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South Sudan vs Zambia statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Sudan has a population of 11.9M (ranked 81/197), compared with 21.3M in Zambia (ranked 63/197). South Sudan's land area is 243,990 sq mi versus 287,024 sq mi for Zambia (ranked 41st vs. 37th).

By GDP, South Sudan ranks 149/197 ($12B) and Zambia ranks 116/197 ($25.3B). By GDP per capita, South Sudan ranks 175/197 ($1,080), while Zambia ranks 169/197 ($1,187).

Main facts and rankings

South Sudan Zambia
Population
12507858
22697916
Population rank 80/197 62/197
GDP
$12B
2015
$25.3B
2024
GDP rank 149/197 116/197
GDP per capita
$1,080
2015
$1,187
2024
GDP per capita rank 175/197 169/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,155
2015
$4,215
2024
Government debt
$7.04B
2015
$29.1B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
50.7%
2024
114.9%
2024
Government debt per person
$633
2015
$1,365
2024
Government debt per person rank 158/185 134/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,305
2026
$1,349
2026
Land area 243,990 sq mi 287,024 sq mi
Population density
51 ppl/mi²
2026
78.5 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
3.86
2023
4.1
2023
Median age
19.4 years
2024
18.8 years
2024
Life expectancy
58 years
2026
66.9 years
2026

South Sudan and Zambia: Comparison Charts

South Sudan and Zambia economies compared

GDP
South Sudan

Zambia
1x
Year GDP
South Sudan Zambia
2024 - $25,303,185,342
2023 - $27,577,956,471
2022 - $29,163,782,140
2021 - $22,096,416,932
2020 - $18,137,764,931
2019 - $23,308,667,781
2018 - $26,311,507,274
2017 - $25,873,601,261
2016 - $20,958,412,538
2015 $11,997,800,760 $21,251,216,799
2014 $13,962,212,847 $27,141,023,558
2013 $18,426,469,017 $28,037,239,463
2012 $11,931,472,169 $25,503,060,420
2011 $14,907,308,933 $23,459,515,276
2010 $14,602,072,411 $20,265,559,484
2009 $12,231,264,525 $15,328,342,304
2008 $14,586,253,383 $17,910,858,638
2007 - $14,056,957,976
2006 - $12,756,858,899
2005 - $8,331,870,169
2004 - $6,221,110,219
2003 - $4,901,869,764
2002 - $4,193,850,445
2001 - $4,094,441,301
2000 - $3,600,632,111
1999 - $3,404,284,891
1998 - $3,537,741,942
1997 - $4,303,288,480
1996 - $3,597,220,962
1995 - $3,806,983,413
1994 - $3,656,806,166
1993 - $3,273,505,344
1992 - $3,182,810,841
1991 - $3,376,806,697
1990 - $3,288,381,797
1989 - $3,994,673,161
1988 - $3,728,878,149
1987 - $2,265,250,972
1986 - $1,664,413,508
1985 - $2,252,454,500
1984 - $2,719,518,933
1983 - $3,321,048,451
1982 - $3,871,117,093
1981 - $4,008,126,497
1980 - $3,884,530,854
1979 - $3,353,445,378
1978 - $2,811,032,473
1977 - $2,515,296,940
1976 - $2,742,859,263
1975 - $2,442,672,141
1974 - $2,910,981,262
1973 - $2,434,255,237
1972 - $1,872,416,680
1971 - $1,653,259,341
1970 - $1,788,779,285
1969 - $1,926,399,230
1968 - $1,573,739,371
1967 - $1,340,639,464
1966 - $1,238,999,505
1965 - $1,061,199,576
1964 - $822,639,671
1963 - $704,339,719
1962 - $679,279,729
1961 - $682,359,727
1960 - $698,739,721

