Photo: SuSanA Secretariat derivative work: JamesA · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 08 of 18 · Country Index 2026
South Sudan: Gender & Equality
How wide is the gap between women's and men's lives?
South Sudan is placed joint 151st of 183 countries on gender & equality in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Women, Business and the Law 73.75 (2025); Women's Political Empowerment Index 0.476 (2025).
Share
Gender & Equality
joint151st
of 183 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 73.75Women, Business and the Law, 2025WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity)
- 0.476Women's Political Empowerment Index, 2025Women's political empowerment index (0–1)
- 10.55Firms with a Female Top Manager, 2025Firms with a female top manager (%)
- 40.6Social Institutions and Gender Index, 2023SIGI score (0 = no discrimination, 100 = absolute)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place South Sudan on gender & equality — 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.
73.75
WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity)
Higher is better
South Sudan: 73.75. Across the 190 countries in this edition, values run from 3.125 (Afghanistan) to 100 (Sweden); the world median is 81.25.
- World median
- 81.25
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 91.88 Rwanda
- Land neighbours
- Central African Republic 77.5 · DR Congo 78.75 · Ethiopia 80 · Kenya 83.75 · Sudan 32.5 · Uganda 80.63
Key 2 of 4
Women's Political Empowerment Index
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
0.476
Women's political empowerment index (0–1)
Higher is better
South Sudan: 0.476. Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from 0.028 (Afghanistan) to 0.954 (Denmark); the world median is 0.772.
- World median
- 0.772
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 0.908 Seychelles
- Land neighbours
- Central African Republic 0.556 · DR Congo 0.55 · Ethiopia 0.691 · Kenya 0.804 · Sudan 0.219 · Uganda 0.636
Key 3 of 4
Firms with a Female Top Manager
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2016–2025 · South Sudan’s is from 2024 · CC BY 4.0
10.55
Firms with a female top manager (%)
Higher is better
South Sudan: 10.55. Across the 179 countries at their latest reading, values run from 1.429 (Qatar) to 62.9 (Kiribati); the world median is 19.16.
- World median
- 19.16
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 37.34 Madagascar
- Land neighbours
- Central African Republic 10.22 · DR Congo 22.74 · Ethiopia 16.44 · Kenya 17.75 · Sudan 3.417 · Uganda 22.61
Key 4 of 4
Social Institutions and Gender Index
OECD
2023 edition · data for 2023 · OECD Terms and Conditions — data clause
40.6
SIGI score (0 = no discrimination, 100 = absolute)
Lower is better
South Sudan: 40.6. Across the 140 countries in this edition, values run from 6.7 (Norway) to 67.4 (Mauritania); the world median is 25.2.
- World median
- 25.2
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 19 Rwanda
- Land neighbours
- Central African Republic 48.7 · DR Congo 46.9 · Ethiopia 30.8 · Kenya 32.9 · Sudan 64.6 · Uganda 27.4
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.
Women, Business and the Law
WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity) · higher is better
South SudanWorld median
South Sudan rose from 43.75 in 2000 to 73.75 in 2025; the world median went from 63.13 to 81.25.
Every year’s figures
Year South Sudan World median 2025 74 81.3 2023 68 81.3 2022 68 80.3 2021 68 80.0 2020 68 79.7 2019 68 78.8 2018 68 77.5 2017 49 77.5 2016 49 76.9 2015 49 75.9 2014 49 75.6 2013 49 75.0 2012 49 73.8 2011 56 73.1 2010 56 73.1 2009 56 72.5 2008 44 71.3 2007 44 69.7 2006 44 68.8 2005 44 67.2 2004 44 66.9 2003 44 64.7 2002 44 63.8 2001 44 63.8 2000 44 63.1 Women's Political Empowerment Index
Women's political empowerment index (0–1) · higher is better
South SudanWorld median
South Sudan rose from 0.457 in 2011 to 0.476 in 2025; the world median went from 0.765 to 0.772.
