South Sudan's Economy in Severe Crisis

 The World Bank published in March 2025 a major report titled "South Sudan Economic Monitor: A Pathway to Overcome the Crisis."

South Sudan's socio-economic outcomes have worsened over the past decade due to recurrent conflicts, fragility, and macroeconomic mismanagement compounded by global economic and climate shocks.  This dire situation is the result of: (1) nascent institutions and weak governance; (2) persistent mismanagement of the country's abundant natural capital, namely oil, and (3) recurrent community-level conflicts and violence that led to nationwide armed conflict in 2016 and localized ongoing conflict after the 2018 peace agreement.

South Sudan is now facing a severe crisis.  The economy is projected to contract by 30 percent in fiscal year 2024/2025, marking the fifth consecutive year of negative growth.  In fiscal year 2025, GDP per capita is estimated to decline to around half of the fiscal year 2020 levels.

IMF Evaluates Economy of Sub-Saharan Africa

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) published in April 2016 its "Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa: Time for a Policy Reset."

It concludes that economic activity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has weakened markedly, but, as usual, with a large variation in country circumstances. Growth for the region as a whole fell to 3 and one-half percent in 2015, the lowest level in 15 years, and is set to decelerate further in 2016 to 3 percent. The IMF believes that the medium-term growth prospects for SSA remain favorable. However, to realize this potential, a substantial policy reset is critical in many areas.