Statistical information South Sudan 2023
South Sudan in the World
South Sudan - Introduction 2023
top of pageBackground:
South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011, is the world’s newest country. Home to a diverse array of mainly Nilotic ethnolinguistic groups that settled in the territory in the 15th through 19th centuries, South Sudanese society is heavily dependent on seasonal fluctuations in precipitation and seasonal migration. The land comprising modern-day South Sudan was conquered first by Egypt and later ruled jointly by Egyptian-British colonial administrators in the late 19th century. Christian missionaries propagated the spread of English and Christianity, rather than Arabic and Islam, leading to significant cultural differences between the northern and southern parts of Sudan. When Sudan gained its independence in 1956, the Southern region received assurances that it would participate fully in the political system. However, the Arab government in Khartoum reneged on its promises, prompting two periods of civil war (1955-1972 and 1983-2005) in which as many as 2.5 million people died - mostly civilians - due largely to starvation and drought. The Second Sudanese civil war was one of the deadliest since WWII and left Southern Sudanese society devastated by humanitarian crises and economic deterioration. Peace talks resulted in a US-backed Comprehensive Peace Agreement, signed in January 2005, which granted the South a six-year period of autonomy 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.
Since independence, South Sudan has struggled to form a viable governing system and has been plagued by widespread corruption, political conflict, and communal violence. In December 2013, conflict erupted between forces loyal to President Salva KIIR, a Dinka, and forces loyal to Vice President Riek MACHAR, a Nuer. The conflict quickly spread throughout the country and unfolded along ethnic lines, killing tens of thousands and creating a dire humanitarian crisis, with millions of South Sudanese displaced and food insecure. KIIR and MACHAR signed a peace agreement in August 2015 that created a Transitional Government of National Unity in April 2016. However, in July 2016, renewed fighting broke out in Juba between KIIR and MACHAR’s forces, plunging the country back into conflict and drawing in additional armed opposition groups, including those in the southern Equatoria region that had largely stayed out of the first round of civil war. A "revitalized" peace agreement was signed in September 2018, which mostly ended the fighting. The government and most armed opposition groups agreed that they would form a unified national army, create a transitional government by May 2019, and prepare for elections in December 2022. Subsequent extensions pushed elections to late 2023, and the transitional government was formed in February 2020, when MACHAR returned to Juba as first vice president. Since 2020, implementation of the peace agreement has been stalled as the parties wrangle over power-sharing arrangements, contributing to an uptick in communal violence and the country’s worst food security crisis since independence, with 7 of 11 million South Sudanese citizens in need of humanitarian assistance.
Since independence, South Sudan has struggled to form a viable governing system and has been plagued by widespread corruption, political conflict, and communal violence. In December 2013, conflict erupted between forces loyal to President Salva KIIR, a Dinka, and forces loyal to Vice President Riek MACHAR, a Nuer. The conflict quickly spread throughout the country and unfolded along ethnic lines, killing tens of thousands and creating a dire humanitarian crisis, with millions of South Sudanese displaced and food insecure. KIIR and MACHAR signed a peace agreement in August 2015 that created a Transitional Government of National Unity in April 2016. However, in July 2016, renewed fighting broke out in Juba between KIIR and MACHAR’s forces, plunging the country back into conflict and drawing in additional armed opposition groups, including those in the southern Equatoria region that had largely stayed out of the first round of civil war. A "revitalized" peace agreement was signed in September 2018, which mostly ended the fighting. The government and most armed opposition groups agreed that they would form a unified national army, create a transitional government by May 2019, and prepare for elections in December 2022. Subsequent extensions pushed elections to late 2023, and the transitional government was formed in February 2020, when MACHAR returned to Juba as first vice president. Since 2020, implementation of the peace agreement has been stalled as the parties wrangle over power-sharing arrangements, contributing to an uptick in communal violence and the country’s worst food security crisis since independence, with 7 of 11 million South Sudanese citizens in need of humanitarian assistance.
