Map of South Sudan
South Sudan is a country in Africa with its capital at Juba, home to about 12.19 million people across 644,329 km². The interactive map below plots 15 cities and towns, 6 rivers and 1 mountain summits recorded for South Sudan in YearMaps.
- Population
- 12.19 million
- Area
- 644,329 km²
- Capital
- Juba
- Continent
- Africa
Interactive Map of South Sudan
Centred on Juba at 4.8300° N, 31.5800° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About South Sudan
South Sudan (), officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Sudan to the north, Ethiopia to the east, Kenya to the southeast, Uganda to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the southwest, and the Central African Republic to the west. South Sudan's diverse landscape includes vast plains and plateaus, dry and tropical savannahs, inland floodplains, and forested mountains. The Nile River system is the defining physical feature of the country, running south to north across its center, which is dominated by a large swamp known as the Sudd. South Sudan has an estimated population of just over 12.7 million in 2024. Juba is the capital and largest city.
Sudan was occupied by Egypt under the Muhammad Ali dynasty in the 1800s and governed as an Anglo-Egyptian condominium from 1899 until Sudanese independence in 1956. Following the First Sudanese Civil War, the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region was formed in 1972 and lasted until 1983. The Second Sudanese Civil War broke out in 1983 and ended in 2005 with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Later that year, southern autonomy was restored when an Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan was formed.
South Sudan became an independent state on 9 July 2011, following 98.8% support for independence in a January 2011 referendum. It is the most recent sovereign state with widespread recognition as of 2026. South Sudan descended into the South Sudanese Civil War from 2013 to 2018, enduring rampant human rights abuses, including forced displacement, ethnic massacres, and killings of journalists by various parties. It has since been governed by a coalition formed by leaders of the former warring factions, Salva Kiir Mayardit (Sudan People's Liberation Movement or SPLM) and Riek Machar (Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition or SPLM-IO). The country continues to recover from the war while experiencing ongoing and systemic ethnic violence.
The South Sudanese population is composed mostly of Nilotic peoples spanning a variety of ethnic and linguistic groups. It is demographically among the youngest nations in the world, with roughly half its people under 18 years old. The majority of inhabitants adhere to Christianity or various traditional indigenous faiths, with a sizeable Muslim minority. South Sudan is a member of the United Nations, African Union, East African Community, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. It is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking the lowest in the Human Development Index.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: South Sudan (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of South Sudan
South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, is the world’s newest country. Home to a diverse array of mainly Nilotic ethnolinguistic groups that settled in the territory in the 15th through 19th centuries, South Sudanese society is heavily dependent on seasonal migration and seasonal fluctuations in precipitation. Modern-day South Sudan was conquered first by Egypt and later ruled jointly by Egyptian-British colonial administrators in the late 19th century. Christian missionaries helped spread the English language and Christianity in the area, leading to significant cultural differences with the northern part of Sudan, where Arabic and Islam are dominant. When Sudan gained its independence in 1956, the southern region received assurances that it would participate fully in the political system. However, the Arab government in Khartoum reneged on its promises, prompting two periods of civil war (1955-1972 and 1983-2005) in which as many as 2.5 million people died -- mostly civilians -- due largely to starvation and drought. The second Sudanese civil war was one of the deadliest since WWII and left southern Sudanese society devastated. Peace talks resulted in a US-backed Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005, which granted the South six years of autonomy followed by a referendum on final status. The result of this referendum, held in 2011, was a vote of 98% in favor of secession. Since independence, South Sudan has struggled to form a viable governing system and has been plagued by widespread corruption, political conflict, and communal violence. In 2013, conflict erupted between forces loyal to President Salva KIIR, a Dinka, and forces loyal to Vice President Riek MACHAR, a Nuer. The conflict quickly spread through the country along ethnic lines, killing tens of thousands and creating a humanitarian crisis with millions of South Sudanese displaced. KIIR and MACHAR signed a peace agreement in 2015 that created a Transitional Government of National Unity the next year. However, renewed fighting broke out in Juba between KIIR and MACHAR’s forces, plunging the country back into conflict and drawing in additional armed opposition groups. A "revitalized" peace agreement was signed in 2018, mostly ending the fighting and laying the groundwork for a unified national army, a transitional government, and elections. The transitional government was formed in 2020, when MACHAR returned to Juba as first vice president. Since 2020, implementation of the peace agreement has been stalled amid wrangling over power-sharing, which has contributed to an uptick in communal violence and the country’s worst food crisis since independence, with 7 of 11 million South Sudanese citizens in need of humanitarian assistance. The transitional period was extended an additional two years in 2022, pushing elections to late 2024.
