Photo: SuSanA Secretariat derivative work: JamesA · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 14 of 18 · Country Index 2026
South Sudan: Poverty & Inequality
How is a country’s income shared, and how many live below a line?
South Sudan is placed 156th of 159 countries on poverty & inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Gini Index 44.05 (2023); Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day 40.83 (2023).
Share
Poverty & Inequality
156th
of 159 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place South Sudan on poverty & inequality — 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 3
Gini Index
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · South Sudan’s is from 2016 · CC BY 4.0
44.05
Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)
Lower is better
South Sudan: 44.05. Across the 159 countries at their latest reading, values run from 23 (India) to 59.07 (Namibia); the world median is 33.72.
- World median
- 33.72
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 31.14 Ethiopia
- Land neighbours
- Central African Republic 43.03 · DR Congo 44.67 · Ethiopia 31.14 · Kenya 38.53 · Sudan 34.24 · Uganda 38.15
Key 2 of 3
Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · South Sudan’s is from 2016 · CC BY 4.0
40.83
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)
Lower is better
South Sudan: 40.83. Across the 159 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0 (Czechia) to 48.69 (DR Congo); the world median is 0.345.
- World median
- 0.345
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 0.09 Mauritius
- Land neighbours
- Central African Republic 34.4 · DR Congo 48.69 · Ethiopia 10.75 · Kenya 13.58 · Sudan 2.2 · Uganda 19.95
Key 3 of 3
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
93.9
Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%)
Lower is better
South Sudan: 93.9. Across the 145 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Belarus) to 93.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 26.4.
- World median
- 26.4
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 17.8 Mauritius
- Land neighbours
- Central African Republic 87.6 · DR Congo 90.1 · Ethiopia 67.9 · Kenya 76.3 · Uganda 73.6
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.
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet
Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%) · lower is better
South SudanWorld median
South Sudan rose from 91.4 in 2017 to 93.9 in 2025; the world median went from 32.4 to 26.4.
Every year’s figures
Year South Sudan World median 2025 93.9 26.40 2024 95.0 27.10 2023 92.6 27.15 2022 93.8 27.90 2021 93.4 29.65 2020 92.8 31.80 2019 92.4 29.05 2018 90.8 29.85 2017 91.4 32.40
03In context
South Sudan beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 159 countries on poverty & inequality, never a place within the region.
South Sudan and the countries it borders
Standing among all 159; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Gini IndexGini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality) | Poverty Gap at $3.00 a DayPoverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%) | Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietShare of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Sudancompare | 94th | 34.24 | 2.2 | — |
 Ethiopia | 107th | 31.14 | 10.75 | 67.9 |
 Kenya | 141st | 38.53 | 13.58 | 76.3 |
 Uganda | 144th | 38.15 | 19.95 | 73.6 |
 Central African Republic | 153rd | 43.03 | 34.4 | 87.6 |
| South Sudan | 156th | 44.05 | 40.83 | 93.9 |
 DR Congo | 157th | 44.67 | 48.69 | 90.1 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 159.
Placed either side on poverty & inequality
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
14 more statistics filed under poverty & inequality, 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.
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 median10
Statistics on which South Sudan does worse than the middle country measured.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.290.25▼ Worsened since 2020
South Sudan: 0.29 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
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.
Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 12,8002,32412,800No earlier reading
South Sudan: 2,324 · world median 12,800 · Actual individual consumption per capita (PPP, current international $). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 688.7 to 52,654; higher is better.
Position 156th of 173 · derived.
Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour BenefitsWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 18.651.52518.65No earlier reading
South Sudan: 1.525 · world median 18.65 · Benefits received as a share of beneficiaries' total income or consumption (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.455 to 90.86; higher is better.
Exclusion by Socio-Economic GroupV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2023 · world median 0.4130.9180.413No real change since 2013
South Sudan: 0.918 · world median 0.413 · Exclusion by socio-economic group index (0–1; higher = more exclusion). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.014 to 0.969; lower is better.
Position 5th of 174 · derived, 1st = worst.
Multidimensional Poverty MeasureWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 4.25287.484.252No earlier reading
South Sudan: 87.48 · world median 4.252 · Multidimensional poverty headcount ratio (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 87.96; lower is better.
