South Sudan

Introduction & Quick Facts
Land
- Relief
- Drainage and soils
- Climate
- Plant and animal life
People
- Ethnic groups
- Languages
- Religion
- Settlement patterns
- Demographic trends
Economy
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
- Resources and power
- Manufacturing
- Finance and trade
- Services
- Labour and taxation
- Transportation and telecommunications
Government and society
- Constitutional framework
  - Constitutional history
  - Current framework
- Local government
- Justice
- Political process
- Security
- Health and welfare
- Education
Cultural life
- Cultural milieu
- Daily life and social customs
- The arts
- Cultural institutions
- Sports and recreation
- Media and publishing
History
- Colonial administration
- Sudanese independence and civil war
- The 1972 Addis Ababa Agreement
- Resumption of civil war
- The 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement
- Moving toward southern independence
- Independent South Sudan
  - Continued problems with Sudan
  - Domestic problems

References & Edit History Facts & Stats

Images

Political map of South Sudan showing its national borders with Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic. Major cities such as Juba, Malakal, Bentiu, Wau, and Bor are labeled. The map highlights the disputed Abyei region along the northern border with Sudan, noted as having its final status yet to be determined. An inset in the lower left shows South Sudan's location within Africa.

Two children in Terekeka, South Sudan, smile at the camera as one carries a tray of cooked corn on her head. A blue metal gate and wooden fence are visible in the background.

Map of northeastern Africa highlighting South Sudan in orange at the center, with its capital Juba marked. Surrounding countries-Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Central African Republic-are labeled in black text. Major bodies of water, including the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, are also shown.

Physical map of South Sudan highlighting major rivers, wetlands, and national parks. Key features include the White Nile River running north through the country, the large Al-Sudd swamp in the center, Southern National Park and Boma National Park, the Ironstone Plateau in the west, and Mount Kinyeti near the southern border. The map also marks the disputed Abyei region along the northern border with Sudan and shows neighboring countries: Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Aerial view of green savanna vegetation with scattered trees and a winding river, photographed over Southern Sudan during the rainy season.

South Sudan: Ethnic composition

South Sudan: Religious affiliation

South Sudan: Urban-rural

At a Glance

default image

South Sudan summary

South Sudan: Media

country, Africa

Images

South Sudan

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Political map of South Sudan showing its national borders with Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic. Major cities such as Juba, Malakal, Bentiu, Wau, and Bor are labeled. The map highlights the disputed Abyei region along the northern border with Sudan, noted as having its final status yet to be determined. An inset in the lower left shows South Sudan's location within Africa.

South Sudan

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Two children in Terekeka, South Sudan, smile at the camera as one carries a tray of cooked corn on her head. A blue metal gate and wooden fence are visible in the background.

Children selling cooked corn in Terekeka, South Sudan.

© Frontpage/Shutterstock.com

Map of northeastern Africa highlighting South Sudan in orange at the center, with its capital Juba marked. Surrounding countries-Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Central African Republic-are labeled in black text. Major bodies of water, including the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, are also shown.

South Sudan

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Physical map of South Sudan highlighting major rivers, wetlands, and national parks. Key features include the White Nile River running north through the country, the large Al-Sudd swamp in the center, Southern National Park and Boma National Park, the Ironstone Plateau in the west, and Mount Kinyeti near the southern border. The map also marks the disputed Abyei region along the northern border with Sudan and shows neighboring countries: Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Physical features of South Sudan.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Aerial view of green savanna vegetation with scattered trees and a winding river, photographed over Southern Sudan during the rainy season.

Savanna vegetation during the rainy season, South Sudan.

© Frontpage/Shutterstock.com

White Nile River

White Nile River

Village along the White Nile River in Al-Sudd region, South Sudan.

© Klaus D. Francke/Peter Arnold, Inc.

Round thatched-roof huts called tukul in a village in southern Sudan, with a few people standing among the huts and rocky hills in the background.

Tukuls—round huts made of mud, grass, millet stalks, and wooden poles, with...

© Arapov Sergey/Shutterstock.com

Aerial view of Juba, the capital of South Sudan, with the city on the left and the wide, winding Nile River flowing through green landscape on the right.

Bahr Al-Jabal

Aerial view of the Baḥr Al-Jabal (Mountain Nile) and Juba, South Sudan.

© Frontpage/Shutterstock.com

A simple roadside shop in Terekeka, South Sudan, with groceries and cellphone airtime for sale displayed on tables and shelves under a makeshift shelter of wood, tarp, and thatch.

Groceries and cell phone airtime being sold at a simple roadside shop, Terekeka,...

© Frontpage/Shutterstock.com

United Nations aircraft parked on the tarmac at Juba Airport in Juba, South Sudan, with the airport control tower and city buildings visible in the background.

Juba: international airport

International airport, Juba, South Sudan.

© Frontpage/Shutterstock.com

South Sudanese troops marching on a road, Nimule, South Sudan.

South Sudanese troops marching on a road, Nimule, South Sudan.

© Tim DeForest

Women working with beads to create jewelry, Juba, South Sudan.

Women working with beads to create jewelry, Juba, South Sudan.

Laura Heaton/Enough Project

Women working with beads to create necklaces, Juba, South Sudan.

Women working with beads to create necklaces, Juba, South Sudan.

Laura Heaton/Enough Project

The tomb of John Garang de Mabior, Juba, South Sudan.

The tomb of John Garang de Mabior, Juba, South Sudan.

Enough Project

Map of Sudan highlighting the southern region labeled as Southern Sudan, shown as a semiautonomous area prior to independence. The map displays major rivers, neighboring countries, and key cities such as Juba and Malakal, with an inset locating Sudan within Africa.

Southern Sudan

Semiautonomous region of southern Sudan, 2005–11.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Salva Kiir Mayardit

Salva Kiir Mayardit

The president of the government of southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, speaking...

Jenny Rockett

Map showing the Abyei Region, a disputed area between Sudan and South Sudan, outlined with a red dashed border. The map highlights the towns of Abyei and Agok along the Al-Arab river, with the region's final status noted as undetermined. An inset locates the Abyei Region within the broader area of Sudan and South Sudan.

Abyei region

The Abyei region, claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Thousands of South Sudanese wave the flag of their new country to celebrate South Sudan's independence from Sudan, Juba, July 9, 2011.

Thousands of South Sudanese wave the flag of their new country to celebrate South Sudan's independence from Sudan, Juba, July 9, 2011.

© Roberto Schmidt—AFP/Getty Images

Map of the Nile River basin showing the river's full course from its sources in East Africa through Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. The map highlights physical features including elevation, irrigated areas, swamps, sand areas, intermittent streams, dams, waterfalls, rapids, and canals, as well as major lakes and cities along the drainage network.

Nile River basin and its drainage network

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

South Sudan

South Sudan

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Audio

National anthem of South Sudan

The instrumental version of the national anthem of South Sudan.

Interactives

South Sudan: Ethnic composition

South Sudan: Ethnic composition

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

South Sudan: Religious affiliation

South Sudan: Religious affiliation

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

South Sudan: Urban-rural

South Sudan: Urban-rural

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

South Sudan: Age breakdown

South Sudan: Age breakdown

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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