Photo: SuSanA Secretariat derivative work: JamesA · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
South Sudan: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
South Sudan is placed 198th of 198 countries on education & knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Out-of-School Rate, Primary 64.73 (2024); Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary 9.452 (2024).
Share
Education & Knowledge
198th
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 64.73Out-of-School Rate, Primary, 2024Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
- 9.452Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, 2024Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
- 2.13Upper Secondary Completion Rate, 2025Upper secondary completion rate (%)
- —Government Spending on Education, 2023No reading for this country
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place South Sudan on education & knowledge — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Out-of-School Rate, Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · South Sudan’s is from 2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
64.73
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
South Sudan: 64.73. Across the 192 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.004 (United Arab Emirates) to 65.6 (Equatorial Guinea); the world median is 3.691.
- World median
- 3.691
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 0.785 Mauritius
- Land neighbours
- Ethiopia 22.46 · Kenya 32.9 · Sudan 43.84
Key 2 of 4
Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · South Sudan’s is from 2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
9.452
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
Higher is better
South Sudan: 9.452. Across the 187 countries at their latest reading, values run from 3.411 (Yemen) to 100 (United Arab Emirates); the world median is 85.9.
- World median
- 85.9
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 92.12 Kenya
- Land neighbours
- Ethiopia 62.59 · Kenya 92.12 · Sudan 37.96
Key 3 of 4
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
2.13
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
South Sudan: 2.13. Across the 164 countries in this edition, values run from 2.13 (South Sudan) to 99.27 (South Korea); the world median is 64.87.
- World median
- 64.87
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 55.96 Mauritius
- Land neighbours
- Central African Republic 5.55 · DR Congo 26.38 · Ethiopia 15.45 · Kenya 41.64 · Sudan 33.58 · Uganda 17.77
Key 4 of 4
Government Spending on Education
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
No reading
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
Higher is better
UIS publishes no 2023 figure for South Sudan, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 123 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Somalia) to 16.39 (Kiribati); the world median is 3.709.
- World median
- 3.709
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 4.92 Rwanda
- Land neighbours
- Central African Republic 1.83 · Ethiopia 2.927 · Kenya 3.962
02Over time
Which way South Sudan is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Out-of-School Rate, Primary
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%) · lower is better
South SudanWorld median
South Sudan rose from 55.33 in 2011 to 64.73 in 2024; the world median went from 3.626 to 3.691.
Every year’s figures
Year South Sudan World median 2024 65 3.691 2023 — 3.393 2022 — 3.002 2021 — 3.330 2020 — 2.678 2019 — 2.758 2018 — 2.439 2017 — 2.907 2016 — 2.954 2015 64 3.052 2014 — 3.904 2013 — 3.413 2012 — 3.408 2011 55 3.626 2010 — 3.491 2009 — 3.577 2008 — 3.878 2007 — 4.029 2006 — 4.338 2005 — 4.571 2004 — 3.791 2003 — 4.412 2002 — 4.144 2001 — 4.051 2000 — 8.642 Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) · higher is better
South SudanWorld median
South Sudan fell from 20.73 in 2011 to 9.452 in 2024; the world median went from 86.19 to 85.9.
Every year’s figures
Year South Sudan World median 2024 9 85.9 2023 — 87.6 2022 — 87.7 2021 — 87.0 2020 — 88.3 2019 — 88.8 2018 — 89.6 2017 — 87.4 2016 — 87.9 2015 19 88.2 2014 — 89.2 2013 — 88.0 2012 — 85.4 2011 21 86.2 2010 — 86.1 2009 — 84.8 2008 — 85.8 2007 — 86.7 2006 — 84.0 2005 — 82.2 2004 — 81.8 2003 — 78.3 2002 — 80.0 2001 — 80.8 2000 — 66.3 Upper Secondary Completion Rate
Upper secondary completion rate (%) · higher is better
South SudanWorld median
South Sudan rose from 0.74 in 2000 to 2.13 in 2025; the world median went from 38 to 64.87.
Every year’s figures
Year South Sudan World median 2025 2.13 64.9 2024 2.06 65.0 2023 2.01 64.2 2022 1.93 63.6 2021 1.87 62.9 2020 1.82 62.2 2019 1.78 61.5 2018 1.72 60.9 2017 1.66 60.5 2016 1.60 60.1 2015 1.54 58.9 2014 1.49 57.0 2013 1.43 54.7 2012 1.37 52.4 2011 1.25 50.9 2010 1.07 49.5 2009 0.91 48.5 2008 0.79 47.4 2007 0.75 46.2 2006 0.72 45.0 2005 0.70 43.8 2004 0.68 42.9 2003 0.69 41.6 2002 0.71 40.3 2001 0.74 39.0 2000 0.74 38.0 Government Spending on Education
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) · higher is better
South SudanWorld median
South Sudan rose from 1.045 in 2010 to 1.565 in 2016; the world median went from 4.14 to 4.234.
