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South Sudan

AfricaMiddle Africa

620 Thousand km²

Quick Facts

Capital

Juba

Area

619,745 km²

Language

English (+ Arabic, Dinka, Nuer)

Currency

South Sudanese Pound (SSP)

Calling Code

+211

Drives On

Right

Internet

.ss

Timezone

CAT (UTC+2)

Script

Latin

Government

Presidential Republic

Independence

2011

Map tiles by CARTO. Data by OpenStreetMap.

South Sudan is the world's youngest country, having gained independence from Sudan on July 9, 2011, after decades of civil war and a referendum where 98.83% voted for separation. It is a nation born from one of Africa's longest conflicts, and its early years of independence have been turbulent, with civil war erupting again in 2013. Yet the land itself holds extraordinary promise - the Sudd, one of the largest wetlands on Earth, filters the White Nile as it flows north toward Khartoum and Egypt, and the savanna grasslands support one of Africa's last great wildlife migrations.

The country is home to over 60 ethnic groups, with the Dinka and Nuer being the largest. Cattle are central to life here in ways that are hard for outsiders to grasp - they determine wealth, marriage, social status, and even personal names. The Dinka and Nuer are among the tallest people on Earth, and their cattle camps, where young men live alongside herds decorated with tassels and ash-covered horns, represent one of the last pastoral traditions on the continent that has changed little in thousands of years.

Largest Cities in South Sudan

Juba

Capital on the White Nile, a rapidly growing city of dirt roads, UN compounds, and surprising entrepreneurial energy in the world's newest nation

525,000

Malakal

City on the White Nile in the Upper Nile region, a former trade hub severely damaged during the civil war but slowly rebuilding

160,000

Wau

Second largest city in the western Bahr el Ghazal region, a multiethnic trade center known for its cathedral and agricultural surroundings

150,000

Bor

Capital of Jonglei state on the White Nile, a gateway to the vast Sudd wetland and heartland of Dinka Bor cattle culture

80,000

Famous People from South Sudan

John Garang

Politics

Leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement who fought for Southern self-determination for over 20 years, died in a helicopter crash just weeks after the 2005 peace deal

Luol Deng

Sport

Two-time NBA All-Star who fled South Sudan as a child during the civil war, became the country's most famous athlete and later invested millions back home

Manute Bol

Sport

At 7 feet 7 inches one of the tallest players in NBA history, used his earnings to fund education and relief in his homeland until his death in 2010

Emmanuel Jal

Music

Former child soldier turned hip-hop artist and peace activist, his music and memoir War Child brought global attention to South Sudan's struggles

Traditional Cuisine of South Sudan

Kisra

Thin fermented sorghum flatbread that serves as the base for most South Sudanese meals, torn by hand and used to scoop stews

Ful Medames

Slow-cooked fava beans mashed with oil, lemon, and spices, a hearty breakfast staple inherited from Sudanese culinary traditions

Asida

Thick porridge made from wheat or sorghum flour shaped into a mound and served with meat stew poured over it

Nyama Choma

Grilled meat - usually goat - seasoned simply and cooked over charcoal, the celebratory food served at every gathering and market

Nature & Landmarks in South Sudan

Sudd Wetland

River

One of the largest wetlands in the world, a vast swamp on the White Nile that expands to 57,000 square kilometers during the rainy season and supports extraordinary birdlife

Boma National Park

National Park

Home to one of the largest wildlife migrations on Earth, with over a million white-eared kob, tiang, and mongalla gazelle crossing the plains seasonally

Imatong Mountains

Mountain

South Sudan's highest point at 3,187 meters near the Ugandan border, with montane forest, waterfalls, and some of the country's only cool-weather terrain

White Nile

River

The White Nile flows through the heart of South Sudan from Uganda to Sudan, the lifeline of the country and the waterway that connects communities across vast distances

Sports in South Sudan

Football

The Bright Stars became the newest FIFA member team in 2012 and competing in international football brought rare moments of national unity

Basketball

South Sudanese heritage has produced NBA players including Luol Deng and Manute Bol, and basketball is hugely popular among youth

Did You Know?

South Sudan became the world's newest internationally recognized country on July 9, 2011, with 98.83% voting for independence in a referendum

The Sudd is so vast that when explorers tried to navigate it in the 19th century, the floating vegetation blocked passage for years

The Dinka people of South Sudan are among the tallest people on Earth, with average male height well over 180 centimeters

Cattle are so central to Dinka culture that men are often named after their favorite ox, and cattle colors have over 400 descriptive terms

South Sudan's wildlife migration in Boma National Park may rival the Serengeti in scale, with an estimated 1.3 million animals

Despite having significant oil reserves that account for nearly all government revenue, South Sudan remains one of the least developed countries in the world