South Sudan, officially English Republic of South Sudan, German Republic of South Sudan, state in Northeast Africa, with (2019) 11.1 million residents; The capital is Juba.
Country facts
- Official name: Republic of South Sudan
- License plate: SSD
- ISO-3166: SS, SSD (728)
- Currency: 1 South Sudanese pound = 100 piasters
- Area: 644 330 km²
- Population (2019): 11.1 million
- Capital: Juba
- Official language (s): Arabic, English
- Form of government: Presidential Republic
- Administrative division: 32 states
- Head of State: President Salva Kiir Mayardit (since July 9, 2011)
- Religion (s): Christians (Catholics, Anglicans), followers of traditional local religions, Muslims
- Time zone: Central European Time +1 hour
- National holiday: July 9th
Location and infrastructure
- Location (geographical): Central Africa
- Climate: alternately humid savanna climate
- Highest mountain: Kinyeti (3 187 m)
- Road network (2019): 300 km (paved), 89 900 km (unpaved)
- Railway network (2018): 248 km
Population
- Annual population growth (2020): 2.7%
- Birth rate (2020): 38.8 per 1000 inh.
- Death rate (2020): 11.4 per 1000 residents.
- Average age (2020): 18.6 years
- Average life expectancy (2020): 55.5 years (men 54.6; women 56.5)
- Age structure (2020): 41.6% younger than 15 years, 2.5% older than 65 years
- Literacy rate (15 year olds and older) (2018): 34.5%
- Mobile phone contracts (pre-paid and post-paid) (2018): 33 per 100 residents
- Internet users (2017): 8 per 100 residents
Economy
- GDP per capita (2019): US $ 275
- Total GDP (2019): $ 3.681 billion
- GNI per capita (2015): US $ 1,090
- Education expenditure (2017): 1.0% of GDP
- Military expenditure (2019): 3.5% of GDP
- Unemployment rate (15 years and older) (2019): 12.2%
Climate and vegetation
The tropical climate shows increasing annual precipitation from north (approx. 500 mm) to south (approx. 1,100 mm, as incline rain also over 2,000 mm), which falls mainly in the summer months. Accordingly, the tropical rainforests in the south to the north quickly change into dry forests and open savannah landscapes. The Sudd is known for its papyrus stocks.
Population
According to ejinhua, the population is split up into numerous ethnic groups (Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk, Zande and others). Due to the long civil war, many people still live as refugees without a permanent residence; the proportion of the urban population is only around 19%. According to UN figures, 4.36 million South Sudanese were living as refugees abroad at the end of 2017, mainly in Uganda, Ethiopia and Sudan. The average population density is (2017) 20 residents / km 2.
The biggest cities in South Sudan
| Largest cities (population 2008 census) | |
| Juba | 230 200 |
| Woof | 118 300 |
| Malacal | 114 500 |
| Yambio | 105 900 |
Religion
According to unofficial estimates (2010) 60.5% of the population are Christians. According to the church itself, the Catholics form the largest religious group with 37.2% of the population (Archdiocese of Juba with six suffragan dioceses), followed by the Anglicans (26 dioceses). The traditional African religions are also still widespread or live on in African-Christian-syncretistic religious communities (32.9% of the population). 6.2% of the population profess Islam, 0.4% belong to other religious groups or are non-denominational.
Climate and vegetation
The tropical climate shows increasing annual precipitation from north (approx. 500 mm) to south (approx. 1,100 mm, as incline rain also over 2,000 mm), which falls mainly in the summer months. Accordingly, the tropical rainforests in the south to the north quickly change into dry forests and open savannah landscapes. The Sudd is known for its papyrus stocks.
Business
The protracted civil war has plunged the people into abject poverty. The shrinkage of the already low gross domestic product (GDP) by (2015) 5.3% and an inflation rate of over 300% (mid-2016) are characteristics of the collapse of the economy. The gross national income (GNI) per resident is (2016) US $ 790. Agriculture is the livelihood for the majority of the population. The most important cultivation product for self-sufficiency is millet; peanuts, coffee and cotton are also grown for export. Cattle farming predominates in the livestock industry. Industry and craft are still hardly developed.
The country sees its economic future in the exploitation of the rich oil reserves, the extraction of which began under the direction of large international companies. In 2016, 5.8 million tons of crude oil were produced. To export the crude oil, however, South Sudan is dependent on the use of the pipelines, which are located in the Republic of Sudan bordering to the north. In addition, the rural population (around 80% of the total population) has no share of profits from the oil business.
The trade balance is almost balanced due to crude oil, which is almost the only export product, but depends on the strongly fluctuating world market prices for crude oil.
Transportation
The transport network is only poorly developed. South Sudan is a landlocked country with no access to the sea. The railway connection between Wau and Khartoum was reopened in 2010. The most important north-south connection is shipping on the White Nile. The road network is mostly unpaved and not accessible all year round. There is an airport in Juba.
Education
As a result of the wars, the education system shows serious shortcomings. The school system is divided into an eight-year primary level (compulsory education) and a three-year secondary level. In addition to the University of Juba (founded in 1977) there are several small state and private universities.
Wau
Wau, Waw, city in the Republic of South Sudan, capital of the state of Bahr al-Ghazal West, (2008) 118,300 residents.
Colleges; Trade center, handling of cotton and cattle, terminus of the Khartoum railway.
Malacal
Malakal, capital of the state of Upper Nile in the Republic of South Sudan, on the White Nile, 386 m above sea level, (2008) 114,500 residents.
Catholic bishopric; Satellite receiving station; Paper industry; Nile steamship station, harbor, airport.
