Health in Western Bahr el Ghazal, South Sudan: official figures
For every 1,000 babies born in Western Bahr el Ghazal in the five years before the 2025 survey, 22 died in their first month and 51 before their fifth birthday (based on a small number of cases); the under-five rate is 2nd lowest of the 10 states (South Sudan: 45 and 87).
Do women in Western Bahr el Ghazal give birth in a health facility?
60% of recent births in Western Bahr el Ghazal took place in a health facility and 78% had a skilled attendant, in the 2025 survey; the share of facility births is 3rd highest of the 10 states (South Sudan: 44% and 54%).
Source: National Bureau of Statistics, South Sudan (with UNICEF) · saved copyDo pregnant women in Western Bahr el Ghazal get antenatal care?
36% of women in Western Bahr el Ghazal who gave birth in the two years before the 2025 survey had at least four antenatal visits, 66% saw a skilled provider at least once and 72% of mothers had a postnatal check within two days (South Sudan: 36%, 56% and 46%); 5th lowest of the 10 states for four or more visits.
Source: National Bureau of Statistics, South Sudan (with UNICEF) · saved copyHow many children in Western Bahr el Ghazal are malnourished?
20% of children under five in Western Bahr el Ghazal were stunted (too short for their age, a sign of long-term undernutrition) and 9% were wasted (too thin for their height), 2% severely, in 2025; the stunting rate is joint 4th highest of the 10 states and the wasting rate 2nd lowest of the 10 states (South Sudan: 19% stunted, 17% wasted).
Source: National Bureau of Statistics, South Sudan (with UNICEF) · saved copyHow common is teenage pregnancy in Western Bahr el Ghazal?
There were 149 births a year for every 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19 in Western Bahr el Ghazal, and 20% of women aged 20 to 24 had given birth before 18; the adolescent birth rate is 3rd highest of the 10 states (South Sudan: 119 and 28%).
Source: National Bureau of Statistics, South Sudan (with UNICEF) · saved copyCan women in Western Bahr el Ghazal get family planning?
13% of married women in Western Bahr el Ghazal used a modern contraceptive method in 2025, and 28% of those wanting to avoid pregnancy had their need met by one; joint 3rd highest of the 10 states for demand met (South Sudan: 5% and 15%).
Source: National Bureau of Statistics, South Sudan (with UNICEF) · saved copyHow common is malaria in Western Bahr el Ghazal?
31.5% of children aged 6 to 59 months tested in Western Bahr el Ghazal had malaria by rapid diagnostic test in the 2023 Malaria Indicator Survey (11.4% by microscopy), 2nd lowest of the 10 states (South Sudan: 51.5% and 17.4%).
Source: Ministry of Health, National Malaria Control Programme (with the National Bureau of Statistics) · saved copyHow many health facilities does Western Bahr el Ghazal have?
Western Bahr el Ghazal had 1.9 health facilities for every 10,000 people according to the Ministry of Health's 2025 Health Statistics Abstract, 2nd highest of the 10 states (South Sudan: 1.3).
Source: Ministry of Health, South Sudan (with the National Bureau of Statistics) · saved copyMore figures
- 12% of children aged 2 to 17 in Western Bahr el Ghazal had a functional difficulty (in seeing, hearing, walking, learning, or another domain) in the 2025 survey, 5th lowest of the 10 states (South Sudan: 13%). Source: National Bureau of Statistics, South Sudan (with UNICEF) · saved copy
How Western Bahr el Ghazal compares with other states
Under-five deaths per 1,000 live births (5 years before the survey) (2020-2025)
Western Bahr el Ghazal ranks 9 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Under-five deaths per 1,000 live births (5 years before the survey) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Jonglei State | 100 |
| 5 | Lakes State | 98 |
| 6 | Western Equatoria | 97 |
| 7 | Unity State | 87 |
| 8 | Northern Bahr el Ghazal | 79 |
| 9 | Western Bahr el Ghazal | 51 |
| 10 | Central Equatoria | 47 |
Births in a health facility (2 years before the survey) (2025)
Western Bahr el Ghazal ranks 3 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Births in a health facility (2 years before the survey) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Equatoria | 67% |
| 2 | Central Equatoria | 62% |
| 3 | Western Bahr el Ghazal | 60% |
| 4 | Upper Nile State | 45% |
| 5 | Northern Bahr el Ghazal | 45% |
| 6 | Lakes State | 42% |
| 7 | Eastern Equatoria | 37% |
Children under 5 stunted (2025)
Western Bahr el Ghazal ranks 6 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Children under 5 stunted |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Warrap State | 21% |
| 4 | Upper Nile State | 20% |
| 5 | Northern Bahr el Ghazal | 20% |
| 6 | Western Bahr el Ghazal | 20% |
| 7 | Central Equatoria | 19% |
| 8 | Jonglei State | 14% |
| 9 | Lakes State | 14% |
Children 6-59 months with malaria (rapid diagnostic test) (2023)
Western Bahr el Ghazal ranks 9 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Children 6-59 months with malaria (rapid diagnostic test) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Jonglei State | 54.8% |
| 5 | Eastern Equatoria | 51.5% |
| 6 | Northern Bahr el Ghazal | 49.9% |
| 7 | Central Equatoria | 41.2% |
| 8 | Upper Nile State | 36.3% |
| 9 | Western Bahr el Ghazal | 31.5% |
| 10 | Unity State | 22.5% |
Health facilities per 10,000 people (2025)
Western Bahr el Ghazal ranks 2 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Health facilities per 10,000 people |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Equatoria | 2.7 |
| 2 | Western Bahr el Ghazal | 1.9 |
| 3 | Unity State | 1.6 |
| 4 | Northern Bahr el Ghazal | 1.4 |
| 5 | Central Equatoria | 1.4 |
| 6 | Upper Nile State | 1.2 |
| 7 | Eastern Equatoria | 1.2 |
More on Western Bahr el Ghazal: overview · education and schools · South Sudan
Sources
- Ministry of Health, South Sudan (with the National Bureau of Statistics): 2025 Health Statistics Abstract (Table 1: base population by state; Table 89: health facility density by state), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a0ee7db7ffa5…)
- National Bureau of Statistics, South Sudan (with UNICEF): South Sudan Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2025, Key Findings Report (April 2026): regional data tables, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 192fb524a46f…)
- Ministry of Health, National Malaria Control Programme (with the National Bureau of Statistics): South Sudan Malaria Indicator Survey 2023, Final Report (Table 4.6: malaria prevalence in children by state), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 be5665021b2d…)
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