- Location
- East-Central Africa; south of Sudan, north of Uganda and Kenya, west of Ethiopia.
- Climate
- Hot with seasonal rainfall influenced by the annual shift of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone; rainfall heaviest in upland areas of the south and diminishes to the north.
- Terrain
- Plains in the north and center rise to southern highlands along the border with Uganda and Kenya; the White Nile, flowing north out of the uplands of Central Africa, is the major geographic feature of the country; The Sudd (a name derived from floating vegetation that hinders navigation) is a large swampy area of more than 100,000 sq km fed by the waters of the White Nile that dominates the center of the country.
- Highest point
- Kinyeti 3,187 m.
- Lowest point
- White Nile 381 m.
- Coastline
- 0 km (landlocked)
- Land borders
- Total: 6,018 km; border countries: Central African Republic 1,055 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 714 km; Ethiopia 1,299 km; Kenya 317 km; Sudan 2,158 km; Uganda 475 km.
- Major rivers
- Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth.
- Natural resources
- Hydropower, fertile agricultural land, gold, diamonds, petroleum, hardwoods, limestone, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 44.9% (2023 est.); arable land: 3.9% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 40.8% (2023 est.); forest: 11.3% (2023 est.); other: 43.8% (2023 est.)
- Geographic note
- Landlocked; The Sudd is a vast swamp in the north central region of South Sudan, formed by the White Nile; its size is variable but can reach some 15% of the country's total area during the rainy season; it is one of the world's largest wetlands.
- Languages
- English (official), Arabic (includes Juba and Sudanese variants), ethnic languages include Dinka, Nuer, Bari, Zande, Shilluk.
- Religions
- Christian 60.5%, folk religion 32.9%, Muslim 6.2%, other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Dinka (Jieng) approximately 35-40%, Nuer (Naath) approximately 15%, Shilluk (Chollo), Azande, Bari, Kakwa, Kuku, Murle, Mandari, Didinga, Ndogo, Bviri, Lndi, Anuak, Bongo, Lango, Dungotona, Acholi, Baka, Fertit (2011 est.)
- Economy
- Low-income, oil-based Sahelian economy; extreme poverty and food insecurity; COVID-19 and ongoing violence threaten socioeconomic potential; environmentally fragile; ongoing land and property rights issues; natural resource rich but lacks infrastructure.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
South Sudan in Numbers
- Population
- 12.19 million
- GDP
- US$12.0 billion
- GDP per person
- US$1,080
- Life expectancy
- 57.7 years
- Population growth
- 2.03% a year
- Population density
- 19 per km²
- Urban population
- 21.7%
- Surface area
- 646,883 km²
- Forest cover
- 11.3%
- Arable land
- 3.8%
- Access to electricity
- 5.4%
- Internet users
- 6.7%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
South Sudan in Depth
History
The Nilotic people of South Sudan—the Dinka, Anyuak, Bari, Acholi, Nuer, Shilluk, Kaligi (Arabic Feroghe), and others—first entered South Sudan sometime before the tenth century. From the 15th to the 19th century, tribal migrations, largely from the area of Bahr el Ghazal, brought the Anyuak, Dinka, Nuer, and Shilluk to their modern locations in Bahr El Ghazal and the Upper Nile Region, while the Acholi and Bari settled in Equatoria. The Zande, Mundu, Avukaya and Baka, who entered South Sudan in the 16th century, established the region's largest state of Equatoria Region.
