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Labour · Sub-Saharan Africa · Low income
South Sudan: the labour market
Labour force is 5.1m (2023), 86th of 187 in the world and 26th of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Participation rate is 73.4% (2023), 20th of 187 in the world and 12th of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Women's participation is 70.4% (2023), 18th of 187 in the world and 12th of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Labour force
South Sudan
Participation rate
South SudanSub-Saharan AfricaLow incomeWorld
13 indicators
Labour: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour forceLabour force, total | 5.1m2023 | 86/187 | 26/47 | 2.4m | 4.1m | 4.5m | +6.2%since 2013 | 527m | 267m | 3.7bn | |
| Participation rateLabour force participation, % of 15+ | 73.4%2023 | 20/187 | 12/47 | 74.4% | 73.8% | 73.2% | −0.1 ppsince 2013 | 70.3% | 64.4% | 61.0% | |
| Women's participationFemale labour force participation, % of women 15+ | 70.4%2023 | 18/187 | 12/47 | 71.2% | 71.9% | 71.0% | −1.8 ppsince 2013 | 65.2% | 54.7% | 48.9% | |
| Employment rateEmployment to population ratio, 15+ (ILO) | 64.3%2023 | 41/187 | 16/47 | 65.2% | 64.6% | 62.8% | +0.1 ppsince 2013 | 66.3% | 61.2% | 58.1% | |
| UnemploymentUnemployment, % of labour force (ILO) | 12.4%2023 | 23/187 | 10/47 | 12.3% | 12.5% | 14.2% | −0.3 ppsince 2013 | 5.7% | 4.9% | 4.8% | |
| Female unemploymentFemale unemployment, % of female labour force (ILO) | 13.6%2023 | 29/187 | 12/47 | 13.5% | 13.6% | 15.4% | −0.3 ppsince 2013 | 6.3% | 4.7% | 4.9% | |
| Youth unemploymentYouth unemployment, ages 15–24 (ILO) | 18.5%2023 | 59/187 | 12/47 | 18.4% | 19.4% | 21.8% | −1.2 ppsince 2013 | 10.1% | 10.1% | 13.4% | |
| Youth NEET rateYouth not in education, employment or training, % | 29.1%2008 | — | — | · | 29.1%2008 | · | — | — | — | — | |
| Wage workersWage and salaried workers, % of total employment | 17.5%2023 | 174/187 | 35/47 | 17.0% | 17.1% | 16.0% | +2.7 ppsince 2013 | 22.3% | 21.1% | 53.6% | |
| Vulnerable employmentVulnerable employment, % of total employment (ILO) | 80.3%2023 | 12/187 | 11/47 | 80.5% | 80.5% | 81.7% | −2.6 ppsince 2013 | 71.0% | 76.1% | 42.4% | |
| Jobs in agricultureEmployment in agriculture, % of total employment | 63.8%2023 | 11/187 | 10/47 | 64.7% | 63.6% | 63.3% | +0.4 ppsince 2013 | 49.3% | 59.4% | 25.8% | |
| Jobs in industryEmployment in industry, % of total employment | 1.7%2023 | 187/187 | 47/47 | 1.9% | 2.1% | 1.7% | −0.4 ppsince 2013 | 12.2% | 10.2% | 23.7% | |
| Jobs in servicesEmployment in services, % of total employment | 34.6%2023 | 167/187 | 31/47 | 33.4% | 34.3% | 35.0% | ±0.0 ppsince 2013 | 38.5% | 30.4% | 50.6% |
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
- Employment rate+0.1 pp64.3% in 2023
- Unemployment−0.3 pp12.4% in 2023
- Female unemployment−0.3 pp13.6% in 2023
- Youth unemployment−1.2 pp18.5% in 2023
Worse than ten years ago
- Women's participation−1.8 pp70.4% in 2023
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour force | 5.1m2023 | 56.8m2025 | 39.2m2025 | 24.7m2025 | 10.9m2022 | 23.4m2025 |
| Participation rate | 73.4%2023 | 68.5%2025 | 64.3%2025 | 67.4%2025 | 37.5%2022 | 80.0%2025 |
| Women's participation | 70.4%2023 | 58.5%2025 | 61.8%2025 | 63.0%2025 | 14.5%2022 | 75.6%2025 |
| Employment rate | 64.3%2023 | 66.2%2025 | 61.5%2025 | 63.7%2025 | 34.7%2022 | 77.8%2025 |
| Unemployment | 12.4%2023 | 3.3%2025 | 4.4%2025 | 5.4%2025 | 7.5%2022 | 2.7%2025 |
| Female unemployment | 13.6%2023 | 4.5%2025 | 3.5%2025 | 6.7%2025 | 14.0%2022 | 3.3%2025 |
| Youth unemployment | 18.5%2023 | 5.4%2025 | 7.8%2025 | 15.2%2025 | 12.0%2022 | 4.2%2025 |
| Youth NEET rate | 29.1%2008 | 17.5%2021 | 31.4%2020 | 18.5%2021 | 46.5%2022 | 13.8%2021 |
| Wage workers | 17.5%2023 | 15.7%2025 | 14.9%2025 | 35.2%2025 | 53.5%2022 | 19.5%2025 |