South Sudan - Geography 2023
top of pageLocation: East-Central Africa; south of Sudan, north of Uganda and Kenya, west of Ethiopia
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 30 00 E
Map reference: Africa
Area
Total: 644,329 km²
Land: NA
Water: NA
Comparative: more than four times the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries
Total: 6,018 km
Border countries: (6) Central African Republic 1,055 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 714 km; Ethiopia 1,299 km; Kenya 317 km; Sudan 2,158 km; Uganda 475 km
Note: 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
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 heaviest in upland areas of the south and diminishes to the north
Terrain: plains in the north and center rise 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; 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
Highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m
Lowest point: White Nile 381 m
Natural resources: hydropower, fertile agricultural land, gold, diamonds, petroleum, hardwoods, limestone, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver
Land use
Land use
Agricultural land: 45% (2018)
Agricultural land arable land: 4.4% (2018)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 40.7% (2018)
Forest: 11.3% (2018)
Other: 43.5% (2018)
Irrigated land: 1,000 km² (2012)
Major rivers
By length in km:
Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km
note: - [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
note: - [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds area km²: Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 km²), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 km²)
Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 190 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 230 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 240 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 49.5 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Natural hazards
Geography
Note: landlocked; The Sudd is a vast swamp in the north central region of South Sudan, formed by the White Nile, its size is variable but can reach some 15% of the country's total area during the rainy season; it is one of the world's largest wetlands
South Sudan - People 2023
top of pagePopulation
Distribution: clusters found in urban areas, particularly in the western interior and around the White Nile as shown in this: 12,118,379 (2023 est.)
Growth rate: 4.78% (2023 est.)
Below poverty line: 76.4% (2016 est.)
Nationality
Noun: South Sudanese (singular and plural)
Adjective: South Sudanese
Ethnic groups: Dinka (Jieng) approximately 35-40%, Nuer (Naath) approximately 15%, Shilluk (Chollo), Azande, Bari, Kakwa, Kuku, Murle, Mandari, Didinga, Ndogo, Bviri, Lndi, Anuak, Bongo, Lango, Dungotona, Acholi, Baka, Fertit (2011 est.)
Note: Figures are estimations due to population changes during South Sudan's civil war and the lack of updated demographic studies
Languages: English (official), Arabic (includes Juba and Sudanese variants), ethnic languages include Dinka, Nuer, Bari, Zande, Shilluk
Major-language samples:
Gheos World Guide, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)
Religions: Christian 60.5%, folk religion 32.9%, Muslim 6.2%, other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.)
Demographic profile: South Sudan, independent from Sudan since July 2011 after decades of civil war, is one of the world’s poorest countries and ranks among the lowest in many socioeconomic categories. Problems are exacerbated by ongoing tensions with Sudan over oil revenues and land borders, fighting between government forces and rebel groups, and inter-communal violence. Most of the population lives off of farming, while smaller numbers rely on animal husbandry; abput 80% of the populace lives in rural areas. The maternal mortality rate is among the world’s highest for a variety of reasons, including a shortage of health care workers, facilities, and supplies; poor roads and a lack of transport; and cultural beliefs that prevent women from seeking obstetric care. Most women marry and start having children early, giving birth at home with the assistance of traditional birth attendants, who are unable to handle complications.
Age structure
Age structure
0-14 years: 41.93% (male 2,591,637/female 2,490,026)
15-64 years: 55.48% (male 3,426,822/female 3,296,113)
65 years and over: 2.59% (2023 est.) (male 174,080/female 139,701)
Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 80.8
Youth dependency ratio: 74.7
Elderly dependency ratio: 6.1
Potential support ratio: 18.4 (2021 est.)
Median age
Total: 18.7 years (2023 est.)
Male: 18.7 years
Female: 18.6 years
Population growth rate: 4.78% (2023 est.)
Birth rate: 37.1 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Death rate: 9.2 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Net migration rate: 20 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Population distribution: clusters found in urban areas, particularly in the western interior and around the White Nile as shown in this
Urbanization
Urban population: 21.2% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 4.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas
Population: 459,000 JUBA (capital) (2023)
Environment
Current issues: water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife conservation and loss of biodiversity; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; periodic drought
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 20.18 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 1.73 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 7.61 megatons (2020 est.)
Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.25 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birth
Maternal mortality ratio: 1,223 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
Infant mortality rate
Total: 61.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 67.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 55.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 59.7 years (2023 est.)
Male: 57.9 years
Female: 61.6 years
Total fertility rate: 5.2 children born/woman (2023 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source
Improved urban: 88.7% of population
Improved rural: 75.8% of population
Improved total: 78.4% of population
Unimproved urban: 11.3% of population
Unimproved rural: 24.2% of population
Unimproved total: 21.6% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure: 5.3% of GDP (2020)
Physicians density: (2018)
Hospital bed density
Sanitation facility access
Improved urban:
60.6% of population
rural: 15.5% of population
total: 24.6% of population
rural: 15.5% of population
total: 24.6% of population
Unimproved urban:
39.4% of population
rural: 84.5% of population
total: 75.4% of population (2020 est.)
rural: 84.5% of population
total: 75.4% of population (2020 est.)
Hiv/Aids
Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: very high (2023)
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, Trypanosomiasis-Gambiense (African sleeping sickness)
Water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
Animal contact diseases: rabies
Respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 6.6% (2014)
Alcohol consumption
Tobacco use
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 1.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 34.5%
Male: 40.3%
Female: 28.9% (2018)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 21% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 21.8%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 20.2%
South Sudan - Government 2023
top of pageCountry name
Conventional long form: Republic of South Sudan
Conventional short form: South Sudan
Etymology: self-descriptive name from the country's former position within Sudan prior to independence; the name "Sudan" derives from the Arabic "bilad-as-sudan" meaning "Land of the Black [peoples]"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital
Name: Juba
Geographic coordinates: 04 51 N, 31 37 E
Time difference: UTC+2 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the name derives from Djouba, another name for the Bari people of South Sudan
Administrative divisions: 10 states; Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, Lakes, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Unity, Upper Nile, Warrap, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Western Equatoria; note - in 2015, the creation of 28 new states was announced and in 2017 four additional states; following the February 2020 peace agreement, the country was again reorganized into the 10 original states, plus 2 administrative areas, Pibor and Ruweng, and 1 special administrative status area, Abyei (which is disputed between South Sudan and Sudan); this latest administrative revision has not yet been vetted by the US Board on Geographic Names
Dependent areas
Independence: 9 July 2011 (from Sudan)
National holiday: Independence Day, 9 July (2011)
Constitution
History: previous 2005 (preindependence); latest signed 7 July 2011, effective 9 July 2011 (Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011); note - new constitution pending establishment under the 2018 peace agreement
Amendments: proposed by the National Legislature or by the president of the republic; passage requires submission of the proposal to the Legislature at least one month prior to consideration, approval by at least two-thirds majority vote in both houses of the Legislature, and assent of the president; amended 2013, 2015, 2018
Legal system
International law organization participation
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of South Sudan
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
Chief of state: President Salva KIIR Mayardit (since 9 July 2011); Vice Presidents Riek MACHAR Teny Dhurgon, TABAN Deng Gai, James Wani IGGA, Rebecca Nyandeng Chol GARANG de Mabior, Hussein ABDELBAGI Ayii (since 22 February 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Salva KIIR Mayardit (since 9 July 2011); Vice Presidents Riek MACHAR Teny Dhurgon, TABAN Deng Gai, James Wani IGGA, Rebecca Nyandeng Chol GARANG de Mabior, Hussein ABDELBAGI Ayii (since 22 February 2020)
Cabinet: National Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Transitional National Legislative Assembly
Elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11-15 April 2010 (originally scheduled for 2015 but postponed several times, currently to 2024)
Election results: Salva KIIR Mayardit elected leader of then-Southern Sudan in 2010; percent of vote - Salva KIIR Mayardit (SPLM) 93%, Lam AKOL (SPLM-DC) 7%
Legislative branch
Description:
bicameral National Legislature consists of:
