South Sudan

The main languages spoken in South Sudan are:
English - the official language, used in government, education, and business.
Juba Arabic - an Arabic-based creole widely used as a lingua franca, especially in Juba and other towns.
Dinka - the largest indigenous language, spoken by about a third of the population.
Nuer, Bari, Zande, Shilluk, Otuho, and more than 60 other indigenous languages are spoken and recognized as national languages.
English is the official language of South Sudan.

Geography

Location: East-Central Africa; landlocked

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 644,329 sq km

Land boundaries:
border countries: Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda

Climate: hot with seasonal rainfall; rainy season from May to October

Terrain: plains in the north and center, including the vast Sudd swamp of the White Nile; highlands along the Ugandan and Kenyan borders

People

Population: about 12-16 million (2024 est.)

Nationality:
noun: South Sudanese
adjective: South Sudanese

Ethnic groups: Dinka about 36%, Nuer about 16%, Shilluk, Azande, Bari, Kakwa, Kuku, Murle, Mandari, Didinga, and others

Religions: Christian about 60%, traditional African religions, Muslim

Languages: English (official), Juba Arabic, Dinka, Nuer, Bari, Zande, Shilluk, and many others

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of South Sudan

Data code: SS

Government type: presidential republic

National capital: Juba

Independence: 9 July 2011 (from Sudan)

Background: After decades of civil war between the government in Khartoum and southern rebels, a 2005 peace agreement led to a 2011 referendum in which about 99% of southerners voted for independence; South Sudan is the world's newest widely recognized country, but it has since suffered civil conflict and humanitarian crises