Contents

Country Overview

South Sudan, officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked state in Eastern Africa with Juba as its capital. The country declared independence from Sudan on July 9, 2011, following the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement and a January 2011 referendum. Its economy relies heavily on crude oil exports, while millions of people depend on agriculture, livestock and local trade. President Salva Kiir Mayardit remains head of state; on September 22, 2026, the transitional government and legislature were dissolved and replaced by a caretaker administration ahead of elections scheduled for December 22. South Sudan contains the Sudd wetland and the Boma–Badingilo Migratory Landscape, which became its first UNESCO World Heritage property in 2026. [8] [7] [4] [16] [11] [12] [24]

Reference status: Contemporary edition • Verified: November 5, 2026 • Statistics retain their own reference years and methodological qualifications.

CapitalJubaNational capital [9]
Population12,188,7882025 World Bank estimate [1]
Total area619,745 km²EAC reference [4]
Nominal GDPUS$4.63 billion2023 UN data (footnote e) [2]
GDP per capitaUS$4032023 UN data (footnote e) [2]
CurrencySouth Sudanese poundSSP [4]

Data caution: Unlike most MGU country profiles, South Sudan has no current 2025 World Bank nominal-GDP value: that site’s latest observation remains 2015. This page labels the UN nominal GDP and GDP-per-capita observations as 2023 data (identified by footnote e beneath the UN table’s 2025 column) and gives the IMF’s 2026 forecast separately. The 2008 census is a historical benchmark, not a current count. [1] [2] [3] [5]

Identity and State Formation

Official name
Republic of South Sudan. [8]
Short name
South Sudan.
Geographic classification
Eastern Africa; the Nile Basin and East-Central African frontier. [2] [4]
Country codes
SS (ISO alpha-2), SSD (ISO alpha-3), +211 international telephone code.
Capital
Juba, on the White Nile. [9] [4]
Major towns and urban centres
Juba, Wau, Malakal, Bor, Yambio, Aweil and other regional headquarters. [9]
Official currency
South Sudanese pound (SSP). [4] [2]
Currency symbol
SSP; the pound is subdivided into 100 piasters in the monetary framework.
Time zone
Central Africa Time, UTC+02:00; no regular daylight saving. [4]
Independence
July 9, 2011, following separation from Sudan. [8] [29]
Independence Day
July 9, an annual national holiday. [8]
Prior sovereign state
Republic of the Sudan; southern Sudan had regional autonomous institutions before independence. [29]
2005 peace settlement
Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed by Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, establishing a self-determination pathway. [7] [29]
2011 referendum
January 9–15, 2011, under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. [7] [29]
Referendum result
98.83% voted for separation among participants, according to certified results. [7]
United Nations admission
July 14, 2011, becoming the 193rd member state. [8]
Transitional constitutional framework
The 2011 Transitional Constitution, as amended, formed the post-independence framework; a permanent constitution was not completed before the September 2026 election-law changes. [12] [13]
Civil war beginning
Major violence erupted in December 2013 after a national political rupture. [28]
2018 revived peace framework
Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) established an extended power-sharing transition. [12] [15]
September 2026 political change
On September 22, 2026, the president dissolved transitional national and state institutions and appointed a caretaker administration. [12] [13]
Scheduled general election
December 22, 2026; scheduled as of the November 5 editorial cutoff, not yet conducted. [11] [13]
Self-determination context
State formation followed decades of North–South conflict and negotiations; 2011 is the sovereignty date, not the beginning of settlement in the territory. [7] [29]
Common abbreviation
RSS (Republic of South Sudan) in some government and regional documents; SSD internationally. [19]
National symbol
Flag with black, red and green horizontal bands separated by white, plus a blue hoist triangle containing a yellow star.
Nationality
South Sudanese; citizenship laws and documentation are separate from neighboring Sudanese nationality.
Country status
Internationally recognized sovereign state and member of the United Nations. [8]

Chronology: Independence on July 9, 2011 followed the January referendum; UN admission was July 14. A change in the executive structure in September 2026 should not be confused with the founding of the state. [7] [8] [12]

