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South Sudan vs Syria statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Sudan has a population of 11.9M (ranked 81/197), compared with 24.7M in Syria (ranked 57/197). South Sudan's land area is 243,990 sq mi versus 70,900 sq mi for Syria (ranked 41st vs. 87th).

By GDP, South Sudan ranks 149/197 ($12B) and Syria ranks 129/197 ($20B). By GDP per capita, South Sudan ranks 175/197 ($1,080), while Syria ranks 185/197 ($847).

Main facts and rankings

South Sudan Syria
Population
12507858
26829400
Population rank 80/197 56/197
GDP
$12B
2015
$20B
2023
GDP rank 149/197 129/197
GDP per capita
$1,080
2015
$847
2023
GDP per capita rank 175/197 185/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,155
2015
$4,650
2023
Government debt
$7.04B
2015
$18.4B
2010
Debt-to-GDP ratio
50.7%
2024
30%
2010
Government debt per person
$633
2015
$820
2010
Government debt per person rank 158/185 148/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,305
2026
$730
2026
Land area 243,990 sq mi 70,900 sq mi
Population density
51 ppl/mi²
2026
375 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
3.86
2023
2.71
2023
Median age
19.4 years
2024
23.9 years
2024
Life expectancy
58 years
2026
73.4 years
2026

South Sudan and Syria: Comparison Charts

South Sudan and Syria economies compared

GDP
South Sudan

Syria
1x
Year GDP
South Sudan Syria
2023 - $19,993,439,950
2022 - $23,622,827,080
2021 - $14,353,205,678
2020 - $12,047,752,036
2019 - $22,583,045,060
2018 - $21,497,782,868
2017 - $16,369,843,352
2016 - $12,597,854,877
2015 $11,997,800,760 $16,466,863,117
2014 $13,962,212,847 $21,502,061,466
2013 $18,426,469,017 $21,361,254,635
2012 $11,931,472,169 $43,190,318,033
2011 $14,907,308,933 $67,539,428,159
2010 $14,602,072,411 $61,390,830,875
2009 $12,231,264,525 $54,111,735,629
2008 $14,586,253,383 $52,557,913,569
2007 - $40,465,318,382
2006 - $33,751,788,856
2005 - $28,858,965,517
2004 - $25,086,950,495
2003 - $21,828,144,686
2002 - $20,669,357,462
2001 - $20,237,024,725
2000 - $18,937,052,543
1999 - $15,873,875,969
1998 - $15,200,846,154
1997 - $14,505,233,463
1996 - $13,789,560,878
1995 - $11,396,706,587
1994 - $10,122,020,000
1993 - $13,695,962,055
1992 - $13,253,565,861
1991 - $12,981,833,333
1990 - $12,308,624,418
1989 - $9,853,395,762
1988 - $10,577,041,645
1987 - $11,356,215,543
1986 - $13,293,205,278
1985 - $16,403,539,893
1984 - $17,503,078,174
1983 - $17,589,277,143
1982 - $16,298,929,011
1981 - $15,518,201,335
1980 - $13,062,420,382
1979 - $9,929,681,529
1978 - $9,275,200,458
1977 - $7,696,011,396
1976 - $7,633,528,867
1975 - $6,826,980,444
1974 - $5,159,557,148
1973 - $3,239,487,516
1972 - $3,059,681,698
1971 - $2,589,851,325
1970 - $2,140,384,010
1969 - $2,245,011,515
1968 - $1,753,746,430
1967 - $1,580,229,799
1966 - $1,342,287,553
1965 - $1,472,036,540
1964 - $1,339,494,267
1963 - $1,200,447,408
1962 - $1,110,565,881
1961 - $945,244,972
1960 - $857,704,413

