The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 2011 to 2025 Africa
Military service age and obligation South Sudan, in 15 editions.
The entry for South Sudan published Military service age and obligation in 15 editions of 15, from 2011 to 2025. The text changed in 10 editions. Each is shown as published. Military service age and obligation in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 10
- the first edition with it
- 2011
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Military service age and obligation” (2011 to 2025).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2025 edition
Rewritten since 2024The same text in 2011 and 2012.
- the Government of South Sudan announced in August 2010 that anyone younger than 18 years of age would be mustered out of the army, but 900 children were estimated to still be active at the end of that year;
- in April 2011, a conscription program was being implemented to thwart recruitment of military-aged males into other armed groups (2011)
the Government of South Sudan announced in August 2010 that anyone younger than 18 years of age would be mustered out of the army, but 900 children were estimated to still be active at the end of that year; in April 2011, a conscription program was being implemented to thwart recruitment of military-aged males into other armed groups (2011)
The same text in 3 editions, 2013 to 2015.
- 18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
- the Government of South Sudan signed a revised action plan with the UN in March 2012 to demobilize all child soldiers within the SPLA;
- UNICEF reported 250 confirmed cases of the SPLA's association with children at the end of 2012 (2012)
Rewritten: too little of the 2012 text remains to mark the changes.
18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service; the Government of South Sudan signed a revised action plan with the UN in March 2012 to demobilize all child soldiers within the SPLA; UNICEF reported 250 confirmed cases of the SPLA's association with children at the end of 2012 (2012)
- 18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
- the Government of South Sudan signed a revised action plan with the UN in March 2012 to demobilize all child soldiers within the SPLA, but recruitment of child soldiers by the SPLA and the opposition increased in 2014;
- as of the end of 2015, UNICEF estimates that 15,000 to 16,000 child soldiers had been used by the SPLA and rebel forces in the country's civil war since it began in December 2013 (2015)
18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service; the Government of South Sudan signed a revised action plan with the UN in March 2012 to demobilize all child soldiers within the SPLA; UNICEF reported 250 confirmed cases SPLA, but recruitment of child soldiers by the SPLA's association with children at SPLA and the opposition increased in 2014; as of the end of 2012 (2012) 2015, UNICEF estimates that 15,000 to 16,000 child soldiers had been used by the SPLA and rebel forces in the country's civil war since it began in December 2013 (2015)
- 18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
- the Government of South Sudan signed agreements in March 2012 and August 2015 that included the demobilization of all child soldiers within the armed forces and opposition, but the recruitment of child soldiers by the warring parties continues;
- as of the end of 2016, UNICEF estimates that more than 17,000 child soldiers had been used in the country's civil war since it began in December 2013 (2016)
18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service; the Government of South Sudan signed a revised action plan with the UN agreements in March 2012 to demobilize and August 2015 that included the demobilization of all child soldiers within the SPLA, armed forces and opposition, but the recruitment of child soldiers by the SPLA and the opposition increased in 2014; warring parties continues; as of the end of 2015, 2016, UNICEF estimates that 15,000 to 16,000 more than 17,000 child soldiers had been used by the SPLA and rebel forces in the country's civil war since it began in December 2013 (2015) (2016)
- 18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
- the Government of South Sudan signed agreements in March 2012 and August 2015 that included the demobilization of all child soldiers within the armed forces and opposition, but the recruitment of child soldiers by the warring parties continues;
- as of the end of 2017, UNICEF estimates that more than 19,000 child soldiers had been used in the country's civil war since it began in December 2013 (2017)
18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service; the Government of South Sudan signed agreements in March 2012 and August 2015 that included the demobilization of all child soldiers within the armed forces and opposition, but the recruitment of child soldiers by the warring parties continues; as of the end of 2016, 2017, UNICEF estimates that more than 17,000 19,000 child soldiers had been used in the country's civil war since it began in December 2013 (2016) (2017)
The same text in 2019 and 2020.
- 18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
- the Government of South Sudan signed agreements in March 2012 and August 2015 that included the demobilization of all child soldiers within the armed forces and opposition, but the recruitment of child soldiers by the warring parties continues;
- as of the end of 2018, UNICEF estimated that more than 19,000 child soldiers had been used in the country's civil war since it began in December 2013 (2018)
18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service; the Government of South Sudan signed agreements in March 2012 and August 2015 that included the demobilization of all child soldiers within the armed forces and opposition, but the recruitment of child soldiers by the warring parties continues; as of the end of 2017, 2018, UNICEF estimates estimated that more than 19,000 child soldiers had been used in the country's civil war since it began in December 2013 (2017) (2018)
- 18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2021)
Rewritten: too little of the 2020 text remains to mark the changes.
18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2021)
- 18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
- conscription only for men;
- women may volunteer;
- 12-24 months service (2022)
note: in 2019, women made up less than 10% of the active military
Rewritten: too little of the 2021 text remains to mark the changes.
18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscription only for men; women may volunteer; 12-24 months service (2022)
note: in 2019, women made up less than 10% of the active military
18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory (men) and voluntary (men and women) military service; 12-24 months service (2023)
note: in 2019, women made up less than 10% of the active military
18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory (men) and voluntary (men and women) military service; conscription only for men; women may volunteer; 12-24 months service (2022) (2023)
note: in 2019, women made up less than 10% of the active military
18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory (men) and voluntary (men and women) military service; 12-24 months service (2023)
18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory (men) and voluntary (men and women) military service; 12-24 months service (2023)
note: in 2019, women made up less than 10% of the active military
18 (legal minimum age)-35 for voluntary military service for men and women; 12-24 months service (2025)
note: the UN reports that there are thousands of child soldiers in South Sudan serving in the SSPDF and militia forces although the South Sudanese Government has pledged to end the practice
Rewritten: too little of the 2024 text remains to mark the changes.
18 (legal minimum age)-35 for voluntary military service for men and women; 12-24 months service (2025)
note: the UN reports that there are thousands of child soldiers in South Sudan serving in the SSPDF and militia forces although the South Sudanese Government has pledged to end the practice
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Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “South Sudan: Military service age and obligation.” The World Factbook, 2011–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/south-sudan/military-service-age-and-obligation.