Nations by Numbers

Sub-Saharan Africa

South Sudan in numbers

South Sudan is in Sub-Saharan Africa and is classed by the World Bank as low income. Its capital is Juba. Its population was 12.19 million in 2025, ranking 80 of 217 countries. GDP per person was US$1,080 in 2015.

Population12.19 million2025
GDPUS$12.0 billion2015
GDP per personUS$1,0802015
Life expectancy57.72024
Area646,8832024
Urban share21.7%2025

People

Population

12.19 million
2025 · +102% since 2000 · Rank 80 of 217

Population growth (annual %)

2.03%
2025 · 4.42% in 2000 · Rank 48 of 217

Population density (people per km²)

18.9
2024 · +11% since 2012 · Rank 189 of 216

Urban population (% of total)

21.7%
2025 · 16.0% in 2000 · Rank 210 of 217

Population aged 0 to 14 (% of total)

38.0%
2025 · 45.5% in 2000 · Rank 33 of 217

Population aged 65 and over (% of total)

3.1%
2025 · 2.4% in 2000 · Rank 192 of 217

Fertility rate (births per woman)

3.79
2024 · -44% since 2000 · Rank 32 of 217

Health and living standards

Life expectancy at birth (years)

57.7
2024 · +21% since 2000 · Rank 214 of 217

Under-5 mortality (per 1,000 live births)

96.7
2024 · -46% since 2000 · Rank 5 of 196

Health spending per person (current US$)

US$73
2023 · +159% since 2017 · Rank 160 of 193

Access to electricity (% of population)

5.4%
2024 · 0.8% in 2007 · Rank 215 of 215

Internet users (% of population)

6.7%
2019 · 1.5% in 2012

Primary school enrolment (% gross)

98.4%
2024 · 90.4% in 2011 · Rank 110 of 190

Economy

GDP (current US$)

US$12.0 billion
2015 · -18% since 2008

GDP per person (current US$)

US$1,080
2015 · -35% since 2008

GDP per person, PPP (current international $)

Int$1,155
2015 · -60% since 2008

GDP growth (annual %)

-10.79%
2015 · 5.04% in 2009

Inflation, consumer prices (annual %)

91.44%
2024 · 5.01% in 2009 · Rank 4 of 180

Unemployment (% of labour force, ILO estimate)

12.4%
2023 · 12.3% in 2000 · Rank 23 of 187

Exports of goods and services (% of GDP)

36.7%
2015 · 66.0% in 2008

Personal remittances received (% of GDP)

9.5%
2015 · 0.0% in 2014

Land and environment

Land and water area (km²)

646,883
2024 · +0% since 2012 · Rank 41 of 216

Forest area (% of land area)

11.3%
2024 · 11.3% in 2012 · Rank 163 of 214

Elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa

AngolaBurundiBeninBurkina FasoBotswanaCentral African RepublicCote d'IvoireCameroonCongo, Dem. Rep.Congo, Rep.ComorosCabo Verde

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators, updated 8 October 2026. Each figure is the latest year available for South Sudan. Rankings compare countries with data from the same or recent years.