South Sudan: Facts & Stats

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

South Sudan closes schools after students collapse due to extreme heat • Feb. 20, 2025, 11:10 PM ET (ABC News (U.S.))

Ruto suspends South Sudan peace talks, cites Juba's request • Feb. 20, 2025, 5:10 AM ET (The Standard)

Young, old, refugees and returnees: thousands fleeing violence cross border into South Sudan • Feb. 17, 2025, 4:59 AM ET (The Guardian)

Corruption survey gives many nations worst scores in over a decade. South Sudan slides to the bottom • Feb. 11, 2025, 12:18 AM ET (AP)

20 killed when a Chinese oil company's flight crashes in South Sudan • Jan. 29, 2025, 12:02 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As	southern Sudan
Head Of State And Government	President: Salva Kiir Mayardit
Capital	Juba⁴
Population	(2025 est.) 15,787,000
Form Of Government	transitional government¹ with two legislative houses (National Legislative Assembly [332²]; Council of States [50³])
Official Language	English⁵
Official Religion	none
Official Name	The Republic of South Sudan
Total Area (Sq Km)	644,329
Total Area (Sq Mi)	248,775
Monetary Unit	South Sudan pound (SSP)^{6, 7}
Population Rank	(2023) 75
Population Projection 2030	18,682,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2025) 63.5
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2025) 24.5
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2024) 21.6% • Rural: (2024) 78.4%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: not available • Female: not available
Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate	Male: (2018) 40% • Female: (2018) 29%
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2015) 11,669
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2015) 1,040
¹In an attempt to end the civil conflict that began in December 2013, a transitional government of national unity was formed on April 28, 2016.²Includes 66 members appointed by various political parties; the remainder is composed of 170 former Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly members and 96 former members of the Sudanese National Assembly.³Includes 30 members appointed by the president; the remainder are former members of the Council of States of Sudan.⁴The transferring of the capital to Ramciel was approved in late 2011 to be implemented in phases.⁵English is the official working language of South Sudan; according to the constitution “all indigenous languages are national languages and shall be respected, developed, and promoted.” ⁶The South Sudan pound was entered into circulation on July 18, 2011; it replaced the Sudanese pound (SDG) as the official currency.⁷The U.S. dollar along with the currencies of Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda circulate in South Sudan when available.