Human Development Index in South Sudan
South Sudan: Human Development Index was 0.388 in 2023. ▬ Flat
Human Development Index in South Sudan, 2010–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Sudan recorded 0.388 for human development index in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, human development index in South Sudan peaked at 0.422 in 2011 and was at its lowest, 0.292, in 2017.
That places South Sudan 192nd out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Human Development Index in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.42 | — |
| 2011 | 0.422 | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 0.389 | -7.8% |
| 2013 | 0.391 | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 0.343 | -12.3% |
| 2015 | 0.317 | -7.6% |
| 2016 | 0.297 | -6.3% |
| 2017 | 0.292 | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 0.371 | +27.1% |
| 2019 | 0.403 | +8.6% |
| 2020 | 0.398 | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 0.393 | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 0.388 | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 0.388 | +0.0% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 0.388 is below the median for low income countries, which is 0.496, 78% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 0.388 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.56, 69% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Human Development Index in South Sudan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | +27.1% | 0.292 | 0.371 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 0.3645 | 0.292 | 0.422 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3918 | 0.388 | 0.398 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
- 190 Chad 0.416 compare
- 191 Central African Republic 0.414 compare
More reference data data for South Sudan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 7 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 7.41 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Burning - Crop 6.36 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 43,123 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure Management 684.53 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure applied to Soils 325.82 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure left on Pasture 8,797 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 26,453 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Enteric Fermentation 693.63 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 0.227 (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is human development index in South Sudan?
- Human development index in South Sudan was 0.388 in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest human development index recorded in South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 0.422 in 2011.
- What is the lowest human development index recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.292 in 2017.
- How does South Sudan rank for human development index?
- South Sudan ranks 192nd out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is human development index rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Sudan data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Human Development Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a summary measure of key dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, a good education, and a decent standard of living. Higher values indicate higher human development.