South Sudan has a GDP of $12B compared to $191B for Ukraine, ranking 150/197 and 57/197 by economy size, respectively.
South Sudan has $6.87B in government debt (63.2% of GDP), compared to $171B (110% of GDP) in Ukraine.
The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.
| Year | GDP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
South Sudan
|
Ukraine
|
|||
| Current $ | Constant $ | Current $ | Constant $ | |
| 1987 | - | - | $64,087,694,038 | $161,845,930,096 |
| 1988 | - | - | $74,703,517,903 | $165,999,646,445 |
| 1989 | - | - | $82,709,161,099 | $172,428,984,083 |
| 1990 | - | - | $81,393,558,423 | $161,487,959,613 |
| 1991 | - | - | $77,350,733,982 | $147,438,507,127 |
| 1992 | - | - | $73,945,908,384 | $132,842,094,919 |
| 1993 | - | - | $65,648,559,903 | $113,978,517,441 |
| 1994 | - | - | $52,549,580,265 | $87,877,436,948 |
| 1995 | - | - | $48,213,856,469 | $77,156,389,640 |
| 1996 | - | - | $44,558,831,005 | $69,440,750,676 |
| 1997 | - | - | $50,151,531,592 | $67,357,528,157 |
| 1998 | - | - | $41,882,523,345 | $66,077,735,120 |
| 1999 | - | - | $31,580,639,554 | $65,945,579,650 |
| 2000 | - | - | $32,375,083,935 | $69,836,368,849 |
| 2001 | - | - | $39,309,580,983 | $75,981,969,311 |
| 2002 | - | - | $43,956,163,612 | $80,039,138,413 |
| 2003 | - | - | $52,010,355,753 | $87,656,150,954 |
| 2004 | - | - | $67,220,154,164 | $97,995,502,972 |
| 2005 | - | - | $89,238,865,119 | $101,005,170,643 |
| 2006 | - | - | $111,884,752,475 | $108,652,697,105 |
| 2007 | - | - | $148,733,861,386 | $117,579,433,691 |
| 2008 | $14,586,253,383 | $20,185,217,786 | $188,110,390,660 | $120,217,318,405 |
| 2009 | $12,231,264,525 | $21,202,884,179 | $121,552,153,444 | $102,020,662,582 |
| 2010 | $14,602,072,411 | $22,367,646,895 | $141,209,170,427 | $106,195,352,550 |
| 2011 | $14,907,308,933 | $21,329,717,233 | $169,333,835,202 | $111,977,987,704 |
| 2012 | $11,931,472,169 | $11,500,530,835 | $182,591,753,828 | $112,148,546,939 |
| 2013 | $18,426,469,017 | $13,010,519,614 | $190,498,811,460 | $112,199,506,223 |
| 2014 | $13,962,212,847 | $13,449,448,811 | $133,503,871,862 | $100,891,035,819 |
| 2015 | $11,997,800,760 | $11,997,800,760 | $91,030,967,789 | $91,030,967,789 |
| 2016 | - | - | $93,355,869,404 | $93,253,017,277 |
| 2017 | - | - | $112,090,505,082 | $95,453,762,636 |
| 2018 | - | - | $130,891,088,294 | $98,783,535,744 |
| 2019 | - | - | $153,883,047,510 | $101,944,118,787 |
| 2020 | - | - | $156,617,722,013 | $98,118,341,608 |
| 2021 | - | - | $199,765,859,571 | $101,499,127,458 |
| 2022 | - | - | $161,989,520,721 | $72,309,415,410 |
| 2023 | - | - | $181,221,517,869 | $76,311,548,882 |
| 2024 | - | - | $190,741,263,732 | $78,535,131,746 |
Economic indicators
|
South Sudan
|
Ukraine
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Gross domestic product |
$12B
2015 |
$191B
2024 |
| GDP rank |
150/197
2015 |
57/197
2024 |
| GDP growth |
-14.1%
2014-2015 |
5.25%
2023-2024 |
| GDP per capita |
$1,080
2015 |
$5,038
2024 |
| GDP per capita rank |
172/197
2015 |
118/197
2024 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$1,155
2015 |
$18,550
2024 |
| Government debt |
$6.87B
2015 |
$171B
2024 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
63.2%
2025 |
110%
2025 |
| Government debt per person |
$618
2015 |
$4,526
2024 |
| Government debt per person rank |
159/185
2015 |
85/185
2024 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$1,540
2025 |
$5,178
2025 |
| Market capitalization of domestic companies | n/a |
$4.42B
2018 |
| Number of billionaires | n/a |
7
2025 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
33%
2016 |
21.7%
2020 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
1.8%
2016 |
4.3%
2020 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
26.7%
2025 |
58%
2025 |
| Consumer prices inflation |
91.4%
2023-2024 |
12.6%
2024-2025 |
| Central bank interest rate |
15%
2023 |
15.5%
2025 |
| Unemployment rate |
12.3%
2008 |
9.83%
2021 |
| Population |
12387398
|
39426577
|
GDP per capita in South Sudan vs Ukraine
South Sudan's GDP per capita is $1,080, ranking 172/197, compared to $5,038 in Ukraine, ranking 118/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), South Sudan ranks 196th at $1,155, while Ukraine ranks 99th at $18,550.