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/south-sudan/syria | CC BY

South Sudan and Syria economies compared

GDP per capita
South Sudan

Syria
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Sudan Syria
2023 - $847
2022 - $1,052
2021 - $664
2020 - $572
2019 - $1,110
2018 - $1,098
2017 - $852
2016 - $656
2015 $1,080 $848
2014 $1,243 $1,061
2013 $1,650 $986
2012 $1,109 $1,898
2011 $1,449 $2,952
2010 $1,498 $2,731
2009 $1,323 $2,462
2008 $1,654 $2,429
2007 - $1,938
2006 - $1,719
2005 - $1,534
2004 - $1,368
2003 - $1,220
2002 - $1,183
2001 - $1,187
2000 - $1,138
1999 - $978
1998 - $961
1997 - $941
1996 - $918
1995 - $780
1994 - $712
1993 - $993
1992 - $990
1991 - $1,000
1990 - $978
1989 - $809
1988 - $898
1987 - $997
1986 - $1,208
1985 - $1,544
1984 - $1,706
1983 - $1,776
1982 - $1,703
1981 - $1,676
1980 - $1,458
1979 - $1,146
1978 - $1,108
1977 - $951
1976 - $976
1975 - $904
1974 - $707
1973 - $459
1972 - $448
1971 - $393
1970 - $335
1969 - $364
1968 - $293.3
1967 - $272.9
1966 - $239.3
1965 - $270.8
1964 - $254.2
1963 - $234.9
1962 - $223.9
1961 - $196.3
1960 - $183.5

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/south-sudan/syria | CC BY

South Sudan vs. Syria life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Sudan

Syria
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Sudan Syria
2026 58 73.4
2025 57.9 73
2024 57.7 72.6
2023 57.6 72.1
2022 57.2 72.8
2021 57 72.4
2020 57.6 71.9
2019 58.1 71
2018 51.9 67.4
2017 35.4 65.7
2016 36.7 65.2
2015 39.8 63.3
2014 45.6 65.5
2013 58.3 65.1
2012 58.2 66.2
2011 57.7 72.3
2010 57.5 73.5
2009 56.8 73.5
2008 56.3 73.4
2007 55.4 73.3
2006 54.7 73
2005 54 72.8
2004 53.1 72.5
2003 52.3 72.2
2002 49.4 71.7
2001 48.6 71.3
2000 47.6 70.9
1999 44.5 70.5
1998 19 70.2
1997 33.1 70.2
1996 32.1 70.2
1995 31.5 70.2
1994 44.9 70.3
1993 22.3 70.3
1992 21.9 70.2
1991 29.2 70.1
1990 28.6 69.8
1989 28.2 69.5
1988 11 69.2
1987 20.7 68.8
1986 32.8 68.4
1985 32.4 68
1984 31.8 67.7
1983 34.7 67.4
1982 38.7 60.8
1981 38.3 64.6
1980 38 66.5
1979 37.8 66.2
1978 37.6 65.9
1977 37.4 65.4
1976 37.1 64.8
1975 36.9 64.2
1974 36.6 63.4
1973 36.3 60.8
1972 31.3 62
1971 31 61.3
1970 25.6 60.6
1969 25.4 59.8
1968 26.1 59.1
1967 25.9 58
1966 25.6 57.6
1965 28.8 56.9
1964 32.5 56.2
1963 28.2 55.4
1962 28.5 54.6
1961 28.3 53.7
1960 28.1 52.7
1959 27.8 51.7
1958 27.6 50.7
1957 30.9 49.6
1956 31.6 48.5
1955 32 47.4
1954 31.7 46.4
1953 31.4 45.3
1952 31 44.3
1951 30.6 43.4
1950 30.2 42.5