Geography and Population

Geographic setting
Landlocked country spanning the upper White Nile basin, floodplains, plateaus and savanna. [4]
Total area
Approximately 619,745 km² in the East African Community country profile; area conventions differ among international sources. [4]
Coastline
None; landlocked. [4]
Northern neighbour
Sudan. [4]
Eastern neighbour
Ethiopia. [4]
Southeastern neighbour
Kenya. [4]
Southern neighbour
Uganda. [4]
Southwestern neighbour
Democratic Republic of the Congo. [4]
Western neighbour
Central African Republic. [4]
Principal river
White Nile, traversing central South Sudan through and around the Sudd wetland. [4]
Major wetland
The Sudd, a large seasonally varying inland wetland and floodplain. [4] [25]
Natural regions
Nile alluvial plains, seasonally flooded grassland, wooded savannas, Equatorian highlands and wetlands. [4] [25]
Highest elevation
Mount Kinyeti in the Imatong Mountains, approximately 3,187 metres above sea level.
Rainfall pattern
Strong wet and dry seasons in many areas; northern plains generally drier than southern and southwestern uplands.
Flood exposure
Seasonal Nile and tributary flooding repeatedly displaces people and affects farmland, transport and settlements. [22] [21]
Drought exposure
Erratic rainfall and prolonged dry spells can impair crop yields and pasture access. [21]
Dominant ecosystems
Savanna, freshwater wetlands, riverine woodland and forest patches. [25]
Notable wildlife landscape
Boma–Badingilo migratory grasslands and woodland corridors. [25]
Protected ecosystem importance
Large-scale antelope migration, waterbirds and threatened wildlife depend on connected wetland and savanna habitats. [25]
World Bank population
12,188,788 (2025 estimate); not a modern census count. [1]
World Bank population growth
2.0% annual growth (2025). [1]
Last conventional nationwide census
2008 population census of southern Sudan, before independence. [5] [6]
2008 census benchmark
Approximately 8.26 million, the historical count published by the national statistics office. [5] [6]
2021 population estimation survey
A national estimation exercise was conducted after independence; its estimates are not interchangeable with the 2008 conventional census.
Population comparability
Humanitarian operational estimates, UN projections and World Bank harmonized series use different assumptions and may not agree. [1] [20] [5]
Population density
Approximately 19.7 persons per km², calculated from 2025 World Bank population and the EAC land-area convention; not a separate census statistic. [1] [4]
Life expectancy at birth
Approximately 58 years (2024 World Bank series). [1]
Settlement pattern
Population dispersed across rural settlements, pasturelands, small towns, floodplain villages and capital-region urban growth. [9] [5]
Major geographic accessibility issue
Wet-season flooding, sparse all-weather roads, and river crossings obstruct internal transport. [22] [21]
Rural livelihoods
Livestock keeping, rainfed farming, fishing, gathering and small-scale trade. [20]
Urban economic focus
Juba concentrates government functions, services, commerce and administrative infrastructure. [9]
Major environmental threats
Flooding, rainfall variability, habitat degradation, armed conflict, displacement and pressure on natural resources. [21] [22] [25]

Population warning: The 2008 count of 8.26 million is not a 2025 population. The UN and World Bank estimates, FAO food-security populations and humanitarian operational figures are methodologically different. Area is shown using the EAC convention. [1] [5] [4] [20]

