The States of South Sudan were created out of the three historic former provinces (and contemporary regions) of Bahr el Ghazal (northwest), Equatoria (southern), and Greater Upper Nile (northeast).

[4] In February 2020, as a result of a peace agreement that ended the South Sudanese Civil War, the country returned to the original 10 states plus two administrative areas, Greater Pibor and Ruweng, and the special administrative status area of Abyei.

[8] The states and administrative areas are grouped into the three former historical provinces of the Sudan: Bahr el Ghazal, Equatoria, Greater Upper Nile.

On 14 January 2017, President Kiir issued a presidential decree that increased the number of federal states from 28 to 32.

[16] The Sudan Tribune reported on 1 January 2015 that Machar appointed "military governors" for several of his declared states.