Promote:
Invest in South Sudan
A short guide for companies expanding into South Sudan: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. South Sudan at a glance
PopulationEstimate
12.2 million
Population was 12,188,788 people in 2025, per the World Bank.
Source: World Bank WDI, South Sudan population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDPEstimate
US$6 billion
GDP was US$6.0 billion in 2025, per the World Bank Macro Poverty Outlook of October 2026.
Source: World Bank, Macro Poverty Outlook, South Sudan, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per personEstimate
US$489
GDP per person was US$488.7 in 2025, per the World Bank Macro Poverty Outlook of October 2026.
Source: World Bank, Macro Poverty Outlook, South Sudan, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growthEstimate
20.3%
Real GDP growth was estimated at 20.3 percent in fiscal year 2026, per the World Bank, as oil production recovered from the pipeline closure.
Source: World Bank, Macro Poverty Outlook, South Sudan, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of FY2026 (fiscal year 2025/26)
InflationEstimate
42.3%
Inflation was estimated at 42.3 percent in fiscal year 2026, per the World Bank, which proxies consumer prices with food inflation.
Source: World Bank, Macro Poverty Outlook, South Sudan, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of FY2026 (fiscal year 2025/26)
Foreign direct investment inflowsEstimate
US$73 million
Foreign direct investment inflows were US$73 million in 2025, per UNCTADstat.
Source: UNCTADstat, South Sudan foreign direct investment inflows, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the South Sudan pound (SSP).
Source: Bank of South Sudan, bank notes page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
The Ministry of Investment takes online applications for the investment certificate; no separate investment promotion agency site was found.
Source: Ministry of Investment, online services portal (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
The Trade Information Hub's investment procedures name no free zone or special economic zone, and no official zone list was found.
Source: Trade Information Hub, investment procedures (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in South Sudan
- Register the business with the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs; the eTax portal requires this validation before a business applies for a Tax Identification Number.Ministry of Justice and Constitutional AffairsOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: South Sudan Revenue Authority, eTax portal, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Apply for a Tax Identification Number on the eTax portal, which is open to foreigners with income in South Sudan.South Sudan Revenue AuthorityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: South Sudan Revenue Authority, eTax portal, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Apply to the Ministry of Investment for the investment certificate, using the prescribed form.Ministry of InvestmentOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Investment Promotion Act 2009, sections 21 and 22 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2009
- Apply to the Ministry of Labour for work permits for foreign staff.Ministry of LabourApplication form: US$100Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Ministry of Labour, work permit applications page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 1 more set-up step
- Deal in foreign exchange through authorized dealers and read the central bank's circulars on the foreign exchange market.Bank of South SudanOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Bank of South Sudan, circulars page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with Ministry of Investment and SSRA. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Get advice
Investment ministry
Ministry of Investment
Sets investment strategy and takes online applications for the investment certificate that a national or foreign investor needs.
Visit Ministry of Investment (opens in a new tab)Source: Ministry of Investment, online services portal (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Labour ministry
MOL
Ministry of Labour
Issues work permits for foreign staff through its Department of Alien Employment.
Visit MOL (opens in a new tab)Source: Ministry of Labour, work permit applications page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 1 more organization
- Meet requirements
Central bank
BoSS
Bank of South Sudan
Sets monetary and exchange rate policy, licenses banks and foreign exchange bureaus and publishes circulars on foreign exchange.
Visit BoSS (opens in a new tab)Source: Bank of South Sudan, home page, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Tax and customs authority
SSRA
South Sudan Revenue Authority
Issues Tax Identification Numbers on the eTax portal and runs the eCustoms portal where importers and exporters declare consignments.
Visit SSRA (opens in a new tab)Source: South Sudan Revenue Authority, eTax portal, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Finance and planning ministry
MoFP
Ministry of Finance and Planning
Publishes budget documents, finance bills and laws that set tax rates and fees.
Visit MoFP (opens in a new tab)Source: Ministry of Finance and Planning, home page, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Logistics and border performance
The pipeline carrying crude through Sudan to Port Sudan closed from February 2024 until early 2025, per the World Bank.
What to do: Confirm the status of the pipeline and the port with the Ministry of Petroleum before you commit to a delivery date.
Sources: World Bank, South Sudan climate and development report, January 2026 (opens in a new tab); Ministry of Petroleum, resumption agreement news item (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Currency and settlement
The World Bank estimates that the pound lost 25 percent of its value in fiscal year 2026 and that the parallel market premium ran between 30 and 60 percent.
What to do: Confirm the exchange rate that applies to each payment with the Bank of South Sudan before you price a contract.
Sources: World Bank, Macro Poverty Outlook, South Sudan, October 2026 (opens in a new tab); Bank of South Sudan, monetary policy page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Data coverage
The statistics bureau stopped publishing official inflation after May 2025, and its latest GDP growth figure is for 2021.
What to do: Use the World Bank figures and ask the statistics bureau for its latest releases before you size a market.
Sources: World Bank, Macro Poverty Outlook, South Sudan, October 2026 (opens in a new tab); South Sudan NBS, GDP growth page, 2021 estimate (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Public debt and arrears
The World Bank reports that local civil servants were owed 13 to 14 months of salary in July 2026.
What to do: Ask each office for its current processing time, since late public payments can slow approvals.
Source: World Bank, Macro Poverty Outlook, South Sudan, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
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Climate and water
The World Bank says extreme flooding covers up to one quarter of the country in severe years, cutting communities off from essential services.
What to do: Check flood exposure of any site and transport route before you commit capital.
Source: World Bank, South Sudan climate report press release, February 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Local shareholding
The national chamber says a company needs at least 31 percent of its shares held by a local investor where foreigners take part.
What to do: Confirm the shareholding rule with the company registry before you choose a structure.
Source: SSNCCIA, company registration page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Political and security risk
The World Bank says delays in implementing the 2018 peace agreement have intensified conflict, and elections are scheduled for December 2026.
What to do: Check current conditions with the responsible ministry and your insurer before you commit staff or capital.
Source: World Bank, Macro Poverty Outlook, South Sudan, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare South Sudan with other countriesSet South Sudan beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
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Promote:South Sudan is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 31, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.