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

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

South Sudan and Zambia economies compared

GDP per capita
South Sudan

Zambia
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Sudan Zambia
2024 - $1,187
2023 - $1,331
2022 - $1,447
2021 - $1,127
2020 - $952
2019 - $1,259
2018 - $1,464
2017 - $1,483
2016 - $1,239
2015 $1,080 $1,296
2014 $1,243 $1,707
2013 $1,650 $1,821
2012 $1,109 $1,710
2011 $1,449 $1,625
2010 $1,498 $1,451
2009 $1,323 $1,136
2008 $1,654 $1,376
2007 - $1,119
2006 - $1,052
2005 - $711
2004 - $549
2003 - $446
2002 - $394
2001 - $397
2000 - $359
1999 - $350
1998 - $373
1997 - $466
1996 - $400
1995 - $433
1994 - $426
1993 - $391
1992 - $389
1991 - $423
1990 - $422
1989 - $526
1988 - $504
1987 - $315
1986 - $238.2
1985 - $332
1984 - $413
1983 - $520
1982 - $627
1981 - $670
1980 - $669
1979 - $595
1978 - $514
1977 - $474
1976 - $533
1975 - $490
1974 - $601
1973 - $518
1972 - $410
1971 - $372
1970 - $414
1969 - $459
1968 - $387
1967 - $341
1966 - $325
1965 - $287.4
1964 - $230
1963 - $203.2
1962 - $202.3
1961 - $209.7
1960 - $221.6

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

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

South Sudan vs. Zambia life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Sudan

Zambia
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Sudan Zambia
2026 58 66.9
2025 57.9 66.7
2024 57.7 66.5
2023 57.6 66.3
2022 57.2 65.3
2021 57 62.4
2020 57.6 63.4
2019 58.1 62.9
2018 51.9 62.1
2017 35.4 61.6
2016 36.7 61.1
2015 39.8 60.7
2014 45.6 60.1
2013 58.3 59.4
2012 58.2 58.7
2011 57.7 57.8
2010 57.5 56.9
2009 56.8 55.9
2008 56.3 54.8
2007 55.4 53.7
2006 54.7 52.7
2005 54 51.6
2004 53.1 50.5
2003 52.3 49.6
2002 49.4 48.5
2001 48.6 47.4
2000 47.6 46.6
1999 44.5 45.9
1998 19 45.7
1997 33.1 45.7
1996 32.1 45.8
1995 31.5 46.1
1994 44.9 46.3
1993 22.3 46.7
1992 21.9 47
1991 29.2 47.4
1990 28.6 48.2
1989 28.2 48.9
1988 11 49.7
1987 20.7 50.4
1986 32.8 51.1
1985 32.4 52
1984 31.8 52.9
1983 34.7 53.7
1982 38.7 54.4
1981 38.3 55
1980 38 55.5
1979 37.8 56
1978 37.6 56.3
1977 37.4 56.3
1976 37.1 56.1
1975 36.9 55.7
1974 36.6 55.4
1973 36.3 54.9
1972 31.3 54.4
1971 31 53.9
1970 25.6 53.4
1969 25.4 53
1968 26.1 52.7
1967 25.9 52.5
1966 25.6 52.3
1965 28.8 52.1
1964 32.5 51.2
1963 28.2 51.6
1962 28.5 51.3
1961 28.3 51
1960 28.1 50.6
1959 27.8 50.3
1958 27.6 49.9
1957 30.9 49.5
1956 31.6 49.1
1955 32 48.8
1954 31.7 48.4
1953 31.4 48
1952 31 47.6
1951 30.6 47.2
1950 30.2 46.8

