Sustainable Development Report 2026: challenges facing South Sudan

The situation in South Sudan

Unfortunately, these global priorities clash with the difficult reality in South Sudan. The report’s data places South Sudan among the lowest-ranked countries on the global index due to serious structural challenges closely linked to the following priorities:

• Poverty and insecurity (SDGs 1 and 2): With an estimated GDP per capita of around $369, over 54 per cent of the population lives in extreme poverty and faces constant food insecurity, exacerbated by local conflicts.
• Climate crisis (SDG 13): South Sudan is one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of the climate crisis. Extreme events, in particular the cyclical floods which, at their worst, can submerge up to a quarter of the country’s territory, would require substantial financial investment in adaptation measures by 2050. Floods cut off entire communities from essential services and drastically reduce harvests (such as that of sorghum, a staple food, which is estimated to have fallen by 8 per cent).
• Services and education (SDG 4): Despite the on-the-ground commitment of international organizations to education — such as the teacher training programmes promoted by Solidarity with South Sudan — public spending remains heavily skewed towards the administration and security sectors (which account for around 35 per cent of GDP), leaving education, health and social protection severely underfunded.

The data from the 2026 report confirm that, to unlock the country’s future, internal financial reforms are now urgently needed, but above all, solid and concrete international support is required. It is not merely a question of meeting targets, but of providing concrete solutions for millions of people: only by joining forces and investing boldly in strengthening communities and human rights can we transform these challenges into a real hope for peace and development in South Sudan.

Date Published:

06 July 2026

Author:

Alice, Officer

Article Tags:

Latest news, South Sudan, Solidarity, Sustainable Development Goals, Sustainable Development Report 2026