South Sudan: environment

How many people in South Sudan have electricity?

4.0% of household members in South Sudan had access to electricity in 2025, 19.7% in towns and 0.7% in rural areas, according to the 2025 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey by the National Bureau of Statistics.

The survey also found that 48.3% of households had a mobile phone. Access to electricity includes the grid and off-grid sources such as solar systems.

Official sources: NBS: MICS 2025 Key Findings Report (PDF)

How much of South Sudan is forest, and how clean is the air?

Forests covered 11.3% of South Sudan's land area in 2024, according to FAO data published by the World Bank. People were exposed to an average of 23.7 micrograms of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) per cubic metre in 2023, according to the World Bank, against a WHO guideline of 5.

Both are modelled international estimates. No national environmental statistics were found on the website of the National Bureau of Statistics, checked on 15 October 2026. The World Bank publishes no CO2 emissions series for South Sudan.

Official sources: World Bank: Forest area, South Sudan · World Bank: PM2.5 air pollution, South Sudan

What share of South Sudan's energy comes from renewables?

The latest figure from the IEA, IRENA, the UN Statistics Division, the World Bank and the WHO, for 2021, is 32.4%. The peak was 35.1% in 2017 and the low 27.5% in 2015. It is 40th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 71.1%. World rank, highest first: 76th of 191.

What is South Sudan's forest cover?

According to the FAO, forest area as a share of land in South Sudan was 11.3% in 2024. No year since 2012 has been higher. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 22.2%; South Sudan is 39th highest of 48. Worldwide: 151st of 190.

What is PM2.5 air pollution in South Sudan?

The Global Burden of Disease study puts average exposure to fine particle air pollution (PM2.5) in South Sudan at 23.7 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023. The peak was 28.5 micrograms per cubic metre in 2011 and the low 21.7 micrograms per cubic metre in 2018. It is 28th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 27.5 micrograms per cubic metre. World rank, highest first: 65th of 192.

What share of South Sudan is protected land?

According to the UN Environment Programme, the share of land in protected areas in South Sudan was 15.4% in 2025. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2013. It is 27th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 16.9%. Worldwide: 115th of 192.

How much of South Sudan's fresh water is used?

4.2%: that is water stress in South Sudan for 2022, according to the FAO. It has not changed since 2012. It is 26th highest of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 5.1%. Worldwide: 126th of 175.