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Economy of South Sudan vs United Kingdom compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

South Sudan has a GDP of $12B compared to $3.69T for the United Kingdom, ranking 149/197 and 6/197 by economy size, respectively.

South Sudan has $7.04B in government debt (50.7% of GDP), compared to $3.73T (101.2% of GDP) in the United Kingdom.

South Sudan vs United Kingdom GDP by year

South Sudan
United Kingdom
1x
Year GDP, current $
South Sudan United Kingdom
2024 - $3,686,033,044,482
2023 - $3,420,796,653,789
2022 - $3,181,244,350,465
2021 - $3,194,559,188,926
2020 - $2,724,001,478,305
2019 - $2,875,710,080,015
2018 - $2,897,028,009,916
2017 - $2,699,118,387,873
2016 - $2,706,807,606,539
2015 $11,997,800,760 $2,945,579,890,258
2014 $13,962,212,847 $3,085,362,169,410
2013 $18,426,469,017 $2,796,908,333,283
2012 $11,931,472,169 $2,719,715,961,540
2011 $14,907,308,933 $2,675,590,034,129
2010 $14,602,072,411 $2,496,740,681,057
2009 $12,231,264,525 $2,429,358,155,476
2008 $14,586,253,383 $2,945,251,838,235
2007 - $3,104,699,879,952
2006 - $2,719,558,417,663
2005 - $2,551,361,818,182
2004 - $2,429,774,807,763
2003 - $2,061,227,755,102
2002 - $1,790,536,570,743
2001 - $1,656,171,009,069
2000 - $1,671,597,821,153
1999 - $1,693,458,987,219
1998 - $1,660,821,464,061
1997 - $1,569,317,288,802
1996 - $1,425,287,051,482
1995 - $1,349,094,208,616
1994 - $1,140,489,745,944
1993 - $1,061,388,722,256
1992 - $1,179,659,529,660
1991 - $1,142,797,178,131
1990 - $1,093,169,389,205
1989 - $926,884,816,754
1988 - $910,122,732,124
1987 - $745,162,608,269
1986 - $601,452,653,181
1985 - $489,285,164,271
1984 - $461,487,097,632
1983 - $489,618,008,186
1982 - $515,048,916,841
1981 - $540,765,675,241
1980 - $564,947,710,899
1979 - $438,994,070,309
1978 - $335,883,029,722
1977 - $263,066,457,352
1976 - $232,614,555,256
1975 - $241,756,637,168
1974 - $206,131,369,799
1973 - $192,537,971,583
1972 - $169,965,034,965
1971 - $148,113,896,325
1970 - $130,671,946,244
1969 - $116,464,702,803
1968 - $107,759,910,068
1967 - $113,116,888,211
1966 - $108,572,752,102
1965 - $101,824,755,079
1964 - $94,407,558,351
1963 - $86,561,961,812
1962 - $81,247,564,157
1961 - $77,741,965,703
1960 - $73,233,967,692

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/south-sudan/united-kingdom | CC BY

GDP per capita in South Sudan vs United Kingdom by year

South Sudan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
United Kingdom
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
South Sudan United Kingdom
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 - - $53,246 $62,009
2023 - - $49,944 $59,911
2022 - - $47,057 $59,022
2021 - - $47,691 $51,004
2020 - - $40,813 $48,230
2019 - - $43,159 $50,065
2018 - - $43,703 $47,212
2017 - - $40,917 $46,113
2016 - - $41,258 $44,085
2015 $1,080 $1,155 $45,255 $42,515
2014 $1,243 $1,373 $47,746 $41,267
2013 $1,650 $1,917 $43,607 $39,948
2012 $1,109 $1,417 $42,688 $38,337
2011 $1,449 $2,718 $42,296 $37,224
2010 $1,498 $2,948 $39,778 $36,484
2009 $1,323 $2,911 $39,009 $35,042
2008 $1,654 $2,887 $47,652 $36,745
2007 - - $50,629 $35,522
2006 - - $44,695 $34,727
2005 - - $42,240 $32,726
2004 - - $40,504 $32,051
2003 - - $34,557 $30,314
2002 - - $30,159 $29,089
2001 - - $28,014 $27,913
2000 - - $28,384 $26,536
1999 - - $28,858 $24,494
1998 - - $28,396 $23,689
1997 - - $26,910 $23,071
1996 - - $24,503 $21,947
1995 - - $23,253 $20,595
1994 - - $19,709 $19,605
1993 - - $18,389 $18,336
1992 - - $20,487 $17,349
1991 - - $19,901 $16,791
1990 - - $19,095 $16,505
1989 - - $16,239 -
1988 - - $15,987 -
1987 - - $13,119 -
1986 - - $10,611 -
1985 - - $8,652 -
1984 - - $8,179 -
1983 - - $8,692 -
1982 - - $9,146 -
1981 - - $9,599 -
1980 - - $10,032 -
1979 - - $7,805 -
1978 - - $5,977 -
1977 - - $4,681 -
1976 - - $4,138 -
1975 - - $4,300 -
1974 - - $3,666 -
1973 - - $3,426 -
1972 - - $3,030 -
1971 - - $2,650 -
1970 - - $2,348 -
1969 - - $2,101 -
1968 - - $1,952 -
1967 - - $2,059 -
1966 - - $1,987 -
1965 - - $1,874 -
1964 - - $1,748 -
1963 - - $1,613 -
1962 - - $1,526 -
1961 - - $1,472 -
1960 - - $1,398 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/south-sudan/united-kingdom | CC BY