Economy and International Trade

Economic system
Mixed economy dominated by petroleum revenue, subsistence livelihoods, trade and government services. [16] [20]
Nominal GDP — UN estimate
US$4.629 billion (2023 underlying data in the UN Statistics Division table; its 2025 column carries footnote e indicating 2023). [2]
GDP per capita — UN estimate
US$403 (2023 underlying data, marked by footnote e in the UN table’s 2025 column); not a 2025 observation. [2]
World Bank latest nominal GDP observation
US$11.998 billion (2015); the World Bank country page currently shows 2015, not 2025, as its latest nominal GDP observation. [1]
World Bank latest GDP per capita observation
US$1,080.1 (2015); should not be relabeled as 2025. [1]
IMF projected nominal GDP
US$6.07 billion (2026 IMF World Economic Outlook forecast, April 2026 vintage). [3]
IMF projected real growth
4.1% for 2026 (April 2026 IMF forecast); not a finalized annual growth result. [3]
GDP measurement caution
UN, World Bank and IMF output figures differ sharply in vintage and method; no single cross-source annual percentage change should be inferred. [1] [2] [3]
Principal export commodity
Crude petroleum; dominates measured merchandise exports. [16] [18]
Other recorded exports
Smaller flows of wood, agricultural products and mineral-related goods, depending on reporting series. [19] [18]
Crude petroleum export dependence
National statistics report crude petroleum at roughly 99.81% of their selected 2024 recorded merchandise-export categories. [18]
Oil sector significance
The African Development Bank estimates oil accounted for roughly 95% of exports and 70–80% of government revenues in its 2026 analysis. [16]
Oil pipeline dependence
Most oil reaches foreign markets through infrastructure crossing Sudan, exposing exports to war and transit interruptions. [16]
Non-oil economy
Agriculture, cattle raising, fishing, trade, construction, transport and small-scale services. [16] [20]
Primary food crops
Sorghum, maize, millet and other locally adapted staples; yields are affected by rainfall and insecurity. [21] [20]
Livestock economy
Cattle, goats and sheep support pastoral and agro-pastoral production, trade, social capital and household livelihoods. [20]
Food imports
Imported grain, other foods, fuel, manufactured goods and medical supplies remain important to domestic markets. [19] [21]
Agriculture dependence
FAO reports a very large share of people rely on crop farming, livestock, fishing or related activities for food and income. [20]
2024 merchandise exports — EAC
US$1.823 billion (East African Community regional reporting). [19]
2024 merchandise imports — EAC
US$0.983 billion (same EAC regional reporting series). [19]
2024 merchandise trade total — EAC
US$2.806 billion, exports plus imports in the EAC series. [19]
2024 merchandise balance — EAC
Approximately US$0.839 billion trade surplus (regional EAC reporting). [19]
2023 merchandise exports — EAC
US$3.610 billion, providing an earlier-year comparator in the same EAC series. [19]
2024 export change — EAC
About 49.5% lower than 2023 on the EAC reporting basis. [19]
2024 recorded crude-oil exports — national series
US$1,690.38 million of crude petroleum in national statistical product reporting; not a total from the EAC series. [18]
Major export trading relationships
United Arab Emirates, parts of Asia, India and China feature in EAC-documented petroleum trade. [19]
Major import origins
Uganda and Kenya are important regional suppliers, alongside wider global import partners. [19] [18]
National trade-statistics caution
The national product breakdown and EAC trade totals have different coverage and should not be directly merged. [18] [19]
WTO membership
South Sudan is not currently a WTO member; WTO tariff/trade portal notes no member-bound tariff indicators. [17]
WTO tariff profile
WTO profile quotes 10.7% simple-average MFN applied tariff for 2024; tariff data are distinct from merchandise export totals. [17]
Inflation — World Bank latest
91.4% (2024 consumer-price inflation series), not a 2026 observation. [1]
Inflation — IMF forecast
14% average consumer-price inflation projected for 2026 by the IMF April 2026 WEO; forecast subject to change. [3]
Foreign-exchange risk
The pound’s exchange rate and domestic prices are vulnerable to oil revenue, import supply and fiscal disruptions. [16] [21]
Fiscal vulnerability
Petroleum dependence creates instability in public finances when production or transit is interrupted. [16]
Development constraints
Conflict, weak infrastructure, limited public services, debt and currency stress constrain broad-based growth. [16]
Growth outlook
AfDB projected a strong oil-led rebound in FY2025/26; a recovery from a disrupted base is not evidence of wider diversification. [16]

Merchandise exports by product (national 2024 product reporting)

US$ million; categories published by the South Sudan National Bureau of Statistics. This is one nationally reported product series, not an exhaustive WTO table. [18]

Export category2024 reported value (US$ million)Reported share
Crude petroleum1,690.3899.81%
Agricultural products2.300.14%
Wood and wood products0.880.05%
Animal products0.01Less than 0.01%
National product-series total1,693.57100%

East African Community merchandise-trade series (2023–2024)

Billion US dollars; EAC regional reporting. Definitions and partner coverage differ from the national product table above. [19]

Measure2023 (US$ bn)2024 (US$ bn)
Merchandise exports3.6101.823
Merchandise imports0.7780.983
Total merchandise trade4.3882.806
Merchandise balance+2.832+0.839

