Updated
Overview
Egypt has 2.3 times the population of Sudan: 118.37 million people against 51.66 million (2025).
Egypt's economy is 6.1 times the size of Sudan's, at $365.25B versus $60.16B.
Per person, Egypt is the wealthier of the two: $3,086 against $1,165 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Egypt | Sudan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $365.25B | $60.16B | 2025 | $389.06B / $49.91B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $3,086 | $1,165 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.4% | 3.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 14.1% | 138.8% | 2025 / 2022 | 28.3% / — |
| Unemployment | Lower: 6.8% | 7.5% | 2025 / 2022 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 15 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $109 | Higher: $284 | 2024 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $132 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.87 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 118.37 million | 51.66 million | 2025 | 112.87 million / 50.47 million |
| Population growth | 1.6% | 2.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 24.5 yrs | 18.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.71 | 4.19 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 71.8 yrs | 66.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 43% | 35% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 75% | 19% | 2024 / 2017 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,002,450 km² | 1,886,068 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 118.1/km² | 27.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 258 Mt | Lower: 18 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 2.2 t | Lower: 0.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.40B | $375.21M | 2024 / 2021 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 0.9% | 2024 / 2021 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 836,000 | 144,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Egypt is growing faster: 4.4% annual GDP growth versus 3.1%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Sudan at 138.8%, while the other economy sits at 14.1%.
Average monthly earnings favour Sudan: $284 against $109 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Sudan is the younger society: median age 18.5 versus 24.5 years.
Life expectancy is 5.3 years longer in Egypt (71.8 vs 66.5).
Internet adoption is higher in Egypt (75% vs 19% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Egypt is 47% smaller than Sudan: 1,002,450 km² versus 1,886,068 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Egypt is far more densely settled: 118 people per km² against 27.
Military
Egypt spends 6.4 times as much on defence as Sudan: $2.40B versus $375.21M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Egypt fields the larger armed forces: 836,000 personnel against 144,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Egypt bigger than Sudan?
- Sudan is larger by land area. Egypt covers 1,002,450 km² while Sudan covers 1,886,068 km², so Sudan is 88% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Egypt or Sudan?
- Egypt has the larger population: 118.37 million versus 51.66 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Egypt richer than Sudan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Egypt is richer: $3,086 against $1,165. Total GDP tells the same story: $365.25B for Egypt versus $60.16B for Sudan.
- Who spends more on their military, Egypt or Sudan?
- Egypt spends more: $2.40B versus $375.21M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).