South Sudan's GDP per capita is $1,080, ranking 175/197, compared to $53,246 in the United Kingdom, ranking 22/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), South Sudan ranks 197th at $1,155, while the United Kingdom ranks 32nd at $62,009.

Economic indicators

South Sudan United Kingdom
Gross domestic product
$12B
2015
$3.69T
2024
GDP rank
149/197
2015
6/197
2024
GDP growth
-10.8%
2014-2015
1.13%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$1,080
2015
$53,246
2024
GDP per capita rank
175/197
2015
22/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,155
2015
$62,009
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
197/197
2015
32/197
2024
Government debt
$7.04B
2015
$3.73T
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
50.7%
2024
101.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$633
2015
$53,900
2024
Government debt per person rank
158/185
2015
7/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,305
2026
$39,230
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$3.1T
2022
Number of millionaires n/a
2,624,000
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
55
2025
Income share by richest 10%
33%
2016
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
1.8%
2016
3%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.1%
2024
44%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
91.4%
2023-2024
3.27%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
15%
2023
3.75%
2025
Unemployment rate
12.3%
2008
4.36%
2024
Population
12507858
70154914

Spending and national debt comparison by year

South Sudan
Spending

Debt
United Kingdom
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
South Sudan United Kingdom
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 18.1% 50.7% 44% 101.2%
2023 21.4% 51.9% 44.8% 100.4%
2022 29.4% 37.3% 44.1% 99.6%
2021 44.1% 50.2% 45.8% 105.1%
2020 34.1% 49% 50% 105.8%
2019 47.9% 43.1% 38.8% 85.7%
2018 54.5% 77.6% 38.9% 86.3%
2017 97% 178.3% 39.2% 86.7%
2016 66.5% 164.7% 39.6% 87.8%
2015 34% 58.6% 40.4% 87.9%
2014 35.8% 37.7% 41.2% 87.1%
2013 25.3% 17.6% 41.8% 85.3%
2012 31.6% 8.91% 43.6% 84.5%
2011 20.8% - 43.5% 81.4%
2010 - - 44.7% 75.9%
2009 - - 44.6% 64.9%
2008 - - 41% 50.8%
2007 - - 38.7% 43.2%
2006 - - 38.4% 42.1%
2005 - - 38.4% 41%
2004 - - 38% 39.8%
2003 - - 37.2% 36.8%
2002 - - 35.9% 35.4%
2001 - - 34.7% 35%
2000 - - 33.9% 37.7%
1999 - - 33.9% 40.4%
1998 - - 34.5% 42%
1997 - - 34.9% 44.1%
1996 - - 35.7% 43.7%
1995 - - 37.6% 43.7%
1994 - - 37.5% 40.7%
1993 - - 37.8% 38%
1992 - - 37.8% 33.2%
1991 - - 35.9% 28.5%
1990 - - 35% 28.5%
1989 - - 39.7% 31.4%
1988 - - 40.3% 36.6%
1987 - - 42.7% 41.8%
1986 - - 44.6% 42.9%
1985 - - 48.7% 42.9%
1984 - - 50.3% 44.1%
1983 - - 50.4% 44.2%
1982 - - 50.8% 44.7%
1981 - - 51.2% 41.1%
1980 - - 47.6% 43.7%
1979 - - 45.1% 44.5%
1978 - - 46.2% 47.3%
1977 - - 46.8% 53.7%
1976 - - 49.2% 47.7%
1975 - - 49.1% 49.6%
1974 - - 47.8% 56.2%
1973 - - 43.5% 58.5%
1972 - - 42.3% 65%
1971 - - 41.2% 67.9%
1970 - - 42% 73.4%
1969 - - 39.2% 82.8%
1968 - - 40.3% 88.5%
1967 - - 40.1% 89.1%
1966 - - 35.7% 91.9%
1965 - - 34.6% 94.6%
1964 - - 32.8% 101.1%
1963 - - 37.4% 108.6%
1962 - - 33.8% 110.5%
1961 - - 31.5% 113.8%
1960 - - 33.1% 117.9%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/south-sudan/united-kingdom | CC BY

