South Sudan has a population of 11.9M (ranked 81/197), compared with 40.6M in Yemen (ranked 38/197). South Sudan's land area is 243,990 sq mi versus 203,850 sq mi for Yemen (ranked 41st vs. 49th).
By GDP, South Sudan ranks 150/197 ($12B) and Yemen ranks 124/197 ($21.6B). By GDP per capita, South Sudan ranks 172/197 ($1,080), while Yemen ranks 192/197 ($634).
Main facts and rankings
South Sudan
|
Yemen
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population |
12387398
|
42727988
|
| Population rank | 81/197 | 37/197 |
| GDP |
$12B
2015 |
$21.6B
2018 |
| GDP rank | 150/197 | 124/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$1,080
2015 |
$634
2018 |
| GDP per capita rank | 172/197 | 192/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$1,155
2015 |
$3,164
2013 |
| Government debt |
$6.87B
2015 |
$18.8B
2018 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
63.2%
2025 |
71.2%
2025 |
| Government debt per person |
$618
2015 |
$551
2018 |
| Government debt per person rank | 159/185 | 164/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$1,540
2025 |
$1,333
2025 |
| Land area |
243,990 sq mi
2025 |
203,850 sq mi
2025 |
| Population density |
49 ppl/mi²
2024 |
199.1 ppl/mi²
2024 |
| Fertility rate |
3.86
2023 |
4.59
2023 |
| Median age |
19.4 years
2024 |
19.3 years
2024 |
| Life expectancy |
57.9 years
2025 |
69.6 years
2025 |
South Sudan and Yemen: Comparison Charts
South Sudan and Yemen economies compared
GDP
South Sudan
Yemen
| Year | GDP | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Sudan
|
Yemen
|
|
| 1990 | - | $12,643,821,569 |
| 1991 | - | $14,665,445,462 |
| 1992 | - | $17,959,367,194 |
| 1993 | - | $21,736,802,664 |
| 1994 | - | $28,019,483,764 |
| 1995 | - | $12,796,345,679 |
| 1996 | - | $6,496,163,616 |
| 1997 | - | $6,838,298,531 |
| 1998 | - | $6,322,175,566 |
| 1999 | - | $7,639,325,296 |
| 2000 | - | $9,679,316,770 |
| 2001 | - | $9,852,990,693 |
| 2002 | - | $10,693,430,511 |
| 2003 | - | $11,777,532,662 |
| 2004 | - | $13,867,634,371 |
| 2005 | - | $16,731,566,717 |
| 2006 | - | $19,063,143,370 |
| 2007 | - | $21,650,528,674 |
| 2008 | $14,586,253,383 | $26,910,855,807 |
| 2009 | $12,231,264,525 | $25,130,278,213 |
| 2010 | $14,602,072,411 | $30,906,749,533 |
| 2011 | $14,907,308,933 | $32,726,417,878 |
| 2012 | $11,931,472,169 | $35,401,331,609 |
| 2013 | $18,426,469,017 | $40,415,233,436 |
| 2014 | $13,962,212,847 | $43,228,585,321 |
| 2015 | $11,997,800,760 | $42,444,490,074 |
| 2016 | - | $31,317,825,274 |
| 2017 | - | $26,842,229,045 |
| 2018 | - | $21,606,160,663 |
South Sudan and Yemen economies compared
GDP per capita
South Sudan
Yemen
| Year | GDP per capita | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Sudan
|
Yemen
|
|