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/south-sudan/syria | CC BY

South Sudan and Syria population clocks and comparison

Population
South Sudan

Syria
1x
Year Population
South Sudan Syria
2024 11,943,408 24,672,760
2023 11,483,374 23,594,623
2022 11,021,177 22,462,173
2021 10,865,780 21,628,839
2020 10,698,467 21,049,429
2019 10,423,384 20,353,534
2018 10,122,977 19,577,845
2017 10,259,154 19,224,668
2016 10,830,102 19,193,834
2015 11,107,561 19,424,618
2014 11,235,073 20,273,659
2013 11,166,275 21,666,917
2012 10,756,240 22,759,763
2011 10,288,109 22,878,098
2010 9,745,953 22,482,421
2009 9,243,556 21,976,969
2008 8,817,647 21,636,564
2007 8,388,788 20,884,125
2006 7,976,526 19,637,022
2005 7,590,143 18,814,091
2004 7,233,041 18,336,875
2003 6,903,127 17,889,296
2002 6,596,806 17,468,332
2001 6,308,391 17,051,338
2000 6,032,267 16,637,888
1999 5,771,628 16,228,061
1998 5,620,068 15,820,413
1997 5,509,136 15,417,542
1996 5,356,925 15,018,104
1995 5,225,836 14,616,801
1994 5,071,184 14,208,583
1993 4,956,002 13,795,686
1992 4,909,749 13,385,571
1991 4,836,677 12,980,821
1990 4,737,633 12,579,208
1989 4,713,229 12,179,060
1988 4,848,029 11,782,264
1987 4,962,395 11,388,923
1986 4,921,240 11,002,844
1985 4,834,296 10,625,672
1984 4,750,627 10,258,398
1983 4,661,574 9,904,809
1982 4,557,686 9,572,511
1981 4,447,272 9,260,189
1980 4,339,030 8,957,663
1979 4,232,605 8,661,909
1978 4,127,657 8,372,759
1977 4,024,032 8,090,501
1976 3,921,910 7,817,320
1975 3,821,494 7,554,364
1974 3,723,259 7,302,160
1973 3,627,383 7,060,321
1972 3,542,497 6,826,024
1971 3,468,646 6,598,094
1970 3,409,614 6,380,609
1969 3,365,533 6,175,166
1968 3,321,528 5,978,742
1967 3,277,648 5,790,198
1966 3,236,423 5,609,047
1965 3,189,835 5,435,267
1964 3,129,918 5,269,087
1963 3,072,669 5,110,467
1962 3,024,308 4,959,340
1961 2,976,724 4,815,466
1960 2,931,559 4,673,500

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-sudan/syria | CC BY

Fertility rates in South Sudan and Syria

Fertility rate
South Sudan

Syria
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Sudan Syria
2023 3.86 2.71
2022 3.96 2.75
2021 4.05 2.8
2020 4.16 2.84
2019 4.26 2.88
2018 4.37 2.93
2017 4.48 2.97
2016 4.58 3.01
2015 4.7 3.07
2014 4.82 3.12
2013 4.94 3.17
2012 5.06 3.22
2011 5.19 3.29
2010 5.32 3.36
2009 5.45 3.42
2008 5.57 3.48
2007 5.7 3.54
2006 5.85 3.56
2005 6.02 3.61
2004 6.19 3.68
2003 6.35 3.76
2002 6.52 3.87
2001 6.65 3.98
2000 6.8 4.07
1999 6.94 4.14
1998 7.08 4.25
1997 7.2 4.37
1996 7.32 4.54
1995 7.34 4.7
1994 7.35 4.86
1993 7.36 4.99
1992 7.37 5.14
1991 7.38 5.34
1990 7.38 5.56
1989 7.37 5.78
1988 7.38 6
1987 7.39 6.2
1986 7.38 6.37
1985 7.36 6.48
1984 7.35 6.59
1983 7.34 6.69
1982 7.34 6.81
1981 7.33 6.97
1980 7.33 7.12
1979 7.32 7.25
1978 7.33 7.35
1977 7.33 7.42
1976 7.33 7.45
1975 7.33 7.49
1974 7.31 7.52
1973 7.31 7.55
1972 7.31 7.57
1971 7.3 7.6
1970 7.29 7.62
1969 7.28 7.59
1968 7.26 7.57
1967 7.26 7.56
1966 7.25 7.55
1965 7.22 7.53
1964 7.22 7.53
1963 7.2 7.51
1962 7.2 7.51
1961 7.18 7.5
1960 7.16 7.51

