CountriesIndicatorsThis week
Country page · Updated 13 Nov 2026

South Sudan

South Sudan has 12 m people (World Bank, 2025). It imports all of its potash supply (FAOSTAT, 2024, estimated).

Written automatically from the figures on this page.

Population
12 m (2025)
Member of
OPEC+ (as of 10 Nov 2026)

Boundaries: Natural Earth 1:50m, which shows who controls an area in practice. Borders shown do not imply endorsement.

1

Dependencies at a glance

South Sudan imports all of its potash supply; it exports oil.

Imports mostImports someLow net tradeExporter
Dependence is net imports: imports minus exports, as a share of what the country uses; for potash and phosphate, of its supply (production plus net imports). Arms and chips show supplier concentration only: the main supplier’s share of imports (arms: five-year totals of deliveries in SIPRI’s trend-indicator value, SIPRI’s measure of military capability delivered, not price or number of weapons).
ResourceDependencePositionMain partners
OilExporterExports 85% of what it producesEIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, exports 2025, South Sudan → Malaysia, South Sudan → United Arab Emirates and South Sudan → Italy as reported by the exporterMalaysia, United Arab Emirates, Italy (buyers)
Natural gasUses no gas, by this source PreliminaryEIA, 2024No partner data from the source
WheatNot reported by this source–
MaizeLow net tradeImports 12% of the maize it usesFAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023No partner data from the source
RiceImports someImports 22% of the rice it usesFAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023No partner data from the source
SoybeansNot reported by this source–
PotashImports mostImports all of its potash supply EstimateFAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025Kenya, Uganda
PhosphateImports mostImports all of its phosphate supply EstimateFAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025No partner data from the source
ArmsSupplier concentration onlyMain supplier: United Arab Emirates, 94% of importsSIPRI, 2021–2025United Arab Emirates
ChipsSupplier concentration onlyMain supplier: Kenya, 100% of importsUN Comtrade, 2025Kenya

Dependence is net imports: imports minus exports, as a share of what the country uses; for potash and phosphate, of its supply (production plus net imports). Arms and chips show supplier concentration only: the main supplier’s share of imports (arms: five-year totals of deliveries in SIPRI’s trend-indicator value, SIPRI’s measure of military capability delivered, not price or number of weapons).

  • OilExporter

    Exports 85% of what it produces

    Main partners: Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Italy (buyers)

    EIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, exports 2025, South Sudan → Malaysia, South Sudan → United Arab Emirates and South Sudan → Italy as reported by the exporter

  • Natural gas

    Uses no gas, by this source Preliminary

    Main partners: No partner data from the source

    EIA, 2024

  • Wheat

    Not reported by this source

  • MaizeLow net trade

    Imports 12% of the maize it uses

    Main partners: No partner data from the source

    FAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023

  • RiceImports some

    Imports 22% of the rice it uses

    Main partners: No partner data from the source

    FAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023

  • Soybeans

    Not reported by this source

  • PotashImports most

    Imports all of its potash supply Estimate

    Main partners: Kenya, Uganda

    FAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025

  • PhosphateImports most

    Imports all of its phosphate supply Estimate

    Main partners: No partner data from the source

    FAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025

  • ArmsSupplier concentration only

    Main supplier: United Arab Emirates, 94% of imports

    Main partners: United Arab Emirates

    SIPRI, 2021–2025

  • ChipsSupplier concentration only

    Main supplier: Kenya, 100% of imports

    Main partners: Kenya

    UN Comtrade, 2025

Source: EIA; FAOSTAT; SIPRI; UN Comtradeyear in each rowUpdated 13 Nov 2026

Dependencies tool
2

Money and reserves

GDP, 2008–2015

$0$5.0 bn$10 bn$15 bn$20 bn20082009201020112012201320142015

Source: World Bank Indicators2008–2015Updated 13 Nov 2026

Inflation91.4%2024 · 2nd of 176 · World Bank
Unemployment12.4%2023 · 23rd of 183 · World Bank
ReservesUS$16million2024 · 164th of 164 · World Bank
Foreign investment inUS$73million2025 · 153rd of 200 · World Bank
3

People

South Sudan had 12 m people in 2025.

Population, 1950–2100

010 m20 m30 m40 m195019701990200020102030205020702100Projection
Projection: UN projection, medium variant, after 2023Range between the UN low- and high-fertility scenarios

Source: UN World Population ProspectsUpdated 13 Nov 2026Projection

South Sudan’s population by age

1950200020502100
MenWomen01020304050607080901001m01m
Millions of people in each five-year age group, men left and women right. Years after 2023 are UN projections (medium variant).

Source: UN World Population Prospects1950–2100Updated 13 Nov 2026Projection

Births per woman3.862023 · 32nd of 237 · UN WPP 2024
Median age18.02023 · 216th of 237 · UN WPP 2024
Aged 65 and over3.1%2025, Projection, medium variant · UN WPP 2024
4

Climate and hazards

South Sudan emitted 1.7 Mt of CO2 from fossil fuels and cement in 2024.

South Sudan’s CO2 emissions, million tonnes, 1990–2024

0 Mt0.50 Mt1.0 Mt1.5 Mt2.0 Mt1990199520002005201020152024

Source: Our World in Data CO21990–2024Updated 13 Nov 2026

CO2 emissions2Mt2024 · 159th of 214 · Global Carbon Budget
CO2 per person0.1t2024 · 203rd of 213 · Global Carbon Budget
CO2 since 175046Mt2024 · 163rd of 214 · Global Carbon Budget
Water stress1.42023 · 92nd of 164 · WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)
5

More figures

Shown only where a source covers South Sudan.