| 1990 | - | $910 |
| 1991 | - | $1,016 |
| 1992 | - | $1,198 |
| 1993 | - | $1,397 |
| 1994 | - | $1,735 |
| 1995 | - | $764 |
| 1996 | - | $375 |
| 1997 | - | $383 |
| 1998 | - | $343 |
| 1999 | - | $401 |
| 2000 | - | $493 |
| 2001 | - | $487 |
| 2002 | - | $513 |
| 2003 | - | $549 |
| 2004 | - | $628 |
| 2005 | - | $734 |
| 2006 | - | $810 |
| 2007 | - | $890 |
| 2008 | $1,654 | $1,072 |
| 2009 | $1,323 | $969 |
| 2010 | $1,498 | $1,155 |
| 2011 | $1,449 | $1,186 |
| 2012 | $1,109 | $1,245 |
| 2013 | $1,650 | $1,379 |
| 2014 | $1,243 | $1,430 |
| 2015 | $1,080 | $1,362 |
| 2016 | - | $975 |
| 2017 | - | $811 |
| 2018 | - | $634 |
South Sudan vs. Yemen life expectancy calculator
Life expectancy
South Sudan
Yemen
| Year | Life expectancy, years | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Sudan
|
Yemen
|
|
| 1950 | 30.2 | 28.9 |
| 1951 | 30.6 | 29.3 |
| 1952 | 31 | 29.6 |
| 1953 | 31.4 | 30 |
| 1954 | 31.7 | 30.4 |
| 1955 | 32 | 30.8 |
| 1956 | 31.6 | 31.3 |
| 1957 | 30.9 | 31.8 |
| 1958 | 27.6 | 32.4 |
| 1959 | 27.8 | 32.9 |
| 1960 | 28.1 | 33.5 |
| 1961 | 28.3 | 34.1 |
| 1962 | 28.5 | 33.7 |
| 1963 | 28.2 | 33.4 |
| 1964 | 32.5 | 34.9 |
| 1965 | 28.8 | 35.6 |
| 1966 | 25.6 | 36.3 |
| 1967 | 25.9 | 37.1 |
| 1968 | 26.1 | 38 |
| 1969 | 25.4 | 39.6 |
| 1970 | 25.6 | 40.6 |
| 1971 | 31 | 41.8 |
| 1972 | 31.3 | 42.7 |
| 1973 | 36.3 | 43.6 |
| 1974 | 36.6 | 44.5 |
| 1975 | 36.9 | 45.5 |
| 1976 | 37.1 | 46.4 |
| 1977 | 37.4 | 47.4 |
| 1978 | 37.6 | 48.5 |
| 1979 | 37.8 | 49.5 |
| 1980 | 38 | 50.6 |
| 1981 | 38.3 | 51.7 |
| 1982 | 38.7 | 52.4 |
| 1983 | 34.7 | 53.6 |
| 1984 | 31.8 | 54.6 |
| 1985 | 32.4 | 55.4 |
| 1986 | 32.8 | 54 |
| 1987 | 20.7 | 56.8 |
| 1988 | 11 | 57.4 |
| 1989 | 28.2 | 58 |
| 1990 | 28.6 | 58.5 |
| 1991 | 29.2 | 58.8 |
| 1992 | 21.9 | 59.3 |
| 1993 | 22.3 | 59.7 |
| 1994 | 44.9 | 59.8 |
| 1995 | 31.5 | 60.5 |
| 1996 | 32.1 | 60.9 |
| 1997 | 33.1 | 61.3 |
| 1998 | 19 | 61.8 |
| 1999 | 44.5 | 62.3 |
| 2000 | 47.6 | 62.8 |
| 2001 | 48.6 | 63.3 |
| 2002 | 49.4 | 63.8 |
| 2003 | 52.3 | 64.4 |
| 2004 | 53.1 | 64.9 |
| 2005 | 54 | 65.4 |
| 2006 | 54.7 | 65.8 |
| 2007 | 55.4 | 66.2 |
| 2008 | 56.3 | 66.6 |
| 2009 | 56.8 | 66.9 |
| 2010 | 57.5 | 67.2 |
| 2011 | 57.7 | 67.4 |
| 2012 | 58.2 | 67.6 |
| 2013 | 58.3 | 68 |
| 2014 | 45.6 | 68 |
| 2015 | 39.8 | 66.8 |
| 2016 | 36.7 | 67.1 |
| 2017 | 35.4 | 67.1 |
| 2018 | 51.9 | 65.9 |
| 2019 | 58.1 | 66.6 |
| 2020 | 57.6 | 66.4 |
| 2021 | 57 | 66 |
| 2022 | 57.2 | 68 |
| 2023 | 57.6 | 69.3 |
| 2024 | 57.7 | 69.4 |
| 2025 | 57.9 | 69.6 |
South Sudan and Yemen population clocks and comparison
Population
South Sudan
Yemen
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Sudan
|
Yemen
|
|
| 1960 | 2,931,559 | 5,532,301 |
| 1961 | 2,976,724 | 5,655,232 |
