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Education · Sub-Saharan Africa · Low income
South Sudan: education in numbers
Pre-primary enrolment is 11.6% (2018), 164th of 176 in the world and 30th of 39 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Primary enrolment is 98.4% (2024), 111th of 191 in the world and 22nd of 41 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Primary completion is 28.7% (2011).
11 indicators
Education: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-primary enrolmentPre-primary enrolment, % gross | 11.6%2018 | 164/176 | 30/39 | · | 5.5% | 11.6%2018 | — | 28.1% | 20.1% | 60.9% | |
| Primary enrolmentPrimary school enrolment, % gross | 98.4%2024 | 111/191 | 22/41 | · | 90.4%2011 | · | +8.0 ppsince 2011 | 97.1% | 97.6% | 102.2% | |
| Primary completionPrimary completion rate, % of age group | 28.7%2011 | — | — | · | 28.7%2011 | · | — | 68.9% | 62.9% | 88.0% | |
| Secondary enrolmentSecondary school enrolment, % gross | 122.1%2024 | 13/176 | 1/34 | · | 10.8%2011 | · | +111.3 ppsince 2011 | 45.9% | 41.5% | 77.3% | |
| Lower secondary completionLower secondary completion rate, % of age group | 20.5%2011 | — | — | · | 20.5%2011 | · | — | 44.4% | 38.6% | 77.9% | |
| Out-of-school childrenChildren out of school, % of primary school age | 64.7%2024 | 1/178 | 1/38 | · | 55.3%2011 | · | +9.4 ppsince 2011 | — | 24.1% | — | |
| Adult literacyAdult literacy rate, % of people 15+ | 26.8%2008 | — | — | · | 26.8%2008 | · | — | 68.7% | 63.6% | 87.7% | |
| Youth literacyYouth literacy rate, % of people 15–24 | 36.7%2008 | — | — | · | 36.7%2008 | · | — | 79.0% | 75.4% | 93.1% | |
| Pupils per teacherPupils per teacher, primary | 46.82015 | 10/173 | 9/40 | · | 49.92011 | · | — | 37.4 | 39.8 | 23.4 | |
| Education spendingPublic spending on education, % of GDP | 1.6%2016 | — | — | · | 1.0% | · | — | 3.3% | 3.0% | 3.6% | |
| Education, % of budgetEducation spending, % of government expenditure | 0.0%2024 | 179/179 | 42/42 | · | 4.0%2011 | · | −4.1 ppsince 2014 | 15.4% | 16.7% | 14.0% |
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
- Secondary enrolment+111.3 pp122.1% in 2024
Worse than ten years ago
- Out-of-school children+9.4 pp64.7% in 2024
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-primary enrolment | 11.6%2018 | 30.1%2021 | 6.9%2020 | 65.1%2019 | 47.4%2018 | 14.4%2017 |
| Primary enrolment | 98.4%2024 | 84.4%2024 | 117.6%2023 | 98.2%2023 | 72.4%2019 | 106.2%2017 |
| Primary completion | 28.7%2011 | 54.4%2024 | 75.7%2023 | 102.2%2016 | 60.1%2019 | 53.3%2017 |
| Secondary enrolment | 122.1%2024 | 33.9%2015 | 55.5%2023 | 84.3%2023 | 43.5%2019 | 24.1%2007 |
| Lower secondary completion | 20.5%2011 | 21.4%2023 | 55.9%2020 | 101.2%2023 | 47.5%2019 | 26.3%2017 |
| Out-of-school children | 64.7%2024 | 22.5%2024 | — | 32.9%2022 | 43.8%2019 | 4.1%2013 |
| Adult literacy | 26.8%2008 | 60.5%2022 | 68.5%2023 | — | 53.5%2008 | 77.0%2024 |
| Youth literacy | 36.7%2008 | 84.7%2022 | 77.9%2023 | 93.2%2014 | 65.8%2008 | 85.2%2024 |
| Pupils per teacher | 46.82015 | 55.12011 | 33.22015 | 30.72015 | — | 42.72017 |