Trade accounting: The 2024 EAC export total (US$1.823 billion) and the national bureau’s product-series total (US$1.694 billion) are not reconciled or portrayed as identical. Both report crude-oil dominance, but the World Trade Organization profile does not provide a full South Sudan annual product dataset. [19] [18] [17]

Economic sources: Because the World Bank’s most recent nominal GDP and GDP-per-capita observations date to 2015, the headline uses UN national-account figures correctly dated 2023 by its footnote e, although displayed in the UN table’s 2025 column. IMF figures are 2026 forecasts. Trade is 2024 in two distinct, clearly labeled merchandise-reporting series. [2] [1] [3] [18] [19]

People and Society

Population composition
Multiethnic society with numerous Nilotic, Central Sudanic and other cultural-linguistic communities. [9]
Major ethnolinguistic communities
Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk, Bari, Zande and numerous other communities; no reliable contemporary census-based percentage shares supplied here. [4]
Official language
English, designated for government use. [4]
Widely spoken languages
Dinka, Nuer, Bari, Zande, Shilluk, Juba Arabic and many others. [4]
Language note
English is official, but fluency and everyday communication vary across communities and regions. [4]
Juba Arabic
An Arabic-based regional lingua franca, especially in and around Juba; distinct from designation as the official national language. [4]
Religious communities
Christian churches, indigenous religious traditions, Muslim communities and other affiliations.
Religious percentage caution
No contemporary census-based national shares are presented as authoritative; surveys may differ in definitions and coverage.
Christian traditions
Catholic, Anglican/Episcopal, Presbyterian, Pentecostal and other Protestant communities.
Indigenous traditions
Locally rooted spiritual practices and customary beliefs coexist with Christian and Muslim practices.
Social diversity
Patterns of language, religion, kinship and livelihood differ significantly among regions and communities. [9]
Common rural livelihoods
Small-scale crop production, fishing, livestock raising and informal trade. [20]
Youth literacy reference
Approximately 48% among ages 15–24 (2018), according to the World Bank human-capital brief; not a 2026 literacy count. [23]
Education challenges
Insecurity, displacement, poverty, infrastructure deficits and limited school sanitation constrain learning. [23] [22]
Health-system challenges
Conflict, limited facilities, displaced populations, disease outbreaks and difficult road access impair service delivery. [22] [20]
Life expectancy
Approximately 58 years at birth (2024 World Bank). [1]
Food insecurity
FAO projected 7.8 million people in IPC Phase 3 or worse in parts of the April–July 2026 lean season. [21]
Population denominator note
IPC humanitarian counts use an operational analysed-population denominator different from World Bank estimates. [21] [1]
Humanitarian needs
UN humanitarian assessments projected assistance needs for around 10 million people in 2026. [28] [22]
Displacement
Conflict, flooding and the neighboring war in Sudan have created major internal and cross-border movements. [22]
Return movements
South Sudanese returnees from Sudan add demand for food, housing, health services and local employment. [22]
Food production hazards
Flooding, dry spells, disruptions to planting and high fuel prices compound food insecurity. [21]
Cultural traditions
Oral history, storytelling, cattle-centered ceremonies, communal music, dance and regional cuisines are significant in many communities.
Heritage and archaeology
Archaeological landscapes, historic settlement sites and continuing customary institutions contribute to national heritage.
UNESCO World Heritage properties
One inscribed property as of November 2026. [24]
First UNESCO World Heritage inscription
Boma–Badingilo Migratory Landscape, inscribed July 26, 2026. [26] [25]
World Heritage category
Natural heritage; ecological and biological migration processes. [25]
World Heritage risk listing
The Boma–Badingilo property also appears on UNESCO’s World Heritage in Danger list (2026). [25]
Independence commemorations
July 9 marks independence and statehood in national public life. [8]
Common international term
South Sudanese is the adjectival form and collective nationality term.

