Economy of South Sudan

South Sudan is a country in Africa that became independent in 2011, making it the newest nation in the world. It has faced many challenges, including a long civil war, which made it hard to build a strong economy. Today, South Sudan's economy is still developing and considered low-income, meaning many people live with very little.

The country's economy depends heavily on oil, with most of its wealth coming from this resource. South Sudan also has rich farmland and many animals, including over 60 million cattle, sheep, and goats. Despite these resources, problems like political instability have made it difficult for the country to grow and improve living conditions.

As of 2026, South Sudan's total economy, known as its gross domestic product (GDP), is about $6.03 billion. Many cities lack basic services like electricity and clean water, and there are not enough paved roads to help people travel easily. Because of these challenges, South Sudan remains one of the least developed countries in the world.

Natural resources

South Sudan sells timber to other countries. The best-known trees are in Western Equatoria and Central Equatoria. The country has the River Nile and many tributaries. It also has natural resources like petroleum, iron ore, copper, and farming products like cotton and sorghum. Solar power might become important soon.

Oil

Before it became independent, South Sudan made most of Sudan's oil. Oil money is important for the government. Recently, more foreign oil drilling has started, making South Sudan's oil more important.

Agriculture

South Sudan has rich farmland but farming has gone down. The country depends on food from neighboring countries, which costs a lot. The government wants to focus more on farming and food safety. They hope to create jobs and increase food production.

There are worries that big farming projects might not help poor people much. Some groups have asked for better rules before more land deals are made.

South Sudan’s Land Commission is working to help local communities manage land better.

Infrastructure

In 2012, The World Bank helped South Sudan build roads in rural areas and between cities. Many people still have trouble getting clean water.

The country has some phone services, but fast internet is not everywhere. In 2022, South Sudan and Djibouti planned to build a special cable to bring better internet to the capital city, Juba. The government also planned to build more cables across the country to improve internet connections.

Currency

Main article: South Sudanese pound

The South Sudanese pound is the currency of South Sudan. It is divided into 100 smaller parts called piasters. The South Sudanese pound was approved by the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly before South Sudan became its own country on July 9, 2011. It started being used on July 18, 2011, replacing the old Sudanese pound at par. After September 1, 2011, the Sudanese pound was no longer accepted as money in South Sudan.

Inflation

Inflation shows how much prices change. In South Sudan, inflation was very high. In 2011 and 2012, it was about 45%. It dropped for a short time but then rose sharply, reaching 380% in 2016. After that, it went down but was still very high, around 190% in 2017 and 85% in 2018 and 2019. From 2020 to 2022, it fell to low or even negative levels, but it rose again in 2024 to about 90%. High inflation made it hard for families to buy basic food.

East African Community membership

Further information: East African Community

When South Sudan became independent in 2011, leaders from Kenya and Rwanda invited the country to join the East African Community. South Sudan showed interest and started working on joining the group. They wanted to connect better with nearby countries like Kenya and Uganda through things like railways and oil pipelines.

However, joining took time. South Sudan worried its economy wasn't strong enough to compete with other members. There were also some political issues that caused delays. Finally, in March 2016, South Sudan was approved to join the East African Community and officially became a member in April 2016.