States of South Sudan


The States of South Sudan were created out of the three historic former provinces of Bahr el Ghazal, Equatoria, and Greater Upper Nile. The states are further divided into 180 counties.
In October 2015, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Mayardit issued a decree establishing 28 states in place of the 10 previously established states. The decree established the new states largely along ethnic lines. A number of opposition parties challenged the constitutionality of this decree and the decree was referred to parliament for approval as a constitutional amendment. In November the South Sudanese parliament approved the creation of the new states. In January 2017, President Salva Kiir decreed a further subdivision of the country from 28 into 32 states.
In February 2020, as a result of a peace agreement that ended the South Sudanese Civil War, the country returned to the original 10 states plus two administrative areas, Pibor and Ruweng, and the special administrative status area of Abyei.
As a result of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in 2005, the Abyei Area is considered to be simultaneously part of the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan, effectively a condominium. The Kafia Kingi area is disputed between South Sudan and Sudan and the Ilemi Triangle is disputed between South Sudan and Kenya.

10 states and three areas (2020–Present)

Under the terms of a peace agreement signed on 22 February 2020, South Sudan is divided into 10 states, two administrative areas and one area with special administrative status. The states of and administrative areas are grouped into the three former historical provinces of the Sudan: Bahr el Ghazal, Equatoria, Greater Upper Nile. Each state is headed by a Governor and administrative areas are led by Chief Administrators.
FlagState or areaCapitalGovernor or
Chief Administrator		Population
Area
Density
Region
Northern Bahr el GhazalAweilTong Aken Ngor820,83430,543.3026.87Bahr el Ghazal
Western Bahr el GhazalWauSarah Cleto Rial358,69291,075.953.94Bahr el Ghazal
LakesRumbekMakur Kulang782,50443,595.0817.95Bahr el Ghazal
WarrapKuajokBona Panek Biar1,044,21745,567.2422.92Bahr el Ghazal
Western EquatoriaYambioAlfred Futiyu658,86379,342.668.30Equatoria
Central EquatoriaJubaEmmanuel Adil Anthony1,193,13043,033.0027.73Equatoria
Eastern EquatoriaToritLouis Lobong Lojore962,71973,472.0113.10Equatoria
JongleiBorDenay Jock Chagor1,228,82480,926.00TBDGreater Upper Nile
UnityBentiuJoseph Monytuil399,105TBDTBDGreater Upper Nile
Upper NileMalakalTBA1,013,62977,283.4213.12Greater Upper Nile
Abyei AreaAbyeiKuol Deim Kuol124,39010,546.00TBDBahr el Ghazal
Pibor AreaPiborJoshua Konyi214,67641,962.00TBDGreater Upper Nile
Ruweng AreaPariangWilliam Chol Awolich246,360TBDTBDGreater Upper Nile

32 states (2017–2020)

On January 14, 2017, President Kiir issued a presidential decree that increased the number of federal states from 28 to 32.
The 32 states were as follows:
Note:
* - includes Bari, Lokoya and Nyangwara communities

28 states (2015–2017)

Bahr el Ghazal

  1. Aweil
  2. Aweil East
  3. Eastern Lakes
  4. Gogrial
  5. Gok
  6. Lol
  7. Tonj
  8. Twic
  9. Wau
  10. Western Lakes

    Equatoria

  11. Amadi
  12. Gbudwe
  13. Imatong
  14. Jubek1
  15. Maridi
  16. Namorunyang
  17. Terekeka
  18. Yei River

    Greater Upper Nile

  19. Boma
  20. Bieh2
  21. Eastern Nile
  22. Jonglei
  23. Latjoor
  24. Northern Liech
  25. Ruweng
  26. Southern Liech
  27. Fangak3
  28. Fashoda4
  29. – containing the national capital city of Juba
  30. – earlier called Eastern Bieh
  31. – earlier called Western Bieh
  32. – earlier called Western Nile

    10 states (2011–2015)

FlagStateCapitalPopulation
Area
Density
Region
Northern Bahr el GhazalAweil820,83430,543.3026.87Bahr el Ghazal
Western Bahr el GhazalWau358,69291,075.953.94Bahr el Ghazal
LakesRumbek782,50443,595.0817.95Bahr el Ghazal
WarrapKuajok1,044,21745,567.2422.92Bahr el Ghazal
Western EquatoriaYambio658,86379,342.668.30Equatoria
Central EquatoriaJuba1,193,13043,033.0027.73Equatoria
Eastern EquatoriaTorit962,71973,472.0113.10Equatoria
JongleiBor1,443,500122,580.8311.78Greater Upper Nile
UnityBentiu645,46537,836.3917.06Greater Upper Nile
Upper NileMalakal1,013,62977,283.4213.12Greater Upper Nile
South SudanJuba8,923,553644,329.3713.85

SPLM-IO declaration

On 22 December 2014, opposition leader and former vice president Riek Machar declared the 10 states of South Sudan dissolved and the formation of 21 new states in a federal system. The declaration was not recognised by the South Sudanese government. The Sudan Tribune reported on 1 January 2015 that Machar appointed "military governors" for several of his declared states. These states became defunct when the SPLM-IO joined the unity government formed by the R-ARCSS in February 2020.