In 2024, South Sudan's government spending was $4.08B, accounting for 18.1% of its GDP, while the United Kingdom spent $1.62T, or 44% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 50.7% in South Sudan and 101.2% in the United Kingdom, ranking 105/185 and 22/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
South Sudan

United Kingdom
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
South Sudan United Kingdom
2024 11.7% -5.75%
2023 8.04% -6.05%
2022 4.48% -4.56%
2021 -9.3% -7.72%
2020 -5.5% -13.2%
2019 0.04% -2.47%
2018 -1.06% -2.27%
2017 9.56% -2.49%
2016 -19.8% -3.31%
2015 -16.4% -4.59%
2014 -9.07% -5.53%
2013 -3.45% -5.34%
2012 -14.8% -7.45%
2011 4.57% -7.38%
2010 - -9.22%
2009 - -10.1%
2008 - -5.09%
2007 - -2.65%
2006 - -2.76%
2005 - -3.15%
2004 - -3.16%
2003 - -3.22%
2002 - -1.96%
2001 - 0.34%
2000 - 1.4%
1999 - 0.76%
1998 - -0.21%
1997 - -2.01%
1996 - -3.65%
1995 - -4.99%
1994 - -5.74%
1993 - -6.62%
1992 - -5.41%
1991 - -2.77%
1990 - -1.54%
1989 - 0.77%
1988 - 0.46%
1987 - -1.79%
1986 - -2.56%
1985 - -5.57%
1984 - -6.39%
1983 - -6.26%
1982 - -5.66%
1981 - -7.03%
1980 - -5.65%
1979 - -5.79%
1978 - -6.63%
1977 - -4.41%
1976 - -5.61%
1975 - -5.08%
1974 - -4.06%
1973 - -4.29%
1972 - -1.66%
1971 - 1.48%
1970 - 2.61%
1969 - 1.03%
1968 - -2.3%
1967 - -4.57%
1966 - -1.59%
1965 - -2.06%
1964 - -1.76%
1963 - -5.47%
1962 - -0.49%
1961 - 0.56%
1960 - -2.75%
1959 - -0.58%
1958 - -1.73%
1957 - -1.04%
1956 - 0.55%
1955 - -0.39%
1954 - -1.65%
1953 - -2.84%
1952 - -1.26%
1951 - 2.03%
1950 - 0.34%
1949 - 3.01%
1948 - -0.39%
1947 - -15.8%
1946 - -22.5%
1945 - -30.9%
1944 - -29.7%
1943 - -33.3%
1942 - -31.6%
1941 - -32%
1940 - -12.1%
1939 - -2.99%
1938 - 0%
1937 - 0.82%
1936 - 0.17%
1935 - 0.37%
1934 - 0.48%
1933 - 0.99%
1932 - -0.15%
1931 - 0.8%
1930 - 1.01%
1929 - 0.75%
1928 - 1.75%
1927 - 1.62%
1926 - 0.6%
1925 - 0.84%
1924 - 1.19%
1923 - 2.23%
1922 - 2.45%
1921 - 1.15%
1920 - 4.2%
1919 - -6.28%
1918 - -34.4%
1917 - -48.8%
1916 - -50.6%
1915 - -30%
1914 - -14.6%
1913 - 0.25%
1912 - 0.22%
1911 - 0.51%
1910 - 1.75%
1909 - -1.25%
1908 - 0.34%
1907 - 0.66%
1906 - 0.58%
1905 - 0.36%
1904 - 0.2%
1903 - -0.22%
1902 - -1.77%
1901 - -2.74%
1900 - -2.96%
1899 - -0.79%
1898 - 0.01%
1897 - 0.25%
1896 - 0.17%
1895 - 0.3%
1894 - 0.06%
1893 - -0.007%
1892 - 0.14%
1891 - 0.19%
1890 - 0.23%
1889 - 0.3%
1888 - 0.27%
1887 - 0.25%
1886 - 0.07%
1885 - -0.21%
1884 - -0.04%
1883 - 0.06%
1882 - 0.02%
1881 - 0.06%
1880 - 0.1%
1879 - -0.86%
1878 - -0.18%
1877 - -0.18%
1876 - 0.09%
1875 - 0%
1874 - 0.09%
1873 - 0%
1872 - 0.55%
1871 - 0.29%
1870 - 0%
1869 - 0.77%
1868 - -0.45%
1867 - -0.45%
1866 - 0.11%
1865 - 0%
1864 - 0.24%
1863 - 0%
1862 - -0.13%
1861 - -0.4%
1860 - -0.43%
1859 - 0%
1858 - -0.15%
1857 - -0.15%
1856 - -0.6%
1855 - -3.57%
1854 - -3.39%
1853 - 0.5%
1852 - 0.35%
1851 - 0.35%
1850 - 0.37%
1849 - 0.34%
1848 - -0.17%
1847 - -6.13%
1846 - 0.52%
1845 - 0.56%
1844 - 0.59%
1843 - 0.44%
1842 - -0.87%
1841 - -0.42%
1840 - -0.2%
1839 - -0.18%
1838 - -0.19%
1837 - -0.21%
1836 - 0.59%
1835 - 0.42%
1834 - 0.23%
1833 - 0.24%
1832 - 0%
1831 - 0%
1830 - 0.45%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1830–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/south-sudan/united-kingdom | CC BY