Council of States, pending establishment as stipulated by the 2018 peace deal
Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), established on 4 August 2016, in accordance with the August 2015 Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan; note - originally 400 seats; the TNLA was expanded to 550 members from 400 and reestablished in May 2020 under the 2018 peace agreement
Council of States, pending establishment as stipulated by the 2018 peace deal
Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), established on 4 August 2016, in accordance with the August 2015 Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan; note - originally 400 seats; the TNLA was expanded to 550 members from 400 and reestablished in May 2020 under the 2018 peace agreement
Elections:
Council of States - pending establishment as stipulated by the 2018 peace deal
Transitional National Legislative Assembly - 550 members; percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 332 SPLM, 128 SPLM-IO, 90 other political parties; composition - NA
Transitional National Legislative Assembly - 550 members; percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 332 SPLM, 128 SPLM-IO, 90 other political parties; composition - NA
Election results:
Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SPLM 20, unknown 30; composition - men 44, women 6, percent of women 12%
National Legislative Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SPLM 251, DCP 10, independent 6, unknown 133; composition - men 291, women 109, percent of women 27.3%; note - total National Legislature percent of women 25.6%
National Legislative Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SPLM 251, DCP 10, independent 6, unknown 133; composition - men 291, women 109, percent of women 27.3%; note - total National Legislature percent of women 25.6%
Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court of South Sudan (consists of a chief justice, deputy chief justice, and 5 additional justices); note - consistent with the 2008 Judiciary Act, the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan calls for 9, rather than 5 additional justices
Judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president (the 2011 Transitional Constitution of South Sudan calls for the establishment of a Judicial Service Council to recommend prospective justices to the president, and for the justices' tenures to be set by the National Legislature; neither of these steps have been effectively implemented as of mid-2023)
Subordinate courts:
national level - Courts of Appeal; High Courts; County Courts; state level - High Courts; County Courts; customary courts; other specialized courts and tribunals
Note: in mid-2022, the Government of South Sudan inaugurated an Ad-hoc Judiciary Committee, a 12-member body led by two eminent jurists, which is charged with reviewing relevant laws, advising on judicial reform and restructuring of the judiciary
Note: in mid-2022, the Government of South Sudan inaugurated an Ad-hoc Judiciary Committee, a 12-member body led by two eminent jurists, which is charged with reviewing relevant laws, advising on judicial reform and restructuring of the judiciary
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Change or DC
Democratic Forum or DF
Labour Party or LPSS [Federico Awi VUNI]
South Sudan Opposition Alliance or SSOA [Hussein ABDELBAGI Ayii]
Sudan African National Union or SANU [Toby MADOUT]
Sudan People's Liberation Movement or SPLM [Salva KIIR Mayardit]
Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition or SPLM-IO [Riek MACHAR Teny Dhurgon]
United Democratic Salvation Front or UDSF
United South Sudan African Party or USSAP [Louis Pasquale ALEU, Secretary]
United South Sudan Party or USSP [Paulino LUKUDU Obede]
Democratic Forum or DF
Labour Party or LPSS [Federico Awi VUNI]
South Sudan Opposition Alliance or SSOA [Hussein ABDELBAGI Ayii]
Sudan African National Union or SANU [Toby MADOUT]
Sudan People's Liberation Movement or SPLM [Salva KIIR Mayardit]
Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition or SPLM-IO [Riek MACHAR Teny Dhurgon]
United Democratic Salvation Front or UDSF
United South Sudan African Party or USSAP [Louis Pasquale ALEU, Secretary]
United South Sudan Party or USSP [Paulino LUKUDU Obede]
International organization participation: AU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Philip Jada NATANA (since 17 September 2018)
In the us chancery: 1015 31st Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20,007
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 600-2,238
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 644-9,910
In the us email address and website:
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Michael J. ADLER
: 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 SudanNote: resembles the flag of Kenya; one of only two national flags to display six colors as part of its primary design, the other is South Africa's
National symbols: African fish eagle; national colors: red, green, blue, yellow, black, white
National anthem
Name: "South Sudan Oyee!" (Hooray!)
