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Economy of Mali vs South Sudan compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Mali has a GDP of $26.8B compared to $12B for South Sudan, ranking 113/197 and 149/197 by economy size, respectively.

Mali has $13.9B in government debt (51.7% of GDP), compared to $7.04B (50.7% of GDP) in South Sudan.

Mali vs South Sudan GDP by year

Mali
South Sudan
1x
Year GDP, current $
Mali South Sudan
2024 $26,794,747,240 -
2023 $24,813,860,599 -
2022 $22,539,987,719 -
2021 $22,999,245,263 -
2020 $20,698,560,939 -
2019 $20,477,421,885 -
2018 $20,368,015,381 -
2017 $18,308,362,040 -
2016 $16,743,796,800 -
2015 $15,583,181,170 $11,997,800,760
2014 $17,081,681,993 $13,962,212,847
2013 $15,747,192,681 $18,426,469,017
2012 $14,795,114,603 $11,931,472,169
2011 $15,452,791,789 $14,907,308,933
2010 $12,710,739,159 $14,602,072,411
2009 $12,155,217,833 $12,231,264,525
2008 $11,462,490,840 $14,586,253,383
2007 $9,699,047,443 -
2006 $8,212,007,554 -
2005 $7,429,066,951 -
2004 $6,485,774,930 -
2003 $5,605,613,011 -
2002 $4,647,238,257 -
2001 $4,124,281,594 -
2000 $3,521,570,876 -
1999 $4,091,446,054 -
1998 $3,894,433,432 -
1997 $3,414,879,486 -
1996 $3,743,103,420 -
1995 $3,373,322,735 -
1994 $2,655,768,636 -
1993 $3,632,801,877 -
1992 $3,680,775,037 -
1991 $3,576,562,682 -
1990 $3,248,417,791 -
1989 $2,824,822,489 -
1988 $2,712,207,901 -
1987 $2,437,004,680 -
1986 $2,132,938,007 -
1985 $1,594,347,021 -
1984 $1,387,809,615 -
1983 $1,496,616,127 -
1982 $1,680,304,773 -
1981 $2,234,583,940 -
1980 $2,704,362,789 -
1979 $1,595,422,956 -
1978 $1,222,702,573 -
1977 $1,049,838,548 -
1976 $939,228,017 -
1975 $830,710,615 -
1974 $538,747,340 -
1973 $563,683,703 -
1972 $486,617,280 -
1971 $395,218,629 -
1970 $359,772,315 -
1969 $339,913,867 -
1968 $343,771,973 -
1967 $275,494,478 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1967–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/mali/south-sudan | CC BY

GDP per capita in Mali vs South Sudan by year

Mali
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
South Sudan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Mali South Sudan
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $1,095 $3,315 - -
2023 $1,044 $3,175 - -
2022 $977 $3,014 - -
2021 $1,027 $2,796 - -
2020 $953 $2,724 - -
2019 $972 $2,820 - -
2018 $996 $2,684 - -
2017 $924 $2,607 - -
2016 $872 $2,532 - -
2015 $838 $2,330 $1,080 $1,155
2014 $948 $2,185 $1,243 $1,373
2013 $902 $2,059 $1,650 $1,917
2012 $873 $1,990 $1,109 $1,417
2011 $938 $2,046 $1,449 $2,718
2010 $797 $2,012 $1,498 $2,948
2009 $787 $1,945 $1,323 $2,911
2008 $767 $1,893 $1,654 $2,887
2007 $671 $1,852 - -
2006 $587 $1,832 - -
2005 $549 $1,771 - -
2004 $495 $1,730 - -
2003 $442 $1,715 - -
2002 $378 $1,581 - -
2001 $346 $1,559 - -
2000 $305 $1,357 - -
1999 $364 $1,376 - -
1998 $357 $1,332 - -
1997 $321 $1,267 - -
1996 $360 $1,224 - -
1995 $331 $1,154 - -
1994 $266.5 $1,147 - -
1993 $372 $1,087 - -
1992 $385 $1,039 - -
1991 $382 $1,091 - -
1990 $354 $956 - -
1989 $314 - - -
1988 $307 - - -
1987 $280.7 - - -
1986 $250 - - -
1985 $190.4 - - -
1984 $169.1 - - -
1983 $186.3 - - -
1982 $213.8 - - -
1981 $290.5 - - -
1980 $359 - - -
1979 $216.3 - - -
1978 $169.1 - - -
1977 $148.1 - - -
1976 $134.9 - - -
1975 $121.5 - - -
1974 $80.2 - - -
1973 $85.4 - - -
1972 $75.1 - - -
1971 $62 - - -
1970 $57.3 - - -
1969 $55 - - -
1968 $56.5 - - -
1967 $46 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1967–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/mali/south-sudan | CC BY

