Map of South Sudan | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: Egypt attempted to colonize the region of southern Sudan by establishing the province of Equatoria in the 1870s. Islamic Mahdist revolutionaries overran the region in 1885 but in 1898 a British force was able to overthrow the Mahdist regime. An Anglo-Egyptian Sudan was established the following year with Equatoria being the southernmost of its eight provinces. The isolated region was largely left to itself over the following decades but Christian missionaries converted much of the population and facilitated the spread of English. When Sudan gained its independence in 1956 it was with the understanding that the southerners would be able to participate fully in the political system. When the Arab Khartoum government reneged on its promises a mutiny began that led to two prolonged periods of conflict (1955-1972 and 1983-2005) in which perhaps 2.5 million people died - mostly civilians - due to starvation and drought. Ongoing peace talks finally resulted in a Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in January 2005. As part of this agreement the south was granted a six-year period of autonomy to be followed by a referendum on final status. The result of this referendum held in January 2011 was a vote of 98% in favor of secession. Independence was attained on 9 July 2011. Since independence South Sudan has struggled with good governance and nation building and has attempted to control rebel militia groups operating in its territory. Economic conditions have deteriorated since January 2012 when the government decided to shut down oil production following bilateral disagreements with Sudan.


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Location: East-Central Africa; south of Sudan north of Uganda and Kenya west of Ethiopia

Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N 30 00 E

Map reference

Area
Rank: 42
Comparative: slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries
Border countries: (6) Central African Republic 989 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 639 km; Ethiopia 934 km; Kenya 232 km; Sudan 2,184 km; Uganda 435 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: hot with seasonal rainfall influenced by the annual shift of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone; rainfall is heaviest in the upland areas of the south and diminishes to the north

Terrain: the terrain gradually rises from plains in the north and center to southern highlands along the border with Uganda and Kenya; the White Nile flowing north out of the uplands of Central Africa is the major geographic feature of the country supporting agriculture and extensive wild animal populations; The Sudd (a name derived from floating vegetation that hinders navigation) is a large swampy area of more than 100,000 km² fed by the waters of the White Nile that dominates the center of the country

Elevation
Extremes highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m

Natural resources: hydropower fertile agricultural land gold diamonds petroleum hardwoods limestone iron ore copper chromium ore zinc tungsten mica silver

Land use

Irrigated land

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: The Sudd is a vast swamp in South Sudan formed by the White Nile comprising more than 15% of the total area; it is one of the world's largest wetlands


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Population: 11,090,104 (July 2013 est.)
Rank: 77
Growth rate: 4.23% (2013 est.)
Growth rate rank: 3
Below poverty line: 50.6% (2009)

Nationality
Adjective: South Sudanese

Ethnic groups: Dinka Kakwa Bari Azande Shilluk Kuku Murle Mandari Didinga Ndogo Bviri Lndi Anuak Bongo Lango Dungotona Acholi

Languages: English (official) Arabic (includes Juba and Sudanese variants) (official) regional languages include Dinka Nuer Bari Zande Shilluk

Religions: animist Christian

Demographic profile

Age structure
15-24 years: 19.7% (male 1,148,967/female 1,030,569)
25-54 years: 29% (male 1,547,552/female 1,666,242)
55-64 years: 3.1% (male 186,460/female 154,924)
65 years and over: 2.1% (male 133,300/female 102,600) (2013 est.)

Dependency ratios
Youth dependency ratio: 77.4 %
Elderly dependency ratio: 6.4 %
Potential support ratio: 15.6 (2013)

Median age
Male: 16.5 years
Female: 16.8 years (2013 est.)

Population growth rate: 4.23% (2013 est.)
Rank: 3

Birth rate: 38.5 births/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 14

Death rate: 8.7 deaths/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 75

Net migration rate: 12.5 migrant(s)/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 11

Population distribution

Urbanization
Rate of urbanization: 4.23% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: JUBA (capital) 250,000 (2008 est.)