Of South Sudan's ethnic groups the Dinka are the largest, the Nuer the second-largest, the Azande the third-largest, and the Bari the fourth-largest.
Geography
South Sudan lies between latitudes 3° and 13°N, and longitudes 24° and 36°E. It is covered in tropical forest, swamps, and grassland. The White Nile passes through the country, passing by Juba. The Sudd is formed by the White Nile, known locally as the Bahr al Jabal, meaning "Mountain Sea".
South Sudan's protected area of Bandingilo National Park hosts the second-largest wildlife migration in the world. Surveys have revealed that Boma National Park, west of the Ethiopian border, as well as the Sudd wetland and Southern National Park near the border with Congo, provided habitat for large populations of hartebeest, kob, topi, buffalo, elephants, giraffes, and lions.
Economy
The economy of South Sudan is one of the world's most underdeveloped, with South Sudan having little existing infrastructure and the highest maternal mortality and female illiteracy rates in the world as of 2011. South Sudan exports timber to the international market. The region also contains many natural resources such as petroleum, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, diamonds, hardwoods, limestone and hydropower. The country's economy, as in many other developing countries, is heavily dependent on agriculture.
The oilfields in South Sudan have been significant to the economy since the latter part of the 20th century. In 2023, oil constitutes more than 90% of state revenues. The country has the third-largest oil reserves in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Demographics
South Sudan has a population of approximately 11 million and a predominantly rural, subsistence economy. This region has been negatively affected by war for all but 10 of the years since 1956, resulting in serious neglect, lack of infrastructure development, and major destruction and displacement. More than 2 million people have died, and more than 4 million are internally displaced persons or became refugees as a result of the civil war and its impact.
The "Fifth Population and Housing Census of Sudan", for Sudan as a whole, was conducted in April 2008.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: South Sudan (CC BY-SA 4.0).
South Sudan: Key Facts
| Currency | South Sudanese pound |
|---|---|
| Official language | English |
| Head of state | Salva Kiir Mayardit |
| Head of government | Salva Kiir Mayardit |
| Form of government | federal republic |
| Calling code | +211 |
| Internet domain | .ss |
| Highest point | Kinyeti |
| Lowest point | White Nile |
| Established | 9 July 2011 |
Facts from Wikidata Q958 (CC0).
History of South Sudan: Empires and States
The atlas records 6 polities whose mapped territory included part of South Sudan, from Khedivate of Egypt in 1877 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| Khedivate of Egypt | 1877–1884 CE | Most |
| British Africa | 1885–1955 CE | Nearly all |
| The British Empire | 1885–1955 CE | Nearly all |
| Mahdist State | 1890–1899 CE | Most |
| Republic of Sudan | 1956–2013 CE | Nearly all |
| South Sudan | 2014–2024 CE | Nearly all |
Historical Maps of South Sudan
South Sudan on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting South Sudan
South Sudan (Arabic: جنوب السودان, Janūb as-Sūdān) is a country in Central Africa. The world’s youngest country, it was a part of Sudan until it gained its independence on 9 July 2011, following years of civil war and a referendum.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: South Sudan (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in South Sudan
15 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yei | 185,000 | Central Equatoria | Admin-1 capital |
| 2 | Malakal | 160,765 | Upper Nile | Admin-1 region capital |
| 3 | Wau | 127,384 | West Bahr-al-Ghazal | Admin-1 region capital |
| 4 | Juba | 111,975 | Central Equatoria | National capital |
| 5 | Gogrial | 50,065 | Warap | Populated place |
| 6 | Aweil | 46,705 | North Bahr-al-Ghazal | Admin-1 capital |
| 7 | Yambio | 40,382 | West Equatoria | Populated place |
| 8 | Rumbek | 32,083 | Lakes | Populated place |
| 9 | Bor | 26,782 | Jungoli | Populated place |
| 10 | Maridi | 14,224 | West Equatoria | Populated place |
| 11 | Bentiu | 7,653 | Unity | Admin-1 capital |
| 12 | Kapoeta | 7,042 | East Equatoria | Populated place |
| 13 | Melut | 6,407 | Upper Nile | Populated place |
| 14 | Nasir | 1,741 | Upper Nile | Populated place |
| 15 | Nimule | 242 | East Equatoria | Populated place |
Highest Mountains in South Sudan
1 mountain recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kinyeti | 3,187 m | 10,456 ft | Africa |
Kinyeti
Mountain · 3,187 m
Kinyeti is a mountain rising to 3,187 metres (10,456 ft) in South Sudan, in the Africa region.
