South Sudan

South Sudan became an independent state on 9 July 2011 and is the world’s youngest internationally recognized nation. This profile gives you the stable classification facts first, then shows you exactly where to verify the volatile figures: population estimates, currency, government structure, and travel requirements, without freezing data that changes frequently. Use it to compare South Sudan with other places using trustworthy primary sources, not to grab a snapshot that will be outdated by the time you read it.

Classification and stable codes

The United Nations Statistics Division assigns South Sudan the following identifiers, which do not change between updates:

• UN M49 code: 728
• ISO alpha-2: SS
• ISO alpha-3: SSD
• UN region: Africa
• UN subregion: Sub-Saharan Africa
• UN member state: Yes
• World Bank capital field: Juba

These codes come from the UN M49 standard, a statistical scheme rather than a political statement. The UN M49 overview at https://unstats.un.org/unsd/methodology/m49/overview/ defines how countries and areas are grouped for statistical purposes. The World Bank’s country API at https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country provides structured data fields including region, income level, and capital city. Use these identifiers when you query APIs, match datasets, or compare country profiles. The UN M49 code is the stable numeric key used by the UN system; the ISO codes are the standard international labels. The World Bank capital field is part of its country metadata, not a political statement about sovereignty or administrative boundaries.

How to read this profile

Every figure in this page is a snapshot with a source and a reference year. Population, economic output, and health indicators change frequently, and different agencies measure different things. Treat any single number as one estimate among several, not as a definitive fact. When you need a current figure, go to the named source directly, note the reference year, and check whether the definition matches the question you are asking.

Country basics

South Sudan is a landlocked nation in Sub-Saharan Africa. It declared independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011, following a referendum on self-determination. The United Nations Statistical Division classifies it under the codes and groupings listed in the classification table above. Those identifiers come from the UN M49 overview, the standard reference for statistical grouping of countries and areas. The scheme is a statistical tool; it does not settle questions of sovereignty, borders, or recognition. For the World Bank’s own country entry, the Bank’s API lists South Sudan under the ISO alpha-3 code SSD and the capital field Juba.

Verify current figures, do not freeze them

South Sudan’s population, GDP, and health statistics change quickly, and official numbers can be several years old. The World Bank and UN publish estimates, not real-time counts. For any figure you cite, name the source, the definition, and the reference year. Do not mix a 2023 population estimate with a 2021 GDP figure and present them as if they describe the same moment.

For the latest World Bank data on South Sudan, query the country API:

<https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/SS?format=json>

For the full list used in country comparisons, use:

<https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country>

The UN M49 overview is the classification reference for country codes and regional groupings: https://unstats.un.org/unsd/methodology/m49/overview/. It confirms South Sudan’s M49 code 728, ISO alpha-2 SS, and ISO alpha-3 SSD, and places it in Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa region. These codes are statistical labels, not political statements about sovereignty or borders.

Classification facts (as supplied)

Field	Value
UN M49 code	728
ISO alpha-2	SS
ISO alpha-3	SSD
UN region	Africa
UN subregion	Sub-Saharan Africa
UN member state	Yes
World Bank capital field	Juba

How to get current population data

Population figures change every year and are estimates, not exact counts. The most widely cited source is the United Nations World Population Prospects, which publishes annual estimates and projections. As of the 2024 revision, the UN estimated South Sudan’s population at roughly 11.1 million (mid-2024 estimate). The World Bank’s population indicator (SP.POP.TOTL) provides another annual estimate, usually aligned with UN data but sometimes differing by a few hundred thousand because of different revision cycles and definitions. Both sources should be cited with their reference year and methodology. For the most recent figure, use the World Bank’s API endpoint for South Sudan (country code SS) or the UN Population Division’s World Population Prospects data portal.

Why population figures are projections, not counts

South Sudan’s last national census was conducted in 2008, before independence, and the country’s first post-independence census has not yet been completed. Any population figure you see is an estimate or projection, not a verified count. The UN Population Division publishes annual estimates; the World Bank publishes its own series; the two can differ by hundreds of thousands or more. Always cite the exact dataset and reference year. For a 2024 or later figure, check the UN World Population Prospects or the World Bank’s country profile page for South Sudan.

How to verify current figures for South Sudan

South Sudan is a young nation with rapidly changing data. Do not rely on a single source or a single year for anything that changes: population, languages, currency, government structure, economy, or travel rules. Every figure below names its source and reference year. If you see a number without a source and year, treat it as unverified.

Capital and basic identifiers

The United Nations lists Juba as the capital city in its M49 country overview, and the World Bank country API returns the same value in the capitalCity field. The World Bank API at https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country also provides the country’s ISO codes, region, and income level, and is a stable starting point for cross-checking basic identifiers. For population, do not rely on a single figure: compare the UN World Population Prospects (the source for most global population figures), the World Bank’s population estimates, and South Sudan’s National Bureau of Statistics when available. Each source uses a different reference year and methodology. The UN’s medium-variant projection for a given year is an estimate, not a census result. Always name the reference year when citing a number.

Querying the World Bank API

The World Bank country API returns the most recent available indicators for South Sudan. To query it directly:

• API endpoint: <https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/SS?format=json>
• The response lists countries by ISO alpha-3 code; filter for SSD to get the World Bank country entry.
• For a specific indicator, add the indicator code to the URL, e.g., population (SP.POP.TOTL) or GDP per capita, PPP (NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD). Always note the date field in the response: it is the reference year for that figure, not the current year.

Do the same for population: the UN World Population Prospects is the standard source. The UN M49 overview at https://unstats.un.org/unsd/methodology/m49/overview/ defines the statistical codes used to classify South Sudan in global datasets. The World Bank API provides a machine-readable country record and economic indicators; both sources change over time, so name the reference year whenever you cite a figure.

Language

South Sudan’s official language is English, but the nation has dozens of indigenous languages. The 2011 transitional constitution names English as the official working language, and the 2017 language policy recognizes all indigenous languages as national languages. Juba Arabic, an Arabic-based creole, functions as the main lingua franca in daily life. Verify current language policy through the Government of South Sudan’s official sources or recent UNESCO reports, as language policy has been subject to change.

Currency

The South Sudanese pound (SSP) is the official currency. Exchange rates change daily; verify with your bank or a currency data provider before relying on any figure. The Bank of South Sudan is the central bank.

Government and leadership

The government is a republic under a transitional constitution. The president is Salva Kiir Mayardit; the transitional period has been repeatedly extended. Verify current leadership from official government channels or a current news source, not from this page.

Economy

The economy is dominated by oil, which accounts for the vast majority of exports and government revenue, but oil production has been volatile due to conflict and infrastructure constraints. Agriculture is the main livelihood for most of the populace, though much of it is subsistence. The country faces high food insecurity, displacement, and reliance on humanitarian aid.