South Sudan

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Historical Eras

Languages Spoken

Population

Population

11,088,796

Population in Major Urban Areas

JUBA (capital) 269,000

Nationality Noun

South Sudanese (singular and plural)

Ethnic Groups

Dinka, Kakwa, Bari, Azande, Shilluk, Kuku, Murle, Mandari, Didinga, Ndogo, Bviri, Lndi, Anuak, Bongo, Lango, Dungotona, Acholi

Education

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Health Information

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in South Sudan remains among the lowest in the world, reflecting the severe humanitarian, medical, and infrastructural challenges the country has faced since gaining independence in 2011. Current estimates place average life expectancy at approximately 55 years, with women generally outliving men by a modest margin. These figures are shaped by a combination of deeply rooted factors. Decades of conflict, including the civil war that erupted in 2013 and continued with devastating effect through the late 2010s, displaced millions of people and dismantled what little healthcare infrastructure existed. A fragile peace agreement signed in 2018 brought some reduction in large-scale violence, though localized conflict and intercommunal fighting have continued to disrupt civilian life and humanitarian access. Access to clean water, sanitation, and consistent nutrition remains limited for a large portion of the population, contributing to high rates of preventable illness and child mortality. Infant and child mortality rates are particularly significant drivers of the low life expectancy figure. South Sudan has one of the highest under-five mortality rates globally, with diseases such as malaria, pneumonia, diarrheal illness, and measles claiming the lives of many children before they reach school age. Maternal mortality is also a serious concern, as skilled birth attendance and emergency obstetric care are difficult to access in many regions, especially in rural and conflict-affected areas. Communicable diseases continue to place a heavy burden on the population. Malaria is endemic throughout much of the country and remains a leading cause of death. HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis) also affect significant portions of the population and strain an already fragile health system. Outbreaks of cholera and other waterborne diseases further compound the public health burden, particularly during periods of flooding and mass displacement. Investment in healthcare has been constrained by limited government revenues, ongoing insecurity, and widespread poverty. The majority of healthcare services continue to be delivered by international NGOs and UN agencies rather than a functioning national health system. Despite these challenges, international health interventions, vaccination campaigns, and incremental stabilization efforts have created cautious optimism that health outcomes may gradually improve in the years ahead, provided that peace can be sustained and investment in essential services increased.

Major Infectious Diseases — degree of risk

very high

Infant Mortality Rate

South Sudan has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world, reflecting the severe public health challenges the country faces following decades of conflict and instability. According to recent estimates, approximately 63 to 65 infants die per 1,000 live births before reaching their first birthday, placing South Sudan among the most affected nations globally. Several interconnected factors drive this alarming rate. The country's healthcare infrastructure remains critically underdeveloped, with a severe shortage of trained medical personnel, functioning health facilities, and essential medicines. Many mothers give birth without access to skilled attendants, dramatically increasing the risk of complications for both mother and child. Neonatal causes — including birth asphyxia, infections, and prematurity — account for a significant share of infant deaths. Infectious diseases are a leading cause of infant mortality. Malaria, diarrheal diseases, acute respiratory infections, and measles continue to claim the lives of many children under one year of age. Malnutrition compounds these risks substantially, as infants born to malnourished mothers often have low birth weights and weakened immune systems. Food insecurity, which affects a large proportion of the South Sudanese population due to ongoing conflict and displacement, directly undermines child survival. Clean water access remains limited across much of the country, particularly in rural and conflict-affected areas. Without safe water and proper sanitation, waterborne illnesses spread rapidly among vulnerable infant populations. Vaccination coverage, while the subject of sustained international health campaigns, remains inconsistent. Humanitarian organizations and global health bodies have worked to expand immunization programs for diseases such as measles, polio, and diphtheria, but ongoing insecurity and logistical barriers continue to limit outreach. Despite the bleak overall picture, gradual improvements have been documented over the past two decades. In 2000, infant mortality estimates exceeded 100 deaths per 1,000 live births, meaning the rate has declined meaningfully, though it remains far above the global average of roughly 27 per 1,000 live births. Continued investment in primary healthcare, maternal health services, nutrition programs, and conflict resolution will be essential to sustaining and accelerating progress.

Life Expectancy

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in South Sudan remains among the lowest in the world, reflecting the severe humanitarian, medical, and infrastructural challenges the country has faced since gaining independence in 2011. Current estimates place average life expectancy at approximately 55 years, with women generally outliving men by a modest margin. These figures are shaped by a combination of deeply rooted factors. Decades of conflict, including the civil war that erupted in 2013 and continued with devastating effect through the late 2010s, displaced millions of people and dismantled what little healthcare infrastructure existed. A fragile peace agreement signed in 2018 brought some reduction in large-scale violence, though localized conflict and intercommunal fighting have continued to disrupt civilian life and humanitarian access. Access to clean water, sanitation, and consistent nutrition remains limited for a large portion of the population, contributing to high rates of preventable illness and child mortality. Infant and child mortality rates are particularly significant drivers of the low life expectancy figure. South Sudan has one of the highest under-five mortality rates globally, with diseases such as malaria, pneumonia, diarrheal illness, and measles claiming the lives of many children before they reach school age. Maternal mortality is also a serious concern, as skilled birth attendance and emergency obstetric care are difficult to access in many regions, especially in rural and conflict-affected areas. Communicable diseases continue to place a heavy burden on the population. Malaria is endemic throughout much of the country and remains a leading cause of death. HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis) also affect significant portions of the population and strain an already fragile health system. Outbreaks of cholera and other waterborne diseases further compound the public health burden, particularly during periods of flooding and mass displacement. Investment in healthcare has been constrained by limited government revenues, ongoing insecurity, and widespread poverty. The majority of healthcare services continue to be delivered by international NGOs and UN agencies rather than a functioning national health system. Despite these challenges, international health interventions, vaccination campaigns, and incremental stabilization efforts have created cautious optimism that health outcomes may gradually improve in the years ahead, provided that peace can be sustained and investment in essential services increased.

