South Sudan: Energy imports, net (% of energy use)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, South Sudan's energy imports, net (% of energy use) rose 244.18 percentage points on 2023 (from -748.2% to -504.02%).

Across the 11 yearly changes before that (2013 to 2023), the average change was −52.42 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 233.77 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.3 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 253.53 percentage points in 2015 and the biggest yearly fall was 496.23 percentage points in 2013. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 25% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2024, South Sudan had the 137th highest value of the 137 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to South Sudan in the 2024 ranking

• Congo, Rep. — 133rd of 137: -370.83%
• Qatar — 134th of 137: -395.45%
• Mongolia — 135th of 137: -498.28%
• Norway — 137th of 137: -729.01%

What this measures

Net energy imports are estimated as gross imports less gross exports, both measured in tons of oil equivalents (toe). A negative value indicates that the country is a net exporter. Energy use refers to use of primary energy before transformation to other end-use fuels, which is equal to indigenous production plus imports and stock changes, minus exports and fuels supplied to ships and aircraft engaged in international transport.

Limitations: The IEA makes these estimates in consultation with national statistical offices, oil companies, electric utilities, and national energy experts. The IEA occasionally revises its time series to reflect political changes, and energy statistics undergo continual changes in coverage or methodology as more detailed energy accounts become available. Breaks in series are therefore unavoidable.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 13 values

Energy imports, net (% of energy use) in nearby economies

• Angola — -335.46% (2024)
• Benin — 43.8% (2024)
• Botswana — 25.31% (2024)
• Cameroon — -26.45% (2024)
• Chad — -174.28% (2024)
• Congo, Dem. Rep. — 1.07% (2024)
• Congo, Rep. — -370.83% (2024)
• Côte d'Ivoire — 12.1% (2024)
• Equatorial Guinea — -319.62% (2024)
• Eswatini — 17.29% (2024)
• Ethiopia

More environment data for South Sudan

• Population in largest city — 500,088 (2025)
• Population in the largest city (% of urban population) — 18.92% (2025)
• Rural population — 9.55 million (2025)
• Rural population (% of total population) — 78.32% (2025)
• Urban population — 2.64 million (2025)
• Urban population (% of total population) — 21.68% (2025)
• Rural population growth (annual %) — 1.64% (2025)
• Urban population growth (annual %) — 3.46% (2025)
• Electric power consumption (kWh per capita) — 53.17 (2024)
• PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure (micrograms per cubic meter)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is South Sudan's energy imports, net (% of energy use)?

-504.02% in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2012?

It is down 332.48 percentage points from -171.54% in 2012. The highest value was -171.54% in 2012 and the lowest -1,055% in 2014.

How does South Sudan rank?

137th highest of 137 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in energy imports, net (% of energy use) unusual for South Sudan?

In 2024, South Sudan's energy imports, net (% of energy use) rose 244.18 percentage points on 2023 (from -748.2% to -504.02%). Across the 11 yearly changes before that (2013 to 2023), the average change was −52.42 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 233.77 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.3 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator EG.IMP.CONS.ZS, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA), uri: https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/data-tools/energy-statistics-data-browser, publisher: International Energy Agency (IEA), date accessed: 2025-03-25 Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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