South Sudan - Economy
How is the economy of South Sudan? Based on the information we have, South Sudan has a low-income, oil-based Sahelian economy; extreme poverty and food insecurity; COVID-19 and ongoing violence threaten socioeconomic potential; environmentally fragile; ongoing land and property rights issues; natural resource rich but lacks infrastructure. Key agricultural products in this country include: milk, cassava, sorghum, goat milk, vegetables, fruits, maize, groundnuts, sesame seeds, beef (2022).
More about the economy of South Sudan
Labor force 4.471 million (2023 est.)
Industrial production growth rate -36.78% (2015 est.)
Industries
Population below poverty line 82.3% (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues 8.5% (of GDP) (FY2017/18 est.)
Fiscal year
Exchange rates
Currency South Sudanese pounds (SSP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2022 534.511 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021 306.355 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020 165.907 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2019 157.999 (2019 est.)
Exchange rates 2018 141.386 (2018 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020 $183.615 million (2020 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019 $378.282 million (2019 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018 $36.396 million (2018 est.)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022 -$596.748 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021 -$6.55 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2020 -$1.718 billion (2020 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2017 62.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
Budget
Revenues $1.94 billion (2019 est.)
Expenditures $1.938 billion (2019 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
Remittances
Remittances 2015 9.49% of GDP (2015 est.)
Remittances 2014 0.01% of GDP (2014 est.)
Household income
Lowest 10% 1.7% (2016 est.)
Highest 10% 33.1% (2016 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022 $6.402 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021 $4.037 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2020 $4.245 billion (2020 est.)
Imports (partners) UAE 39%, Kenya 18%, China 17%, US 4%, India 3% (2022)
Comodities Imports force garments, cars, trucks, packaged medicine, malt extract (2022)
Exports
Imports 2022 $6.402 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021 $4.037 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2020 $4.245 billion (2020 est.)
Exports (partners) China 44%, Italy 26%, Singapore 12%, Japan 9%, UAE 8% (2022)
Comodities Exports force crude petroleum, refined petroleum, gold, forage crops, barley (2022)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017 $20.01 billion (2017 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016 $21.1 billion (2016 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015 $24.52 billion (2015 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate) $11.998 billion (2015 est.)
Real GDP Per capita
Real GDP per capita 2017 $1,600 (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2016 $1,700 (2016 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2015 $2,100 (2015 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
Agriculture 10.4% (2015 est.)
Industry 33.1% (2015 est.)
Services 56.6% (2015 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
Investment in fixed capital 5.8% (2015 est.)
Exports of goods and services 36.7% (2015 est.)
Imports of goods and services -28.9% (2015 est.)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2023 12.27% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022 12.4% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2021 13.87% (2021 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
Total 18.3% (2023 est.)
Male 19.4% (2023 est.)
Female 17.2% (2023 est.)
All Important Facts about South Sudan

Want to know more about South Sudan? Check all different factbooks for South Sudan below.

South Sudan is found in Middle Africa