Extract of Corchorus olitorius stems (ECS) was used as a green inhibitor for the inhibition of mild steel corrosion in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution. GC/MS was used for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of the extract. The corrosion performance of the extract was evaluated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potentiodynamic polarization and weight loss. The results showed that ECS is a mixed-type inhibitor which reduces both anodic and cathodic reactions and the inhibition efficiency was reached up to 93%. Adsorption isotherm data was recorded at different temperatures and analyzed by selected adsorption isotherm models to reveal characteristics of inhibition. Thermodynamic calculations showed that the inhibition efficiency increases with increasing inhibitor concentration, and decreases with increasing temperature. Adsorption of ECS on the mild steel surface was found to be spontaneous and exothermic. Adsorption is suggested to be physisorption according to El-Awady isotherm model. Also, the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate the surface morphology to confirm the corrosion results.