Every year’s figures
Year South Sudan World median 2025 0.476 0.7715 2024 0.512 0.7745 2023 0.466 0.7755 2022 0.422 0.7825 2021 0.429 0.7785 2020 0.425 0.7755 2019 0.459 0.7665 2018 0.466 0.7715 2017 0.424 0.7710 2016 0.419 0.7780 2015 0.417 0.7755 2014 0.432 0.7795 2013 0.434 0.7730 2012 0.464 0.7740 2011 0.457 0.7650 2010 — 0.7610 2009 — 0.7515 2008 — 0.7505 2007 — 0.7380 2006 — 0.7290 2005 — 0.7350 2004 — 0.7205 2003 — 0.7160 2002 — 0.7150 2001 — 0.6950 2000 — 0.6810
03In context
South Sudan beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 183 countries on gender & equality, never a place within the region.
South Sudan and the countries it borders
Standing among all 183; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Women, Business and the LawWBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity) | Women's Political Empowerment IndexWomen's political empowerment index (0–1) | Firms with a Female Top ManagerFirms with a female top manager (%) | Social Institutions and Gender IndexSIGI score (0 = no discrimination, 100 = absolute) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Kenya | =106th | 83.75 | 0.804 | 17.75 | 32.9 |
 Uganda | 108th | 80.63 | 0.636 | 22.61 | 27.4 |
 Ethiopia | 127th | 80 | 0.691 | 16.44 | 30.8 |
 DR Congo | 130th | 78.75 | 0.55 | 22.74 | 46.9 |
 Central African Republic | 148th | 77.5 | 0.556 | 10.22 | 48.7 |
| South Sudan | =151st | 73.75 | 0.476 | 10.55 | 40.6 |
 Sudancompare | 182nd | 32.5 | 0.219 | 3.417 | 64.6 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 183.
Placed either side on gender & equality
The countries immediately above and below South Sudan in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where South Sudan is ahead of the world, and behind
15 more statistics filed under gender & equality, 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 median1
Statistics on which South Sudan does better than the middle country measured.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3143▲ Improved since 2015
South Sudan: 14 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Behind the world median9
Statistics on which South Sudan does worse than the middle country measured.
Firms with Female Participation in OwnershipWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 35.1233.8335.12No earlier reading
South Sudan: 33.83 · world median 35.12 · Firms with at least one woman among the owners (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.273 to 86.78; higher is better.
Position 99th of 181 · derived.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 989098▲ Improved since 2015
South Sudan: 90 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.4697.1327.46No real change since 2013
South Sudan: 97.13 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 20th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Child MarriageUNICEF · 2025 · world median 17.151.517.1No earlier reading
South Sudan: 51.5 · world median 17.1 · Women 20–24 married before 18 (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.3; lower is better.
Position 4th of 143 · derived, 1st = worst.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 813181No earlier reading
South Sudan: 31 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 150th of 153 · derived.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.65691.8246.65▼ Worsened since 2013
South Sudan: 691.82 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 3rd of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Women Who Think a Husband Is Justified in Hitting or Beating His WifeUNICEF · 2025 · world median 22.478.522.4No earlier reading
South Sudan: 78.5 · world median 22.4 · Women aged 15-49 who say a husband is justified in hitting or beating his wife (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.2 to 80.2; lower is better.
Position 2nd of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.252171.25No real change since 2013
South Sudan: 21 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 195th of 196 · derived.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.911.596.9No earlier reading
South Sudan: 11.5 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Legal Guarantees of Women's Equal Rights to LandFAO · 2025 · world median 333No earlier reading
South Sudan: 3 · world median 3 · Level of legal guarantees of women's equal rights to land ownership and control, 1 (lowest) to 6 (highest). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 6; higher is better.
No better end4
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Female-Headed HouseholdsUN DESA Population Division · 2026 · world median 33.2141.9733.21No earlier reading
South Sudan: 41.97 · world median 33.21 · Households headed by a woman (% of households). UN DESA Population Division, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 5.33 to 64.59.
