Economy
South Sudan
Budget
revenues
$2.513 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures
$1.984 billion (2023 est.)
Exports
Exports 2021
$4.652 billion (2021 est.)
Exports 2022
$5.811 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$4.499 billion (2023 est.)
Imports
Imports 2021
$4.037 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2022
$6.402 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$4.443 billion (2023 est.)
Labor force
5.091 million (2023 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2016
86.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2013
0% of GDP (2013 est.)
Remittances 2014
0% of GDP (2014 est.)
Remittances 2015
9.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
South Sudanese pounds (SSP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
165.907 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
306.355 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
534.511 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
930.331 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
2,163.104 (2024 est.)
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
Unemployment rate 2021
14.1% (2021 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022
12.6% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
12.5% (2023 est.)
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 per capita 2021
$400 (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022
$400 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2015
-10.8% (2015 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2016
-13.9% (2016 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2017
-5.2% (2017 est.)
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
Current account balance 2021
-$6.55 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2022
-$596.748 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
$577.9 million (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$4.629 billion (2023 est.)
Population below poverty line
82.3% (2016 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
-6.7% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
2.4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
91.4% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
-36.8% (2015 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$6.945 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$6.585 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$6.752 billion (2023 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
19.4% (2023 est.)
total
18.5% (2023 est.)
female
17.6% (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$341.932 million (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$94.914 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$72.881 million (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
33.1% (2015 est.)
services
56.6% (2015 est.)
agriculture
10.4% (2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
1.8% (2016 est.)
highest 10%
33% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
44 (2016 est.)