South Sudan

Background

South Sudan, recognized as the newest nation globally after its separation from Sudan in 2011, is inhabited by a variety of chiefly Nilotic ethnolinguistic groups that migrated to the region between the 15th and 19th centuries. The societal structure of South Sudan relies significantly on seasonal migration patterns and varying precipitation levels. The area that is now South Sudan was initially conquered by Egypt and subsequently governed by a combination of Egyptian and British colonial rulers during the late 19th century. Christian missionaries played a crucial role in disseminating the English language and Christianity throughout the region, which resulted in pronounced cultural distinctions from northern Sudan, where Arabic and Islam prevail. Upon Sudan achieving independence in 1956, the southern region was promised full participation in the political framework. Nonetheless, the Arab administration in Khartoum failed to uphold these commitments, triggering two phases of civil war (1955-1972 and 1983-2005) that resulted in approximately 2.5 million fatalities, predominantly among civilians, primarily due to famine and drought. The second Sudanese civil war was one of the most lethal conflicts since World War II, leaving the society in southern Sudan in ruins. Negotiations culminated in the US-supported Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005, which granted the South six years of self-governance, followed by a referendum regarding its final status. The referendum, conducted in 2011, yielded a decisive 98% vote favoring secession.

Since achieving independence, South Sudan has faced significant challenges in establishing a functional governance framework, grappling with extensive corruption, political strife, and intercommunal violence. In 2013, hostilities broke out between factions aligned with President Salva KIIR, a Dinka, and those supporting Vice President Riek MACHAR, a Nuer. The conflict escalated rapidly across the nation along ethnic lines, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and creating a humanitarian emergency that displaced millions of South Sudanese individuals. A peace agreement was signed in 2015 by KIIR and MACHAR, leading to the formation of a Transitional Government of National Unity the following year. However, renewed clashes erupted in Juba between the factions, rekindling hostilities and involving additional armed opposition groups. A "revitalized" peace accord was established in 2018, which largely concluded the violence and set the stage for a unified national army, a transitional administration, and upcoming elections. The transitional government was officially established in 2020, with MACHAR returning to Juba as the first vice president. Since that time, the execution of the peace agreement has faced hurdles due to disputes over power-sharing, contributing to an increase in communal violence and the most severe food crisis since independence, affecting 7 out of 11 million South Sudanese citizens who require humanitarian aid. The transitional phase was prolonged by an additional two years in 2022, delaying elections until late 2024.

Area

Climate

characterized by a hot climate with seasonal precipitation that is affected by the yearly movement of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone; the most substantial rainfall occurs in the southern upland regions and decreases toward the north

Terrain

the terrain consists of plains in the northern and central regions that rise into the southern highlands along the borders with Uganda and Kenya; the primary geographical feature of the nation is the White Nile, which flows northward from the Central African uplands; The Sudd, named for the floating vegetation that obstructs navigation, is an extensive swamp exceeding 100,000 square kilometers, nourished by the White Nile's waters, and occupies a central position in the country

Land use

Location

situated in East-Central Africa; it lies to the south of Sudan, to the north of Uganda and Kenya, and to the west of Ethiopia

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

Irrigated land

1,000 sq km (2012)

Map references

Africa

Land boundaries

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Geography - note

a landlocked nation; The Sudd is a large swamp located in the north-central region of South Sudan, created by the White Nile; its area fluctuates but can encompass approximately 15% of the country's total area during the rainy season; it ranks among the largest wetlands globally

Natural resources

resources include hydropower, fertile agricultural land, gold, diamonds, petroleum, hardwoods, limestone, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, and silver

Area - comparative

over four times the area of Georgia; slightly smaller than Texas

Geographic coordinates

8 00 N, 30 00 E

Population distribution

population clusters are primarily located in urban centers, especially in the western interior and along the White Nile, as illustrated in the accompanying population distribution map

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Major rivers (by length in km)

Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km

note: [s] next to the country name indicates the river's source; [m] next to the country name indicates the river's mouth

Languages

Religions

Christianity comprises 60.5% of the population, followed by folk religions at 32.9%, Islam at 6.2%, other beliefs at less than 1%, and those unaffiliated also at less than 1% (2020 estimate).

Sex ratio

Birth rate

35.68 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

8.65 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median age

Population

Nationality

Urbanization

Age structure

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.)

Dependency ratios

Physician density

0.04 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Health expenditure

Net migration rate

18.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.98 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

Education expenditure

Infant mortality rate

Population growth rate

4.52% (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

2.43 (2025 est.)

Population distribution

Population clusters are located in urban regions, especially within the western interior and along the White Nile, as illustrated in this population distribution map.