Every year’s figures
Year South Sudan World median 2023 — 3.7092 2022 — 4.0570 2021 — 4.2611 2020 — 4.4056 2019 — 4.1407 2018 — 4.2159 2017 — 4.1401 2016 1.57 4.2342 2015 1.47 4.2386 2014 1.23 4.2005 2013 1.02 4.3493 2012 1.58 4.0348 2011 0.96 3.9987 2010 1.05 4.1396 2009 — 4.6638 2008 — 4.4226 2007 — 4.1717 2006 — 4.0593 2005 — 4.0557 2004 — 3.9745 2003 — 4.1595 2002 — 4.0173 2001 — 4.1002 2000 — 3.8861
03In context
South Sudan beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 198 countries on education & knowledge, never a place within the region.
South Sudan and the countries it borders
Standing among all 198; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Out-of-School Rate, PrimaryOut-of-school rate, primary age (%) | Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before PrimaryChildren one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) | Upper Secondary Completion RateUpper secondary completion rate (%) | Government Spending on EducationGovernment expenditure on education (% of GDP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Kenya | 137th | 32.9 | 92.12 | 41.64 | 3.962 |
 Ethiopia | 178th | 22.46 | 62.59 | 15.45 | 2.927 |
 Sudancompare | =190th | 43.84 | 37.96 | 33.58 | — |
 Central African Republic | 195th | — | — | 5.55 | 1.83 |
| South Sudan | 198th | 64.73 | 9.452 | 2.13 | — |
 DR Congo | not placed | — | — | 26.38 | — |
 Uganda | not placed | — | — | 17.77 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.
Placed either side on education & knowledge
The countries immediately above and below South Sudan in the topic’s list.
- Central African Republic195th
Equatorial Guinea196th
Somalia197th- South Sudan198th
04Context, no vote
Where South Sudan is ahead of the world, and behind
15 more statistics filed under education & knowledge, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median2
Statistics on which South Sudan does better than the middle country measured.
Secondary School EnrolmentUIS · 2024 · world median 93.19122.1293.19▲ Improved since 2015
South Sudan: 122.12 · world median 93.19 · Gross secondary enrolment ratio (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 19.87 to 158.55; higher is better.
Position 8th of 109 · derived.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.4390.446No earlier reading
South Sudan: 0.439 · world median 0.446 · Correlation between own and parents' years of schooling, born 1980–89 (0–1). World Bank Group, 2017 edition, data for 2017.
Published values in that edition run from 0.123 to 0.66; lower is better.
Position 81st of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median12
Statistics on which South Sudan does worse than the middle country measured.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.9335.739.933▼ Worsened since 2013
South Sudan: 5.73 · world median 9.933 · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.412 to 14.3; higher is better.
Position 163rd of 193 · derived.
Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary CompletionUIS · 2024 · world median 0.5290.0810.529No earlier reading
South Sudan: 0.081 · world median 0.529 · Adjusted wealth parity index, lower secondary completion (poorest vs richest fifth; 1 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.032 to 1.022; higher is better.
Harmonized Test ScoresWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 414.32335.59414.32No real change since 2017
South Sudan: 335.59 · world median 414.32 · Harmonized test score (TIMSS-equivalent points; 300 = minimum, 625 = advanced attainment). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 304.92 to 575.27; higher is better.
Position 162nd of 172 · derived.
Pupils per Qualified Teacher, PrimaryUIS · 2024 · world median 20.67117.8220.67▼ Worsened since 2015
South Sudan: 117.82 · world median 20.67 · Primary pupils per qualified teacher (headcount basis). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 8.244 to 284.7; lower is better.
Position 5th of 92 · derived, 1st = worst.
Pre-Primary Net Enrolment RateUIS · 2024 · world median 65.938.76665.93No real change since 2015
South Sudan: 8.766 · world median 65.93 · Net enrolment rate, pre-primary (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.779 to 99.85; higher is better.
Position 117th of 120 · derived.
Academic Freedom IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6190.0540.619No real change since 2015
South Sudan: 0.054 · world median 0.619 · Academic freedom index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.019 to 0.978; higher is better.
Position 172nd of 176 · derived.
Learning-Adjusted Years of SchoolWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 7.9412.5117.941No real change since 2017
South Sudan: 2.511 · world median 7.941 · Learning-adjusted years of school (0–14). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.207 to 12.81; higher is better.
Position 171st of 172 · derived.
Adult Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 93.9926.8393.99No earlier reading
South Sudan: 26.83 · world median 93.99 · Adults 15+ who can read and write (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 26.83 to 100; higher is better.
