South Sudan ranked 149/197 by economy size with a GDP of $12B and 175/197 by GDP per capita at $1,080. South Sudan has $7.04B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 50.7%.
In 2015, South Sudan made up 0.02% of the world's economy, compared to 0.02% in 2008.
South Sudan GDP & GDP growth by year
| Year | GDP | GDP growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $11,997,800,760 | -10.8% |
| 2014 | $13,962,212,847 | 3.37% |
| 2013 | $18,426,469,017 | 13.1% |
| 2012 | $11,931,472,169 | -46.1% |
| 2011 | $14,907,308,933 | -4.64% |
| 2010 | $14,602,072,411 | 5.49% |
| 2009 | $12,231,264,525 | 5.04% |
| 2008 | $14,586,253,383 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (2008–2015, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/south-sudan | CC BY 
South Sudan GDP per capita by year
| Year | Current $ | |
|---|---|---|
| GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 2015 | $1,080 | $1,155 |
| 2014 | $1,243 | $1,373 |
| 2013 | $1,650 | $1,917 |
| 2012 | $1,109 | $1,417 |
| 2011 | $1,449 | $2,718 |
| 2010 | $1,498 | $2,948 |
| 2009 | $1,323 | $2,911 |
| 2008 | $1,654 | $2,887 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (2008–2015, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/south-sudan | CC BY
South Sudan has a GDP per capita of $1,080, ranking 175/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $1,155, ranking 197/197, and a median annual after tax income of $1,305, ranking 185/197.
South Sudan GDP rankings by year
| Year | Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP | GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 2015 | 132 | 169 | 188 |
| 2014 | 128 | 166 | 185 |
| 2013 | 116 | 151 | 176 |
| 2012 | 133 | 168 | 182 |
| 2011 | 124 | 153 | 160 |
| 2010 | 114 | 149 | 151 |
| 2009 | 119 | 148 | 151 |
| 2008 | 112 | 141 | 150 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (2008–2015, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/south-sudan | CC BY
Compared with 2008, in 2015 South Sudan is ranked 132nd out of 195 by GDP (down from 112th), 169th by GDP per capita (down from 141st), and 188th by GDP per capita PPP (down from 150th).
Economic indicators
South Sudan
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross domestic product |
$12B
2015 |
149/197 |
| GDP growth |
-10.8%
2014-2015 |
192/194 |
| GDP per capita |
$1,080
2015 |
175/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$1,155
2015 |
197/197 |
| Government debt |
$7.04B
2015 |
138/185 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
50.7%
2024 |
105/185 |
| Government debt per person |
$633
2015 |
158/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$1,305
2026 |
185/197 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
33%
2016 |
31/169 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
1.8%
2016 |
148/169 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
18.1%
2024 |
170/195 |
| Consumer prices inflation |
91.4%
2023-2024 |
4/195 |
| Central bank interest rate |
15%
2023 |
19/106 |
| Unemployment rate |
12.3%
2008 |
23/196 |
| Population |
12507858
|
81/197 |
Government spending, deficit, and debt by year
| Year | % of GDP | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Government spending | Government debt | Government deficit/surplus | |
| 2024 | 18.1% | 50.7% | 11.7% |
| 2023 | 21.4% | 51.9% | 8.04% |
| 2022 | 29.4% | 37.3% | 4.48% |
| 2021 | 44.1% | 50.2% | -9.3% |
| 2020 | 34.1% | 49% | -5.5% |
| 2019 | 47.9% | 43.1% | 0.04% |
| 2018 | 54.5% | 77.6% | -1.06% |
| 2017 | 97% | 178.3% | 9.56% |
| 2016 | 66.5% | 164.7% | -19.8% |
| 2015 | 34% | 58.6% | -16.4% |
| 2014 | 35.8% | 37.7% | -9.07% |
| 2013 | 25.3% | 17.6% | -3.45% |
| 2012 | 31.6% | 8.91% | -14.8% |
| 2011 | 20.8% | - | 4.57% |
Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2011–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/economy/south-sudan | CC BY
This chart shows South Sudan's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.
Over the past 14 years, South Sudan recorded a fiscal deficit in 8 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 2.93% of GDP. In 2015, government spending reached $4.08B (18.1% of GDP), with a surplus of 11.7%.
The national debt reached $7.04B, ranking 138th out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 50.7%, ranking 105th.
Inflation rate by year
| Year | Inflation |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 91.4% |
| 2023 | 2.38% |
| 2022 | -6.69% |
| 2021 | 10.5% |
| 2020 | 29.7% |
| 2019 | 87.2% |
| 2018 | 83.5% |
| 2017 | 187.9% |
| 2016 | 380% |
| 2015 | 52.8% |
| 2014 | 1.67% |
| 2013 | -0.06% |
| 2012 | 45.5% |
| 2011 | 46.9% |
| 2010 | 1.17% |
| 2009 | 5.01% |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (2009–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/south-sudan | CC BY
Over the past 16 years, South Sudan has had an average annual inflation rate of 63.7%. In 2024, inflation was 91.4%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.