Lyrics/music: collective of 49 poets/Juba University students and teachers
Note: adopted 2011; anthem selected in a national contest
National heritage
South Sudan - Economy 2023
top of pageEconomy overview: low-income, oil-based Sahelian economy; extreme poverty and food insecurity; COVID-19 and ongoing violence threaten socioeconomic potential; environmentally fragile; ongoing land and property rights issues; natural resource rich but lacks infrastructure
Real gdp purchasing power parity:
$20.01 billion (2017 est.)
$21.1 billion (2016 est.)
$24.52 billion (2015 est.)
$21.1 billion (2016 est.)
$24.52 billion (2015 est.)
Note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real gdp growth rate:
-5.2% (2017 est.)
-13.9% (2016 est.)
-0.2% (2015 est.)
-13.9% (2016 est.)
-0.2% (2015 est.)
Real gdp per capita:
$1,600 (2017 est.)
$1,700 (2016 est.)
$2,100 (2015 est.)
$1,700 (2016 est.)
$2,100 (2015 est.)
Note: data are in 2017 dollars
Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 34.9% (2011 est.)
Government consumption: 17.1% (2011 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 10.4% (2011 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 64.9% (2011 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -27.2% (2011 est.)
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture products: milk, sorghum, vegetables, cassava, goat milk, fruit, beef, sesame seed, sheep milk, mutton
Industries
Industrial production growth rate
Labor force: 4.278 million (2021 est.)
Labor force
Unemployment rate:
13.91% (2021 est.)
14.03% (2020 est.)
12.23% (2019 est.)
14.03% (2020 est.)
12.23% (2019 est.)
Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 21% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 21.8%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 20.2%
Population below poverty line: 76.4% (2016 est.)
Gini index
Coefficient distribution of family income: 44.1 (2016 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Distribution of family income gini index
Budget
Revenues: $1.94 billion (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $1.938 billion (2019 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -1.3% (of GDP) (FY2017/18 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 8.5% (of GDP) (FY2017/18 est.)
Public debt:
62.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
86.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
86.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Revenue
From forest resources: 2.65% of GDP (2015 est.)
Fiscal year
Inflation rate consumer prices:
10.52% (2021 est.)
29.68% (2020 est.)
87.24% (2019 est.)
29.68% (2020 est.)
87.24% (2019 est.)
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:
-$6.55 million (2021 est.)
-$1.718 billion (2020 est.)
-$193.95 million (2019 est.)
-$1.718 billion (2020 est.)
-$193.95 million (2019 est.)
Exports:
$4.652 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$2.344 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$3.641 billion (2019 est.)
$2.344 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$3.641 billion (2019 est.)
Partners: China 88%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019)
Commodities: crude petroleum, gold, forage crops, lumber, insect resins (2019)
Imports:
$4.037 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$4.245 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$3.893 billion (2019 est.)
$4.245 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$3.893 billion (2019 est.)
Partners: United Arab Emirates 37%, Kenya 18%, China 18% (2019)
Commodities: cars, delivery trucks, packaged medicines, foodstuffs, clothing and apparel (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$183,614,800 (31 December 2020 est.)
$378,281,700 (31 December 2019 est.)
$36,396,400 (31 December 2018 est.)
$378,281,700 (31 December 2019 est.)
$36,396,400 (31 December 2018 est.)
Debt external
Stock of direct foreign investment at home
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad
Exchange rates:
South Sudanese pounds (SSP) per US dollar - 306.355 (2021 est.)
165.907 (2020 est.)
157.999 (2019 est.)
141.386 (2018 est.)
113.648 (2017 est.)
165.907 (2020 est.)
157.999 (2019 est.)
141.386 (2018 est.)
113.648 (2017 est.)