Position 2nd of 157 · derived, 1st = worst.
Coefficient of Human InequalityUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 17.0541.6917.05No real change since 2013
South Sudan: 41.69 · world median 17.05 · Coefficient of Human Inequality (%). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.865 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 2nd of 169 · derived, 1st = worst.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6090.2260.609No real change since 2013
South Sudan: 0.226 · world median 0.609 · IHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.226 to 0.923; higher is better.
Position 169th of 169 · derived.
Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up EstimatesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.189.542.1▼ Worsened since 2014
South Sudan: 89.54 · world median 2.1 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP, World Bank line-up estimate (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 89.54; lower is better.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.988.820.9No real change since 2017
South Sudan: 88.8 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 1st of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end3
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Poverty Headcount at National Poverty LinesWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 21.882.321.8No earlier reading
South Sudan: 82.3 · world median 21.8 · Population below the national poverty line (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 82.3.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.889.2076.88No earlier reading
South Sudan: 9.207 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.554.094.55Moved since 2017
South Sudan: 4.09 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
No current reading for South Sudan
Gini Index (last 2016), Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID) (last 2016), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (last 2022), Income Growth of the Poorest 40%, Income Share Held by Lowest 20% (last 2016), Income Share Held by Richest 10% (last 2016), Low Pay Rate, Median Daily Income or Consumption per Person (last 2016), Palma Ratio (last 2016), Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day (last 2016), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day (last 2016), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day (last 2016), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day (last 2016), Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day (last 2016), Prosperity Gap (last 2016), Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Societal Poverty Rate (last 2016) and Working Poverty Rate. 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
Poverty & Inequality among South Sudan’s 13 topics
Poverty & Inequality is South Sudan’s 9th 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 poverty & inequality
The three countries placed highest of 159, and the leaders South Sudan can most readily be measured against.
1
BelarusEastern Europe
1st of 159 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: zedlik , cropped by Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
SloveniaSouthern Europe
2nd of 159 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Z.K. derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
=3
UkraineEastern Europe
Joint 3rd of 159 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: uploaded by Chern038 · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Tunisia43rd3/3 keysHighest in Eastern Africa
Mauritius61st3/3 keysThis page
South Sudan156th3/3 keys
Positions out of 159 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 poverty & inequality: 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 poverty & inequality?
South Sudan is placed 156th of 159 countries on Poverty & Inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Gini Index, Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day and Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Gini Index figure for South Sudan?
44.05 in 2023 (gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 33.72.
What is the latest Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day figure for South Sudan?
40.83 in 2023 (poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.345.
How does South Sudan compare with Ethiopia on poverty & inequality?
Ethiopia is placed 107th of 159, and South Sudan 156th. Gini Index: Ethiopia 31.14, South Sudan 44.05; Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day: Ethiopia 10.75, South Sudan 40.83; Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet: Ethiopia 67.9, South Sudan 93.9.
How have South Sudan’s poverty & inequality figures changed?
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet rose from 91.4 in 2017 to 93.9 in 2025.
Which poverty & inequality statistics are missing for South Sudan?
No current reading is published for South Sudan on Gini Index, Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Income Growth of the Poorest 40%, Income Share Held by Lowest 20%, Income Share Held by Richest 10%, Low Pay Rate, Median Daily Income or Consumption per Person, Palma Ratio, Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day, Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day, Prosperity Gap, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Societal Poverty Rate and Working Poverty Rate. 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
These figures come from household surveys, which most countries run every few years rather than every year. So the subject's standing is read from each country's most recent survey of the last decade, with the year of every reading shown, rather than from one year in which only a minority of countries were surveyed. Two readings decide it — how unequally income is shared and how deep extreme poverty runs — because the other poverty and inequality measures here largely repeat one of those two or repeat average income, which already counts under Economy and Development. Countries with no survey in the last decade have no standing here. What work pays is under Work & Labour; wealth, as opposed to income, has no global source this site is permitted to republish.
How the Poverty & Inequality standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 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 3 keys to be placed.
The poverty & inequality method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Gini Index — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 14 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
- Belarus — zedlik , cropped by Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Slovenia — Z.K. derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 3.0
- Ukraine — uploaded by Chern038, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). South Sudan: Poverty & Inequality — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/south-sudan/poverty