76% in South Sudan live below poverty line – what you need to know
At least 76% of South Sudanese people live below the national poverty line of 358,724 South Sudanese pounds (about $105) per person per year, according to a recent World Bank report.
The South Sudan Poverty and Equity Assessment (PEA), released on December 10, 2024, based on data from the 2022 South Sudan Household Budget Survey, reveals the grim reality of widespread poverty in the country.
More than two-thirds of the population lives on less than $2.15 per person per day, underscoring the severity of the crisis.
“Weak governance, multiple shocks, lack of economic opportunity, high food prices, and conflict have all contributed to increased poverty and vulnerability,” said Charles Undeland, World Bank country manager for South Sudan. “South Sudan’s challenges are many, but there are real opportunities to improve people’s livelihoods through better resource management and fostering a stable, secure environment where citizens can farm, work, and invest for a better future.”
Since gaining independence in 2011, South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, has faced significant humanitarian challenges. Earlier this year, it was reported that seven million of the country’s 12.4 million people were at risk of crisis-level hunger, with nine million in urgent need of humanitarian aid.
Over 70% of the population lacks access to basic healthcare, and about one in ten people have no access to electricity.
According to the report, even those not living in poverty are highly vulnerable to falling below the poverty line due to ongoing shocks such as conflict and economic instability. Nearly 99% of South Sudanese households face high vulnerability, largely driven by limited human and physical capital, which perpetuates chronic poverty.
“Food insecurity is a widespread issue in South Sudan, exacerbated by rising inflation,” said Frank Adoho, World Bank Senior Economist for South Sudan. “High food prices restrict access, particularly in rural areas where over half of households rely on markets for their food. Insecurity, population displacements, and low agricultural investment have reduced food production, contributing to high rates of food insecurity. Investing in agriculture and infrastructure could help improve food delivery and reduce import dependency.”
The World Bank also highlighted the need for increased investment in data and statistical capacity to bridge knowledge gaps, which currently hinder effective policymaking.
Dr Augustino Ting Mayai, Director General of the National Bureau of Statistics, emphasised, “The challenge facing policymakers in South Sudan is to design sustainable, well-targeted policies to combat extreme poverty and food insecurity. Effective policymaking relies on credible data, and South Sudan’s weak statistical system complicates these efforts.”
South Sudan’s protracted civil war from 2013 to 2020, sparked by political tensions between President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar, resulted in tens of thousands of casualties and the displacement of over 1.6 million people. The conflict further deepened the country’s poverty crisis, leaving millions in urgent need of sustained relief and long-term development efforts.