Refugees

605,064refugees and others in need of protection hosted, 2025
2.5 mfrom it, abroad, 2025

Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder2025

Sanctions

46entries on the US, EU and UK lists give it as an address or nationality: US 30, EU 6 and UK 10

Counts entries (people, companies, ships and aircraft), not how strict the measures are.

Source: US CSL; EU sanctions list; UK Sanctions ListUpdated 13 Nov 2026

Chinese loans and grants

US$5.65billioncommitted by Chinese state lenders, 2000–2021

Source: AidData Chinese development finance2000–2021

Cyber incidents

No publicly known incidents affecting South Sudan in EuRepoC’s dataset, 2000–2024.

Counts compare documented incidents, not how often a country is targeted.

Source: EuRepoC Global Dataset of Cyber Incidents 1.3.2 (4 Mar 2025), CC BY-NC 4.02000–2024

6

All figures

44 measures on this site have a recent figure for South Sudan.

Inflation91.4%20242nd of 176World Bank
Government debt64%202568th of 191IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026
Government budget balance3.3%202516th of 195IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026
Current account balance−6.4%2025158th of 194IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026
Unemployment12.4%202323rd of 183World Bank
Reserves, including gold$16 m2024164th of 164World Bank
Foreign investment in$73 m2025153rd of 200World Bank
Population12 m202580th of 216World Bank
Population with UN projections11 m202383rd of 237UN WPP 2024
Births per woman3.86202332nd of 237UN WPP 2024
Median age18.02023216th of 237UN WPP 2024
Life expectancy57.62023233rd of 237UN WPP 2024
Refugees from the country2.5 m20256th of 206UNHCR
Refugees and others needing protection, by host605,064202523rd of 176UNHCR
Refugees hosted per 1,000 people49.620259th of 176UNHCR
People displaced inside the country1.3 m202514th of 38UNHCR
Crude oil production113 kb/d202541st of 214EIA
Oil consumption12 kb/d2024158th of 212EIA
Natural gas productionPreliminary202497th of 213EIA
Natural gas consumption0.0 bcm2024126th of 213EIA
Electricity generated1 TWh2024169th of 193Ember
Low-carbon electricity1.8%2024179th of 193Ember
Electricity from coal0%202482nd of 193Ember
Electricity from wind and solar1.8%2024135th of 193Ember
Wheat imports0.0 Mt2024140th of 180FAOSTAT
Maize production0.2 Mt202497th of 169FAOSTAT
Maize imports0.0 Mt2024120th of 196FAOSTAT
Rice production0.0 Mt202487th of 135FAOSTAT
Rice imports0.0 Mt2024156th of 197FAOSTAT
Soybean imports0.0 Mt2024153rd of 179FAOSTAT
Potash fertiliser use0.00 Mt2024182nd of 199FAOSTAT
Phosphate fertiliser use0.00 Mt2024183rd of 199FAOSTAT
CO2 emissions2 Mt2024159th of 214Global Carbon Budget
CO2 per person0.1 t2024203rd of 213Global Carbon Budget
CO2 emitted since 175046 Mt2024163rd of 214Global Carbon Budget
Water stress1.4202392nd of 164WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)
Water from abroad66%202327th of 193FAO AQUASTAT
Military spending, share of GDP3.4%202515th of 150World Bank
Military spending$178 m2025124th of 150World Bank
Deaths in organised violence661202521st of 61UCDP
ICT service exports$36 m2023126th of 174World Bank
ICT service exports, share of service exports7.4%202383rd of 174World Bank
Sanctions list entries (US, EU, UK)46202657th of 181US CSL
Chinese loans and grants committed$2 m2021108th of 122AidData, Global Chinese Development Finance Dataset 3.0

Sources for this page

  • World Bank IndicatorsInflation, Unemployment, Reserves, Foreign investment in, Population, Military, % GDP, …
  • IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026Debt, Budget balance, Current account
  • UN World Population ProspectsPopulation (UN), Births per woman, Median age, Life expectancy
  • UNHCR Refugee Data FinderRefugees from, Refugees hosted, Refugees per 1,000, Internally displaced
  • U.S. Energy Information AdministrationOil output, Oil use, Gas output, Gas use, Dependencies at a glance
  • Ember electricity dataElectricity, Low-carbon electricity, Electricity from coal, Electricity from wind and solar
  • FAOSTATWheat imports, Maize production, Maize imports, Rice production, Rice imports, Soybean imports, …
  • Our World in Data CO2CO2 emissions, CO2 per person, CO2 since 1750
  • WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)Water stress
  • FAO AQUASTATWater from abroad
  • UCDP Georeferenced Event DatasetConflict deaths
  • US Consolidated Screening ListSanctions list entries, Sanctions
  • AidData Chinese development financeChinese loans and grants
  • SIPRI Arms Transfers DatabaseDependencies at a glance
  • UN ComtradeDependencies at a glance
  • EU financial sanctions listSanctions
  • UK Sanctions ListSanctions
  • EuRepoC cyber incidentsCyber incidents

Page last updated 13 Nov 2026How we measure

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