| Year | Current $ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
South Sudan
|
Ukraine
|
|||
| GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 1987 | - | - | $1,244 | - |
| 1988 | - | - | $1,444 | - |
| 1989 | - | - | $1,593 | - |
| 1990 | - | - | $1,564 | $7,591 |
| 1991 | - | - | $1,483 | $7,148 |
| 1992 | - | - | $1,413 | $6,568 |
| 1993 | - | - | $1,254 | $5,766 |
| 1994 | - | - | $1,009 | $4,565 |
| 1995 | - | - | $933 | $4,124 |
| 1996 | - | - | $870 | $3,812 |
| 1997 | - | - | $987 | $3,794 |
| 1998 | - | - | $831 | $3,794 |
| 1999 | - | - | $632 | $3,871 |
| 2000 | - | - | $653 | $4,228 |
| 2001 | - | - | $800 | $4,747 |
| 2002 | - | - | $903 | $5,123 |
| 2003 | - | - | $1,076 | $5,764 |
| 2004 | - | - | $1,401 | $6,663 |
| 2005 | - | - | $1,875 | $7,142 |
| 2006 | - | - | $2,366 | $7,971 |
| 2007 | - | - | $3,160 | $8,900 |
| 2008 | $1,654 | $2,887 | $4,018 | $9,324 |
| 2009 | $1,323 | $2,911 | $2,607 | $7,995 |
| 2010 | $1,498 | $2,948 | $3,040 | $8,453 |
| 2011 | $1,449 | $2,718 | $3,657 | $9,127 |
| 2012 | $1,109 | $1,417 | $3,951 | $9,552 |
| 2013 | $1,650 | $1,917 | $4,130 | $10,904 |
| 2014 | $1,243 | $1,373 | $2,904 | $10,494 |
| 2015 | $1,080 | $1,155 | $1,988 | $9,922 |
| 2016 | - | - | $2,047 | $10,865 |
| 2017 | - | - | $2,467 | $11,536 |
| 2018 | - | - | $2,895 | $12,555 |
| 2019 | - | - | $3,423 | $14,217 |
| 2020 | - | - | $3,505 | $15,541 |
| 2021 | - | - | $4,510 | $17,846 |
| 2022 | - | - | $3,946 | $14,770 |
| 2023 | - | - | $4,803 | $17,665 |
| 2024 | - | - | $5,038 | $18,550 |
Spending and national debt comparison
In 2024, South Sudan's government spending was $3.98B, accounting for 26.7% of its GDP, while Ukraine's spent $136B, or 58% of GDP.
