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South Sudan

Republic of South Sudan

Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)

Budget

note

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$2.513 billion (2023 est.)

expenditures

$1.984 billion (2023 est.)

Exports

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports 2021

$4.652 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$5.811 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$4.499 billion (2023 est.)

Imports

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports 2021

$4.037 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$6.402 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$4.443 billion (2023 est.)

Labor force

5.091 million (2023 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Public debt

Public debt 2016

86.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

Remittances

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2013

0% of GDP (2013 est.)

Remittances 2014

0% of GDP (2014 est.)

Remittances 2015

9.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

Exchange rates

Currency

South Sudanese pounds (SSP) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

165.907 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

306.355 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

534.511 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

930.331 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

2,163.104 (2024 est.)

Economic overview

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

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

14.1% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

12.6% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

12.5% (2023 est.)

Exports - partners

China 51%, Singapore 29%, UAE 10%, Germany 4%, Uganda 3% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Imports - partners

Uganda 33%, UAE 26%, Kenya 14%, China 10%, USA 3% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2015 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$400 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$400 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$400 (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2015

-10.8% (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2016

-13.9% (2016 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2017

-5.2% (2017 est.)

Agricultural products

milk, cassava, sorghum, goat milk, vegetables, fruits, groundnuts, sesame seeds, beef, maize (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, refined petroleum, forage crops, gold, scrap iron (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - commodities

garments, cement, other foods, iron bars, cereal flours (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Current account balance

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Current account balance 2021

-$6.55 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$596.748 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$577.9 million (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.629 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Population below poverty line

82.3% (2016 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

-6.7% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

2.4% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

91.4% (2024 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

-36.8% (2015 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2015 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$6.945 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$6.585 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$6.752 billion (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

male

19.4% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

18.5% (2023 est.)

female

17.6% (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$341.932 million (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$94.914 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$72.881 million (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

industry

33.1% (2015 est.)

services

56.6% (2015 est.)

agriculture

10.4% (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

lowest 10%

1.8% (2016 est.)

highest 10%

33% (2016 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016

44 (2016 est.)