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Aid, poverty & equality · Sub-Saharan Africa · Low income
South Sudan: poverty, inequality and aid
Extreme poverty is 76.5% (2016), 3rd of 151 in the world and 3rd of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty, $4.20/day is 88.0% (2016), 3rd of 151 in the world and 3rd of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty, $8.30/day is 97.6% (2016), 2nd of 151 in the world and 2nd of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Food insecurity
South SudanLow incomeWorld
Women in parliament
South SudanSub-Saharan AfricaLow incomeWorld
14 indicators
Aid, poverty & equality: South Sudan in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme povertyExtreme poverty, $3.00 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 76.5%2016 | 3/151 | 3/44 | · | 44.9%2009 | · | — | 45.0% | 52.5% | 10.1% | |
| Poverty, $4.20/dayPoverty at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 88.0%2016 | 3/151 | 3/44 | · | 59.2%2009 | · | — | 63.2% | 70.3% | 18.2% | |
| Poverty, $8.30/dayPoverty at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 97.6%2016 | 2/151 | 2/44 | · | 84.9%2009 | · | — | 88.6% | 92.4% | 46.2% | |
| National poverty ratePoverty at national poverty lines, % of population | 82.3%2016 | 1/145 | 1/45 | · | · | · | — | — | — | — | |
| Gini indexGini index of income inequality | 44.02016 | 19/151 | 11/44 | · | 46.32009 | · | — | — | — | — | |
| Top 10% income shareIncome share held by the richest 10% | 33.0%2016 | 25/151 | 13/44 | · | 33.2%2009 | · | — | — | — | — | |
| Bottom 20% income shareIncome share held by the poorest 20% | 4.9%2016 | 133/151 | 34/44 | · | 3.9%2009 | · | — | — | — | — | |
| UndernourishmentPrevalence of undernourishment, % of population | 19.1%2024 | 27/167 | 21/44 | · | · | 21.8% | — | 22.3% | 27.3% | 8.1% | |
| Food insecurityModerate or severe food insecurity, % of population | 88.8%2024 | 1/155 | 1/38 | · | · | 86.4% | — | — | 65.4% | 28.0% | |
| Account ownershipAccount ownership (bank or mobile money), % of adults | 5.8%2021 | 145/145 | 36/36 | · | · | 5.8%2021 | — | 55.1% | 46.4% | 78.7% | |
| Women in parliamentSeats held by women in national parliament, % | 32.4%2025 | 61/190 | 14/46 | · | 26.5%2011 | 28.5% | +5.9 ppsince 2015 | 27.0% | 24.8% | 27.2% | |
| Net ODA receivedNet official development assistance received, US$ | $1.8bn2023 | 22/145 | 11/48 | · | $436m2011 | $1.8bn | +28%since 2013 | $64.8bn | $44.6bn | $259bn | |
| ODA, % of GNINet ODA received, % of GNI | 15.9%2015 | 14/139 | 4/47 | · | 5.1%2011 | · | — | 3.1% | 8.2% | 0.2% | |
| ODA per personNet ODA received per capita, US$ | $1562023 | 34/145 | 5/48 | · | $42.42011 | $171 | +25%since 2013 | $51.5 | $61.4 | $32.2 |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- Women in parliament+5.9 pp32.4% in 2025
Worse than ten years ago
No rated indicator got worse over the decade.
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
South Sudan and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with South Sudan. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | South Sudan | Ethiopia | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Kenya | Sudan | Uganda |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme poverty | 76.5%2016 | 38.6%2021 | 85.3%2020 | 45.5%2022 | 10.1%2014 | 54.4%2023 |
| Poverty, $4.20/day | 88.0%2016 | 63.7%2021 | 92.5%2020 | 65.5%2022 | 26.0%2014 | 72.3%2023 |
| Poverty, $8.30/day | 97.6%2016 | 93.5%2021 | 98.0%2020 | 90.1%2022 | 73.2%2014 | 93.6%2023 |
| National poverty rate | 82.3%2016 | 33.1%2021 | 56.2%2020 | 39.8%2022 | 46.5%2009 | 16.1%2023 |
| Gini index | 44.02016 | 31.12021 | 44.72020 | 38.52022 | 34.22014 | 38.22023 |
| Top 10% income share | 33.0%2016 | 24.8%2021 | 35.7%2020 | 30.9%2022 | 27.8%2014 | 29.3%2023 |
| Bottom 20% income share | 4.9%2016 | 8.3%2021 | 5.5%2020 | 7.1%2022 | 7.8%2014 | 6.6%2023 |
| Undernourishment | 19.1%2024 | 19.9%2024 | 39.5%2024 | 34.9%2024 | 10.9%2021 | 20.9%2024 |
| Food insecurity | 88.8%2024 | 60.1%2024 | 81.7%2024 | 71.7%2024 | — | 51.6%2024 |