Here, let us take a look at the Geography of South Sudan. Landlocked; The Sudd is a vast swamp in the north central region of South Sudan, formed by the White Nile; its size is variable but can reach some 15% of the country's total area during the rainy season; it is one of the world's largest wetlands. Mother's mean age at first birth is (), whereas, the Maternal mortality ratio is 1,223 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
Location | East-Central Africa; south of Sudan, north of Uganda and Kenya, west of Ethiopia |
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Geographic coordinates | 8 00 N, 30 00 E |
Map references | Africa |
Tarrain | plains in the north and center rise to southern highlands along the border with Uganda and Kenya; the White Nile, flowing north out of the uplands of Central Africa, is the major geographic feature of the country; The Sudd (a name derived from floating vegetation that hinders navigation) is a large swampy area of more than 100,000 sq km fed by the waters of the White Nile that dominates the center of the country |
Natural Resources | hydropower, fertile agricultural land, gold, diamonds, petroleum, hardwoods, limestone, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver |
Natural Hazards | |
Irrigated Land | 1,000 sq km (2012) |
Major rivers (by length in km) | Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth |
Major aquifers | |
Land Boundaries | 6,018 km |
Border Countries | Central African Republic 1,055 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 714 km; Ethiopia 1,299 km; Kenya 317 km; Sudan 2,158 km; Uganda 475 km |
Coastline | 0 km (landlocked) |
Climate | hot with seasonal rainfall influenced by the annual shift of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone; rainfall heaviest in upland areas of the south and diminishes to the north |
Area | |
Total Area | |
Land Area | NA |
Water Area | NA |
comparative Area | more than four times the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Texas |
Maritime Claims | |
Elevations | |
Highest point | Kinyeti 3,187 m |
Lowest point | White Nile 381 m |
Land Use | |
Agricultural land | 45% (2018) |
Agricultural land: arable land | arable land: 4.4% (2018) |
Agricultural land: permanent pasture | permanent pasture: 40.7% (2018) |
Forest | 11.3% (2018) |
Other | 43.5% (2018) |
Clusters found in urban areas, particularly in the western interior and around the White Nile as shown in this population distribution map
In South Sudan, the different Ethnic groups are such that we have: Dinka (Jieng) approximately 35-40%, Nuer (Naath) approximately 15%, Shilluk (Chollo), Azande, Bari, Kakwa, Kuku, Murle, Mandari, Didinga, Ndogo, Bviri, Lndi, Anuak, Bongo, Lango, Dungotona, Acholi, Baka, Fertit (2011 est.)
Population | |
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Pop growth rate | 4.65% (2024 est.) |
Birth rate | 36.4 births/1,000 population (2024 est.) |
Death rate | 8.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.) |
Health expenditure | 5.3% of GDP (2020) |
Physicians Density | |
Hospital bed Density | |
Total fertility rate | 5.09 children born/woman (2024 est.) |
Gross reproduction rate | 2.48 (2024 est.) |
Contraceptive prevalence rate | NA |
Est married women (ages 15-49) | 72% (2023 est.) |
Literacy | age 15 and over can read and write |
Education expenditures | 1.5% of GDP (2016 est.) |
Net Migration rate | 19.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.) |
Nationality | South Sudanese | South Sudanese (singular and plural) |
Languages | |
Religions | Christian 60.5%, folk religion 32.9%, Muslim 6.2%, other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.) |
Age Structure | |
0-14 years | 42.1% (male 2,725,520/female 2,619,035) |
15-64 years | 55.3% (male 3,568,064/female 3,458,804) |
65 years and over | 2.6% (2024 est.) (male 182,757/female 149,534) |
Dependency Ratios | |
Total dependency ratio | 80.8 |
Youth dependency ratio | 74.7 |
Elderly dependency ratio | 6.1 |
Potential support ratio | 18.4 (2021 est.) |
Median Age | |
Total | 18.7 years (2024 est.) |
Male | 18.7 years |
Female | 18.7 years |
Urbanization | |
Urban population | 21.2% of total population (2023) |
Rate of urbanization | 4.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) |
Major urban areas (Pop) | 459,000 JUBA (capital) (2023). |
Sex Ratio | |
At birth | 1.05 male(s)/female |
0-14 years | 1.04 male(s)/female |
15-64 years | 1.03 male(s)/female |
65 years and over | 1.22 male(s)/female |
Total population | 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.) |
Infant Motality | |
Total | 60.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.) |
Male | 65.8 deaths/1,000 live births |
Female | 54.1 deaths/1,000 live births |
Life Expectancy at birth | |
Total population | 60.3 years (2024 est.) |
Male | 58.4 years |
Female | 62.2 years |
Drinking Water Sources | |
Improved: urban | urban: 88.7% of population |
Improved: rural | rural: 75.8% of population |
Improved: total | total: 78.4% of population |
Unimproved: urban | urban: 11.3% of population |
Unimproved: rural | rural: 24.2% of population |
Unimproved: total | total: 21.6% of population (2020 est.) |
Sanitation facility acess | |
Improved: urban | urban: 60.6% of population |
Improved: rural | rural: 15.5% of population |
Improved: total | total: 24.6% of population |
Unimproved: urban | urban: 39.4% of population |
Unimproved: rural | rural: 84.5% of population |
Unimproved: total | total: 75.4% of population (2020 est.) |
South Sudan, independent from Sudan since July 2011 after decades of civil war, is one of the world’s poorest countries and ranks among the lowest in many socioeconomic categories. Problems are exacerbated by ongoing tensions with Sudan over oil revenues and land borders, fighting between government forces and rebel groups, and inter-communal violence. Most of the population lives off of farming, while smaller numbers rely on animal husbandry; abput 80% of the populace lives in rural areas. The maternal mortality rate is among the world’s highest for a variety of reasons, including a shortage of health care workers, facilities, and supplies; poor roads and a lack of transport; and cultural beliefs that prevent women from seeking obstetric care. Most women marry and start having children early, giving birth at home with the assistance of traditional birth attendants, who are unable to handle complications.
Educational attainment is extremely poor due to the lack of schools, qualified teachers, and materials. Only one-third of the population is literate (the rate is even lower among women), and half live below the poverty line. Teachers and students are also struggling with the switch from Arabic to English as the language of instruction. Many adults missed out on schooling because of warfare and displacement.
More than 2 million South Sudanese have sought refuge in neighboring countries since the current conflict began in December 2013. Another 2.2 million South Sudanese are internally displaced as of October 2022. Despite South Sudan’s instability and lack of infrastructure and social services, more than 275,000 people had fled to South Sudan to escape fighting in Sudan as of December 2022.
Want to know more about South Sudan? Check all different factbooks for South Sudan below.