43 Informative Facts About South Sudan

Last updated on August 25th, 2018

South Sudan is located in central Africa. It broke away from Sudan after many years of infighting among clans and became an independent state. South Sudan is made up of the 10 southern-most states of Sudan. Nilotes comprise the majority of the population. The dominant religions in the country are Christianity and Islam. Most people in the country, however, happen to be Christians.

Facts about the economy of South Sudan

1. South Sudan is currently experiencing a shaky economy with the value of the South Sudan currency on a constant decline.^[1]

2. There is a high cost of living in most parts of the country. Education, electricity, water, transport and other secondary needs are not easy to come by for most residents due to the high pricing.^[33]

3. The country relies on donations and aid from developed countries (including the UK, US, Norway, and the Netherlands) to supplement the budget and also to avail basic needs to some of the citizens.^[33]

4. In spite of its oil wealth, the country suffers from a low GDP.^[2]

5. In June 2016, 309% inflation was recorded in South Sudan, which is one of the highest in the world.^[15]

6. South Sudan has membership in Intergovernmental Authority on Development, African Union, United Nations and East African Community.^[4]

7. President of the country, Salva Kiir Mayardiit is working hard to rejuvenate the economy resource due to the damage caused by the civil war that has ravaged the region for decades.^[5]

8. The country suffers from a poor education and healthcare system.^[6]

9. Due to poor infrastructure, business growth in the country is slow.^[7]

10. Most locals engage in small businesses such as the selling of vegetables to earn a living.^[8]

Flag of South Sudan

Facts about the culture of South Sudan

11. The dominant religions in the country are Christianity and Islam.^[4]

12. South Sudan has many ethnic groups with the largest being the Dinka and Nuer. The rest of the population constitutes Arabs, Shiluk, Zande, Bari, Anwak and many other tribes.^[9]

13. A large portion of the population engages in subsistence farming and livestock keeping.^[9]

14. The officially accepted language is English. However, people speak Arabic and more than 50 other languages.^[11]

15. People in the country over the years lived in close proximity to their families and relatives. Communal meal sharing is a common practice among most of the communities.^[12]

16. The diet for most people in the country includes milk, peanuts, honey, fish, meat, finger millet, beans, vegetables and more.^[12]

17. In the Republic of South Sudan, the majority of the children have to follow in the footsteps of their parents professionally.^[13]

18. In South Sudan, the wealth is measured by the number of cattle that each family owns.^[13]

19. In South Sudan, the greeting is an important part of the culture.^[14]

Map of South Sudan

Facts about poverty in South Sudan

20. The country suffers from poor infrastructure and a shaky security system.^[15]

21. The civil war had for many years rocked the country hampering any meaningful economic growth.^[15]

22. Most people in the country reside in rural areas and live on less than a dollar a day.^[15]

23. People live in thatched-roofed houses located in areas with poor sanitation.^[16]

24. Catastrophic events like earthquakes, drought, and famine have led to the destruction of property thereby leading to massive poverty in the country.^[17,18]

Facts about the people of South Sudan

25. South Sudan has a population of about 13 million people.^[6]

26. A minority of the population are Arabs.^[25]

27. The South Sudanese use Dinka as the standard language.^[25]

28. The people of South Sudan base their legislation on the laws of Islam.^[26]

29. The people of South Sudan speak hundreds of languages because of the diversity of their ethnic groups.^[27]

30. Some refugees who migrated to Australia still practice their cultures there. Wrestling and traditional Sudanese music are their major cultural practices.^[28]

31. Due to the level of illiteracy in the country, people of the region seek education from the institutions abroad.^[28]

32. Not only is South Sudanese pound the mode of exchange but also livestock, valuable objects, and manpower act as currencies.^[29]

33. South Sudanese prefer oral communication to writing and other means.^[30]

34. Most of the population have British names as their first and Christian or Islamic names.^[31]

Random facts about South Sudan

35. South Sudan is the youngest country in the world.^[19]

36. It is the most multi-lingual state in Africa.^[19]

37. The national anthem of the Republic of South Sudan came by as a result of a competition.^[34]

38. The first child ever born in South Sudan was a boy and was given the name ‘Independent’. However, the child died one year after his birth.^[24]

39. The country is landlocked. It has many neighbors who include Sudan, Kenya, Congo and Ethiopia, Uganda and the Central African Republic.^[3]

40. The economy of South Sudan is one of the weakest worldwide.^[22]

41. Games and sports played in the country include football, basketball, wrestling and mock battles.^[22]

42. The country gained independence after it broke away from the mother country Sudan in 2011.^[23]

43. Juba is the Capital City of this beautiful nation and also holds the title of the largest city in the country.^[4]

South Sudan – country at a glance