| 1962 | 3,024,308 | 5,782,221 |
| 1963 | 3,072,669 | 5,911,135 |
| 1964 | 3,129,918 | 6,048,006 |
| 1965 | 3,189,835 | 6,195,593 |
| 1966 | 3,236,423 | 6,351,494 |
| 1967 | 3,277,648 | 6,516,444 |
| 1968 | 3,321,528 | 6,690,524 |
| 1969 | 3,365,533 | 6,875,859 |
| 1970 | 3,409,614 | 7,065,279 |
| 1971 | 3,468,646 | 7,257,462 |
| 1972 | 3,542,497 | 7,460,068 |
| 1973 | 3,627,383 | 7,672,796 |
| 1974 | 3,723,259 | 7,896,783 |
| 1975 | 3,821,494 | 8,133,598 |
| 1976 | 3,921,910 | 8,384,113 |
| 1977 | 4,024,032 | 8,648,222 |
| 1978 | 4,127,657 | 8,926,586 |
| 1979 | 4,232,605 | 9,224,194 |
| 1980 | 4,339,030 | 9,543,358 |
| 1981 | 4,447,272 | 9,882,362 |
| 1982 | 4,557,686 | 10,241,006 |
| 1983 | 4,661,574 | 10,621,499 |
| 1984 | 4,750,627 | 11,025,597 |
| 1985 | 4,834,296 | 11,453,825 |
| 1986 | 4,921,240 | 11,901,040 |
| 1987 | 4,962,395 | 12,369,912 |
| 1988 | 4,848,029 | 12,859,708 |
| 1989 | 4,713,229 | 13,364,174 |
| 1990 | 4,737,633 | 13,887,862 |
| 1991 | 4,836,677 | 14,430,201 |
| 1992 | 4,909,749 | 14,989,494 |
| 1993 | 4,956,002 | 15,563,914 |
| 1994 | 5,071,184 | 16,149,147 |
| 1995 | 5,225,836 | 16,740,058 |
| 1996 | 5,356,925 | 17,313,177 |
| 1997 | 5,509,136 | 17,873,936 |
| 1998 | 5,620,068 | 18,446,013 |
| 1999 | 5,771,628 | 19,029,420 |
| 2000 | 6,032,267 | 19,624,141 |
| 2001 | 6,308,391 | 20,226,147 |
| 2002 | 6,596,806 | 20,835,086 |
| 2003 | 6,903,127 | 21,456,379 |
| 2004 | 7,233,041 | 22,095,167 |
| 2005 | 7,590,143 | 22,790,085 |
| 2006 | 7,976,526 | 23,543,083 |
| 2007 | 8,388,788 | 24,318,082 |
| 2008 | 8,817,647 | 25,111,941 |
| 2009 | 9,243,556 | 25,927,724 |
| 2010 | 9,745,953 | 26,754,387 |
| 2011 | 10,288,109 | 27,582,897 |
| 2012 | 10,756,240 | 28,433,647 |
| 2013 | 11,166,275 | 29,312,952 |
| 2014 | 11,235,073 | 30,226,309 |
| 2015 | 11,107,561 | 31,159,379 |
| 2016 | 10,830,102 | 32,109,010 |
| 2017 | 10,259,154 | 33,090,921 |
| 2018 | 10,122,977 | 34,085,182 |
| 2019 | 10,423,384 | 35,111,408 |
| 2020 | 10,698,467 | 36,134,863 |
| 2021 | 10,865,780 | 37,140,230 |
| 2022 | 11,021,177 | 38,222,876 |
| 2023 | 11,483,374 | 39,390,799 |
| 2024 | 11,943,408 | 40,583,164 |
Fertility rates in South Sudan and Yemen
Fertility rate
South Sudan
Yemen
| Year | Fertility rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Sudan
|
Yemen
|
|
| 1960 | 7.16 | 7.99 |
| 1961 | 7.18 | 8 |
| 1962 | 7.2 | 8.01 |
| 1963 | 7.2 | 8.03 |
| 1964 | 7.22 | 8.07 |
| 1965 | 7.22 | 8.1 |
| 1966 | 7.25 | 8.14 |
| 1967 | 7.26 | 8.17 |
| 1968 | 7.26 | 8.19 |
| 1969 | 7.28 | 8.22 |
| 1970 | 7.29 | 8.23 |
| 1971 | 7.3 | 8.26 |
| 1972 | 7.31 | 8.27 |
| 1973 | 7.31 | 8.29 |
| 1974 | 7.31 | 8.33 |
| 1975 | 7.33 | 8.37 |
| 1976 | 7.33 | 8.42 |
| 1977 | 7.33 | 8.47 |
| 1978 | 7.33 | 8.5 |
