Updated
Overview
Sudan has 14 times the population of Eritrea: 51.66 million people against 3.61 million (2025).
Sudan's economy is 29 times the size of Eritrea's, at $60.16B versus $2.07B.
Per person, Sudan is the wealthier of the two: $1,165 against $689 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Sudan | Eritrea | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $60.16B | $2.07B | 2025 / 2011 | $49.91B / — |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $1,165 | $689 | 2025 / 2011 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 3.1% | Higher: 8.7% | 2025 / 2011 | — / — |
| Inflation | 138.8% | — | 2022 | — / — |
| Unemployment | 7.5% | Lower: 6.0% | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $284 | — | 2022 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 51.66 million | 3.61 million | 2025 | 50.47 million / 6.42 million |
| Population growth | 2.4% | 2.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 18.5 yrs | 19.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 4.19 | 3.61 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 66.5 yrs | Higher: 68.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 35% | 35% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 19% | 14% | 2017 / 2020 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,886,068 km² | 117,600 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 27.4/km² | 30.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 18 Mt | Lower: 0.74 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 0.4 t | Lower: 0.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $375.21M | $181.58M | 2021 / 2003 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.9% | 20.9% | 2021 / 2003 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 144,000 | 202,000 | 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
Eritrea is growing much faster: 8.7% annual GDP growth versus 3.1%.
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 18.5 (Sudan) and 19.2 (Eritrea).
Life expectancy is 2.4 years longer in Eritrea (68.9 vs 66.5).
Geography
By land area, Sudan is 16 times the size of Eritrea: 1,886,068 km² versus 117,600 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Sudan spends 2.1 times as much on defence as Eritrea: $375.21M versus $181.58M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Eritrea carries the heavier military burden: 20.9% of GDP versus 0.9%.
Eritrea fields the larger armed forces: 202,000 personnel against 144,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Sudan bigger than Eritrea?
- Sudan is larger by land area. Sudan covers 1,886,068 km² while Eritrea covers 117,600 km², so Sudan is 16 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Sudan or Eritrea?
- Sudan has the larger population: 51.66 million versus 3.61 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Sudan richer than Eritrea?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Sudan is richer: $1,165 against $689. Total GDP tells the same story: $60.16B for Sudan versus $2.07B for Eritrea.
- Who spends more on their military, Sudan or Eritrea?
- Sudan spends more: $375.21M versus $181.58M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).