World median is the middle country on each statistic: half of all countries with data are above it, half below. It is not an average, so it is never pulled up or down by giants or microstates.
Land
Size, shape and altitude
How big is it, really?
The median country fits inside South Sudan 5.8 times.
South Sudan: 646,883 km² (2023) · World median: 111,370 km² (2023)
How much coast is there?
South Sudan: 0 km (2026 edition) · World median: 440 km (2026 edition)
How high can you climb?
South Sudan’s highest peak towers 852 m above the median country’s.
South Sudan: 3,187 m (2026 edition) · World median: 2,335 m (2026 edition)
People
Who lives there, and how closely
How many people live there?
South Sudan has 65% more people than the median country.
South Sudan: 12.2 million (2025) · World median: 7.4 million (2025)
How crowded is it?
The median country is 5.1 times as densely populated as South Sudan.
South Sudan: 19 per km² (2025) · World median: 98 per km² (2025)
How tall are the men?
South Sudan: no data · World median: 173.5 cm (2019)
How tall are the women?
South Sudan: no data · World median: 160.6 cm (2019)
How old is the typical person?
The typical person in the median country is 13 years older than in South Sudan.
South Sudan: 18 years (2023) · World median: 31.1 years (2023)
How many children per woman?
Women in South Sudan have 1.9 more children on average than in the median country.
South Sudan: 3.79 children per woman (2024) · World median: 1.9 children per woman (2024)
How many people are 65 or older?
8.6% of people in the median country are 65 or older, versus 3.1% in South Sudan.
South Sudan: 3.1% (2025) · World median: 8.6% (2025)
How many Nobel laureates were born there?
South Sudan and the median country are practically level.
South Sudan: 0 (2025) · World median: 0 (2025)
How many official languages?
South Sudan and the median country are practically level.
South Sudan: 1 (2026) · World median: 1 (2026)
Money
What an economy looks like per person
How big is the economy?
The median country’s economy is 3.8 times the size of South Sudan’s.
South Sudan: $12 billion (2015) · World median: $45.5 billion (2025)
How much is produced per person?
The median country produces 18 times as much per person as South Sudan.
South Sudan: Int$1,155 (2015) · World median: Int$21,072 (2025)
How evenly is income shared?
Income is more unequally shared in South Sudan than in the median country (Gini 9.6 points higher).
South Sudan: 44 (2016) · World median: 34.4 (2023)
How many people are looking for work?
Unemployment is 12% in South Sudan, versus 5.1% in the median country.
South Sudan: 12.4% (2023) · World median: 5.1% (2025)
How much goes to the military?
South Sudan and the median country are practically level.
South Sudan: 2% (2024) · World median: 1.7% (2024)
How expensive is it?
South Sudan’s price level (US = 100) is 2.1× the median country’s.
South Sudan: 94% (2015) · World median: 45% (2025)
Health
Long lives, small beginnings
How much is spent on health?
The median country spends 6.5 times as much on health per person as South Sudan.
South Sudan: $73 (2023) · World median: $470 (2023)
How long do people live?
People in the median country live 17 years longer than in South Sudan.
South Sudan: 57.7 years (2024) · World median: 74.6 years (2024)
How many babies don’t reach their first birthday?
A baby in South Sudan is 5.7 times as likely to die before turning one as in the median country.
South Sudan: 71.9 per 1,000 (2024) · World median: 12.7 per 1,000 (2024)
How many doctors are there?
The median country has 41 times as many doctors per person as South Sudan.
South Sudan: 0.041 per 1,000 (2022) · World median: 1.7 per 1,000 (2022)
How common is obesity?
24% of adults in the median country are obese, versus 8.2% in South Sudan.
South Sudan: 8.2% (2024) · World median: 24% (2024)
How many adults smoke?
South Sudan: no data · World median: 19% (2024)
Everyday life
Plates, glasses and happiness
How do people rate their lives?
People in the median country rate their lives 3.02 points higher than in South Sudan.
South Sudan: 2.82 (2019) · World median: 5.83 (2025)
How much do people drink?
Adults in the median country drink 11 times as much alcohol as in South Sudan.
South Sudan: 0.4 litres (2023) · World median: 4.3 litres (2023)
How much meat is on the menu?
The median country has 2.6 times as much meat per person as South Sudan.
South Sudan: 21.4 kg (2022) · World median: 56.2 kg (2023)
How much food is there per day?
The median country has 547 kcal more food per person per day than South Sudan.
South Sudan: 2,391 kcal (2022) · World median: 2,938 kcal (2023)
How long do people work?
South Sudan: no data · World median: 1,974 hours (2023)
How long do people go to school?
Adults in the median country went to school 4.2 years longer than in South Sudan.
South Sudan: 5.7 years (2023) · World median: 9.9 years (2023)
How many tourists visit?
South Sudan: no data · World median: 0.34 (2024)
Connected
Online, electrified, urban
How many people are online?
82% of people in the median country are online, versus 6.7% in South Sudan.
South Sudan: 7% (2019) · World median: 82% (2024)
Who has electricity at home?
100% of people in the median country have electricity, versus 5.4% in South Sudan.
South Sudan: 5.4% (2024) · World median: 100% (2024)
How many live in cities?
64% of people in the median country live in cities, versus 22% in South Sudan.
South Sudan: 22% (2025) · World median: 64% (2025)
How many phones per person?
The median country has 115 mobile subscriptions per 100 people, South Sudan 47.
South Sudan: 47 (2023) · World median: 115 (2024)
How much railway is there?
The median country’s railway network is 8.6 times as long as South Sudan’s.
South Sudan: 248 km (2018) · World median: 2,141 km (2021)
How much do they fly?
South Sudan: no data · World median: 0.24 (2023)
Planet
Air, forests and energy
How much of the land is forest?
Forest covers 31% of the median country, but only 11% of South Sudan.
South Sudan: 11.3% (2023) · World median: 31.2% (2023)
How much CO₂ does each person emit?
The average person in the median country emits 21 times as much CO₂ as someone in South Sudan.
South Sudan: 0.1 t (2024) · World median: 3 t (2024)
How green is the power grid?
31% of the median country’s electricity is renewable, versus 1.8% in South Sudan.
South Sudan: 1.8% (2024) · World median: 30.8% (2024)
How clean is the air?
The air in South Sudan carries 45% more fine dust than in the median country.
South Sudan: 24.1 µg/m³ (2024) · World median: 16.6 µg/m³ (2024)
Safety
Measured risk, not vibes
How common is murder?
South Sudan: no data · World median: 2.3 per 100k (2023)
How dangerous are the roads?
Roads in South Sudan are 89% deadlier than in the median country.
South Sudan: 23.3 per 100k (2021) · World median: 12.3 per 100k (2021)
Climate
What the year feels like
How warm is it?
South Sudan is on average 5.6 °C warmer than the median country.
South Sudan: 28.6°C (2016–2025 avg) · World median: 23°C (2016–2025 avg)
How much rain falls?
The median country gets 29% more rain than South Sudan.
South Sudan: 785 mm (2016–2025 avg) · World median: 1,014 mm (2016–2025 avg)
Quick answers
Is South Sudan bigger than the median country?
South Sudan is larger. The median country fits inside South Sudan 5.8 times.
Which has more people, South Sudan or the median country?
South Sudan has 65% more people than the median country (2025 estimates).
Where do people live longer, South Sudan or the median country?
People in the median country live 17 years longer than in South Sudan. Life expectancy at birth is 57.7 years in South Sudan and 74.6 in the median country.
