South Sudan: education

How many children go to school in South Sudan?

42% of children of primary school age in South Sudan attended primary school in 2025, and only 6% of those of secondary age attended secondary school, according to the 2025 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey by the National Bureau of Statistics.

The figures are adjusted net attendance rates, which count children of the official age attending the right level or higher. Primary attendance was similar for boys and girls but varied widely by state and wealth. Adult literacy was 26.8% at the 2008 census, according to UNESCO data published by the World Bank.

Official sources: NBS: MICS 2025 Key Findings Report (PDF) · World Bank: Adult literacy rate, South Sudan

What share of children in South Sudan go to primary school?

In 2015, net primary school enrolment in South Sudan was 35.2%, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. It is 24th highest of 24 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 84.3%. Worldwide: 131st of 131.

What is secondary school enrolment in South Sudan?

The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2024, is 122.1%. It was 11.5% in 2015. It is 1st highest of 11 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 65.3%. World rank, highest first: 7th of 100.

What share of GDP does South Sudan spend on education?

According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, government spending on education in South Sudan was 1.6% of GDP in 2016. Since 2010 it has ranged from 1.0% of GDP (2011) to 1.6% of GDP (2012). Sub-Saharan Africa median: 3.5% of GDP; South Sudan is 39th highest of 40. World rank, highest first: 148th of 154.

How many students does each teacher have in South Sudan?

The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts the number of primary pupils per teacher in South Sudan at 47 in 2015. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 39, and South Sudan placed 6th highest of 35. Worldwide: 6th of 136.