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

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

South Sudan and Zambia population clocks and comparison

Population
South Sudan

Zambia
1x
Year Population
South Sudan Zambia
2024 11,943,408 21,314,956
2023 11,483,374 20,723,965
2022 11,021,177 20,152,938
2021 10,865,780 19,603,607
2020 10,698,467 19,059,395
2019 10,423,384 18,513,839
2018 10,122,977 17,973,569
2017 10,259,154 17,441,320
2016 10,830,102 16,914,423
2015 11,107,561 16,399,089
2014 11,235,073 15,895,315
2013 11,166,275 15,398,997
2012 10,756,240 14,913,629
2011 10,288,109 14,437,796
2010 9,745,953 13,965,594
2009 9,243,556 13,490,389
2008 8,817,647 13,021,324
2007 8,388,788 12,565,085
2006 7,976,526 12,129,553
2005 7,590,143 11,718,819
2004 7,233,041 11,338,198
2003 6,903,127 10,983,595
2002 6,596,806 10,647,949
2001 6,308,391 10,325,185
2000 6,032,267 10,017,631
1999 5,771,628 9,740,005
1998 5,620,068 9,482,408
1997 5,509,136 9,237,063
1996 5,356,925 9,004,053
1995 5,225,836 8,785,763
1994 5,071,184 8,576,269
1993 4,956,002 8,373,921
1992 4,909,749 8,176,680
1991 4,836,677 7,981,650
1990 4,737,633 7,786,169
1989 4,713,229 7,589,216
1988 4,848,029 7,391,440
1987 4,962,395 7,191,282
1986 4,921,240 6,986,471
1985 4,834,296 6,780,953
1984 4,750,627 6,580,490
1983 4,661,574 6,381,038
1982 4,557,686 6,178,637
1981 4,447,272 5,983,289
1980 4,339,030 5,802,833
1979 4,232,605 5,631,728
1978 4,127,657 5,465,374
1977 4,024,032 5,302,480
1976 3,921,910 5,143,842
1975 3,821,494 4,990,086
1974 3,723,259 4,842,746
1973 3,627,383 4,702,693
1972 3,542,497 4,569,309
1971 3,468,646 4,442,525
1970 3,409,614 4,321,718
1969 3,365,533 4,197,116
1968 3,321,528 4,065,593
1967 3,277,648 3,936,343
1966 3,236,423 3,812,003
1965 3,189,835 3,692,086
1964 3,129,918 3,577,017
1963 3,072,669 3,465,907
1962 3,024,308 3,358,099
1961 2,976,724 3,254,086
1960 2,931,559 3,153,729

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

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

Fertility rates in South Sudan and Zambia

Fertility rate
South Sudan

Zambia
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Sudan Zambia
2023 3.86 4.1
2022 3.96 4.18
2021 4.05 4.25
2020 4.16 4.32
2019 4.26 4.42
2018 4.37 4.49
2017 4.48 4.57
2016 4.58 4.67
2015 4.7 4.78
2014 4.82 4.89
2013 4.94 5.01
2012 5.06 5.14
2011 5.19 5.26
2010 5.32 5.36
2009 5.45 5.45
2008 5.57 5.53
2007 5.7 5.61
2006 5.85 5.68
2005 6.02 5.7
2004 6.19 5.7
2003 6.35 5.71
2002 6.52 5.77
2001 6.65 5.85
2000 6.8 5.92
1999 6.94 6
1998 7.08 6.07
1997 7.2 6.12
1996 7.32 6.18
1995 7.34 6.23
1994 7.35 6.26
1993 7.36 6.3
1992 7.37 6.35
1991 7.38 6.46
1990 7.38 6.57
1989 7.37 6.64
1988 7.38 6.7
1987 7.39 6.8
1986 7.38 6.87
1985 7.36 6.93
1984 7.35 6.97
1983 7.34 7.01
1982 7.34 7.04
1981 7.33 7.07
1980 7.33 7.14
1979 7.32 7.22
1978 7.33 7.29
1977 7.33 7.35
1976 7.33 7.39
1975 7.33 7.42
1974 7.31 7.36
1973 7.31 7.34
1972 7.31 7.3
1971 7.3 7.26
1970 7.29 7.22
1969 7.28 7.18
1968 7.26 7.18
1967 7.26 7.15
1966 7.25 7.14
1965 7.22 7.12
1964 7.22 7.09
1963 7.2 7.06
1962 7.2 7.01
1961 7.18 6.98
1960 7.16 6.95

