South Sudan profile

Demography and Health

South Sudan, as of 2024, has a population of about 11.94 million, reflecting a young and rapidly growing demographic profile. The birth rate stands at 28.6 births per 1,000 people (2023), while the crude death rate is 9.61 per 1,000 people (2023). These indicators suggest a population that is predominantly young, which can be a powerful engine for growth if accompanied by investments in health, education, and economic opportunities. Life expectancy at birth is 57.6 years (2023), signaling substantial health challenges and a heavy burden of disease relative to global averages. The under-5 mortality rate is exceptionally high at 98.7 per 1,000 live births (2023), underscoring persistent gaps in child health, vaccination coverage, nutrition, and access to essential health services. The mortality profile, coupled with a high birth rate, implies a large and growing cohort of dependents that will require sustained investments in health, nutrition, and social protection. On nutrition, 19.6% of the population was undernourished in 2022, pointing to food insecurity and vulnerability to shocks. Health financing remains constrained: current health expenditure accounts for 6.76% of GDP (2022), and domestic general government health expenditure per capita, purchasing power parity adjusted, is about 3.31 international US dollars (2022). Mental health and suicide considerations appear in the data as well, with a suicide mortality rate of 7.89 per 100,000 (2021), highlighting the breadth of health and well-being challenges beyond traditional infectious disease concerns. Net migration in 2024 is modestly positive at 15,374 people, indicating some level of cross-border movement that can influence labor markets and diaspora engagement. Taken together, demography and health illuminate a country with a demographic dividend potential that remains contingent on success in reducing child mortality, extending life expectancy, improving nutrition, and expanding health system capacity and resilience.

Economy

The economic picture of South Sudan is marked by a juxtaposition of macroeconomic volatility and some fiscal surpluses. Military expenditure in 2023 was about 1.076 billion current US dollars, ranking 75th, suggesting a non-trivial allocation to security and defense within the budget. The current account balance stood at 13.6% of GDP in 2023, indicating a sizeable current account surplus that could reflect export earnings and capital inflows associated with commodity sectors or remittances. However, the macroeconomic environment is characterized by extremely high price pressures, with inflation reaching 91.4% in 2024, signaling intense cost-of-living pressures and currency instability that can erode household purchasing power and undermine investment planning. Governance indicators amplify concerns about the business environment: Regulatory Quality is -2.12, Rule of Law is -2.14, and Control of Corruption is -1.97 (all in 2023), with Government Effectiveness at -2.33. These negative scores imply weak policy formulation, implementation gaps, and elevated risks for private sector activity, contract enforcement, and public financial management. Together, inflation dynamics and fragile institutions create a challenging climate for sustained investment and diversification away from a narrow set of sectors. The economy also shows a relatively modest share of health-related public expenditure, but the absence of detailed GDP composition data in the dataset constrains precise sectoral diagnoses. In short, while a current account surplus suggests potential external sector strength, the persistence of high inflation and weak institutions pose material risks to long-term growth, competitiveness, and resilience to shocks.

Trade and Investment

The data provide a window into the trade and investment dynamics of South Sudan primarily through the lens of external balance and macro volatility. A current account balance of 13.6% of GDP in 2023 signals a substantial surplus, which could reflect export earnings in key commodities and inflows that support government spending and foreign reserves. Yet the record inflation of 91.4% in 2024 raises questions about the stability of prices, exchange rates, and the cost of imported goods, all of which can deter foreign direct investment and raise the cost of doing business. The environment for investment is further shaped by governance constraints: Regulatory Quality (-2.12), Rule of Law (-2.14), and Government Effectiveness (-2.33) indicate a fragile institutional framework that elevates transaction costs, increases policy risk, and complicates contract enforcement. Control of Corruption is also weak at -1.97, reinforcing investor concerns about the rule of law and governance. Military expenditure and security considerations may absorb fiscal space and crowd out productive investment if not paired with credible governance improvements. In the absence of detailed trade flows and investment project data, the takeaway is that external sector performance is potentially buoyed by exports or remittances, but investor confidence and private sector growth are constrained by macro volatility and weak institutions. Targeted reforms in governance, transparency, and macro stabilization would be critical to translating the current account position into sustainable investment and broader economic diversification.

Governance and Institutions

Governance in South Sudan is characterized by notable weaknesses across multiple dimensions. The political stability and absence of violence/terrorism indicator registers at -2.19 in 2023, signaling persistent fragility and vulnerability to conflict or political disruption. The regulatory and rule-of-law landscape is weak, with Regulatory Quality at -2.12, Rule of Law at -2.14, and Control of Corruption at -1.97, all in 2023. Government Effectiveness remains low at -2.33, underscoring limited capability of public institutions to implement policies, deliver services, and manage public finances effectively. Taken together, these indicators point to a governance environment where policy continuity is fragile, public institutions struggle to enforce laws and contracts, and corruption risks hinder accountability. Such conditions complicate the delivery of essential services, deter investor confidence, and increase the cost and risk of doing business. Addressing these governance deficits—through transparency reforms, anti-corruption measures, judicial strengthening, and institutional capacity building—would be foundational to stabilizing the macroeconomy, improving health and education outcomes, and creating a more conducive climate for sustainable development and inclusive growth.

Infrastructure and Technology

In the infrastructure and technology space, South Sudan shows a mixed but challenging picture. Renewable energy accounts for 32.4% of total final energy consumption in 2021, indicating a meaningful role for renewables in the energy mix, though the absolute scale of energy access and capacity is not disclosed in the data. This share points to a possible path to energy transition if accompanied by investments in generation capacity, grid development, and reliability. Water resource management highlights a level of water withdrawal at 4.23 relative to available freshwater resources, suggesting that water use is present but not necessarily at extreme stress, though this metric must be interpreted cautiously given climate variability and regional hydrology. On health infrastructure, current health expenditure is 6.76% of GDP (2022), with domestic general government health expenditure per capita, PPP, at 3.31 international US$ (2022). These figures imply constraints in financing for infrastructure, health facilities, and digital connectivity, potentially limiting access to basic services and information technologies. While renewable energy presence hints at resilience potential, the lack of comprehensive indicators for electricity access, digital infrastructure, and technology adoption emphasizes the need for targeted investments to expand electricity access, telecommunications, and ICT skills to support entrepreneurship and public service delivery. Overall, infrastructure and technology development in South Sudan appears constrained by fiscal limits, governance weaknesses, and the need for coordinated investment in energy, water, health, and digital platforms.

Environment and Sustainability

Environmental sustainability and food security are central concerns in South Sudan. The prevalence of undernourishment stands at 19.6% of the population in 2022, reflecting ongoing vulnerabilities to shocks such as climate events and conflict, and highlighting the importance of resilient agriculture and social safety nets. The level of water stress, measured as freshwater withdrawal relative to available resources, is 4.23, signaling reliance on finite water resources that could be strained by climate variability and population growth. The renewable energy share of 32.4% suggests progress toward cleaner energy sources, which could contribute to reducing environmental degradation and improving air quality if scaled up alongside investments in generation capacity and grid access. The intersection of environmental pressures with health outcomes—e.g., life expectancy of 57.6 years and high under-5 mortality—emphasizes the necessity for integrated climate-resilient development strategies, nutrition security, and effective governance to coordinate sectoral investments in water, agriculture, energy, and public health. If policy and finance align to strengthen resilience, boost agricultural productivity, and expand electricity access with renewables, South Sudan could improve both environmental sustainability and social well-being despite a challenging starting position.