Partner risk indices

Country Risk Index

69.8

Political Risk Index

65.4

Short-Term Economic Risk Index

61.3

Long-Term Economic Risk Index

73.9

Operational Risk Index

76.4

Source: Partner Research Partner, as of 8 Nov 2026. 0-100, higher means higher risk.

Key indicators

Market overview

• South Sudan is in East Africa and is classified by the World Bank as Low income. (World Bank)
• Population: 12.2 million (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• GDP: US$5.5bn in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)

Economic conditions

• Real GDP growth: 41.4% in 2025 (estimate); the IMF projects 10.5% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• Average consumer price inflation: 97.6% in 2025 (estimate); projected 27.6% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• General government gross debt: 64.2% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Current account balance: -6.4% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Government net lending/borrowing: 3.3% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Official exchange rate averaged 2,163.1 local currency units per US dollar in 2024, against 534.51 in 2022: 304.7% more units per dollar (the currency weakened against the dollar). (World Bank WDI)

Key risks

• Partner risk indices (0-100, higher = higher risk), as of 8 Nov 2026: Country Risk Index 69.8 (rank 52 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Political Risk Index 65.4 (rank 52 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Short-Term Economic Risk Index 61.3 (rank 41 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Long-Term Economic Risk Index 73.9 (rank 52 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Operational Risk Index 76.4 (rank 49 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk). (Partner Research Partner)
• Highest-scoring Partner risk component: crime and security risk (84.5, operational). (Partner Research Partner)
• World Bank governance scores (2025, 0-100, higher is better): control of corruption 6; government effectiveness 6; political stability and absence of violence 39; rule of law 25; regulatory quality 22. (World Bank WGI)
• Unemployment (modelled ILO estimate): 12.4% of labour force (2023). (World Bank WDI)

Investment considerations

• Foreign direct investment, net inflows: 0% of GDP (2015). (World Bank WDI)
• Domestic credit to the private sector: 3.2% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Bank lending interest rate: 14.3% (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Trade (exports plus imports): 65.6% of GDP (2015). (World Bank WDI)
• The Meridian holds 76 published records tagged to South Sudan. (The Meridian)

Sector snapshot

• Energy and power: access to electricity 5.4% of population (2024); renewable share of final energy consumption 32.4% (2021). (World Bank WDI)
• Mining and minerals: mineral rents 0% of GDP (2015). (World Bank WDI)
• Financial services: foreign direct investment, net inflows 0% of GDP (2015); bank lending interest rate 14.3% (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Technology, media and telecoms: internet users 6.7% of population (2019); mobile subscriptions 46.6 per 100 people (2023). (World Bank WDI)
• Agriculture: agriculture, forestry and fishing, value added 10.4% of GDP (2015); employment in agriculture 63.8% of employment (2023). (World Bank WDI)
• Manufacturing and industry: manufacturing, value added 3.5% of GDP (2015); industry (including construction), value added 33.1% of GDP (2015). (World Bank WDI)
• Infrastructure and real estate: urban population 21.7% of population (2025); access to electricity 5.4% of population (2024). (World Bank WDI)

Data limitations and sources

• Older data, shown with its period and not described as current: Unemployment (modelled ILO estimate) (Latest published value is for 2023); Foreign direct investment, net inflows (Latest published value is for 2015); Trade (exports plus imports) (Latest published value is for 2015); Internet users (Latest published value is for 2019); Mobile subscriptions (Latest published value is for 2023); Fixed broadband subscriptions (Latest published value is for 2023); Renewable share of final energy consumption (Latest published value is for 2021); Oil rents (Latest published value is for 2015); and 6 more.
• IMF figures for the most recent year are IMF estimates and later years are projections. World Bank series typically lag by one to two years. Headlines come from automated news monitoring and are not verified by The Meridian.
• Sources last checked 15 Nov 2026.

Meridian transactions

• Africa Finance Corporation US$2bn syndicated term loan (26 lenders): Nigerian counsel to the lenders
• Alliance invests in Timon’s African expansion and stablecoin infrastructure
• AfDB adds Ghana International Bank as confirming bank under Trade Finance Transaction Guarantee
• Barclays, Commerzbank, First Abu Dhabi Bank, FirstRand and partners invest USD 2 billion in Africa Finance Corporation
• African Development Bank Group invests USD 125 million in African Trade and Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI)
• KfW Development Bank’s Investment in African Trade & Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI) for USD 32 million