Updated
Overview
Sudan has 4.2 times the population of South Sudan: 51.66 million people against 12.19 million (2025).
Sudan's economy is 5.0 times the size of South Sudan's, at $60.16B versus $12.00B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Sudan | South Sudan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $60.16B | $12.00B | 2025 / 2015 | $49.91B / — |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $1,165 | $1,080 | 2025 / 2015 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.1% | -10.8% | 2025 / 2015 | — / — |
| Inflation | 138.8% | Lower: 91.4% | 2022 / 2024 | — / — |
| Unemployment | Lower: 7.5% | 12.4% | 2022 / 2023 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $284 | — | 2022 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 51.66 million | 12.19 million | 2025 | 50.47 million / 12.70 million |
| Population growth | 2.4% | 2.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 18.5 yrs | 18.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 4.19 | 3.71 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 66.5 yrs | 57.7 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 35% | 22% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 19% | 7% | 2017 / 2019 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,886,068 km² | 644,329 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 27.4/km² | 18.9/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 18 Mt | Lower: 1.70 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 0.4 t | Lower: 0.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $375.21M | $2.03B | 2021 / 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.9% | 2.0% | 2021 / 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 144,000 | 53,000 | 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
Sudan grew while the other economy contracted: 3.1% against -10.8%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Sudan at 138.8%, while the other economy sits at 91.4%.
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 18.5 (Sudan) and 18.7 (South Sudan).
Life expectancy is 8.8 years longer in Sudan (66.5 vs 57.7).
Sudan is considerably more urbanized: 35% of people live in cities, against 22%.
Internet adoption is higher in Sudan (19% vs 7% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Sudan is 2.9 times the size of South Sudan: 1,886,068 km² versus 644,329 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
South Sudan spends 5.4 times as much on defence as Sudan: $2.03B versus $375.21M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, South Sudan carries the heavier military burden: 2.0% of GDP versus 0.9%.
Sudan fields the larger armed forces: 144,000 personnel against 53,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Sudan bigger than South Sudan?
- Sudan is larger by land area. Sudan covers 1,886,068 km² while South Sudan covers 644,329 km², so Sudan is 2.9 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Sudan or South Sudan?
- Sudan has the larger population: 51.66 million versus 12.19 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Sudan richer than South Sudan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Sudan is richer: $1,165 against $1,080. Total GDP tells the same story: $60.16B for Sudan versus $12.00B for South Sudan.
- Who spends more on their military, Sudan or South Sudan?
- South Sudan spends more: $2.03B versus $375.21M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).