Social data: Ethnic and religious identities are not assigned unsupported national percentage shares. Education, life-expectancy, displacement and food-security indicators each identify their data year. Boma–Badingilo became the first inscribed World Heritage property in July 2026. [23] [1] [22] [21] [25]

Government and Institutions

Form of state
Sovereign republic operating under a transitional constitutional and electoral framework. [8] [13]
Head of state
President Salva Kiir Mayardit, confirmed in September 2026 official records. [11]
Presidential office
The president remained in office through the pre-election caretaker period under the September 2026 legal changes. [12] [13]
Executive administration (November 2026)
Caretaker administration appointed after dissolution of the 2018-based transitional unity government. [12] [11]
Dissolution date
September 22, 2026. [12]
National legislature status
Dissolved in the September 22 decree; older descriptions of a functioning transitional bicameral legislature are out of date for this cutoff. [12]
Vice-presidential offices
The First Vice-President and other Vice-Presidents were removed from office in September 2026; past officeholder lists should not be treated as current. [12]
First Vice-President before dissolution
Riek Machar had held the office under the peace-sharing framework before his suspension and subsequent removal. [12]
Government transition basis
Amended national electoral law and decrees enacted in September 2026 in preparation for a scheduled vote. [13] [12]
Scheduled national election
December 22, 2026, prospective at the November 5 editorial cutoff; outcome not known. [11]
Election caveat
Legal authorization and scheduled date do not establish that a vote will take place as planned or satisfy agreed peace safeguards. [13] [15]
Constitutional status
Transitional Constitution of 2011, as amended; a permanent constitution had not been completed before the September 2026 legal change. [13]
Legal system
Mixture of enacted law, constitutional and statutory provisions, and locally applied customary law.
State and local administration
Ten states and three administrative areas are the established geographic administrative framework. [9]
Administrative areas
Abyei, Greater Pibor and Ruweng; their status and governance arrangements are not identical to those of states. [9]
States — Equatoria
Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria and Western Equatoria. [9]
States — Bahr el Ghazal
Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Warrap and Lakes. [9]
States — Upper Nile region
Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile. [9]
Capital’s state
Juba is located in Central Equatoria. [9]
Border-administration caveat
Abyei has an unresolved border/status dispute between Sudan and South Sudan; lists of South Sudan administrative areas do not settle sovereignty. [9] [7]
Caretaker subnational authorities
Caretaker governors and chief administrators were appointed in September 2026. [14]
Electoral framework
September 2026 amendments removed mandatory completion of the permanent constitution and a census as preconditions for December elections. [13]
Peace-process framework
Revitalized peace agreement signed in 2018 shaped the transition; contested implementation and 2026 dissolution complicated the settlement. [15] [12]
Security environment
Armed violence and unresolved political disputes pose significant risks to civilian protection and stability. [15] [28]
UN peacekeeping mission
United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). [28]
UNMISS current mandate
Extended to April 30, 2027, under UN Security Council Resolution 2820 (2026). [15]
UNMISS core activities
Protection of civilians, human rights monitoring, support to peace processes and humanitarian access. [15] [28]
National military
South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), subject to evolving transitional security arrangements.
Local governance
State administrations, counties and customary institutions perform various functions, subject to transitions and conflict.
Political-party landscape
Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), SPLM-in-Opposition and other parties or groupings have figured in the transition.
Civil-liberties context
The UN mission and observers identify major civilian protection and political-rights challenges during the election period. [15] [28]
Government-data time stamp
Officer and institution descriptions checked for early November 2026; post-election outcomes are not assumed. [11] [12]

Transitional-status note: President Salva Kiir remained in office following the September 22, 2026 dissolution; the vice-presidential offices and legislature formerly associated with the unity government were dissolved or vacated. The scheduled December election has not been treated as a completed event. [12] [13] [11]