Mali's GDP per capita is $1,095, ranking 173/197, compared to $1,080 in South Sudan, ranking 175/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Mali ranks 174th at $3,315, while South Sudan ranks 197th at $1,155.

Economic indicators

Mali South Sudan
Gross domestic product
$26.8B
2024
$12B
2015
GDP rank
113/197
2024
149/197
2015
GDP growth
4.99%
2023-2024
-10.8%
2014-2015
GDP per capita
$1,095
2024
$1,080
2015
GDP per capita rank
173/197
2024
175/197
2015
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,315
2024
$1,155
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
174/197
2024
197/197
2015
Government debt
$13.9B
2024
$7.04B
2015
Debt-to-GDP ratio
51.7%
2024
50.7%
2024
Government debt per person
$566
2024
$633
2015
Government debt per person rank
161/185
2024
158/185
2015
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,463
2026
$1,305
2026
Income share by richest 10%
28.3%
2021
33%
2016
Income share by poorest 10%
3.2%
2021
1.8%
2016
Government expenditure, % of GDP
24.7%
2024
18.1%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
3.2%
2023-2024
91.4%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
15%
2023
Unemployment rate
5.45%
2023
12.3%
2008
Population
26143152
12507858

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Mali
Spending

Debt
South Sudan
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Mali South Sudan
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 24.7% 51.7% 18.1% 50.7%
2023 24.8% 51.9% 21.4% 51.9%
2022 24.4% 50.3% 29.4% 37.3%
2021 26.9% 51.6% 44.1% 50.2%
2020 26.1% 47.3% 34.1% 49%
2019 23.1% 40.7% 47.9% 43.1%
2018 20.3% 37.5% 54.5% 77.6%
2017 22.9% 38.2% 97% 178.3%
2016 22.3% 37.2% 66.5% 164.7%
2015 20.9% 30.7% 34% 58.6%
2014 20% 26.9% 35.8% 37.7%
2013 19.8% 26.4% 25.3% 17.6%
2012 15.5% 25.4% 31.6% 8.91%
2011 20.6% 24% 20.8% -
2010 20.3% 25.3% - -
2009 22.8% 21.9% - -
2008 18.8% 20.1% - -
2007 21.5% 18.5% - -
2006 22.1% 18.1% - -
2005 21.6% 46.6% - -
2004 21.8% 42.4% - -
2003 20.8% 44.1% - -
2002 19.9% 42.6% - -
2001 18.3% 77.5% - -
2000 19.4% 90.5% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2000–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/mali/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, Mali's government spending was $6.61B, accounting for 24.7% of its GDP, while South Sudan spent $4.08B, or 18.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 51.7% in Mali and 50.7% in South Sudan, ranking 102/185 and 105/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Mali