In 2015, South Sudan's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.97B, equivalent to 16.4% of GDP. This compares to the United Kingdom's deficit of $135B, or 4.59% of GDP.

Over the past 5 years, South Sudan recorded a fiscal deficit in 4 of those years, while the United Kingdom ran a deficit in 5 years. On average, South Sudan posted an annual deficit equal to 7.83% of GDP, compared to deficit of 6.06% of GDP for the United Kingdom.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
South Sudan

United Kingdom
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
South Sudan United Kingdom
2024 91.4% 3.27%
2023 2.38% 6.79%
2022 -6.69% 7.92%
2021 10.5% 2.52%
2020 29.7% 0.99%
2019 87.2% 1.74%
2018 83.5% 2.29%
2017 187.9% 2.56%
2016 380% 1.01%
2015 52.8% 0.37%
2014 1.67% 1.45%
2013 -0.06% 2.29%
2012 45.5% 2.57%
2011 46.9% 3.86%
2010 1.17% 2.49%
2009 5.01% 1.96%
2008 - 3.52%
2007 - 2.39%
2006 - 2.46%
2005 - 2.09%
2004 - 1.39%
2003 - 1.38%
2002 - 1.52%
2001 - 1.53%
2000 - 1.18%
1999 - 1.75%
1998 - 1.82%
1997 - 2.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/south-sudan/united-kingdom | CC BY

Over the past 16 years, South Sudan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 63.7%, compared with 2.76% in the United Kingdom. In 2024, inflation was 91.4% in South Sudan and 3.27% in the United Kingdom.

Top exports between countries

South Sudan
Export category Export value
Animal & marine products $22K
Raw materials & minerals $16K
Textiles & consumer goods $4K
Metals $2K
Chemicals & pharma $1K
United Kingdom
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $5.1M
Textiles & consumer goods $395K
Chemicals & pharma $314K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $171K
Raw agricultural goods $92K
Metals $63K
Wood & paper products $53K
Raw materials & minerals $47K
Miscellaneous $28K
Animal & marine products $27K

Balance of trade

South Sudan United Kingdom
Current account balance
$578M
2023
-$80.6B
2024
Current account balance ranking
60/190
2023
189/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-4.17%
2015
-2.19%
2024
Goods imports
$2.25B
2023
$763B
2024
Goods exports
$4.01B
2023
$494B
2024
Service imports
$2.19B
2023
$411B
2024
Service exports
$484M
2023
$648B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
28.9%
2015
31.9%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
36.7%
2015
31%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

South Sudan United Kingdom
Economic freedom 41 70.4
Economic freedom ranking 186/197 35/197
Property rights n/a 93.6
Government integrity n/a 83
Judicial effectiveness n/a 83.1
Tax burden n/a 61.7
Government spending n/a 41.1
Fiscal health n/a 32.4
Business freedom n/a 83.6
Labor freedom n/a 61.2
Monetary freedom n/a 71.9
Trade freedom n/a 82.8
Investment freedom n/a 70
Financial freedom n/a 80

Other economic metrics

South Sudan United Kingdom
Services, % of GDP
56.6%
2015
72.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
33.1%
2015
17.1%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
10.4%
2015
0.64%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$11.7B
2015
$3.42T
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$1,010
2015
$61,460
2024
Total reserves including gold
$72.9M
2023
$175B
2024
Total reserves ranking
175/177
2023
19/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$2.21M
2019
$42.8B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$83.4M
2024
-$13B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
-$72.5B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
66%
2020
18.6%
2017
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
5.75%
2015
19.1%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

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/united-kingdom | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1830–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2023–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  9. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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.