Position 172nd of 172 · derived.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.345.63513.34No real change since 2013
South Sudan: 5.635 · world median 13.34 · Expected years of schooling. UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.635 to 21.69; higher is better.
Position 195th of 195 · derived.
Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2113.7389.21No real change since 2015
South Sudan: 13.73 · world median 89.21 · Lower secondary completion rate (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13.73 to 100; higher is better.
Position 164th of 164 · derived.
Primary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 97.437.9497.43No real change since 2015
South Sudan: 7.94 · world median 97.43 · Primary completion rate (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 7.94 to 100; higher is better.
Position 165th of 165 · derived.
Youth Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 98.2236.798.22No earlier reading
South Sudan: 36.7 · world median 98.22 · 15–24 year-olds who can read and write (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 36.7 to 100; higher is better.
No better end1
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,2402522,240Moved since 2022
South Sudan: 252 · world median 2,240 · Articles with at least one author at an institution in the country (full counting). OpenAlex (OurResearch), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 1,094,890.
No current reading for South Sudan
Bachelor's or Higher Attainment, Female Share of Researchers, Female Share of STEM Graduates, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment, Government Funding per Primary Student (last 2011), Government Spending on Education (last 2016), Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, Learning Poverty, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Primary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Primary, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary Age (last 2015), Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary, PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Primary Schools with Electricity, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Qualified Teachers in Primary Education (last 2011), Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, School Life Expectancy, Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes, Tertiary Enrolment Ratio, Trust in Scientists and Upper Secondary Attainment (last 2008). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Education & Knowledge among South Sudan’s 13 topics
Education & Knowledge is South Sudan’s 12th best-placed topic of 13. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability9th of 1862/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 151st of 1834/4 keys
- Energy154th of 1652/3 keys
- Food & Agriculture174th of 1843/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience183rd of 1933/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties191st of 1983/4 keys
- Peace & Security173rd of 1774/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions190th of 1944/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality156th of 1593/3 keys
- Digital & Technology197th of 1983/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital196th of 1963/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge198th of 1983/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing200th of 2003/4 keys
No standing on Economy & Innovation, Work & Labour, Mobility & Trade: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on education & knowledge
The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders South Sudan can most readily be measured against.
1
United Arab EmiratesWestern Asia
1st of 198 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
GreeceSouthern Europe
2nd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
PolandEastern Europe
3rd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich) · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
Moldova7th4/4 keysHighest in Africa
Tunisia=48th3/4 keysHighest in Eastern Africa
Mauritius=61st4/4 keysThis page
South Sudan198th3/4 keys
Positions out of 198 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
South Sudan on education & knowledge: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does South Sudan rank on education & knowledge?
South Sudan is placed 198th of 198 countries on Education & Knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (Out-of-School Rate, Primary, Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary and Upper Secondary Completion Rate). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Out-of-School Rate, Primary figure for South Sudan?
64.73 in 2024 (out-of-school rate, primary age (%)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 3.691.
What is the latest Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary figure for South Sudan?
9.452 in 2024 (children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 85.9.
How does South Sudan compare with Ethiopia on education & knowledge?
Ethiopia is placed 178th of 198, and South Sudan 198th. Out-of-School Rate, Primary: Ethiopia 22.46, South Sudan 64.73; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary: Ethiopia 62.59, South Sudan 9.452; Upper Secondary Completion Rate: Ethiopia 15.45, South Sudan 2.13.
How have South Sudan’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Out-of-School Rate, Primary rose from 55.33 in 2011 to 64.73 in 2024; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary fell from 20.73 in 2011 to 9.452 in 2024; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 0.74 in 2000 to 2.13 in 2025; Government Spending on Education rose from 1.045 in 2010 to 1.565 in 2016.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for South Sudan?
No current reading is published for South Sudan on Bachelor's or Higher Attainment, Female Share of Researchers, Female Share of STEM Graduates, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment, Government Funding per Primary Student, Government Spending on Education, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, Learning Poverty, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Primary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Primary, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary Age, Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary, PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Primary Schools with Electricity, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Qualified Teachers in Primary Education, Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, School Life Expectancy, Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes, Tertiary Enrolment Ratio, Trust in Scientists and Upper Secondary Attainment. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
How much children actually learn is only partly covered. International test scores exist for a limited group of countries, and they are published here as context rather than used as a key, because a key must describe most of the world. Universities, research, and youth and adult literacy also appear as context.
How the Education & Knowledge standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The education & knowledge method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Out-of-School Rate, Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Upper Secondary Completion Rate — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Government Spending on Education — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 15 statistics on this page come from 5 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
South Sudan’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- South Sudan (banner) — SuSanA Secretariat derivative work: JamesA, CC BY 2.0
- United Arab Emirates — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Greece — User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Poland — Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich), CC BY 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). South Sudan: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/south-sudan/education