World 8.2bn peopleGDP $118tnLife expectancy 73.5 yrsOnline 73.6%
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Health · Sub-Saharan Africa · Low income

South Sudan: health in numbers

Life expectancy is 57.7 yrs (2024), 214th of 217 in the world and 45th of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Life expectancy, women is 60.7 yrs (2024), 213th of 217 in the world and 44th of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Life expectancy, men is 54.8 yrs (2024), 215th of 217 in the world and 46th of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Life expectancy57.7 yrs2024 · world 214/217 · region 45/48Life expectancy, women60.7 yrs2024 · world 213/217 · region 44/48Life expectancy, men54.8 yrs2024 · world 215/217 · region 46/48Infant mortality71.92024 · world 1/196 · region 1/48
Life expectancy
South SudanSub-Saharan AfricaLow incomeWorld
0.020406080199520002005201020152020South Sudan57.7 yrsSub-Saharan AfricaLow incomeWorld
Life expectancy, women
South SudanSub-Saharan AfricaLow incomeWorld
0.020406080199520002005201020152020South Sudan60.7 yrsSub-Saharan AfricaLow incomeWorld
16 indicators

Health: 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.

IndicatorLatestWorld rankIn region~2000~2010~202010-year changeRegionIncome groupWorldSince 2000
Life expectancyLife expectancy at birth, years57.7 yrs2024214/21745/4847.6 yrs57.5 yrs57.6 yrs+27%since 201462.8 yrs65.2 yrs73.5 yrs
Life expectancy, womenLife expectancy at birth, women, years60.7 yrs2024213/21744/4848.5 yrs58.5 yrs60.5 yrs+24%since 201465.0 yrs67.7 yrs76.0 yrs
Life expectancy, menLife expectancy at birth, men, years54.8 yrs2024215/21746/4846.5 yrs56.4 yrs54.8 yrs+28%since 201460.7 yrs62.8 yrs71.1 yrs
Infant mortalityInfant mortality, per 1,000 live births71.920241/1961/48118.278.271.9−39%since 201447.146.727.7
Under-5 mortalityUnder-5 mortality, per 1,000 live births96.720245/1965/48180.1107.296.7−47%since 201471.268.837.4
Neonatal mortalityNeonatal mortality, per 1,000 live births39.520241/1961/4855.642.139.5−3.2%since 201426.624.917.2
Maternal mortalityMaternal mortality, per 100,000 live births69220234/1944/481,658776729−10%since 2013448346197
Measles vaccinationMeasles immunisation, % of children 12–23 months72%2024164/19332/48·62%201169%+18.0 ppsince 201469%67%84%
HIV prevalenceHIV prevalence, % of people 15–491.5%202427/15323/442.4%2.2%1.7%−0.5 ppsince 20143.0%1.6%0.7%
TuberculosisTuberculosis incidence, per 100,000 people320202419/20810/48·4152011346−18%since 2014205199131
Health spendingCurrent health expenditure, % of GDP11.6%202312/1933/48··9.4%—4.9%4.6%10.1%
Out-of-pocket spendingOut-of-pocket health spending, % of health expenditure27.1%2023102/19332/48··39.5%—30.4%44.5%17.3%
PhysiciansPhysicians per 1,000 people0.042022179/18045/46··0.04—0.250.341.86
Basic waterBasic drinking water, % of population39.7%2024204/20644/46·40.3%201139.8%−0.5 ppsince 201467.5%60.3%91.5%
Basic sanitationBasic sanitation, % of population14.4%2024200/20343/46·7.0%201113.1%+5.6 ppsince 201437.1%33.3%82.2%
Road deathsRoad traffic deaths, per 100,000 people36.720197/1865/4819.225.336.72019+53%since 200927.428.716.7
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

Worse than ten years ago

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.

IndicatorSouth SudanEthiopiaDemocratic Republic of the CongoKenyaSudanUganda
Life expectancy57.7 yrs202467.6 yrs202462.1 yrs202463.8 yrs202466.5 yrs202468.5 yrs2024
Life expectancy, women60.7 yrs202471.0 yrs202464.2 yrs202466.1 yrs202469.8 yrs202471.4 yrs2024
Life expectancy, men54.8 yrs202464.4 yrs202460.0 yrs202461.6 yrs202463.4 yrs202465.5 yrs2024
Infant mortality71.9202434.5202456.4202434.2202442.9202435.92024
Under-5 mortality96.7202444.5202489.7202438.8202461.6202448.72024
Neonatal mortality39.5202425.2202423.6202420.7202423.7202421.32024
Maternal mortality692202319520234272023149202325620231702023
Measles vaccination72%202472%202455%202488%202446%202490%2024
HIV prevalence1.5%20240.7%20240.7%20243.0%20240.2%20244.9%2024
Ethiopia: healthDemocratic Republic of the Congo: healthKenya: healthSudan: healthUganda: health
Health in Sub-Saharan Africaall 48 economies rankedHealth: low-income countries25 economies rankedHealth: world leaderboardstop and bottom countriesSouth Sudan: all key statisticscountry profile