South Sudan
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Mali South Sudan
2024 -2.57% 11.7%
2023 -3.57% 8.04%
2022 -4.75% 4.48%
2021 -4.91% -9.3%
2020 -5.42% -5.5%
2019 -1.68% 0.04%
2018 -4.74% -1.06%
2017 -2.86% 9.56%
2016 -3.95% -19.8%
2015 -1.82% -16.4%
2014 -2.89% -9.07%
2013 -2.37% -3.45%
2012 -0.96% -14.8%
2011 -3.42% 4.57%
2010 -2.57% -
2009 -3.71% -
2008 -1.97% -
2007 -2.78% -
2006 27.8% -
2005 -2.76% -
2004 -2.36% -
2003 -1.19% -
2002 -3.09% -
2001 -2.8% -
2000 -2.64% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2000–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/mali/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2015, Mali's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $284M, equivalent to 1.82% of GDP. This compares to South Sudan's deficit of $1.97B, or 16.4% of GDP.

Over the past 5 years, Mali recorded a fiscal deficit in 5 of those years, while South Sudan ran a deficit in 4 years. On average, Mali posted an annual deficit equal to 2.29% of GDP, compared to deficit of 7.83% of GDP for South Sudan.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Mali

South Sudan
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Mali South Sudan
2024 3.2% 91.4%
2023 2.1% 2.38%
2022 9.7% -6.69%
2021 3.8% 10.5%
2020 0.5% 29.7%
2019 -3% 87.2%
2018 1.9% 83.5%
2017 2.4% 187.9%
2016 -1.8% 380%
2015 1.4% 52.8%
2014 0.9% 1.67%
2013 -0.6% -0.06%
2012 5.3% 45.5%
2011 3% 46.9%
2010 1.2% 1.17%
2009 2.4% 5.01%
2008 9.2% -
2007 1.4% -
2006 1.6% -
2005 6.4% -
2004 -3.1% -
2003 -1.3% -
2002 5% -
2001 5.2% -
2000 -0.8% -
1999 -1.2% -
1998 4.1% -
1997 -0.7% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (2009–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/mali/south-sudan | CC BY

Over the past 16 years, Mali has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.03%, compared with 63.7% in South Sudan. In 2024, inflation was 3.2% in Mali and 91.4% in South Sudan.

Balance of trade

Mali South Sudan
Current account balance
-$1.61B
2023
$578M
2023
Current account balance ranking
136/190
2023
60/190
2023
Current account balance, % of GDP
-6.49%
2023
-4.17%
2015
Goods imports
$5.73B
2023
$2.25B
2023
Goods exports
$5.65B
2023
$4.01B
2023
Service imports
$2.34B
2023
$2.19B
2023
Service exports
$475M
2023
$484M
2023
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
27.3%
2024
28.9%
2015
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
22.6%
2024
36.7%
2015

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Mali South Sudan
Economic freedom 52.1 41
Economic freedom ranking 150/197 186/197
Property rights 13.8 n/a
Government integrity 23.2 n/a
Judicial effectiveness 23.3 n/a
Tax burden 67.9 n/a
Government spending 81.8 n/a
Fiscal health 73.6 n/a
Business freedom 40.8 n/a
Labor freedom 54.1 n/a
Monetary freedom 78.2 n/a
Trade freedom 64 n/a
Investment freedom 65 n/a
Financial freedom 40 n/a

Other economic metrics

Mali South Sudan
Services, % of GDP
36.3%
2024
56.6%
2015
Industry, % of GDP
23.5%
2024
33.1%
2015
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
33.3%
2024
10.4%
2015
GNI, Atlas method
$25.2B
2024
$11.7B
2015
GNI per capita, PPP
$3,230
2024
$1,010
2015
Total reserves including gold n/a
$72.9M
2023
Total reserves ranking n/a
175/177
2023
Net foreign direct investment
-$673M
2023
$2.21M
2019
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$921M
2024
$83.4M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$78.1M
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.41%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
43.3%
2024
66%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
19.5%
2024
5.75%
2015

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/mali/south-sudan | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1967–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2000–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  5. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.