NBS - National Bureau of Statistics, South Sudan

Key Gender Indicators

Literate Population

Female: 29% & Male: 43%

Source: PES 2021

Disability Prevalence

6% Female

4% Male | National Average

Sexual Violence

3x higher among females

than males (3.7%)

Early Marriage (15-19 yrs)

High

Female Population | PES2021

Population Distribution and Governance

South Sudan Population Pyramid

Population Structure Analysis

South Sudan has a youthful population structure with the largest age groups being 10-14 years. The population pyramid shows a classic developing country pattern with a broad base narrowing at older ages. Total population: 12,444,018 (6,582,929 Female + 5,861,089 Male).

National Ministers by Gender

Gender Representation Analysis

Representation of women in national ministerial positions. Data indicates gender disparity in political leadership and decision-making roles at the highest levels of government.

Distribution of Elderly Population by Gender

Gender distribution among elderly population (60+ years) showing detailed age breakdown by gender.

Age Group	Female (%)	Male (%)	Total (%)
60-64	1.65%	1.66%	3.31%
65-69	1.18%	1.11%	2.29%
70-74	0.95%	0.37%	1.32%
75-79	0.47%	0.16%	0.63%
80-84	0.37%	0.47%	0.84%
85-89	0.16%	Data not specified	0.16%+
90-94	Data not specified	Data not specified	Minimal

Elderly Population Insights

Females have higher representation in the 60-64 age group (1.65% vs 1.66% male nearly equal), while the gap widens in older age groups. The 70-74 age group shows significant gender difference with females at 0.95% compared to males at 0.37%.

Literacy and Education Statistics

Literacy Rate by Gender

Female Literacy

29%

Literate female population

Male Illiteracy

43%

Literate male population

Source: PES 2021

School Attendance Patterns

Attendance Statistics

Never attended school 74%

Currently attending 68%

Age at First Marriage

Distribution shows significant proportion of early marriages (12-14 years) and later marriages (30-34 years).

Age Group	Percentage	Interpretation
12-14 years	25%	Early/Child marriage
30-34 years	64%	Later marriage age

Policy Concern

High number of women getting married at 15-19 years (PES 2021) indicates need for targeted interventions to address early marriage and its impact on education and health outcomes.

Gender-Based Violence Prevalence (Ages 15-49)

GBV Prevalence by Type and Gender

Type of Violence	Male Prevalence	Female Prevalence	Gender Gap	Highest Affected
Physical Violence	38.6%	34%	+4.6% (M)	Male Higher
Sexual Violence	3.7%	11.5%	+7.8% (F)	Female Higher
Psychological Violence	29.9%	30.6%	+0.7% (F)	Nearly Equal
Forced Marriage	10%	27.5%	+17.5% (F)	Female Higher
Economic Violence	24.7%	28.2%	+3.5% (F)	Female Higher

Source: GBV Prevalence Survey 2022

GBV Prevalence: Male vs Female

Shows distinct patterns: males experience more physical violence, while females experience significantly higher sexual violence, forced marriage, and economic violence.

GBV Gender Gap Analysis

Critical Finding

Forced marriage shows the largest gender disparity (17.5% gap), followed by sexual violence (7.8% gap). Only physical violence is more prevalent among males.

Disability and Refugee Statistics

Prevalence of Disability by Gender

Male

4%

Prevalence rate

Female

6%

Prevalence rate

Analysis

Disability prevalence is 50% higher among females (6%) compared to males (4%), indicating potential gender-specific health vulnerabilities or reporting differences.

Refugees by Age Group and Gender

Refugee Population Distribution

Age Group	Male	Female	Total
12-17 years	64	64	128
16-59 years	54	54	108
60+ years	30%	20%	50%

Source: CRM & UNHCR

Multidimensional Poverty Analysis

91.9%

South Sudanese population

Global MPI 2022 indicates that 91.9% of South Sudanese are multidimensionally poor, reflecting severe deprivations in health, education, and living standards across gender lines.

Key Implications

Extreme poverty affects gender equality efforts
Limited resources for gender-specific programs
Intersection of gender and poverty requires integrated approaches

Visualization of extreme poverty levels in South Sudan, highlighting the challenging context for gender equality interventions.

Key Findings and Policy Implications

Critical Gender Issues Identified

1

Forced Marriage Disparity: 27.5% of females vs 10% of males experience forced marriage
2

Early Marriage: High number of women married at 15-19 years
3

Sexual Violence: 3x higher among females (11.5%) than males (3.7%)
4

Education Access: 74% never attended school, indicating significant barriers

Positive Gender Indicators

Female Literacy: 29% Literate female population (PES 2021)
School Attendance: 68% currently attending school
Refugee Equality: Equal numbers in younger age groups (12-17, 16-59)
Near Parity: Psychological violence rates nearly equal (30.6% F vs 29.9% M)

Policy Recommendations

Address GBV

• Target forced marriage reduction
• Strengthen sexual violence response
• Economic empowerment programs

Improve Education

• Reduce early marriage impact
• Increase school retention
• Address literacy gender gaps

Data & Monitoring

• Regular gender statistics updates
• Disaggregated data collection
• Impact assessment frameworks

Data Sources and Methodology

Primary Data Sources

PES 2021: Population and Education Statistics
GBV Prevalence Survey 2022: Gender-Based Violence Data
CRM & UNHCR: Refugee and Migration Statistics

Geographic Coverage

Nationwide coverage across South Sudan
Representative sample for GBV survey
Refugee data from displacement contexts

Note: All statistics are gender-disaggregated where available. Some indicators show data limitations (e.g., two different percentages for male illiteracy). Data should be interpreted within the context of South Sudan's development challenges.

Gender Statistics: Facts and Figures