Updated
Overview
Ethiopia has 2.6 times the population of Sudan: 135.47 million people against 51.66 million (2025).
Ethiopia's economy is 2.1 times the size of Sudan's, at $126.36B versus $60.16B.
Per person, Sudan is the wealthier of the two: $1,165 against $933 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Ethiopia | Sudan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $126.36B | $60.16B | 2025 | $126.77B / $49.91B |
| GDP per capita | $933 | Higher: $1,165 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 9.8% | 3.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 13.2% | 138.8% | 2025 / 2022 | 21.0% / — |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.3% | 7.5% | 2025 / 2022 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 37 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $96 | Higher: $284 | 2021 / 2022 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 135.47 million | 51.66 million | 2025 | 121.37 million / 50.47 million |
| Population growth | 2.6% | 2.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 19.1 yrs | 18.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.81 | 4.19 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 67.6 yrs | 66.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 24% | 35% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 22% | 19% | 2024 / 2017 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,104,300 km² | 1,886,068 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 122.7/km² | 27.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 18 Mt | Lower: 18 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.1 t | 0.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $921.67M | $375.21M | 2024 / 2021 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 0.9% | 2024 / 2021 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 138,000 | 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
Ethiopia is growing much faster: 9.8% annual GDP growth versus 3.1%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Sudan at 138.8%, while the other economy sits at 13.2%.
Average monthly earnings favour Sudan: $284 against $96 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 19.1 (Ethiopia) and 18.5 (Sudan).
Life expectancy is 1.1 years longer in Ethiopia (67.6 vs 66.5).
Sudan is considerably more urbanized: 35% of people live in cities, against 24%.
Geography
By land area, Ethiopia is 41% smaller than Sudan: 1,104,300 km² versus 1,886,068 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Ethiopia is far more densely settled: 123 people per km² against 27.
Military
Ethiopia spends 2.5 times as much on defence as Sudan: $921.67M versus $375.21M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Sudan fields the larger armed forces: 144,000 personnel against 138,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Ethiopia bigger than Sudan?
- Sudan is larger by land area. Ethiopia covers 1,104,300 km² while Sudan covers 1,886,068 km², so Sudan is 71% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Ethiopia or Sudan?
- Ethiopia has the larger population: 135.47 million versus 51.66 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Ethiopia richer than Sudan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Sudan is richer: $1,165 against $933. Total GDP tells a different story: $126.36B for Ethiopia versus $60.16B for Sudan.
- Who spends more on their military, Ethiopia or Sudan?
- Ethiopia spends more: $921.67M versus $375.21M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).