estimates that 16,595 individuals of Sudanese origin (encompassing both North and South Sudan) live in Canada, including just 715 people of Dinka origin—a figure that many in the community strongly dispute. 

I know for certain there are more than 715 Dinka-speaking South Sudanese living in Canada. So, where is this number coming from?” 

Seeking more precise data, I turned my attention to Alberta—a province with one of the largest South Sudanese immigrant populations. Estimates here range from 18,000 to 30,000 Sudanese and South Sudanese individuals. Yet even these numbers are problematic: they lump both nationalities together, making it difficult to distinguish how many are actually from South Sudan. 

A 2016 CBC report noted that approximately 17,000 people of Sudanese background live in Calgary alone, “mostly South Sudanese”—a vague qualifier that highlights the limitations of the data. 

Community estimates shared by leaders and activists also face scrutiny due to lack of verifiable sources. Without documentation or citations, their numbers—while possibly more accurate—remain unofficial. 

Even artificial intelligence fails to provide clarity. A query returned the same fragmented data already in circulation. The final authority, Statistics Canada, also presents an incomplete picture. 

According to the 2021 Census, just 5,140 Canadians identified as being of South Sudanese descent, including 1,770 of Dinka origin. In Alberta, only 2,210 people were recorded as South Sudanese. For many in the community, these numbers feel drastically underreported. 

So, what’s causing the gap? 

My assumption is that the classification practices at the time of immigration—and a lack of awareness during census reporting—are major contributing factors. Since most immigrants from the region originally came from “Sudan,” and not the newly formed South Sudan, they continue to be categorized under the broader Sudanese label. 

This misclassification can only be corrected through active participation in future censuses. 

The only way to untangle ourselves from Sudan is by properly identifying as South Sudanese on census forms. We cannot let outdated data define our presence in this country. 

The next national census is scheduled for 2026, and I’m urging South Sudanese Canadians to mark their identity clearly. 

We all have multiple cultural markers, but when it comes to the census, don’t forget to write ‘South Sudanese.’ Do not say ‘Sudanese’—that’s a different group, and we need to make that distinction.” 

In an age where data drives policy, funding, and representation, being counted—and counted correctly—matters. As the saying goes, “data is the new gold.” For South Sudanese Canadians, ensuring that their data reflects their true identity is a crucial first step toward visibility and inclusion.