| 1979 | 7.32 | 8.67 |
| 1980 | 7.33 | 8.71 |
| 1981 | 7.33 | 8.75 |
| 1982 | 7.34 | 8.79 |
| 1983 | 7.34 | 8.83 |
| 1984 | 7.35 | 8.85 |
| 1985 | 7.36 | 8.86 |
| 1986 | 7.38 | 8.86 |
| 1987 | 7.39 | 8.83 |
| 1988 | 7.38 | 8.79 |
| 1989 | 7.37 | 8.71 |
| 1990 | 7.38 | 8.61 |
| 1991 | 7.38 | 8.46 |
| 1992 | 7.37 | 8.27 |
| 1993 | 7.36 | 8.05 |
| 1994 | 7.35 | 7.8 |
| 1995 | 7.34 | 7.53 |
| 1996 | 7.32 | 7 |
| 1997 | 7.2 | 6.82 |
| 1998 | 7.08 | 6.64 |
| 1999 | 6.94 | 6.49 |
| 2000 | 6.8 | 6.32 |
| 2001 | 6.65 | 6.14 |
| 2002 | 6.52 | 5.97 |
| 2003 | 6.35 | 5.84 |
| 2004 | 6.19 | 5.71 |
| 2005 | 6.02 | 5.56 |
| 2006 | 5.85 | 5.41 |
| 2007 | 5.7 | 5.26 |
| 2008 | 5.57 | 5.11 |
| 2009 | 5.45 | 5 |
| 2010 | 5.32 | 4.81 |
| 2011 | 5.19 | 4.63 |
| 2012 | 5.06 | 4.63 |
| 2013 | 4.94 | 4.62 |
| 2014 | 4.82 | 4.62 |
| 2015 | 4.7 | 4.62 |
| 2016 | 4.58 | 4.61 |
| 2017 | 4.48 | 4.61 |
| 2018 | 4.37 | 4.61 |
| 2019 | 4.26 | 4.6 |
| 2020 | 4.16 | 4.6 |
| 2021 | 4.05 | 4.6 |
| 2022 | 3.96 | 4.59 |
| 2023 | 3.86 | 4.59 |
South Sudan and Yemen demographics compared
Median age
South Sudan
Yemen
| Year | Median age, years | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Sudan
|
Yemen
|
|
| 1960 | 18.6 | 19.7 |
| 1961 | 18.5 | 19.6 |
| 1962 | 18.5 | 19.6 |
| 1963 | 18.4 | 19.5 |
| 1964 | 18.4 | 19.4 |
| 1965 | 18.3 | 19.3 |
| 1966 | 18.3 | 19.2 |
| 1967 | 18.2 | 19.1 |
| 1968 | 18 | 18.9 |
| 1969 | 17.9 | 18.7 |
| 1970 | 17.7 | 18.4 |
| 1971 | 17.6 | 18.1 |
| 1972 | 17.5 | 17.8 |
| 1973 | 17.5 | 17.6 |
| 1974 | 17.4 | 17.3 |
| 1975 | 17.4 | 17 |
| 1976 | 17.3 | 16.8 |
| 1977 | 17.2 | 16.6 |
| 1978 | 17.2 | 16.3 |
| 1979 | 17.1 | 16.1 |
| 1980 | 17.1 | 15.9 |
| 1981 | 17 | 15.7 |
| 1982 | 16.9 | 15.5 |
| 1983 | 16.8 | 15.3 |
| 1984 | 16.8 | 15.1 |
| 1985 | 16.7 | 15 |
| 1986 | 16.6 | 14.9 |
| 1987 | 16.5 | 14.8 |
| 1988 | 16.8 | 14.7 |
| 1989 | 17.1 | 14.6 |
| 1990 | 17 | 14.6 |
| 1991 | 17 | 14.6 |
| 1992 | 17 | 14.6 |
| 1993 | 16.9 | 14.6 |
| 1994 | 16.9 | 14.6 |
| 1995 | 16.9 | 14.7 |
| 1996 | 16.9 | 14.8 |
| 1997 | 16.9 | 14.9 |
| 1998 | 17 | 15 |
| 1999 | 17.1 | 15.2 |
| 2000 | 17.2 | 15.4 |
| 2001 | 17.3 | 15.6 |
| 2002 | 17.3 | 15.8 |
| 2003 | 17.3 | 16 |
| 2004 | 17.4 | 16.2 |
| 2005 | 17.6 | 16.4 |
| 2006 | 17.8 | 16.7 |
| 2007 | 18 | 16.9 |
| 2008 | 18.2 | 17.2 |
| 2009 | 18.4 | 17.4 |
| 2010 | 18.7 | 17.7 |
| 2011 | 19 | 17.9 |
| 2012 | 19.2 | 18.1 |
| 2013 | 19.3 | 18.3 |
| 2014 | 19 | 18.5 |
| 2015 | 18.6 | 18.7 |
| 2016 | 18.2 | 18.8 |
| 2017 | 17.4 | 18.9 |
| 2018 | 17.3 | 19 |
| 2019 | 17.8 | 19.1 |
| 2020 | 18.2 | 19.1 |
| 2021 | 18.4 | 19.1 |
| 2022 | 18.7 | 19.2 |
| 2023 | 19 | 19.2 |
| 2024 | 19.4 | 19.3 |
Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for South Sudan and Yemen.