South Sudan - Energy 2023
top of pageElectricity
Access population without electricity: 10 million (2020)
Access electrification-total population: 7.7% (2021)
Access electrification-urban areas: 15.5% (2021)
Access electrification-rural areas: 5.7% (2021)
Installed generating capacity: 121,000 kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 531.66 million kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 26 million kWh (2019 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 99.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal
Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 157,100 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 12,900 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 126,500 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil
Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports: 7,160 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas
Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 1.778 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 1.778 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 2.404 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
South Sudan - Communication 2023
top of pageTelephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: (2018 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2018 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 3,276,146 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2022 est.)
Telephone system
Broadcast media: a single TV channel and a radio station are controlled by the government; several community and commercial FM stations are operational, mostly sponsored by outside aid donors; some foreign radio broadcasts are available
Internet
Country code: .ss
Users total: 869,000 (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 7.9% (2021 est.)
Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 200 (2019 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2019 est.)
South Sudan - Military 2023
top of pageMilitary expenditures:
2.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
2% of GDP (2021 est.)
2% of GDP (2020 est.)
3.1% of GDP (2019 est.)
3.2% of GDP (2018 est.)
2% of GDP (2021 est.)
2% of GDP (2020 est.)
3.1% of GDP (2019 est.)
3.2% of GDP (2018 est.)
Military and security forces:
South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF): Ground Force (includes Presidential Guard), Air Force, Air Defense Forces; National (or Necessary) Unified Forces (NUF)
Ministry of Interior: South Sudan National Police Service (2023)
Ministry of Interior: South Sudan National Police Service (2023)
Note 1:
the NUF are being formed by retraining rebel and pro-government militia fighters into military, police, and other government security forces; the first operational NUF deployed in November 2023
note 2: numerous irregular forces operate in the country with official knowledge, including militias operated by the National Security Service (an internal security force under the Ministry of National Security) and proxy forces
note 2: numerous irregular forces operate in the country with official knowledge, including militias operated by the National Security Service (an internal security force under the Ministry of National Security) and proxy forces
Military service age and obligation: 18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory (men) and voluntary (men and women) military service; 12-24 months service (2023)
Note: in 2019, women made up less than 10% of the active military
Space program
Terrorist groups
South Sudan - Transportation 2023
top of pageNational air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 2
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: Z8
Airports: 89 (2021)
With paved runways: 4
With paved runways note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
With unpaved runways: 84
With unpaved runways note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control
Heliports: 3 (2021)
Pipelines
Railways
Total: 248 km (2018)
Note: a narrow gauge, single-track railroad between Babonosa (Sudan) and Wau, the only existing rail system, was repaired in 2010 with $250 million in UN funds, but is not currently operational
Roadways
Total: 90,200 km (2019)
Paved: 300 km (2019)
Unpaved: 89,900 km (2019)
Note: most of the road network is unpaved and much of it is in disrepair; the Juba-Nimule highway connecting Juba to the border with Uganda is the main paved road in South Sudan
Waterways: see entry for Sudan
Merchant marine
Ports and terminals
South Sudan - Transnational issues 2023
top of pageDisputes international:
South Sudan- Central African Republic: periodic violent skirmishes persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic over water and grazing rights
South Sudan-Democratic Republic of the Congo: none identified
South Sudan-Ethiopia: the unresolved demarcation of the boundary and lack of clear limitation create substantial room for territorial conflict both locally among the border populations and between the two capitals; besides a large number of indigenous farmers, the border region supports refugees and various rebel groups opposed to the governments in Khartoum and Addis Ababa
South Sudan-Democratic Republic of the Congo: none identified
South Sudan-Ethiopia: the unresolved demarcation of the boundary and lack of clear limitation create substantial room for territorial conflict both locally among the border populations and between the two capitals; besides a large number of indigenous farmers, the border region supports refugees and various rebel groups opposed to the governments in Khartoum and Addis Ababa
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees country of origin: 254,953 (Sudan) (refugees since 15 April 2023), 13,114 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2023)
IDPs: 2.258 million (alleged coup attempt and ethnic conflict beginning in December 2013; 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) (2023)
Stateless persons: 10,000 (2022)
Illicit drugs