Page last updated on February 28, 2018

Population:
13,026,129 (July 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
[see also: Population country ranks ]

Nationality:
noun: South Sudanese (singular and plural)
adjective: South Sudanese

Ethnic groups:
Dinka 35.8%, Nuer 15.6%, Shilluk, Azande, Bari, Kakwa, Kuku, Murle, Mandari, Didinga, Ndogo, Bviri, Lndi, Anuak, Bongo, Lango, Dungotona, Acholi, Baka, Fertit (2011 est.)

Languages:
English (official), Arabic (includes Juba and Sudanese variants), regional languages include Dinka, Nuer, Bari, Zande, Shilluk

Religions:
animist, Christian

Demographic profile:
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; more than 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. Less than a 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. Almost 2 million South Sudanese have sought refuge in neighboring countries since the current conflict began in December 2013. Another 1.96 million South Sudanese are internally displaced as of August 2017. Despite South Sudan’s instability and lack of infrastructure and social services, more than 240,000 people have fled to South Sudan to escape fighting in Sudan.

Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.37% (male 2,947,277/female 2,831,822)
[see also: Age structure - 0-14 years country ranks ]
15-24 years: 20.56% (male 1,402,746/female 1,275,276)
[see also: Age structure - 15-24 years country ranks ]
25-54 years: 29.58% (male 1,869,480/female 1,983,504)
[see also: Age structure - 25-54 years country ranks ]
55-64 years: 3.39% (male 235,546/female 206,304)
[see also: Age structure - 55-64 years country ranks ]
65 years and over: 2.1% (male 151,166/female 123,008) (2017 est.)

NOTE: 1) The information regarding South Sudan on this page is re-published from the 2018 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of South Sudan People 2018 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about South Sudan People 2018 should be addressed to the CIA.
2) The rank that you see is the CIA reported rank, which may habe the following issues:
  a) The assign increasing rank number, alphabetically for countries with the same value of the ranked item, whereas we assign them the same rank.
  b) The CIA sometimes assignes counterintuitive ranks. For example, it assigns unemployment rates in increasing order, whereas we rank them in decreasing order

---

• Main Index
• 2018 Index
• Country Ranks
• Definitions
• South Sudan Index 2018
• South Sudan Main Index
• Introduction
• Geography
• Climate
  Maps
• People
  Religion
• Government
  Gov. Leaders   Flags
• Economy
• Energy
• Communications
• Transportation
  Airport Codes
• Military
• Transnational Issues
• Photos
• Advertise Here
• Feedback

---