GDP per capita
GDP
Life expectancy
Population
Population density
Fertility rate
Median age
Land area
National statistics comparison
Finance
|
South Sudan
|
Yemen
|
|
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$11.7B
2015 |
$25.3B
2018 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
26.7%
2025 |
9.59%
2025 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
1.57%
2016 |
5.46%
2012 |
| Military expenditure, % of GDP |
6.26%
2023 |
3.97%
2014 |
| Armed forces personnel |
53,000
2020 |
40,000
2020 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
+2%
2025 |
-3.73%
2025 |
| Unemployment rate |
12.3%
2008 |
13.5%
2014 |
| Services, % of GDP |
56.6%
2015 |
41.8%
2018 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
33.1%
2015 |
25.4%
2018 |
| Economic freedom index |
41
2025 |
53.7
2015 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
33%
2016 |
29.4%
2014 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
1.8%
2016 |
3%
2014 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$72.9M
2023 |
$1.25B
2022 |
| Personal remittances received |
$1.14B
2024 |
$3.43B
2024 |
| International tourist arrivals | n/a |
398,000
2015 |
| International tourism as share of exports |
0.39%
2018 |
12.4%
2016 |
| Banked people share |
5.83%
2021 |
11.9%
2022 |
Energy
|
South Sudan
|
Yemen
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
69 kg
2022 |
68.9 kg
2022 |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use |
$15.1
2015 |
$11.2
2013 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions | n/a |
10.9 megatons
2023 |
| CO2 emissions per capita | n/a |
0.28 tons
2023 |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
73.4%
2022 |
93.1%
2022 |
| Renewable energy use share |
32.4%
2021 |
3.7%
2021 |
| Alternative and nuclear energy use share |
0.4%
2022 |
1.64%
2022 |
| Net energy imports use share |
-860%
2022 |
-11%
2022 |
| Electric power consumption per capita |
46.9 kWh
2022 |
54 kWh
2022 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
0.34%
2021 |
21.1%
2021 |
| Hydroelectric share |
0%
2021 |
0%
2021 |
| Nuclear share |
0%
2021 |
0%
2021 |
| Electricity access |
5.4%
2023 |
83.6%
2023 |
Society
|
South Sudan
|
Yemen
|
|
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.15%
2024 |
0.5%
2024 |
| Annual migration change |
+15,374
2024 |
-10,482
2024 |
| Urban population |
21.6%
2024 |
40.5%
2024 |
| Male:Female ratio |
50:50
2024 |
50:50
2024 |
| Average male height | n/a |
5.39 ft
2025 |
| Average female height | n/a |
5.08 ft
2025 |
| Quality of life index |
5.62
2025 |
16.1
2025 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
8
2024 |
13
2024 |
| Higher education index |
10
2025 |
20
2025 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
14.1
2012 |
6.31
2013 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
36.7
2019 |
29.4
2019 |
| Visa free countries |
54
2025 |
46
2025 |
| Adult literacy rate |
34.5%
2018 |
54.1%
2004 |
| English speaking |
94%
2023 |
9%
2023 |
| People using the Internet |
9.27%
2020 |
13.8%
2020 |
Health
|
South Sudan
|
Yemen
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita |
$49.4
2022 |
$38.1
2022 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$17
2022 |
$26.8
2022 |
| Life expectancy |
57.9 years
2025 |
69.6 years
2025 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
49.1%
2022 |
23.9%
2022 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
0.04
2020 |
0.29
2014 |
| Age at first childbirth | n/a |
20.8 years
2025 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
692
2023 |
118
2023 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births |
98.7
2023 |
39.3
2023 |
| Obesity rate |
8.79%
2022 |
14.1%
2022 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
4.6%
2024 |
5.5%
2024 |
| Air quality index |
21
2025 |
31
2025 |
| Tobacco use prevalence | n/a |
21.4%
2022 |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita | n/a |
0.04 liters
2020 |
Territory
|
South Sudan
|
Yemen
|
|
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.42%
2025 |
0.35%
2025 |
| Land area per capita |
20,429 sq mi
2024 |
5,023 sq mi
2024 |
| Agricultural land area |
109,449 sq mi
2025 |
90,549 sq mi
2025 |
| Forest area |
27,633 sq mi
2025 |
2,120 sq mi
2025 |
In-depth comparisons
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