Egypt attempted to colonize the region of southern Sudan by establishing the province of Equatoria in the 1870s. Islamic Mahdist revolutionaries overran the region in 1885, but in 1898 a British force was able to overthrow the Mahdist regime. An Anglo-Egyptian Sudan was established the following year with Equatoria being the southernmost of its eight provinces. The isolated region was largely left to itself over the following decades, but Christian missionaries converted much of the population and facilitated the spread of English. When Sudan gained its independence in 1956, it was with the understanding that the southerners would be able to participate fully in the political system. When the Arab Khartoum government reneged on its promises, a mutiny began that led to two prolonged periods of conflict (1955-1972 and 1983-2005) in which perhaps 2.5 million people died - mostly civilians - due to starvation and drought. Ongoing peace talks finally resulted in a Comprehensive Peace Agreement, signed in January 2005. As part of this agreement, the south was granted a six-year period of autonomy to be followed by a referendum on final status. The result of this referendum, held in January 2011, was a vote of 98% in favor of secession.

Since independence on 9 July 2011, South Sudan has struggled with good governance and nation building and has attempted to control rebel militia groups operating in its territory. Economic conditions have deteriorated since January 2012 when the government decided to shut down oil production following bilateral disagreements with Sudan. In December 2013, conflict between government and opposition forces led to a humanitarian crisis with millions of South Sudanese displaced and food insecure. The warring parties signed a peace agreement in August 2015 that created a transitional government of national unity in April 2016. However, in July 2016, fighting broke out between the two principal signatories plunging the country back into conflict.

East-Central Africa; south of Sudan, north of Uganda and Kenya, west of Ethiopia

8 00 N, 30 00 E

Africa

more than four times the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Texas

0 km (landlocked)

none (landlocked)

hot with seasonal rainfall influenced by the annual shift of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone; rainfall heaviest in upland areas of the south and diminishes to the north

plains in the north and center rise to southern highlands along the border with Uganda and Kenya; the White Nile, flowing north out of the uplands of Central Africa, is the major geographic feature of the country; The Sudd (a name derived from floating vegetation that hinders navigation) is a large swampy area of more than 100,000 sq km fed by the waters of the White Nile that dominates the center of the country

highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m

hydropower, fertile agricultural land, gold, diamonds, petroleum, hardwoods, limestone, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver

arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 100%

1,000 sq km (2012)

clusters found in urban areas, particularly in the western interior and around the White Nile

landlocked; The Sudd is a vast swamp in South Sudan, formed by the White Nile, comprising more than 15% of the country's total area; it is one of the world's largest wetlands

13,026,129 (July 2017 est.)

Dinka 35.8%, Nuer 15.6%, Shilluk, Azande, Bari, Kakwa, Kuku, Murle, Mandari, Didinga, Ndogo, Bviri, Lndi, Anuak, Bongo, Lango, Dungotona, Acholi, Baka, Fertit (2011 est.)

English (official), Arabic (includes Juba and Sudanese variants), regional languages include Dinka, Nuer, Bari, Zande, Shilluk

animist, Christian

South Sudan, independent from Sudan since July 2011 after decades of civil war, is one of the world’s poorest countries and ranks among the lowest in many socioeconomic categories. Problems are exacerbated by ongoing tensions with Sudan over oil revenues and land borders, fighting between government forces and rebel groups, and inter-communal violence. Most of the population lives off of farming, while smaller numbers rely on animal husbandry; more than 80% of the populace lives in rural areas. The maternal mortality rate is among the world’s highest for a variety of reasons, including a shortage of health care workers, facilities, and supplies; poor roads and a lack of transport; and cultural beliefs that prevent women from seeking obstetric care. Most women marry and start having children early, giving birth at home with the assistance of traditional birth attendants, who are unable to handle complications.

Educational attainment is extremely poor due to the lack of schools, qualified teachers, and materials. Less than a third of the population is literate (the rate is even lower among women), and half live below the poverty line. Teachers and students are also struggling with the switch from Arabic to English as the language of instruction. Many adults missed out on schooling because of warfare and displacement.

Almost 2 million South Sudanese have sought refuge in neighboring countries since the current conflict began in December 2013. Another 1.96 million South Sudanese are internally displaced as of August 2017. Despite South Sudan’s instability and lack of infrastructure and social services, more than 240,000 people have fled to South Sudan to escape fighting in Sudan.

3.83% (2017 est.)

35.5 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

10.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

clusters found in urban areas, particularly in the western interior and around the White Nile

JUBA (capital) 321,000 (2015)

789 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

5.07 children born/woman (2017 est.)

4% (2010)

2.7% of GDP (2014)

urban: 66.7% of population

rural: 56.9% of population

total: 58.7% of population

urban: 33.3% of population

rural: 43.1% of population

total: 41.3% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 16.4% of population

rural: 4.5% of population

total: 6.7% of population

urban: 83.6% of population

rural: 95.5% of population

total: 93.3% of population (2015 est.)

2.7% (2016 est.)

200,000 (2016 est.)

13,000 (2016 est.)

