75 percent of South Sudan’s population lives below poverty line – report

JUBA – Over 75 percent of South Sudan’s population is currently living below the poverty line, according to a new report released on Tuesday.

The latest report, dubbed “South Sudan Poverty and Equity Assessment,” was released in Juba on Tuesday by the World Bank Group and the South Sudan National Bureau of Statistics.

The report indicated that poverty has become endemic following a decade of economic decline in the world’s youngest country.

The economic survey conducted in 2022 shows that 76 percent of South Sudan’s population lives below the poverty line of 358,724 South Sudan Pounds (SSP) per person per year.

Speaking during the release of the report in Juba on Tuesday, Marial Dongrin Ater, Minister of Finance and Planning, said the extreme poverty level in the country has been exacerbated by long-standing conflicts that disrupted social and economic structures.

Dongrin blamed high levels of poverty on climatic conditions and inadequate state capacity to effectively provide essential social services to the population.

“We urge all stakeholders to unite our efforts toward a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable future, particularly in the social sectors of health, education, and sanitation management,” he said.

For his part, Charles Undeland, World Bank Group Country Manager for South Sudan, said weak governance, multiple shocks, lack of economic opportunity, high food prices, and conflict contributed to increased levels of poverty in the country.

“Keyways to achieve this goal include better management and utilization of the country’s resources and fostering a stable, secure environment where citizens can farm, work, and invest in order to provide themselves with a better future,” Undeland said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Augustino Ting Mayai, Director General of the National Bureau of Statistics, underscored the importance of investing in data to narrow the data gap.

“Effective policymaking relies on credible evidence, requiring increased investment in building a robust statistical system to support these interventions,” Mayai said.