WestBahr-al-Ghazal, South Sudan

High score (8-10)

West Bahr el Ghazal with its capital Wau is one of the more ethnically mixed regions of South Sudan, sitting at a crossroads of Dinka, Baggara Arab, and Zande communities, which creates a slightly more socially permeable environment than mono-ethnic regions. Wau has a longer colonial history and mission-school presence than most South Sudanese towns, which left a small educated class that is more outward-looking than is typical. A foreign man with an organization behind him in Wau finds an environment that, while still deeply traditional, has more social access points than comparably sized towns. The economic advantage is total, as with everywhere else in the country.

Mid score (6-8) · Your profile

Wau is recovering from severe inter-communal violence that occurred in 2016 and the community wariness that remains from that period is palpable in the social environment. The town's ethnic complexity, which can be an advantage in terms of social permeability, also creates tensions that a foreign man needs to navigate carefully — being seen to favor one community over another has real consequences. The NGO presence is steady but not as large as Juba or Malakal, so the expat social scene is thin. Workable over time; requires genuine cultural investment.

Lower score (below 6)

West Bahr el Ghazal's recent history of mass displacement and inter-communal killing during 2016 left Wau with a traumatized population and a fragile inter-ethnic coexistence that shapes every social interaction in the town. The security situation, while improved, still involves regular movement restrictions and the presence of armed actors that make casual socializing a different calculation than in more stable environments. An outsider coming here for social reasons rather than professional mission would find the environment closed, cautious, and unrewarding by any realistic measure.

What's the median income in WestBahr-al-Ghazal, South Sudan?

$0k median

What's the typical marriage age for women in WestBahr-al-Ghazal, South Sudan?

Women marry at 21

How common is a college degree in WestBahr-al-Ghazal, South Sudan?

6% men have degree

What's the average male height in WestBahr-al-Ghazal, South Sudan?

169 cm local avg

What's the average BMI for women in WestBahr-al-Ghazal, South Sudan?

Local women avg 23.4