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South Sudan

Africa · 11 million

About South Sudan

South Sudan, officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a sovereign country located in Africa, specifically within the Middle Africa subregion. Its capital and largest urban centre is Juba, and the country is home to approximately 15.8 million people. In its native language, the country is known as “South Sudan”. English serves as the primary official language, shaping daily communication, education, government, and media throughout South Sudan. The official currency in circulation is the South Sudanese pound (£), used for all domestic transactions and price-tagged goods. South Sudan is widely recognised for the White Nile, the Sudd wetlands and being the world's youngest country. People from South Sudan are referred to as South Sudanese.

Geography & climate

South Sudan covers approximately 619,745 km² of territory, making it a large country by land area. It shares land borders with 6 neighbouring countries — a position that has historically influenced migration patterns, regional politics, and cross-border commerce. Geographically, South Sudan sits in the Northern and Eastern Hemisphere, at roughly 7.0° N, 30.0° E. Standard civil time follows UTC+03:00 year-round, simplifying scheduling for residents and visitors alike. The prevailing climate of South Sudan can be summarised as: nile basin & savanna with hot & humid wet season. Local weather patterns naturally vary by altitude, latitude, and proximity to oceans or mountain ranges.

People, language & society

With roughly 15.8 million inhabitants, South Sudan is a country of significant population size. The principal spoken language is English, which dominates public life, schooling, signage, and the workplace. Citizens are formally known in English as South Sudanese, a demonym that appears in passports, official documents, and international reporting. Economically, the South Sudanese pound (£) is the medium of exchange used by households and businesses, with exchange rates monitored by the country's central monetary authority.

Quick facts at a glance

Practical travel & daily-life info

Visitors planning a trip to South Sudan should familiarise themselves with the capital, Juba, the local time zone (UTC+03:00), the local currency (South Sudanese pound). The international dialling prefix is +211, which is required when phoning a South Sudan number from abroad. Vehicles drive on the right side of the road, an important detail for anyone renting a car or crossing a land border by vehicle. The country's top-level internet domain is .ss, used by local businesses, government sites, and many news organisations. The working week traditionally starts on Sunday, which affects business hours, banking, and public holidays.

Government & global standing

South Sudan is recognised internationally as a sovereign, independent state. It is a member state of the United Nations, participating in the General Assembly and various specialised UN agencies. On the global stage, South Sudan is generally classified within the Africa region and more specifically the Middle Africa subregion, alongside neighbouring states with shared geographic, historical, or economic ties. GlobeIQ groups it under "East Africa" for the purposes of the game's regional hint.

Bordering countries

South Sudan shares land borders with 6 countries. Click any neighbour to read about it:

Did you know?

South Sudan is the world's newest sovereign country — it gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011 — and the seasonal Boma–Jonglei wildlife migration there is one of the largest in Africa.

South Sudan in the GlobeIQ atlas

Inside the GlobeIQ game, South Sudan appears as a tougher puzzle reserved for geography fans who can pick up subtler hints. When the daily puzzle selects this country, players progressively unlock six hints — silhouette, climate and terrain, number of land borders, region, "known for" tagline, and finally the capital city — before a flag reveal confirms the answer. On its trophy card, South Sudan carries the personality tags “🆕 Youngest Nation” and “🌾 Sudd Wetlands”, short flavour labels chosen to evoke the country's most recognisable cultural signatures. Adding South Sudan to your personal atlas is one of 195 small wins on the road to a complete world map. Each correctly guessed nation also contributes to your running streak and unlocks milestone celebrations at 10, 25, 50, 100, and 150 collected countries.

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