Environment

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 18

Life expectancy at birth

Total fertility rate: 5.54 children born/woman (2013 est.)
Rank: 9

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 3.5% (2006)

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 3.1% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 23

Major infectious diseases
Food or waterborne disease: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea hepatitis A and E and typhoid fever
Vectorborne disease: malaria dengue fever trypanosomiasis-Gambiense (African sleeping sickness)
Water contact disease: schistosomiasis
Respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
Animal contact disease: rabies (2013)

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Total population: 27%
Male: 40%
Female: 16% (2009)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional short form: South Sudan

Government type: republic

Capital
Geographic coordinates: 04 51 N 31 37 E
Time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions: 10 states; Central Equatoria Eastern Equatoria Jonglei Lakes Northern Bahr el Ghazal Unity Upper Nile Warrap Western Bahr el Ghazal Western Equatoria

Dependent areas

Independence: 9 July 2011 (from Sudan)

National holiday: Independence Day 9 July (2011)

Constitution: previous 2005 (preindependence); latest signed 7 July 2011 (Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan 2011); note - in January 2013 the mandate of the South Sudan National Constitutional Review Commission to address additional constitutional amendments was extended (2013)

Legal system

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Head of government: President Salva KIIR Mayardit (since 9 July 2011); Vice President James Wani IGGA (since 23 August 2013)
Cabinet: National Council of Ministers; appointed by the president and approved by a resolution from the Legislative Assembly
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held on 11-15 April 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
Election results: Salva KIIR Mayardit elected president; percent of vote - Salva KIIR Mayardit 93% Lam AKOL 7%

Legislative branch: bicameral National Legislature consists of the National Legislative Assembly (332 seats) and the Council of States (50 seats); members serve four-year terms
Elections: National Legislative Assembly - last held 11-15 April 2010 (next to be held in 2015); Council of States - established and members appointed 1 August 2011
Election results: National Legislative Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SPLM 251 SPLM-DC 6 NCP 3 independent 6 unknown 66; Council of States - seats by party - SPLM 20 unknown 30

Judicial branch
Judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president upon proposal of the Judicial Service Council a 9-member judicial and administrative body; judge tenure NA
Subordinate courts: national level: Courts of Appeal; High Courts; County Courts; state level: High Courts; County Courts; customary courts; other specialized courts and tribunals

Political parties and leaders:

International organization participation: AU IBRD ICAO IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF Interpol IOM ITU MIGA UN UNCTAD UNESCO UPU

Diplomatic representation
In the us chancery: 1233 20th St. NW Suite 602 Washington DC 20,036
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 293-7,940
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 293-7,941
From the us embassy: located on Kololo Road adjacent to the EU's compound Juba
From the us telephone: [211] (0) 912-105-188

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top) red and green; the red band is edged in white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side contains a gold five-pointed star; black represents the people of South Sudan red the blood shed in the struggle for freedom green the verdant land and blue the waters of the Nile; the gold star represents the unity of the states making up South Sudan

National symbols: African fish eagle

National anthem
Lyrics and music: collective of 49 poets/Juba University students and teachers

