The ranking places South Sudan below Somalia, which came 53rd with 26.6 points, and Sudan, which ranked 52nd with 27.4 points, according to the report released by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation in October.
Despite its position, South Sudan recorded a marginal improvement of 0.5 points over the decade. The index classified the country’s trajectory as “Increasing Improvement”, meaning its overall governance score improved between 2016 and 2025, with the rate of improvement increasing since 2021.
The slight improvement, however, has not changed the country’s position in the continental ranking.
The Ibrahim Index measures governance through four categories: Security and Rule of Law; Participation, Rights and Inclusion; Foundations for Economic Opportunity; and Human Development.
These categories cover areas including public administration, accountability, anti-corruption, political participation, access to healthcare and education, infrastructure and economic opportunities.
The 2026 index draws on 319 variables grouped into 96 indicators from 51 data sources, covering all 54 African countries.
The foundation defines governance as the provision of political, social, economic and environmental public goods that citizens have a right to expect from their governments.
The report also examines the relationship between governance and progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. South Sudan ranked last in Africa in both overall governance and SDG performance in 2025.
The assessment covers the 2016-2025 period and should therefore be understood as a decade-long measure rather than an assessment of governance in 2026 alone.
