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Economy of Mali vs Sudan compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Mali has a GDP of $26.8B compared to $49.7B for Sudan, ranking 113/197 and 94/197 by economy size, respectively.

Mali has $13.9B in government debt (51.7% of GDP), compared to $130B (261.4% of GDP) in Sudan.

Mali vs Sudan GDP by year

Mali
Sudan
1x
Year GDP, current $
Mali Sudan
2024 $26,794,747,240 $49,672,435,513
2023 $24,813,860,599 $39,898,289,821
2022 $22,539,987,719 $51,666,875,363
2021 $22,999,245,263 $34,229,513,775
2020 $20,698,560,939 $27,034,593,750
2019 $20,477,421,885 $32,338,079,165
2018 $20,368,015,381 $32,333,780,383
2017 $18,308,362,040 $41,283,617,976
2016 $16,743,796,800 $42,630,376,000
2015 $15,583,181,170 $51,726,758,677
2014 $17,081,681,993 $49,516,748,618
2013 $15,747,192,681 $43,024,018,082
2012 $14,795,114,603 $37,632,919,967
2011 $15,452,791,789 $55,018,567,211
2010 $12,710,739,159 $58,962,978,034
2009 $12,155,217,833 $51,621,044,077
2008 $11,462,490,840 $64,833,083,257
2007 $9,699,047,443 $59,440,139,775
2006 $8,212,007,554 $45,263,831,634
2005 $7,429,066,951 $35,182,711,988
2004 $6,485,774,930 $26,646,007,251
2003 $5,605,613,011 $21,355,298,460
2002 $4,647,238,257 $18,137,128,388
2001 $4,124,281,594 $15,716,361,792
2000 $3,521,570,876 $12,257,299,147
1999 $4,091,446,054 $10,682,028,340
1998 $3,894,433,432 $11,250,221,537
1997 $3,414,879,486 $11,681,175,864
1996 $3,743,103,420 $9,018,300,725
1995 $3,373,322,735 $13,830,363,900
1994 $2,655,768,636 $12,793,794,737
1993 $3,632,801,877 $8,881,005,436
1992 $3,680,775,037 $7,031,933,492
1991 $3,576,562,682 $44,171,194,366
1990 $3,248,417,791 $33,641,222,222
1989 $2,824,822,489 $21,408,111,111
1988 $2,712,207,901 $14,372,555,556
1987 $2,437,004,680 $12,093,333,333
1986 $2,132,938,007 $10,092,200,000
1985 $1,594,347,021 $8,075,259,600
1984 $1,387,809,615 $10,447,615,385
1983 $1,496,616,127 $8,230,153,846
1982 $1,680,304,773 $8,732,542,274
1981 $2,234,583,940 $10,753,888,154
1980 $2,704,362,789 $8,951,800,000
1979 $1,595,422,956 $8,418,407,787
1978 $1,222,702,573 $8,128,719,315
1977 $1,049,838,548 $7,499,005,639
1976 $939,228,017 $6,013,210,816
1975 $830,710,615 $4,823,090,192
1974 $538,747,340 $3,958,931,660
1973 $563,683,703 $3,077,254,460
1972 $486,617,280 $2,483,055,722
1971 $395,218,629 $2,288,340,041
1970 $359,772,315 $2,100,229,759
1969 $339,913,867 $1,847,501,441
1968 $343,771,973 $1,677,771,401
1967 $275,494,478 $1,607,409,539
1966 - $1,484,491,676
1965 - $1,446,869,619
1964 - $1,388,282,600
1963 - $1,351,234,926
1962 - $1,328,259,625
1961 - $1,222,860,429
1960 - $1,126,364,162