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

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

South Sudan and Zambia demographics compared

Median age
South Sudan

Zambia
1x
Year Median age, years
South Sudan Zambia
2024 19.4 18.8
2023 19 18.6
2022 18.7 18.4
2021 18.4 18.2
2020 18.2 18
2019 17.8 17.9
2018 17.3 17.7
2017 17.4 17.5
2016 18.2 17.4
2015 18.6 17.2
2014 19 17.1
2013 19.3 17
2012 19.2 16.9
2011 19 16.8
2010 18.7 16.7
2009 18.4 16.6
2008 18.2 16.5
2007 18 16.4
2006 17.8 16.3
2005 17.6 16.3
2004 17.4 16.2
2003 17.3 16.1
2002 17.3 16
2001 17.3 15.9
2000 17.2 15.9
1999 17.1 15.8
1998 17 15.8
1997 16.9 15.8
1996 16.9 15.8
1995 16.9 15.8
1994 16.9 15.8
1993 16.9 15.8
1992 17 15.8
1991 17 15.7
1990 17 15.7
1989 17.1 15.7
1988 16.8 15.6
1987 16.5 15.6
1986 16.6 15.5
1985 16.7 15.5
1984 16.8 15.4
1983 16.8 15.4
1982 16.9 15.3
1981 17 15.3
1980 17.1 15.2
1979 17.1 15.3
1978 17.2 15.3
1977 17.2 15.4
1976 17.3 15.4
1975 17.4 15.5
1974 17.4 15.7
1973 17.5 15.8
1972 17.5 15.9
1971 17.6 16.1
1970 17.7 16.2
1969 17.9 16.4
1968 18 16.4
1967 18.2 16.5
1966 18.3 16.5
1965 18.3 16.6
1964 18.4 16.6
1963 18.4 16.7
1962 18.5 16.8
1961 18.5 16.9
1960 18.6 17

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Sudan Zambia
GNI, Atlas method
$11.7B
2015
$25.9B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.1%
2024
25.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
1.57%
2016
4.07%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.96%
2024
1.33%
2024
Armed forces personnel
53,000
2020
16,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+11.7%
2024
-3.32%
2024
Unemployment rate
12.3%
2008
5.86%
2023
Services, % of GDP
56.6%
2015
57.2%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
33.1%
2015
35.2%
2024
Economic freedom index
41
2025
51.9
2026
Income share by richest 10%
33%
2016
39.1%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
1.8%
2016
1.5%
2022
Listed domestic companies n/a
20
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$7.77B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$72.9M
2023
$4.09B
2024
Personal remittances received
$1.14B
2024
$334M
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
502,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
0.39%
2018
n/a
Banked people share
5.83%
2021
72.7%
2024

Energy

South Sudan Zambia
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
69 kg
2022
801 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$15.1
2015
$4.8
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions n/a
11.6 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita n/a
0.54 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
73.4%
2022
18.4%
2022
Renewable energy use share
32.4%
2021
83%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.4%
2022
9.18%
2022
Net energy imports use share
-860%
2022
9.03%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
46.9 kWh
2022
704 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
0.34%
2021
92.1%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0%
2021
87.7%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
5.4%
2023
51.1%
2023

Society

South Sudan Zambia
% of world population
0.15%
2024
0.26%
2024
Annual migration change
+6,145
2025
+6,562
2025
Urban population
21.4%
2024
45.5%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.2:50.8
2024
49.5:50.5
2024
Average male height n/a
5.5 ft
2025
Average female height n/a
5.16 ft
2025
Quality of life index
4.76
2026
30.2
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
9
2025
37
2025
Higher education index
14
2026
47
2026
Homicides per 100K people
14.1
2012
5.25
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
36.7
2019
20.5
2019
Visa free countries
50
2025
74
2025
Adult literacy rate
34.5%
2018
82%
2023
English speaking
94%
2023
16%
2023
People using the Internet
9.27%
2020
33%
2023

Health

South Sudan Zambia
Government health expenditure per capita
$72.8
2023
$79.6
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$19.7
2023
$8.18
2023
Life expectancy
58 years
2026
66.9 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
62.3%
2023
47.9%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.04
2022
0.32
2022
Age at first childbirth n/a
19.2 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
692
2023
85
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
98.7
2023
44.7
2023
Obesity rate
8.79%
2022
11.2%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
4.6%
2024
10.3%
2024
Air quality index
22
2026
30
2026
Tobacco use prevalence n/a
14.6%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita n/a
3.62 liters
2020

Territory

South Sudan Zambia
% of world land
0.42%
2026
0.5%
2026
Land area per capita
20,429 sq mi
2024
13,466 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
109,449 sq mi
2026
92,043 sq mi
2026
Forest area
27,633 sq mi
2026
170,848 sq mi
2026
Roads length n/a
42,049 mi
2018

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) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2015–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
  11. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)

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.