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/south-sudan/syria | CC BY

South Sudan and Syria demographics compared

Median age
South Sudan

Syria
1x
Year Median age, years
South Sudan Syria
2024 19.4 23.9
2023 19 23.3
2022 18.7 22.7
2021 18.4 22.2
2020 18.2 21.6
2019 17.8 20.9
2018 17.3 20.1
2017 17.4 19.6
2016 18.2 19.5
2015 18.6 19.5
2014 19 20.1
2013 19.3 21.2
2012 19.2 21.8
2011 19 21.9
2010 18.7 21.7
2009 18.4 21.5
2008 18.2 21.3
2007 18 21
2006 17.8 20.3
2005 17.6 19.7
2004 17.4 19.5
2003 17.3 19.2
2002 17.3 19
2001 17.3 18.8
2000 17.2 18.5
1999 17.1 18.3
1998 17 18.1
1997 16.9 17.9
1996 16.9 17.7
1995 16.9 17.5
1994 16.9 17.3
1993 16.9 17.1
1992 17 16.9
1991 17 16.7
1990 17 16.5
1989 17.1 16.4
1988 16.8 16.2
1987 16.5 16.1
1986 16.6 16
1985 16.7 15.9
1984 16.8 15.8
1983 16.8 15.8
1982 16.9 15.7
1981 17 15.6
1980 17.1 15.6
1979 17.1 15.6
1978 17.2 15.6
1977 17.2 15.6
1976 17.3 15.6
1975 17.4 15.7
1974 17.4 15.7
1973 17.5 15.7
1972 17.5 15.8
1971 17.6 15.8
1970 17.7 15.9
1969 17.9 16
1968 18 16.1
1967 18.2 16.2
1966 18.3 16.4
1965 18.3 16.5
1964 18.4 16.7
1963 18.4 16.9
1962 18.5 17.1
1961 18.5 17.3
1960 18.6 17.6

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-sudan/syria | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Sudan Syria
GNI, Atlas method
$11.7B
2015
$18.2B
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.1%
2024
28.6%
2010
Education expenditure, % of GDP
1.57%
2016
5.13%
2009
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.96%
2024
4.06%
2010
Armed forces personnel
53,000
2020
269,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+11.7%
2024
-7.79%
2010
Unemployment rate
12.3%
2008
8.61%
2010
Services, % of GDP
56.6%
2015
44.9%
2022
Industry, % of GDP
33.1%
2015
12%
2022
Economic freedom index
41
2025
51.2
2012
Income share by richest 10%
33%
2016
21.1%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
1.8%
2016
3.8%
2022
Total reserves including gold
$72.9M
2023
$20.6B
2010
Personal remittances received
$1.14B
2024
$1.62B
2010
International tourist arrivals n/a
2,424,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports
0.39%
2018
32.2%
2010
Banked people share
5.83%
2021
23.3%
2011

Energy

South Sudan Syria
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
69 kg
2022
455 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$15.1
2015
$10.5
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions n/a
31.4 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita n/a
1.27 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
73.4%
2022
99.5%
2022
Renewable energy use share
32.4%
2021
1.1%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.4%
2022
0.72%
2022
Net energy imports use share
-860%
2022
61.3%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
46.9 kWh
2022
690 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
0.34%
2021
3.91%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0%
2021
3.76%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
5.4%
2023
88.4%
2023

Society

South Sudan Syria
% of world population
0.15%
2024
0.3%
2024
Annual migration change
+6,145
2025
+421,693
2025
Urban population
21.4%
2024
72.1%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.2:50.8
2024
50:50
2024
Average male height n/a
5.63 ft
2025
Average female height n/a
5.23 ft
2025
Quality of life index
4.76
2026
18.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
9
2025
15
2025
Higher education index
14
2026
33
2026
Homicides per 100K people
14.1
2012
2.07
2010
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
36.7
2019
14.9
2019
Visa free countries
50
2025
37
2025
Adult literacy rate
34.5%
2018
94.4%
2021
English speaking
94%
2023
4%
2025
People using the Internet
9.27%
2020
34.7%
2019

Health

South Sudan Syria
Government health expenditure per capita
$72.8
2023
$33.3
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$19.7
2023
$24.1
2023
Life expectancy
58 years
2026
73.4 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
62.3%
2023
11.8%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.04
2022
1.52
2021
Maternal mortality per 100K births
692
2023
20
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
98.7
2023
20.6
2023
Obesity rate
8.79%
2022
n/a
Diabetes prevalence
4.6%
2024
19%
2024
Air quality index
22
2026
42
2026
Pure alcohol consumption per capita n/a
0.09 liters
2020

Territory

South Sudan Syria
% of world land
0.42%
2026
0.12%
2026
Land area per capita
20,429 sq mi
2024
2,874 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
109,449 sq mi
2026
52,533 sq mi
2026
Forest area
27,633 sq mi
2026
2,016 sq mi
2026

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2010–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  9. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2012, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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