Debt-to-GDP ratio is 63.2% in South Sudan and 110% in Ukraine, ranking 72/185 and 15/185, respectively.
| Year | % of GDP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
South Sudan
|
Ukraine
|
|||
| Government spending | Government debt | Government spending | Government debt | |
| 1995 | - | - | 41.3% | 30.2% |
| 1996 | - | - | 36.9% | 24.4% |
| 1997 | - | - | 40.8% | 28.9% |
| 1998 | - | - | 37.1% | 46.5% |
| 1999 | - | - | 25.8% | 59% |
| 2000 | - | - | 35.5% | 43.8% |
| 2001 | - | - | 36.7% | 36.7% |
| 2002 | - | - | 37.9% | 33.6% |
| 2003 | - | - | 38.9% | 29.4% |
| 2004 | - | - | 41.6% | 24.8% |
| 2005 | - | - | 44.2% | 17.7% |
| 2006 | - | - | 44.6% | 14.8% |
| 2007 | - | - | 43.7% | 12.3% |
| 2008 | - | - | 47.1% | 20.4% |
| 2009 | - | - | 48.6% | 35.4% |
| 2010 | - | - | 49.2% | 40.6% |
| 2011 | 20.8% | - | 45.7% | 36.9% |
| 2012 | 31.6% | 8.91% | 49% | 37.5% |
| 2013 | 25.3% | 17.6% | 48.1% | 40.5% |
| 2014 | 36.2% | 38.1% | 44.8% | 70.3% |
| 2015 | 33.2% | 57.2% | 43% | 79.3% |
| 2016 | 60.8% | 150.5% | 40.8% | 79.5% |
| 2017 | 88.6% | 163% | 41.7% | 71.6% |
| 2018 | 56.4% | 80.3% | 41.9% | 60.4% |
| 2019 | 47.1% | 43.1% | 41.5% | 50.5% |
| 2020 | 33.5% | 49% | 45.6% | 60.5% |
| 2021 | 44.1% | 51.1% | 40.5% | 48.9% |
| 2022 | 29.7% | 39.1% | 65.4% | 77.7% |
| 2023 | 23.5% | 49.7% | 74.4% | 82.3% |
| 2024 | 20.3% | 54.3% | 71.4% | 89.8% |
| 2025 | 26.7% | 63.2% | 58% | 110% |
Government deficit by year
In 2015, South Sudan's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was -$1.92B, equivalent to -16% of GDP. This compares to Ukraine's deficit of -$1.06B, or -1.16% of GDP.
Over the past 5 years, South Sudan recorded a fiscal deficit in 4 of those years, while Ukraine ran a deficit in 5 years. On average, South Sudan posted an annual deficit equal to -7.78% of GDP, compared to deficit of -3.49% of GDP for Ukraine.
| Year | Deficit/surplus, % of GDP | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Sudan
|
Ukraine
|
|
| 1995 | - | -4.72% |
| 1996 | - | -3.09% |
| 1997 | - | -5.37% |
| 1998 | - | -2.69% |
| 1999 | - | 4.95% |
| 2000 | - | -3.19% |
| 2001 | - | -3.03% |
| 2002 | - | -1.84% |
| 2003 | - | -0.89% |
| 2004 | - | -4.41% |
| 2005 | - | -2.28% |
| 2006 | - | -1.36% |
| 2007 | - | -1.97% |
| 2008 | - | -3.14% |
| 2009 | - | -6.27% |
| 2010 | - | -5.77% |
| 2011 | 4.57% | -2.76% |
| 2012 | -14.8% | -4.31% |
| 2013 | -3.45% | -4.78% |
| 2014 | -9.18% | -4.46% |
| 2015 | -16% | -1.16% |
| 2016 | -18.1% | -2.46% |
| 2017 | 8.74% | -2.36% |
| 2018 | -1.1% | -2.12% |
| 2019 | 0.84% | -2.08% |
| 2020 | -4.93% | -5.92% |
| 2021 | -9.3% | -3.97% |
| 2022 | 2.05% | -15.6% |
| 2023 | 7.85% | -19.6% |
| 2024 | 3.86% | -17.2% |
| 2025 | 2% | -18.8% |
Inflation comparison by year
Over the past 16 years, South Sudan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 63.7%, compared with 12.1% in Ukraine. In 2024, inflation was 91.4% in South Sudan and 12.6% in Ukraine.