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

GDP per capita in Mali vs Sudan by year

Mali
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Sudan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Mali Sudan
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $1,095 $3,315 $985 $2,116
2023 $1,044 $3,175 $797 $2,421
2022 $977 $3,014 $1,046 $3,355
2021 $1,027 $2,796 $712 $3,249
2020 $953 $2,724 $578 $3,349
2019 $972 $2,820 $710 $3,914
2018 $996 $2,684 $731 $4,199
2017 $924 $2,607 $967 $4,252
2016 $872 $2,532 $1,033 $4,470
2015 $838 $2,330 $1,292 $4,217
2014 $948 $2,185 $1,275 $4,261
2013 $902 $2,059 $1,139 $3,725
2012 $873 $1,990 $1,019 $3,710
2011 $938 $2,046 $1,522 $4,112
2010 $797 $2,012 $1,665 $3,806
2009 $787 $1,945 $1,493 $3,732
2008 $767 $1,893 $1,928 $3,938
2007 $671 $1,852 $1,814 $3,836
2006 $587 $1,832 $1,415 $3,637
2005 $549 $1,771 $1,125 $3,407
2004 $495 $1,730 $872 $3,215
2003 $442 $1,715 $714 $3,058
2002 $378 $1,581 $621 $2,898
2001 $346 $1,559 $551 $2,769
2000 $305 $1,357 $441 $2,616
1999 $364 $1,376 $394 $2,475
1998 $357 $1,332 $425 $2,428
1997 $321 $1,267 $453 $2,358
1996 $360 $1,224 $357 $2,006
1995 $331 $1,154 $561 $1,902
1994 $266.5 $1,147 $532 $1,805
1993 $372 $1,087 $379 $1,794
1992 $385 $1,039 $307 $1,710
1991 $382 $1,091 $1,966 $1,599
1990 $354 $956 $1,528 $1,468
1989 $314 - $992 -
1988 $307 - $680 -
1987 $280.7 - $584 -
1986 $250 - $497 -
1985 $190.4 - $406 -
1984 $169.1 - $534 -
1983 $186.3 - $431 -
1982 $213.8 - $472 -
1981 $290.5 - $605 -
1980 $359 - $525 -
1979 $216.3 - $515 -
1978 $169.1 - $518 -
1977 $148.1 - $497 -
1976 $134.9 - $413 -
1975 $121.5 - $343 -
1974 $80.2 - $291.5 -
1973 $85.4 - $235.8 -
1972 $75.1 - $198.2 -
1971 $62 - $189 -
1970 $57.3 - $179.6 -
1969 $55 - $163.5 -
1968 $56.5 - $153.7 -
1967 $46 - $152.4 -
1966 - - $145.6 -
1965 - - $146.8 -
1964 - - $145.7 -
1963 - - $146.6 -
1962 - - $148.9 -
1961 - - $141.6 -
1960 - - $134.7 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Mali's GDP per capita is $1,095, ranking 173/197, compared to $985 in Sudan, ranking 179/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Mali ranks 174th at $3,315, while Sudan ranks 185th at $2,116.

Economic indicators

Mali Sudan
Gross domestic product
$26.8B
2024
$49.7B
2024
GDP rank
113/197
2024
94/197
2024
GDP growth
4.99%
2023-2024
-14%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$1,095
2024
$985
2024
GDP per capita rank
173/197
2024
179/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,315
2024
$2,116
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
174/197
2024
185/197
2024
Government debt
$13.9B
2024
$130B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
51.7%
2024
261.4%
2024
Government debt per person
$566
2024
$2,574
2024
Government debt per person rank
161/185
2024
109/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,463
2026
$1,704
2026
Income share by richest 10%
28.3%
2021
27.8%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
3.2%
2021
3.2%
2014
Government expenditure, % of GDP
24.7%
2024
6.39%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
3.2%
2023-2024
138.8%
2021-2022
Unemployment rate
5.45%
2023
7.53%
2022
Population
26143152
53335233

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Mali
Spending

Debt
Sudan
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Mali Sudan
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 24.7% 51.7% 6.39% 261.4%
2023 24.8% 51.9% 8.23% 259.9%
2022 24.4% 50.3% 17.9% 186.9%
2021 26.9% 51.6% 9.84% 189.6%
2020 26.1% 47.3% 10.9% 278.3%
2019 23.1% 40.7% 18.7% 216.5%
2018 20.3% 37.5% 16.8% 209.8%
2017 22.9% 38.2% 12.8% 149.5%
2016 22.3% 37.2% 9.98% 109.9%
2015 20.9% 30.7% 12.4% 93.2%
2014 20% 26.9% 13.5% 84.4%
2013 19.8% 26.4% 15.3% 105.8%
2012 15.5% 25.4% 16.5% 117.7%
2011 20.6% 24% 18.2% 78.1%
2010 20.3% 25.3% 17.4% 74.6%
2009 22.8% 21.9% 18.8% 71%
2008 18.8% 20.1% 19.7% 55.8%
2007 21.5% 18.5% 19.6% 53.7%
2006 22.1% 18.1% 18.8% 63.7%
2005 21.6% 46.6% 19.7% 75.5%
2004 21.8% 42.4% 16.5% 97.8%
2003 20.8% 44.1% 12.5% 117.4%
2002 19.9% 42.6% 10.5% 121.7%
2001 18.3% 77.5% 9.87% 125.6%
2000 19.4% 90.5% 10.4% 143.2%
1999 - - 8.4% 160.5%
1998 - - 7.79% 179.7%
1997 - - 7.38% 167.7%
1996 - - 9.31% 220.9%
1995 - - 12.9% 239%
1994 - - 19.6% 386%
1993 - - 23.7% 285.9%
1992 - - 50.4% 495%
1991 - - 45.7% -
1990 - - 31% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Mali's government spending was $6.61B, accounting for 24.7% of its GDP, while Sudan spent $3.17B, or 6.39% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 51.7% in Mali and 261.4% in Sudan, ranking 102/185 and 1/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Mali