Infant Mortality Rate

South Sudan has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world, reflecting the severe public health challenges the country faces following decades of conflict and instability. According to recent estimates, approximately 63 to 65 infants die per 1,000 live births before reaching their first birthday, placing South Sudan among the most affected nations globally. Several interconnected factors drive this alarming rate. The country's healthcare infrastructure remains critically underdeveloped, with a severe shortage of trained medical personnel, functioning health facilities, and essential medicines. Many mothers give birth without access to skilled attendants, dramatically increasing the risk of complications for both mother and child. Neonatal causes — including birth asphyxia, infections, and prematurity — account for a significant share of infant deaths. Infectious diseases are a leading cause of infant mortality. Malaria, diarrheal diseases, acute respiratory infections, and measles continue to claim the lives of many children under one year of age. Malnutrition compounds these risks substantially, as infants born to malnourished mothers often have low birth weights and weakened immune systems. Food insecurity, which affects a large proportion of the South Sudanese population due to ongoing conflict and displacement, directly undermines child survival. Clean water access remains limited across much of the country, particularly in rural and conflict-affected areas. Without safe water and proper sanitation, waterborne illnesses spread rapidly among vulnerable infant populations. Vaccination coverage, while the subject of sustained international health campaigns, remains inconsistent. Humanitarian organizations and global health bodies have worked to expand immunization programs for diseases such as measles, polio, and diphtheria, but ongoing insecurity and logistical barriers continue to limit outreach. Despite the bleak overall picture, gradual improvements have been documented over the past two decades. In 2000, infant mortality estimates exceeded 100 deaths per 1,000 live births, meaning the rate has declined meaningfully, though it remains far above the global average of roughly 27 per 1,000 live births. Continued investment in primary healthcare, maternal health services, nutrition programs, and conflict resolution will be essential to sustaining and accelerating progress.

Country Identity

Country Name

SouthSudan

Full Country Name

South Sudan

Local - Long

South Sudan

Local - Short

South Sudan

Former Name

South Sudan

Government Structure

Executive Branch

South Sudan operates as a presidential republic, in which the president serves as both head of state and head of government. The country's executive structure was established under the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, adopted in 2011 following independence from Sudan. Salva Kiir Mayardit has served as president since South Sudan's independence on July 9, 2011, and previously held the position of President of the Government of Southern Sudan beginning in 2005 under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. He is a member of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), the dominant political party that led the southern independence movement. Kiir is recognized by his trademark black cowboy hat, a gift from former U.S. President George W. Bush that has become his political signature. The vice presidency has been a position of significant political complexity in South Sudan, shaped largely by the country's civil conflict. Under the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), a Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity was established, incorporating multiple vice presidential positions to accommodate rival factions. Riek Machar, leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO), has served as First Vice President as part of this power-sharing arrangement, though the relationship between Kiir and Machar has historically been volatile, contributing to the civil war that erupted in 2013. The executive branch also includes a Council of Ministers, appointed by the president, which is responsible for carrying out government policy and administering the various ministries of state. Cabinet appointments have often reflected the ethnic and factional balancing required by the peace agreements, as South Sudan navigates a fragile transitional political environment. Executive authority in South Sudan remains heavily centralized around the presidency, and the country continues to function under transitional governance frameworks rather than a fully normalized constitutional order. Elections, which were scheduled for 2023, have been repeatedly postponed as the nation works through ongoing peace implementation challenges.

Legislative Branch

South Sudan's legislative branch is structured as a bicameral parliament known as the Transitional National Legislature, established under the terms of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), signed in September 2018. This transitional framework was designed to guide the country through a peace process following years of devastating civil conflict. The Transitional National Legislature consists of two chambers: the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) and the Council of States. The Transitional National Legislative Assembly is the lower house and serves as the primary legislative body, responsible for passing laws, approving the national budget, and providing oversight of the executive branch. Under the transitional arrangements, the TNLA was expanded to accommodate representatives from various parties to the peace agreement, bringing its membership to 550 seats. These seats were distributed among the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), opposition factions, former armed movements, and other political parties as stipulated by the peace deal. The Council of States functions as the upper chamber and represents South Sudan's ten states, with each state sending a delegation of representatives. The Council plays a role in reviewing legislation, particularly matters affecting the states and subnational governance. South Sudan held its first post-independence elections in December 2010, before formal independence in July 2011, but subsequent electoral cycles were interrupted or delayed due to the outbreak of civil war in December 2013 and the ongoing political instability that followed. As a result, the legislative structures in place have remained transitional in nature, with members appointed or allocated through negotiated political agreements rather than through popular elections. National elections have been repeatedly postponed, with timelines subject to ongoing negotiation among political stakeholders and international partners. The legislature operates under a constitutional framework initially defined by the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011, which outlines the powers, responsibilities, and structure of the legislative branch. Lawmakers are tasked with developing permanent governance institutions, though the full realization of a stable, elected parliament remains a key benchmark in the country's broader peace and state-building process.

Capital City

Capital Name

Juba

Capital - geographic coordinate

04 51 N 31 37 E

Capital Time Difference

UTC+2 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Military

Branches: Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA)

Embassy / Diplomatic Mission

Snapshot

Currency Name and Code

South Sudanese Pound

GDP Real Growth Rate

-2.3%