Mount Kinyeti is the highest peak in South Sudan. It is located in the Imatong Mountains in Ikotos County of Eastern Equatoria, near the Ugandan border. Kinyeti has an elevation of 3,187 metres (10,456 ft) above sea level.
The group of high mountains that contain Kinyeti, extending to the border with Uganda, are sometimes called the Lomariti or Lolobai mountains.
The lower parts of the mountain were covered with lush forest.
These are the most northern forests of the East African montane forest ecoregion.
The summit is rocky, with montane grassland and scattered, low ericaceous scrubs, low subshrub and herbs in rock crevices.
One of the first Europeans to visit the mountain was the botanist Thomas Ford Chipp, who discovered Coreopsis chippii near the summit.
Named after Mount Kinyeti is the Mount Kineti chameleon (Trioceros kinetensis), a threatened species.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Kinyeti (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 3,187 m (10,456 ft)
- Global rank
- #205 of 641 indexed
- Region
- Africa (#24)
- Country
- South Sudan
- Coordinates
- 3.9551°, 32.9013°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Kinyeti ranks #205 by elevation, below Mount Cleveland (3,190 m) and above Mount Andrew Jackson (3,184 m).
- Ranges:
- Ruwenzori Range (Africa), Ethiopian Highlands (Africa)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Mount Elgon (4,321 m), Mount Stanley (4,979 m), Lesatima (4,001 m)
More about Kinyeti
Kinyeti: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 2,120 m |
|---|---|
| Mountain range | Imatong Mountains |
Facts from Wikidata Q948298 (CC0).
Rivers in South Sudan
6 rivers recorded. Listed alphabetically. A river is listed where its mapped reach lies, so long rivers appear under more than one country.
| Name | Type | Also Flows Through |
|---|---|---|
| Akobo | River | Ethiopia |
| Bahr el Zeraf | River | — |
| Kangen | River | — |
| Nile | River | Sudan, Egypt |
| Pibor | River | — |
| Sobat | River | Ethiopia |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Sudan
1 World Heritage Site recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape | 2026 | Natural | (vii) (ix) (x) |
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of South Sudan
5 mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Congo Basin | 3.11M km² | Basin | Africa |
| 2 | Sahel | 1.02M km² | Plain | Africa |
| 3 | Sudd | 175,935 km² | Geoarea | Africa |
| 4 | Chaîne des Mongos | 88,668 km² | Range/mtn | Africa |
| 5 | Libyan Desert | 6,751 km² | Desert | Africa |
Countries Bordering South Sudan
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Africa
South Sudan: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of South Sudan?
- The capital of South Sudan is Juba.
- What is the population of South Sudan?
- South Sudan has a population of about 12.19 million, the #81 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is South Sudan?
- South Sudan covers 644,329 km², ranking #43 by area, with about 19 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is South Sudan in?
- South Sudan is in Africa.
- Which countries border South Sudan?
- South Sudan shares a land or maritime border with Kenya, Ethiopia, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Uganda, Sudan.
- What is the largest city in South Sudan?
- Yei is the largest city in South Sudan, with a metropolitan population of about 185,000.
- What is the highest mountain in South Sudan?
- The highest summit recorded for South Sudan in YearMaps is Kinyeti at 3,187 m (10,456 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.