Children in en:Yambio, West Equatorial South Sudan
Train in South Sudan
Fishing in the Sudd wetland, Nile
w:Luol Deng playing with the w:Chicago Bulls
Two Mi17 helicopters at Juba Airport in Southern Sudan, after b…
Mundari child in a cattle camp near Terekeka, South Sudan.

South Sudan

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Climate
SSP
Currency
Caution
Safety
N/A
Cost of Living
English
Language
Country Information South Sudan

South Sudan is the world's newest sovereign state, having gained independence from Sudan in July 2011 after decades of civil conflict. Located in northeastern Africa, the country is landlocked and bordered by Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Democrati...

Cost of Living
Rent
SSP0.00Apartment (1 bedroom) in City…
Meal
SSP0.00Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
Groceries
SSP0.00Milk (regular), (1 liter)
Transport
SSP13.66Chicken Fillets (1kg)
Read the full cost-of-living guide

Your South Sudan Roadmap

40+ page relocation analysis tailored to your profile.

  • Custom Tax & Cost Projection
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With a safety index of 20/100, South Sudan offers below average safety conditions for expats and their families.

Entry Requirements & Visa Options

All international travelers, including citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, require a visa to enter South Sudan for tourism, business, or transit purposes. There is no visa-free entry for these nationalities; visitors must obtain an entry visa either in advance through a South Sudanese embassy/consulate, via the official eVisa system (evisa.gov.ss), or upon arrival at designated ports of entry such as Juba International Airport.[1][5] The eVisa is the most convenient option for tourists, allowing online application...

Visa-free entry: 6 months
Work permits available
Read full guide

Discover Cities in South Sudan

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Location Intelligence for South Sudan
Safety20.4

69% below EU avg

Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.

Capital

Juba

Timezone

UTC+03:00

Area

619,745 km²

Population

11,193,729

Economic Overview in South Sudan

GDP

N/A

HDI

0.4

Quality of Life

N/A

NYC baseline: 43

Purchasing Power

N/A

NYC baseline: 42

Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in South Sudan. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.

Comparison data legendCompare:
South Sudan
Continent Avg

Cost of Living Index

Low

Extremely expensive due to hyperinflation. Annual inflation rate of 105-112.6% in 2024 with CPI at 189.24 points, making basic goods unaffordable for most residents.

Housing Market

Excellent

Very affordable housing relative to income. Property price-to-income ratio of 2.08 years is exceptionally low, indicating minimal housing cost burden.

Average Income Levels

Very Poor

Extremely low purchasing power with GNI per capita of $395, well below the least developed country threshold of $1,088. Economic contraction of 27.6% in Q4 2024 severely impacts incomes.

Tax System

Very Poor

Limited information available on formal tax structure. South Sudan's weak institutional capacity and ongoing economic crisis make tax collection and administration highly unreliable.

Business Environment

Very Poor

Extremely challenging for business operations. Severe political instability, currency collapse, hyperinflation, and weak governance create prohibitive barriers to entrepreneurship and investment.

Social Security

Very Poor

Minimal social safety net. South Sudan lacks comprehensive healthcare, pension systems, and unemployment benefits. Human assets index of 19.3 reflects severe deficiencies in education and health infrastructure.

Work & Business in South Sudan
Business ClimateSee full guide for details
Work PermitsRequirements vary by nationality
Key IndustriesExplore opportunities
Read full guide
Education SystemInternational schools, universities & curricula
Explore Guide
Climate

South Sudan features a tropical savanna climate dominated by wet and dry seasons, influenced by the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Temperatures remain high year-round, rarely dropping below 15-20°C, with peaks exceeding 35-40°C in the dry season from December to April.

Climate
Tropical savanna, Hot semi-arid
Summer
28–38°C
Winter
20–35°C
Sunshine
3200+ hrs/yr

4 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details

Read full guide
Demographics in South Sudan

Life Expectancy

56.8

Population

11,193,729

Religions

Christianity
60.5%
Folk Religion
32.9%
Islam
6.2%

Ethnic Composition

Currently under research

What Expats Say About South SudanBETA

Research in Progress

We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for South Sudan. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!

We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.

Transportation & Infrastructure in South Sudan
Public TransitAvailable in major cities
AirportsInternational connectivity
InfrastructureRoad & rail networks
Read full guide
Social Integration in South Sudan
Expat CommunityActive communities available
Cultural IntegrationTips & resources
Language BarrierSee guide for details
Read full guide
Retirement & Benefits in South Sudan
Retirement VisaCheck eligibility
Healthcare AccessPublic & private options
Pension RecognitionSee guide for details
Read full guide
Political Landscape & Stability

South Sudan remains in an extended transitional period following its 2018 peace agreement, with general elections now scheduled for December 22, 2026. The country faces significant challenges in implementing key peace agreement provisions, including security sector unification, constitutional reform, and electoral preparations. Political tensions between ruling party leaders continue to impede progress toward democratic governance.

System
Federal Democratic Republic
Stability
Fragile
Legal System
Mixed legal system based on English common law
Read full guide
Environment & Sustainability in South Sudan
Air QualitySee detailed assessment
Green SpacesParks & nature areas
SustainabilityEnvironmental policies
Read full guide
South Sudan flag
South Sudan at a Glance

Capital

Juba

Languages

English

UN Member

Yes

Major Cities

Quick Facts for South Sudan

Population

11,193,729

Currency

SSP

Timezone

UTC+03:00

Calling Code

+211

Week starts on

Sunday

Gini Coefficient

44.1 (2016)

Traffic side

right side

Location

Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.

All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.