6.6% (2014)

27.6% (2010)

0.8% of GDP (2011)

presidential republic

10 states; Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, Lakes, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Unity, Upper Nile, Warrap, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Western Equatoria

9 July 2011 (from Sudan)

Independence Day, 9 July (2011)

18 years of age; universal

Sudan People's Liberation Movement or SPLM [Salva KIIR Mayardit]

Sudan People's Liberation Movement-Democratic Movement or SPLM-DC [Lam AKOL, chairman]

Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition or SPLM-IO [Riek MACHAR Teny Dhurgon]

Democratic Change or DC [Onyoti Adigo NYIKWEC] (formerly SPLM-DC)

AU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side contains a gold, five-pointed star; black represents the people of South Sudan, red the blood shed in the struggle for freedom, green the verdant land, and blue the waters of the Nile; the gold star represents the unity of the states making up South Sudan

African fish eagle; national colors: red, green, blue, yellow, black, white

Following several decades of civil war with Sudan, industry and infrastructure in landlocked South Sudan are severely underdeveloped and poverty is widespread. Subsistence agriculture provides a living for the vast majority of the population. Property rights are insecure and price signals are weak, because markets are not well organized. After independence, South Sudan's central bank issued a new currency, the South Sudanese pound, allowing a short grace period for turning in the old currency.

South Sudan has little infrastructure - approximately 200 kilometers of paved roads. Electricity is produced mostly by costly diesel generators, and indoor plumbing and potable water are scarce. South Sudan depends largely on imports of goods, services, and capital - mainly from Uganda, Kenya and Sudan.

Nevertheless, South Sudan does have abundant natural resources. At independence in 2011, South Sudan produced nearly three-fourths of former Sudan's total oil output of nearly a half million barrels per day. The Government of South Sudan used to rely on oil for the vast majority of its budget revenues before oil production fell sharply. Oil is exported through a pipeline that runs to refineries and shipping facilities at Port Sudan on the Red Sea. The economy of South Sudan will remain linked to Sudan for some time, given the long lead time and great expense required to build another pipeline, should the government decide to do so. In January 2012, South Sudan suspended production of oil because of its dispute with Sudan over transshipment fees. This suspension lasted 15 months and had a devastating impact on GDP, which declined by 48% in 2012. With the resumption of oil flows the economy rebounded strongly during the second half of calendar year 2013. This occurred in spite of the fact that oil production, at an average level of 222,000 barrels per day, was 40% lower compared with 2011, prior to the shutdown. GDP grew by nearly 30% in 2013. However, the outbreak of conflict in December 2013 combined with a further reduction of oil production and exports, meant that GDP growth fell significantly in 2014 and 2015 as poverty and food insecurity rose. South Sudan holds one of the richest agricultural areas in Africa with fertile soils and abundant water supplies. Currently the region supports 10-20 million head of cattle.

South Sudan is currently burdened by considerable debt because of increased military spending and revenue shortfalls due to low oil prices and decreased production. South Sudan has received more than $4 billion in foreign aid since 2005, largely from the UK, the US, Norway, and the Netherlands. Annual inflation peaked at over 800% in October 2016. The government has relied on borrowing from the central bank to fund budget expenses. The decision in December 2015 by the central bank to abandon a fixed exchange rate and allow the South Sudanese Pound to float has not reduced inflation in the short term. Long-term challenges include diversifying the formal economy, alleviating poverty, maintaining macroeconomic stability, improving tax collection and financial management and improving the business environment.

$20.71 billion (2016 est.)

$23.73 billion (2015 est.)

$23.52 billion (2014 est.)

$3.056 billion (2016 est.)

-13.8% (2016 est.)

-0.2% (2015 est.)

2.9% (2014 est.)

$1,700 (2016 est.)

$2,000 (2015 est.)

$2,100 (2014 est.)

20% of GDP (2016 est.)

7.3% of GDP (2015 est.)

18.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

sorghum, maize, rice, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sugarcane, mangoes, papayas, bananas, sweet potatoes, sunflower seeds, cotton, sesame seeds, cassava (manioc, tapioca), beans, peanuts; cattle, sheep

50.6% (2009 est.)

46 (2010 est.)

15% of GDP (FY2013 est.)

-62.5% of GDP (FY2013 est.)

33% of GDP (2016 est.)

65.7% of GDP (2015 est.)

379.8% (2016 est.)

52.8% (2015 est.)

$1.873 billion (31 December 2013)

$2.032 billion (31 December 2012)

$2.194 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$2.23 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$142 million (2016 est.)

$-902 million (2015 est.)

South Sudanese pounds (SSP) per US dollar -

0.9214 (2016 est.)

0.885 (2015 est.)

0.885 (2014 est.)

0.7634 (2013 est.)

0.78 (2012 est.)

310.3 million kWh (2015 est.)

0 kWh (2015 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

80,000 kW (2015 est.)

100% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

152,500 bbl/day (2016 est.)

155,200 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

3.75 billion bbl (1 January 2017 es)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

11,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

10,630 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

63.71 billion cu m (1 January 2016 es)

2.016 million Mt (2011 est.)

TV is controlled by the government; several private FM stations are operational in South Sudan; some foreign radio broadcasts are available

.ss

Z8 (2016)

85 (2013)

1 (2013)

see entry for Sudan

10.93% of GDP (2015)

9.77% of GDP (2014)

7.41% of GDP (2013)

9.53% of GDP (2012)

5.91% of GDP (2011)

South Sudan Defense Force (SSDF): ground force, navy, air force and air defense units (2017)

18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service; the Government of South Sudan signed agreements in March 2012 and August 2015 that included the demobilization of all child soldiers within the armed forces and opposition, but the recruitment of child soldiers by the warring parties continues; as of the end of 2016, UNICEF estimates that more than 17,000 child soldiers had been used in the country's civil war since it began in December 2013 (2016)

South Sudan-Sudan boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment, final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; final sovereignty status of Abyei Area pending negotiations between South Sudan and Sudan; periodic violent skirmishes with South Sudanese residents over water and grazing rights persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic; the boundary that separates Kenya and South Sudan's sovereignty is unclear in the "Ilemi Triangle," which Kenya has administered since colonial times