National heritage


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Economy overview: Industry and infrastructure in landlocked South Sudan are severely underdeveloped and poverty is widespread following several decades of civil war with Sudan. Subsistence agriculture provides a living for the vast majority of the population. Property rights are tentative and price signals are missing because markets are not well organized. South Sudan has little infrastructure - just 60 km of paved roads. Electricity is produced mostly by costly diesel generators and running water is scarce. The government spends large sums of money to maintain a big army; delays in paying salaries have periodically resulted in riots by unruly soldiers. Ethnic conflicts have resulted in a large number of civilian deaths and displacement. South Sudan depends largely on imports of goods services and capital from the north. Despite these disadvantages South Sudan does have abundant natural resources. South Sudan produces nearly three-fourths of the former Sudan's total oil output of nearly a half million barrels per day. The government of South Sudan derives nearly 98% of its budget revenues from oil. Oil is exported through two pipelines that run to refineries and shipping facilities at Port Sudan on the Red Sea and the 2005 oil sharing agreement with Khartoum called for a 50-50 sharing of oil revenues between the two entities. That deal expired on 9 July 2011 however when South Sudan became an independent country. The economy of South Sudan undoubtedly will remain linked to Sudan for some time given the long lead time and great expense required to build another pipeline. In early 2012 South Sudan suspended production of oil because of its dispute with Sudan over transshipment fees. This had a devastating impact on GDP which declined by at least 55% in 2012. South Sudan holds one of the richest agricultural areas in Africa with fertile soils and abundant water supplies. Currently the region supports 10-20 million head of cattle. South Sudan does not have large external debt or structural trade deficits and has received more than $4 billion in foreign aid since 2005 largely from the UK US Norway and Netherlands. Following independence South Sudan's central bank issued a new currency the South Sudanese Pound allowing a short grace period for turning in the old currency. Annual inflation peaked at 79% in May 2012. Long-term problems include alleviating poverty maintaining macroeconomic stability improving tax collection and financial management focusing resources on speeding growth and improving the business environment.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 151

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 220

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 212

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Government consumption: 17.1%
Investment in fixed capital: 10.4%
Exports of goods and services: 64.9%
Imports of goods and services: -27.2%: (2011 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: sorghum maize rice millet wheat gum arabic sugarcane mangoes papayas bananas sweet potatoes sunflower cotton sesame cassava (manioc) beans peanuts; cattle sheep

Industries

Industrial production growth rate

Labor force

Unemployment rate

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 50.6% (2009)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 79% (May 2012 est.)
Rank: 224

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports

Imports

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Production: 881.3 million kWh (2010 est.)
Production rank: 150
Consumption: 694.1 million kWh (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 159
Exports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 116
Imports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 117
Installed generating capacity: 255,200 kW (2010 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 153
Generation sources fossil fuels: 30.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 180
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 157
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 66.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 26
Generation sources other renewable sources: 3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 57

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 86,480 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 51
Crude oil exports: 291,800 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 26
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 107
Crude oil proven reserves: 3.75 billion bbl (1 January 2013 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 29

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products imports: 13,050 bbl/day
Products imports rank: 124

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Production rank: 179
Consumption: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 184
Exports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Exports rank: 161
Imports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Imports rank: 113
Proven reserves: 63.71 billion m³ (1 January 2013 es)
Proven reserves rank: 61

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 2.016 million Mt (2011 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 148

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 2,200 (2012)
Main lines in use rank: 217
Mobile cellular: 2 million (2012)
Mobile cellular rank: 146

Telephone system

Broadcast media: TV is controlled by the government; several private FM stations are operational in South Sudan; some foreign radio broadcasts are available

Internet
Country code: .ss

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service; the Government of South Sudan signed a revised action plan with the UN in March 2012 to demobilize all child soldiers within the SPLA; UNICEF reported 250 confirmed cases of the SPLA's association with children at the end of 2012 (2012)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 85 (2013)
Rank: 64
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2 (2013)
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 12
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 35
With unpaved runways: 34 (2013)

Heliports: 1 (2013)

Pipelines

Railways: 236 km; note - rail system reported to be in disrepair (2010)

Roadways: 7,000 km; note - little of the road network is paved and much of it is in disrepair (2010)

Waterways: see entry for Sudan

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: South Sudan-Sudan boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; final sovereignty status of Abyei Area pending negotiations between South Sudan and Sudan; periodic violent skirmishes with South Sudanese residents over water and grazing rights persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic; the boundary that separates Kenya and South Sudan's sovereignty is unclear in the 'Ilemi Triangle' which Kenya has administered since colonial times

Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs: 243,000 (information is lacking on those displaced in earlier years by: fighting in Abyei between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) in May 2011; clashes between the SPLA and dissident militia groups in South Sudan; inter-ethnic conflicts over resources and cattle; attacks from the Lord's Resistance Army; floods and drought)

Illicit drugs