South Sudan has ranked last among 54 African countries in the 2026 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG), scoring 20.4 out of 100, according to a report released by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.
The index, released on October 31, assesses governance performance across the continent between 2016 and 2025. South Sudan’s score is significantly below the African average of 50.1 and the Eastern African regional average of 47.5.
Despite recording a marginal improvement of 0.5 points over the decade, South Sudan remains at the bottom of the continental rankings, reflecting persistent weaknesses in governance, security, public institutions and economic opportunities.
The country scored 19.5 in Security and Rule of Law, 21.7 in Participation, Rights and Inclusion, 13.6 in Foundations for Economic Opportunity, and 26.6 in Human Development.
Weak institutions
The report highlights particularly poor performance in anti-corruption, with South Sudan scoring zero in Anti-Corruption Mechanisms, a decline of 16.1 points since 2016.
The country also recorded zero scores in Equality before the Law, Law Enforcement, Absence of Undue Influence, Public Procurement Procedures and Absence of Corruption in the Private Sector.
Freedom of Expression and Belief deteriorated by 18.6 points over the decade to 13.5, while access to public services for women declined by 18.2 points.
Other significant declines included decent housing, which fell by 19.3 points, and the capacity of the statistical system, which dropped by 15.4 points.
Progress in health
Despite the broader governance challenges, South Sudan recorded improvements in some areas of human development.
Control of Communicable Diseases improved by 32.8 points, while Child and Maternal Health increased by 26 points between 2016 and 2025.
Equality in Education improved by 22.2 points, while the broader Human Development category gained 3.5 points to reach 26.6.
However, the country’s overall Human Development score remains low, at 26.6 out of 100.
The index identifies improvements in Human Development and Participation, Rights and Inclusion as the main contributors to South Sudan’s marginal overall governance progress. These gains were offset by declines in Foundations for Economic Opportunity and Security and Rule of Law.
The findings underscore the scale of the governance challenges facing South Sudan more than a decade after it gained independence in 2011.
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation is an African organisation established in 2006 by Sudanese-born British businessman and philanthropist Mo Ibrahim to promote good governance and leadership in Africa.
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