| Year | Inflation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
South Sudan
|
Ukraine
|
South Sudan
|
Ukraine
|
| 1996 | - | 80.2% | |
| 1997 | - | 15.9% | |
| 1998 | - | 10.6% | |
| 1999 | - | 22.7% | |
| 2000 | - | 28.2% | |
| 2001 | - | 12% | |
| 2002 | - | 0.8% | |
| 2003 | - | 5.2% | |
| 2004 | - | 9% | |
| 2005 | - | 13.5% | |
| 2006 | - | 9.1% | |
| 2007 | - | 12.8% | |
| 2008 | - | 25.2% | |
| 2009 | 5.01% | 15.9% | |
| 2010 | 1.17% | 9.4% | |
| 2011 | 46.9% | 8% | |
| 2012 | 45.5% | 0.6% | |
| 2013 | -0.06% | -0.3% | |
| 2014 | 1.67% | 12.1% | |
| 2015 | 52.8% | 48.7% | |
| 2016 | 380% | 13.9% | |
| 2017 | 187.9% | 14.4% | |
| 2018 | 83.5% | 10.9% | |
| 2019 | 87.2% | 7.9% | |
| 2020 | 29.7% | 2.7% | |
| 2021 | 10.5% | 9.4% | |
| 2022 | -6.69% | 20.2% | |
| 2023 | 2.38% | 12.9% | |
| 2024 | 91.4% | 6.5% | |
| 2025 | - | 12.6% | |
Top exports between countries
|
South Sudan
|
|
|---|---|
| Export category | Export value |
| Machinery & equipment | $770K |
| Textiles & consumer goods | $10K |
|
Ukraine
|
|
|---|---|
| Export category | Export value |
| Machinery & equipment | $2.17M |
| Animal & marine products | $1.2M |
| Processed food, beverages & tobacco | $209K |
| Raw materials & minerals | $177K |
| Metals | $103K |
| Raw agricultural goods | $19K |
| Chemicals & pharma | $16K |
| Textiles & consumer goods | $16K |
| Miscellaneous | $11K |
| Wood & paper products | $1K |
Balance of trade
|
South Sudan
|
Ukraine
|
|
|---|---|---|
Current account balance
|
$578M
2023 |
-$15.9B
2024 |
| Current account balance ranking |
58/189
2023 |
179/189
2024 |
| Current account balance, % of GDP |
-4.17%
2015 |
-8.35%
2024 |
| Goods imports |
$2.25B
2023 |
$72.7B
2024 |
| Goods exports |
$4.01B
2023 |
$38.9B
2024 |
| Service imports |
$2.19B
2023 |
$22.8B
2024 |
| Service exports |
$484M
2023 |
$17.2B
2024 |
| Imports of goods and services, % of GDP |
28.9%
2015 |
48.3%
2024 |
| Exports of goods and services, % of GDP |
36.7%
2015 |
29.4%
2024 |
Economic freedom indices
The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.
|
South Sudan
|
Ukraine
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | 41 | 54.1 |
| Economic freedom ranking | 186/197 | 138/197 |
| Property rights | n/a | 21.5 |
| Government integrity | n/a | 35.4 |
| Judicial effectiveness | n/a | 29.9 |
| Tax burden | n/a | 89.1 |
| Government spending | n/a | 44.5 |
| Fiscal health | n/a | 73.6 |
| Business freedom | n/a | 61.1 |
| Labor freedom | n/a | 60.7 |
| Monetary freedom | n/a | 71.2 |
| Trade freedom | n/a | 73.2 |
| Investment freedom | n/a | 35 |
| Financial freedom | n/a | 30 |
More economic indicators
|
South Sudan
|
Ukraine
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Services, % of GDP |
56.6%
2015 |
60.6%
2024 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
33.1%
2015 |
19%
2024 |
| Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP |
10.4%
2015 |
7.11%
2024 |
|
GNI, Atlas method
|
$11.7B
2015 |
$185B
2024 |
| GNI per capita, PPP |
$1,010
2015 |
$18,580
2024 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$72.9M
2023 |
$43.8B
2024 |
| Total reserves ranking |
175/177
2023 |
46/177
2024 |
|
Net foreign direct investment
|
$2.21M
2019 |
-$3.71B
2024 |
|
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
|
$83.4M
2024 |
$4.02B
2024 |
|
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
|
$42M
2017 |
$305M
2024 |
|
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
|
n/a |
4.2%
2023 |
| Poverty at national poverty lines |
66%
2020 |
23.2%
2020 |
|
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
|
5.75%
2015 |
18.6%
2024 |
GDP per capita map
GDP per capita
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Economy comparisons
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.
Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.
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.