Balance of trade
|
South Sudan
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
|
Current account balance
|
$578M
2023 |
60/190 |
| Current account balance, % of GDP |
-4.17%
2015 |
130/190 |
| Goods imports |
$2.25B
2023 |
149/189 |
| Goods exports |
$4.01B
2023 |
128/189 |
| Service imports |
$2.19B
2023 |
119/189 |
| Service exports |
$484M
2023 |
147/189 |
| Imports of goods and services, % of GDP |
28.9%
2015 |
132/181 |
| Exports of goods and services, % of GDP |
36.7%
2015 |
91/193 |
South Sudan top 10 trading partners
South Sudan's biggest trading partner accounting for 26.3% of all exports and imports is Uganda, with a trade balance between the two of -$455M: South Sudan exports $34.7M worth of goods and services to Uganda and imports $490M.
Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of South Sudan.
| Rank | Country | Trade value | Share of total trade | Export to | Import from | Top export to | Top import from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Uganda
|
$525M | 26.3% | $34.7M | $490M | Metals | Processed food, beverages & tobacco |
| 2 |
UAE
|
$482M | 24.2% | $67M | $414M | Raw agricultural goods | Textiles & consumer goods |
| 3 |
China
|
$466M | 23.4% | $300M | $166M | Raw materials & minerals | Machinery & equipment |
| 4 |
Kenya
|
$220M | 11% | $97K | $220M | Wood & paper products | Processed food, beverages & tobacco |
| 5 |
Singapore
|
$160M | 8.01% | $158M | $1.76M | Raw materials & minerals | Machinery & equipment |
| 6 |
Rwanda
|
$20.1M | 1.01% | $180K | $19.9M | Machinery & equipment | Processed food, beverages & tobacco |
| 7 |
Malta
|
$15.6M | 0.78% | $0 | $15.6M | Animal & marine products | Wood & paper products |
| 8 |
Egypt
|
$12.6M | 0.63% | $66K | $12.6M | Machinery & equipment | Processed food, beverages & tobacco |
| 9 |
Russia
|
$11.3M | 0.57% | $3.55M | $7.75M | Miscellaneous | Machinery & equipment |
| 10 |
Sudan
|
$8.86M | 0.44% | $41K | $8.82M | Metals | Raw agricultural goods |
Top 10 exports
|
South Sudan
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Business & finance services | $488M | 92/188 |
| Raw materials & minerals | $458M | 124/193 |
| Government & miscellaneous services | $164M | 63/180 |
| Transport & tourism services | $88.4M | 162/188 |
| IT & IP services | $67.2M | 117/183 |
| Manufacturing & construction services | $34.8M | 106/164 |
| Metals | $25.2M | 141/192 |
| Animal & marine products | $4.5M | 163/192 |
| Raw agricultural goods | $2.46M | 171/193 |
| Wood & paper products | $2.22M | 164/192 |
Top 10 imports
|
South Sudan
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport & tourism services | $1.19B | 116/188 |
| Government & miscellaneous services | $783M | 26/180 |
| Processed food, beverages & tobacco | $228M | 152/193 |
| Business & finance services | $192M | 142/188 |
| Machinery & equipment | $186M | 175/193 |
| Raw agricultural goods | $146M | 155/193 |
| Manufacturing & construction services | $112M | 83/163 |
| Chemicals & pharma | $110M | 166/193 |
| Metals | $98.8M | 161/193 |
| Raw materials & minerals | $90.7M | 173/193 |
Economic freedom indices
|
South Sudan
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | 41 | 186/197 |
Other economic metrics
|
South Sudan
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Services, % of GDP |
56.6%
2015 |
102/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
33.1%
2015 |
44/194 |
| Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP |
10.4%
2015 |
69/193 |
|
GNI, Atlas method
|
$11.7B
2015 |
149/194 |
| GNI per capita, PPP |
$1,010
2015 |
191/191 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$72.9M
2023 |
175/177 |
|
Net foreign direct investment
|
$2.21M
2019 |
43/189 |
|
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
|
$83.4M
2024 |
147/193 |
|
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
|
$0
2024 |
161/193 |
| Poverty at national poverty lines |
66%
2020 |
5/176 |
|
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
|
5.75%
2015 |
174/178 |
Compare South Sudan vs other countries
GDP per capita map
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/south-sudan | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2011–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- TradeMap (2022–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.
The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.
Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.
A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).
Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.
Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.
Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.