Area comparison map:

more than four times the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 6,018 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (6): Central African Republic 1055 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 714 km, Ethiopia 1299 km, Kenya 317 km, Sudan 2158 km, Uganda 475 km
note: South Sudan-Sudan boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment; final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; final sovereignty status of Abyei Area pending negotiations between South Sudan and Sudan

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
hot with seasonal rainfall influenced by the annual shift of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone; rainfall heaviest in upland areas of the south and diminishes to the north
More Climate Details

Terrain:
plains in the north and center rise to southern highlands along the border with Uganda and Kenya; the White Nile, flowing north out of the uplands of Central Africa, is the major geographic feature of the country; The Sudd (a name derived from floating vegetation that hinders navigation) is a large swampy area of more than 100,000 sq km fed by the waters of the White Nile that dominates the center of the country

Elevation:
lowest point: White Nile 381 m
highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m

Natural resources:
hydropower, fertile agricultural land, gold, diamonds, petroleum, hardwoods, limestone, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver

Land use:
agricultural land: 100%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 0%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0%
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 100%
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 0%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 0%
[see also: Land use country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
1,000 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
clusters found in urban areas, particularly in the western interior and around the White Nile

Environment - current issues:
water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife conservation and loss of biodiversity; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; periodic drought

Geography - note:
landlocked; The Sudd is a vast swamp in the north central region of South Sudan, formed by the White Nile, its size is variable but can reach some 15% of the country's total area during the rainy season; it is one of the world's largest wetlands