Life expectancy at birth

Maternal mortality ratio

692 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation facility access

Major urban areas - population

459,000 JUBA (capital) (2023)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

6.6% (2014)

Climate

characterized by warm temperatures and seasonal precipitation shaped by the yearly movement of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone; the most significant rainfall occurs in the southern uplands and decreases towards the north

Land use

Urbanization

Methane emissions

Waste and recycling

Environmental issues

contamination of water sources; insufficient access to clean drinking water; conservation of wildlife and decline in biodiversity; deforestation; erosion of soil; desertification; periods of drought

Total water withdrawal

Carbon dioxide emissions

Particulate matter emissions

20.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

49.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

International environmental agreements

Flag

description: consists of three equal horizontal stripes in black (top), red, and green; the red stripe is bordered in white; at the center of a blue isosceles triangle, which is positioned on the left side, is a five-pointed gold star

meaning: black symbolizes the people, red represents the blood shed during the quest for freedom, green signifies the land, and blue stands for the Nile; the gold star denotes the unity of the country's states

Capital

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

Constitution

Country name

Independence

9 July 2011 (from Sudan)

Government type

presidential republic

Judicial branch

Executive branch

National holiday

Independence Day, 9 July (2011)

National color(s)

red, green, blue, yellow, black, white

Political parties

Democratic Change or DC
Democratic Forum or DF
Labour Party or LPSS
South Sudan Opposition Alliance or SSOA
Sudan African National Union or SANU
Sudan People's Liberation Movement or SPLM
Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition or SPLM-IO
United Democratic Salvation Front or UDSF    
United South Sudan African Party or USSAP
United South Sudan Party or USSP

Legislative branch

National anthem(s)

National symbol(s)

African fish eagle

Administrative divisions

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

Legislative branch - lower chamber

Legislative branch - upper chamber

Diplomatic representation in the US

Diplomatic representation from the US

International organization participation

AU, EAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO

Budget

Exports

Imports

Labor force

5.091 million (2023 est.)

Public debt

Remittances

Exchange rates

Economic overview

an economy in the Sahel characterized by low income and reliance on oil; widespread poverty and food insecurity; the impacts of COVID-19 and persistent violence jeopardize socioeconomic prospects; environmentally vulnerable; ongoing challenges regarding land and property rights; abundant natural resources but insufficient infrastructure

Unemployment rate

Exports - partners

China 51%, Singapore 29%, UAE 10%, Germany 4%, Uganda 3% (2023)

Imports - partners

Uganda 33%, UAE 26%, Kenya 14%, China 10%, USA 3% (2023)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP growth rate

Agricultural products

milk, cassava, sorghum, goat milk, vegetables, fruits, groundnuts, sesame seeds, beef, maize (2023)

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, refined petroleum, forage crops, gold, scrap iron (2023)

Imports - commodities

garments, cement, other foods, iron bars, cereal flours (2023)

Current account balance

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.629 billion (2023 est.)

Population below poverty line

82.3% (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Industrial production growth rate

-36.8% (2015 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Coal

Petroleum

Electricity

Electricity access

Energy consumption per capita

Electricity generation sources

Internet users

Broadcast media

One television channel and radio station operated by the state; various community and commercial FM stations, primarily funded by external aid contributors; certain foreign radio transmissions accessible (2019)

Internet country code

.ss

Telephones - fixed lines

Telephones - mobile cellular

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Airports

89 (2025)

Railways

Heliports

2 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Z8

Military - note

The South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) primarily concentrate on maintaining both border and internal security. Key issues include disputed national borders, the spillover of conflict from neighboring Sudan, banditry, and the presence of armed rebel factions and militias that have persisted since the civil war concluded in 2020.

Originally established as a guerrilla organization against the Sudanese Government in 1983, the SSPDF was formerly known as the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and was engaged in the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005). Following the Juba Declaration that arose from the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005, the SPLA merged with the South Sudan Defense Forces (SSDF)—the second-largest rebel militia remaining post-civil war—under the SPLA designation. In 2017, the SPLA adopted the name South Sudan Defense Forces (SSDF), and in September 2018, it was rebranded as the SSPDF.

The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has been active in the region since 2011, aiming to enhance peace and security while fostering an environment conducive to the political and economic progress of South Sudan. UNMISS currently has around 18,000 personnel deployed. Additionally, the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has been functioning in the contested Abyei area along the Sudan-South Sudan border since 2011. Its mission encompasses ensuring security, safeguarding civilians, bolstering the Abyei Police Service’s capabilities, de-mining efforts, monitoring and verifying the withdrawal of armed forces from the region, and facilitating humanitarian aid delivery. UNISFA is composed of approximately 3,800 personnel (2025).

Military expenditures

Military and security forces

South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF): Land Forces (which includes the Presidential Guard), Air Forces, Marine (Riverine) Forces, Reserve Forces; National (or Necessary) Unified Forces (NUF)

Ministry of Interior: South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS) (2025).

Military service age and obligation

The legal minimum age for voluntary military service is 18 years, extending to 35 for both men and women; the duration of service is set at 12-24 months (2025).

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The inventory of the SSPDF comprises mainly Soviet-era weaponry, supplemented by a limited supply of more contemporary equipment, such as armored personnel carriers sourced from the UAE (2025).

Military and security service personnel strengths

Estimates regarding active Defense Forces vary, with an approximate count of 150,000 to 200,000 (2025).

Trafficking in persons

Refugees and internally displaced persons