Subdivisions of South Sudan: the ten states, capitals and counties
South Sudan is divided into ten states, each coded in ISO 3166-2:SS, and the states into counties. This list gives every state with its capital and ISO code, then the 84 counties as they stood at independence in 2011, and explains how the map has changed since.
- States
- 10
- Groups
- 1
Updated
The ten states of South Sudan with capitals and ISO codes
Each state as named on the list, the name ISO 3166-2 publishes, and today's capital. Where the list of 2011 gave another capital, it stands in the last column.
States 10
| State | ISO name | ISO 3166-2 | Capital | Capital on the 2011 list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Central Equatoria State
|
Central Equatoria
|
SS-EC
|
Juba
|
|
Eastern Equatoria State
|
Eastern Equatoria
|
SS-EE
|
Torit
|
Kapoeta
|
Jonglei State
|
Jonglei
|
SS-JG
|
Bor
|
|
Lakes State
|
Lakes
|
SS-LK
|
Rumbek
|
|
Northern Bahr al Ghazal State
|
Northern Bahr el Ghazal
|
SS-BN
|
Aweil
|
|
Unity State
|
Unity
|
SS-UY
|
Bentiu
|
|
Upper Nile State
|
Upper Nile
|
SS-NU
|
Malakal
|
|
Warrap State
|
Warrap
|
SS-WR
|
Kuajok
|
Warrap
|
Western Bahr al Ghazal State
|
Western Bahr el Ghazal
|
SS-BW
|
Wau
|
|
Western Equatoria State
|
Western Equatoria
|
SS-EW
|
Yambio
|
Codes and ISO names: ISO 3166-2:SS on the ISO Online Browsing Platform, as tabulated in Wikipedia's ISO 3166-2:SS, checked 28 October 2026. Capitals since February 2020: Wikipedia's States of South Sudan, checked the same day.
The 84 counties of South Sudan at independence
The counties of every state as the list of 2011 gives them, with the county seat where it differs from the county name. Where the list marks a seat as unknown, the cell is left empty.
Central Equatoria State 6
| County | Seat, if different |
|---|---|
Juba County
|
|
Kajo Keji County
|
|
Lainya County
|
|
Morobo County
|
|
Terekeka County
|
|
Yei County
|
Eastern Equatoria State 8
| County | Seat, if different |
|---|---|
Budi County
|
Chukudum
|
Ikotos County
|
|
Kapoeta East County
|
Narus
|
Kapoeta North County
|
Riwoto
|
Kapoeta South County
|
Kapoeta
|
Lafon County
|
|
Magwi County
|
|
Torit County
|
Jonglei State 11
| County | Seat, if different |
|---|---|
Akobo County
|
|
Ayod County
|
|
Bor County
|
|
Duk County
|
|
Fangak County
|
|
Nyirol County
|
|
Pibor County
|
|
Pigi County
|
|
Pochalla County
|
|
Twic East County
|
Panyagor
|
Uror County
|
Lakes State 8
| County | Seat, if different |
|---|---|
Aweriar County
|
|
Cueibet County
|
|
Rumbek Central County
|
|
Rumbek East County
|
|
Rumbek North County
|
|
Wulu County
|
|
Yirol East County
|
|
Yirol West County
|
Northern Bahr al Ghazal State 5
| County | Seat, if different |
|---|---|
Aweil Central County
|
|
Aweil East County
|
|
Aweil North County
|
|
Aweil South County
|
|
Aweil West County
|
Unity State 9
| County | Seat, if different |
|---|---|
Abeimnom County
|
|
Guit County
|
|
Koch County
|
|
Leer County
|
|
Mayendit County
|
|
Mayom County
|
|
Parieng County
|
|
Payinjiar County
|
|
Rubkona County
|
Upper Nile State 12
| County | Seat, if different |
|---|---|
Baliet County
|
|
Fachoda County
|
|
Longechuk County
|
|
Maban County
|
|
Maiwut County
|
|
Malakal County
|
|
Manyo County
|
|
Melut County
|
|
Nasir County
|
|
Panyikang County
|
|
Renk County
|
|
Ulang County
|
Warrap State 6
| County | Seat, if different |
|---|---|
Gogrial East County
|
|
Gogrial West County
|
|
Tonj East County
|
|
Tonj North County
|
|
Tonj South County
|
|
Twic County
|
Western Bahr al Ghazal State 9
| County | Seat, if different |
|---|---|
Boro County
|
|
Deim Zubeir County
|
|
Ere County
|
|
Kata County
|
|
Khor Gana County
|
|
Naarjur County
|
|
Sopo County
|
|
Udici County
|
|
Wau County
|
Western Equatoria State 10
| County | Seat, if different |
|---|---|
Ezo County
|
|
Ibba County
|
|
Maridi East County
|
|
Mundri County
|
|
Mundri West County
|
|
Mvolo County
|
|
Najero County
|
|
Nzara County
|
|
Tambora County
|
|
Yambio County
|
The county list reflects 2011. Wikipedia's Counties of South Sudan, checked 28 October 2026, counts 79 counties in the ten states and three areas today; Pibor County, for instance, now lies in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area and Pariang (Parieng) is the seat of the Ruweng Administrative Area.
States, regions and the areas of 2020
The ten states were drawn within three historical provinces, Bahr el Ghazal in the north-west, Equatoria in the south and Greater Upper Nile in the north-east. Below them, the units that Sudan had called districts became counties at independence.
Between 2015 and 2020 the map changed twice. A decree of October 2015 created 28 states, a further decision in 2017 brought the total to 32, and the peace agreement of 22 February 2020 restored the original ten. Two areas were set apart at the same time, Greater Pibor with its seat at Pibor and Ruweng with its seat at Pariang, and the Abyei Area kept the special status it has had under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005.
Spelling varies between sources. ISO writes Bahr el Ghazal where the list has Bahr al Ghazal, and Lakes State's Aweriar County is Awerial County in the present county list.
Questions about the subdivisions of South Sudan
What is the capital of Warrap State?
Kuajok. The list of 2011 gives Warrap, the town that shares the state's name.
Which areas of South Sudan are not states?
The Greater Pibor and Ruweng administrative areas and the Abyei Area, which has a special status.
How many counties does South Sudan have?
The list of 2011 has 84; Wikipedia counts 79 in the present ten states and three areas.