International Profile

United Nations member
Since July 14, 2011; 193rd member admitted. [8]
African Union membership
Joined in July 2011 following independence. [27] [10]
East African Community member
Joined in 2016, expanding regional economic and institutional integration. [4]
Regional integration focus
Transport corridors, customs cooperation, cross-border trade and movement with Uganda, Kenya and other EAC countries. [4] [19]
Major trading transit
Dependence on Sudan for oil-export infrastructure and East African routes for many imports. [16] [19]
UN peacekeeping presence
UNMISS operating under a mandate extended through April 30, 2027. [15]
UN country engagement
Humanitarian agencies support food security, health, displacement response, and civilian protection. [20] [22] [28]
Diplomatic relations
Formal bilateral recognition and missions expanded rapidly after 2011 independence. [10]
Relation to Sudan
Shared pipeline assets, border disputes, migration and consequences of Sudan’s war remain central bilateral issues. [16] [22]
Relation to Uganda
Important cross-border food supply, road freight and trade corridor. [19]
Relation to Kenya
Important regional transit and goods-supply relationship. [19]
International financial institutions
Cooperates with IMF, World Bank and African Development Bank on economic and development matters. [3] [1] [16]
WTO status
Not yet a WTO member, according to the organization’s trade-data profile. [17]
World Heritage Convention
Ratified March 9, 2016. [24]
Inscribed World Heritage properties
One (2026): Boma–Badingilo Migratory Landscape. [24] [25]
World Heritage ecological importance
Globally important large-mammal migration routes and seasonally connected natural habitats. [25]
International conservation partners
UNESCO and local/national partners support landscape conservation and heritage management. [26]
2026 international concern
Heightened concern over conflict, civilian protection and the viability of an inclusive electoral process. [15] [28] [13]
International refugee context
South Sudan hosts refugees and is a destination for returnees while many South Sudanese remain displaced abroad. [22]
Humanitarian coordination
FAO, UNHCR, UNMISS and other partners address distinct food security, displacement and peacekeeping mandates. [20] [22] [15]
UN recognition of independence
UN membership followed national independence by five days in July 2011. [8]
Geopolitical position
Landlocked upstream Nile Basin state whose security and economic prospects are intertwined with the Horn of Africa and East Africa. [4] [16]
Publication cutoff
Contemporary political facts checked to November 5, 2026; scheduled December election is future, not completed. [11] [12]

Global status: South Sudan is a UN, AU and EAC member. The UNMISS mandate extends through April 2027, while UNESCO lists one World Heritage property inscribed in July 2026. [8] [27] [4] [15] [24]

Sources and Methodology

Population: The summary’s 12,188,788 people are the World Bank harmonized 2025 estimate. The latest conventional nationwide census baseline commonly cited by South Sudan’s National Bureau of Statistics was conducted in 2008, before independence. Humanitarian agencies use operational planning populations that need not match the World Bank model. An approximately 19.7 persons/km² density is calculated from the displayed population divided by the EAC area and is not published as a separate census result.

National accounts and prices: The country is an exception to the quick-facts practice of using World Bank 2025 nominal GDP: World Bank country data currently show 2015 as the last available GDP observation. Therefore the snapshot instead uses the United Nations Statistics Division’s nominal GDP and GDP-per-capita figures (US$4.629 billion and US$403 respectively); although displayed in the 2025 column, both are marked with footnote e meaning 2023. These data do not use the World Bank’s 2025 population denominator; do not divide one source by the other to infer a corrected value. The IMF’s 2026 US$6.07 billion GDP and 4.1% real-growth projections are forecasts from the April 2026 World Economic Outlook. Inflation comparisons retain years and different forecast/observation statuses.

Trade: The East African Community report’s 2024 US$1.823 billion merchandise exports and US$0.983 billion imports are one regional statistical series. The National Bureau of Statistics’ product-category total of US$1.694 billion is a distinct national breakdown. Product categories, reporters, coverage and vintages can vary. No WTO merchandise product data are imputed when the official WTO member profile lists none.

History, territory and political institutions: The independence referendum was in January 2011, independence was July 9, 2011 and UN membership began July 14. References to a 2018-power-sharing transitional executive with multiple vice-presidents and a seated national assembly were superseded by the September 22, 2026 dissolution and caretaker arrangement. The December 22, 2026 vote was scheduled, not completed, at this publication cutoff. Abyei is administratively listed by South Sudan but has an unresolved international status; it is not treated as an uncontested border settlement.

Social and environmental context: Language and religion lists describe known communities, without inventing a national 2026 percentage breakdown. Food-security and displacement counts are humanitarian estimates for their own reference periods. UNESCO records one inscribed South Sudan World Heritage property, Boma–Badingilo, added in July 2026 and listed as in danger. Sources are linked below; the page is an overview rather than a full country study.

Editorial cutoff: November 5, 2026. The dates on statistics identify when they apply, not when the HTML was generated or when the source was accessed.

