Hypertension in South Sudan: A Growing Public Health Crisis - Analytical Factsheet, April 2026

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Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a chronic medical condition in which blood pressure in the arteries is persistently and permanently elevated. It is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and kidney-related illnesses and deaths globally and in South Sudan, it is an emerging and rapidly growing non-communicable disease (NCD) concern demanding urgent national action.

Hypertension is increasingly becoming a cause of morbidity and mortality in South Sudan. Based on WHO Country Profile estimates for 2019, the country has a slightly higher than average level of hypertension among adults aged 30–79 years compared to the global average, with an estimated prevalence of 34%, approximately 1 million adults.

In contrast, facility-based data from the Health Management Information System (HMIS/DHIS2) captures only those who present to health services AND are documented, significantly underestimating actual prevalence due to weak surveillance, limited screening, and low care-seeking behavior. Available HMIS/DHIS2 facility data therefore provides only a partial, but telling, picture of the crisis.

Source: https://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/hypertension-south-sudan-growing-public-health-crisis-analytical-factsheet-april-2026