Sex Ratio at BirthUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 105.1103.5105.1No real change since 2013
South Sudan: 103.5 · world median 105.1 · Male births per 100 female births. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 101.1 to 116.3.
Mean Age at First Marriage, WomenUN DESA Population Division · 2019 · world median 24.651924.65No earlier reading
South Sudan: 19 · world median 24.65 · Singulate mean age at marriage, women (years). UN DESA Population Division, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 17 to 34.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.650.620.65No earlier reading
South Sudan: 0.6 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
No current reading for South Sudan
Account Ownership Among Women, Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff (last 2020), Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Female Labour Force Participation Rate (last 2023), Female Share of Researchers, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Female Share of STEM Graduates, Gender Development Index, Gender Inequality Index, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment, Gender Social Norms Index, Global Gender Parity Index, Women's Empowerment Index and Women's Share of Agricultural Landowners. 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
Gender & Equality among South Sudan’s 13 topics
Gender & Equality is South Sudan’s 2nd 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 gender & equality
The three countries placed highest of 183, and the leaders South Sudan can most readily be measured against.
1
LatviaNorthern Europe
1st of 183 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Marcin Szala · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
TaiwanEastern Asia
2nd of 183 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: xiangyang17 · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
3
ItalySouthern Europe
3rd of 183 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Francisco Antunes · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Cabo Verde=34th3/4 keysHighest in Eastern Africa
Seychelles=43rd3/4 keysThis page
South Sudan=151st4/4 keys
Positions out of 183 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 gender & equality: 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 gender & equality?
South Sudan is placed joint 151st of 183 countries on Gender & Equality in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Women, Business and the Law, Women's Political Empowerment Index, Firms with a Female Top Manager and Social Institutions and Gender Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Women, Business and the Law figure for South Sudan?
73.75 in 2025 (wBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 81.25.
What is the latest Women's Political Empowerment Index figure for South Sudan?
0.476 in 2025 (women's political empowerment index (0–1)), according to V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg. The world median in the same edition was 0.772.
How does South Sudan compare with Ethiopia on gender & equality?
Ethiopia is placed 127th of 183, and South Sudan joint 151st. Women, Business and the Law: Ethiopia 80, South Sudan 73.75; Women's Political Empowerment Index: Ethiopia 0.691, South Sudan 0.476; Firms with a Female Top Manager: Ethiopia 16.44, South Sudan 10.55; Social Institutions and Gender Index: Ethiopia 30.8, South Sudan 40.6.
How have South Sudan’s gender & equality figures changed?
Women, Business and the Law rose from 43.75 in 2000 to 73.75 in 2025; Women's Political Empowerment Index rose from 0.457 in 2011 to 0.476 in 2025.
Which gender & equality statistics are missing for South Sudan?
No current reading is published for South Sudan on Account Ownership Among Women, Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Female Labour Force Participation Rate, Female Share of Researchers, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Female Share of STEM Graduates, Gender Development Index, Gender Inequality Index, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment, Gender Social Norms Index, Global Gender Parity Index, Women's Empowerment Index and Women's Share of Agricultural Landowners. 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
Violence against women is not a key here, because comparable data covers too few countries. The Gender Inequality Index is published here as context rather than as a key: its reading is driven largely by maternal and adolescent health, which moves with a country’s overall development and is already measured under Development and Health. Women’s labour force participation, women in management and child marriage are published here as context too.
How the Gender & Equality 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 gender & equality method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Women, Business and the Law — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Women's Political Empowerment Index — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Firms with a Female Top Manager — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Social Institutions and Gender Index — OECD, OECD Terms and Conditions — data clause
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
- Latvia — Marcin Szala, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Taiwan — xiangyang17, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Italy — Francisco Antunes, CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). South Sudan: Gender & Equality — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/south-sudan/gender