  1. World Bank — South Sudan: country data — World Bank 2025 population, population growth, 2024 life expectancy, and explicitly dated older GDP, inflation, and labour indicators.
  2. United Nations Statistics Division — South Sudan country profile — UN nominal GDP and GDP-per-capita figures displayed under the 2025 column but marked by source footnote e as 2023 data; separately 2025 population, national currency and UN admission date.
  3. IMF DataMapper — South Sudan (April 2026 World Economic Outlook) — IMF forecasts and estimates for 2026 including nominal output and projected growth; not equivalent to historical national accounts.
  4. East African Community — Republic of South Sudan — Area (619,745 km²), landlocked location, geography, official language, currency and East African Community membership.
  5. South Sudan National Bureau of Statistics — national statistical portal — 2008 census benchmark (8.26 million) and dated domestic statistics.
  6. National Bureau of Statistics — institutional history — National Bureau of Statistics mandate and use of 2008 census as the latest completed conventional nationwide census benchmark.
  7. United Nations Mission in the Sudan — 2011 referendum — January 2011 referendum and final result, 98.83 percent for separation; 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
  8. United Nations — South Sudan membership and independence — Independence on July 9, 2011 and admission to the UN as 193rd member on July 14, 2011.
  9. South Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Brief History — Ten states and three administrative areas, Juba as capital and post-independence state formation.
  10. South Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Foreign relations — International recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations after July 2011.
  11. Office of the President of South Sudan — September 2026 dialogue — September 24, 2026 confirmation of President Salva Kiir, caretaker government and planned December elections.
  12. Radio Tamazuj — Kiir dissolves transitional government, September 22, 2026 — September 22 dissolution of cabinet, legislature, and state administrations; vice-presidential offices vacated and caretaker ministers appointed.
  13. Reuters — South Sudan election-law amendments, September 22, 2026 — Electoral law amendments remove prerequisites for permanent constitution and census before planned elections.
  14. Office of the President — caretaker governors sworn in, September 25, 2026 — Official caretaker gubernatorial appointments after September political transition.
  15. United Nations Security Council — Resolution 2820 (2026) — UNMISS mandate extended until April 30, 2027, with civilian-protection and peace-support functions.
  16. African Development Bank — South Sudan Country Focus Report 2026 — Oil dependence, pipeline disruption, economic contraction, and 2026 recovery projections; proportions are estimates.
  17. WTO Tariff and Trade Data — South Sudan — South Sudan is not a WTO member, and the profile lacks comparable bilateral/product annual trade tables.
  18. South Sudan National Bureau of Statistics — Trade Statistics — 2024 national merchandise-trade product grouping and crude-petroleum export concentration; scope and definitions may differ from regional estimates.
  19. East African Community — Trade and Investment Report 2024 — 2024 EAC recorded merchandise exports US$1.823 billion, imports US$0.983 billion and total merchandise trade US$2.806 billion; regional reporting scope.
  20. FAO — South Sudan emergency and resilience — Agricultural livelihoods, 2026 acute food insecurity and malnutrition estimates; separate humanitarian population denominator.
  21. FAO GIEWS — South Sudan country brief, September 2026 — 2026 cereal conditions, food prices, agricultural disruptions and 7.8 million people facing acute food insecurity.
  22. UNHCR — South Sudan country operations — Internal displacement, refugees and returnees; effects of the Sudan crisis and economic disruption.
  23. World Bank — South Sudan human capital data brief — 2018 youth literacy (48%), 2023 reproductive-health and educational-development indicators; dated reference series.
  24. UNESCO World Heritage Centre — South Sudan — One inscribed World Heritage property as of November 2026; South Sudan ratified convention in 2016.
  25. UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Boma–Badingilo Migratory Landscape — First World Heritage property inscribed in 2026; natural migratory habitat and inscription on the Danger List.
  26. United Nations in South Sudan — World Heritage inscription news, August 2026 — First South Sudan UNESCO World Heritage site was inscribed July 26, 2026.
  27. African Union — AU member states — South Sudan admitted to the African Union in July 2011.
  28. UN Peacekeeping — 5 facts on UNMISS, May 2026 — UNMISS civilian protection, humanitarian access and peace-building role and its 2026 mandate renewal.
  29. U.S. Department of State Office of the Historian — South Sudan — Historical road to independence and diplomatic recognition July 2011.
  30. East African Community — South Sudan partner-state membership — 2016 EAC accession and geographic and cultural relations with neighbouring countries.