South Sudanese Pound flag

South Sudanese Pound

South Sudanese Pound

Currency Code

SSP

ISO 728

Symbol

SSP

Native: £

Decimal Digits

2

Rounding: 0

Countries

SS

Using this currency

Currency Units

Major Unit

Name: pound

Symbol: £

Minor Unit

Name: piastre

Symbol:

Value: 0.01

Banknotes

Frequently Used

£5£10£20£50£100£500£1000

Rarely Used

£1

Coins

Frequently Used

10 piastres20 piastres50 piastres£1£2

Plural Forms

English Plural

South Sudanese pounds

Native Plural

South Sudanese Pounds

Overview

The South Sudanese Pound is the currency of the Republic of South Sudan, introduced in 2011 shortly after independence. It has experienced extreme volatility and hyperinflation, becoming one of the world's weakest currencies due to ongoing conflict, economic mismanagement, and heavy dependence on oil revenues. The currency features John Garang de Mabior, the late leader of South Sudan's independence movement, on its banknotes.

Economy

  • South Sudan is a member of African Union, East African Community (applied), IGAD, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
  • Main industries include: Oil extraction (98% of government revenue), Agriculture (subsistence), Livestock, Timber, Mining (limited), Small-scale manufacturing.
  • South Sudan is part of the World Trade Organization.
  • Imports are food (90% imported), manufactured goods, machinery, fuel products, consumer goods, medicines.
  • Major exports include crude oil (95%+ of exports), timber, livestock, gum arabic, agricultural products.
  • GDP: $3.68 billion (2019 est.) - severely impacted by conflict.
  • GDP per capita: $200-400 (2023 est.) - extreme decline from $1,111 in 2014.
  • Unemployment rate: 12.5% (2023 est.) - widespread underemployment.
  • Inflation rate: 75.4% average (2013-2023), peaked at over 800% in 2016, currently ~16.5% (2023).
  • Main trading partners: Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, China, Egypt, Ethiopia.
  • Trade agreements: EAC protocols (pending full membership), IGAD trade facilitation, Various bilateral agreements with neighboring countries.

History

  • Previous currencies used: Sudanese pound (SDG), Egyptian pound (historical), Various colonial currencies.
  • The South Sudanese pound was approved by the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly before secession and introduced on July 18, 2011, nine days after independence. It replaced the Sudanese pound at par and ceased to be legal tender in Sudan on September 1, 2011.
  • 2011: SSP introduced on July 18, replacing Sudanese pound at par
  • 2011: Initial exchange rate set at 2.75 SSP = 1 USD
  • 2013: Civil war begins, massive economic disruption
  • 2015: Currency float announced, dramatic devaluation begins
  • 2016: Inflation peaks at over 800% annually
  • 2018: Peace agreement signed, limited economic stabilization
  • 2020: Government announces plans to change currency due to depreciation
  • 2021: 1000 SSP banknote introduced to combat inflation
  • 2025: Exchange rate reaches approximately 4,500+ SSP per USD
  • Exchange rate peg: Originally pegged to USD (2011-2015).
  • Exchange rate peg: Managed float (2015-present).
  • Exchange rate peg: Extreme depreciation ongoing.

General Information

  • ISO 4217 Code: SSP
  • Symbols: SSP/£
  • Currency Subunits: 100 piasters
  • Central Bank: Bank of South Sudan (BoSS)
  • Monetary Policy: Struggling with hyperinflationary pressures and currency instability. Limited monetary policy tools due to weak institutional capacity, heavy government borrowing from central bank, and ongoing economic crisis. Efforts to control money supply growth and stabilize exchange rate have been largely unsuccessful.
  • Bills: 1 SSP, 5 SSP, 10 SSP, 25 SSP, 50 SSP, 100 SSP, 500 SSP, 1000 SSP (introduced 2021)
  • Coins: 1 piaster, 5 piasters, 10 piasters, 25 piasters, 50 piasters, 1 pound, 2 pounds
  • USD Exchange Rate: 4,523+ SSP per USD (August 2025) - extreme volatility
  • Pegged To: None (Floating)
  • Capital: Juba
  • Population: 11,088,796 (2023 est.)
  • Area: 644,329 km²
  • Languages: English (official), Arabic (Juba Arabic), Dinka, Nuer, Bari, Zande, Shilluk
  • Time Zones: UTC+2 (Central Africa Time)
  • Government Type: Federal presidential republic
  • Head of Government: President Salva Kiir Mayardit (head of state and government)
  • Independence: July 9, 2011 (from Sudan)
  • Ethnic Groups: Dinka 35.8%, Nuer 15.6%, Shilluk, Azande, Bari, Kakwa, Kuku, Murle, Mandari, Didinga, Ndogo, Bviri, Lndi, Anuak, Bongo, Lango, Dungotona, Acholi, Other 22.5%
  • Religions: Christian 60.5%, Folk religion 32.9%, Muslim 6.2%, Other 0.4%
  • Literacy Rate: 27% (2018 est.) - one of the world's lowest rates
  • Transport: Extremely limited - only 200 km of paved roads out of 7,000 km total, Juba International Airport, Nile river transport, no functioning railways
  • Communications: Poor infrastructure, limited internet access (8% penetration), mobile networks by MTN and others, planned fiber optic cable from Djibouti
  • Energy: Severe electricity shortage - less than 1% of population has access to grid electricity, diesel generators, limited hydroelectric potential, planned 20MW solar project near Juba
  • Countries Using This Currency: South Sudan
  • Data Sources: Central Bank: Bank of South Sudan (boss.gov.ss), Economic Data: World Bank South Sudan Economic Monitor, IMF, African Development Bank, Trade Data: South Sudan Bureau of Statistics, trading partners' data, Demographic Data: South Sudan National Bureau of Statistics, UN agencies, Geographic Data: South Sudan government ministries, international organizations, Historical Data: Bank of South Sudan, independence documentation, academic sources
  • Last Updated: 2025