Sudan
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Mali Sudan
2024 -2.57% -3.46%
2023 -3.57% -3.7%
2022 -4.75% -2.15%
2021 -4.91% -0.29%
2020 -5.42% -6.03%
2019 -1.68% -10.8%
2018 -4.74% -7.92%
2017 -2.86% -6.07%
2016 -3.95% -3.92%
2015 -1.82% -3.87%
2014 -2.89% -4.72%
2013 -2.37% -5.76%
2012 -0.96% -7.37%
2011 -3.42% -2.33%
2010 -2.57% 0.11%
2009 -3.71% -3.8%
2008 -1.97% 0.49%
2007 -2.78% -2.84%
2006 27.8% -1.32%
2005 -2.76% -1.88%
2004 -2.36% 0.16%
2003 -1.19% 0.77%
2002 -3.09% -0.69%
2001 -2.8% -0.77%
2000 -2.64% -0.7%
1999 - -0.8%
1998 - -0.56%
1997 - -0.59%
1996 - -2.61%
1995 - -3.48%
1994 - -3.03%
1993 - -8.04%
1992 - -24.5%
1991 - -26.5%
1990 - -16.2%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Mali's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $687M, equivalent to 2.57% of GDP. This compares to Sudan's deficit of $1.72B, or 3.46% of GDP.

Over the past 25 years, Mali recorded a fiscal deficit in 24 of those years, while Sudan ran a deficit in 21 years. On average, Mali posted an annual deficit equal to 1.76% of GDP, compared to deficit of 3.15% of GDP for Sudan.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Mali

Sudan
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Mali Sudan
2024 3.2% -
2023 2.1% -
2022 9.7% 138.8%
2021 3.8% 359%
2020 0.5% 163.3%
2019 -3% 51%
2018 1.9% 63.3%
2017 2.4% 32.4%
2016 -1.8% 17.8%
2015 1.4% 16.9%
2014 0.9% 36.9%
2013 -0.6% 36.5%
2012 5.3% 35.6%
2011 3% 18.1%
2010 1.2% 13%
2009 2.4% 11.3%
2008 9.2% 14.3%
2007 1.4% 14.8%
2006 1.6% 7.2%
2005 6.4% 8.51%
2004 -3.1% 9.66%
2003 -1.3% 6.49%
2002 5% 22.2%
2001 5.2% 1.94%
2000 -0.8% 7.12%
1999 -1.2% 17.2%
1998 4.1% 24.6%
1997 -0.7% 47.2%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2022, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the past 26 years, Mali has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.03%, compared with 45.2% in Sudan. In 2022, inflation was 3.2% in Mali and 138.8% in Sudan.

Top exports between countries

Mali
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $308K
Textiles & consumer goods $9K
Sudan
Export category Export value
Metals $26K
Machinery & equipment $20K

Balance of trade

Mali Sudan
Current account balance
-$1.61B
2023
-$4.44B
2022
Current account balance ranking
136/190
2023
165/190
2022
Current account balance, % of GDP
-6.49%
2023
-8.6%
2022
Goods imports
$5.73B
2023
$9.99B
2022
Goods exports
$5.65B
2023
$4.36B
2022
Service imports
$2.34B
2023
$1.59B
2022
Service exports
$475M
2023
$1.55B
2022
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
27.3%
2024
1.27%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
22.6%
2024
0.72%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Mali Sudan
Economic freedom 52.1 32.5
Economic freedom ranking 150/197 191/197
Property rights 13.8 6.5
Government integrity 23.2 13.8
Judicial effectiveness 23.3 2.4
Tax burden 67.9 84.7
Government spending 81.8 96.5
Fiscal health 73.6 64.6
Business freedom 40.8 27.3
Labor freedom 54.1 33.6
Monetary freedom 78.2 6.2
Trade freedom 64 29.6
Investment freedom 65 5
Financial freedom 40 20

Economic freedom comparison by year

Mali
Sudan
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Mali Sudan
2026 52.1 32.5
2025 52.6 35.3
2024 52.5 33.9
2023 54.5 32.8
2022 55.9 32
2021 55.6 39.1
2020 55.9 45
2019 58.1 47.7
2018 57.6 49.4
2017 58.6 48.8
2016 56.5 -
2015 56.4 -
2014 55.5 -
2013 56.4 -
2012 55.8 -
2011 56.3 -
2010 55.6 -
2009 55.6 -
2008 55.6 -
2007 54.7 -
2006 54.1 -
2005 57.3 -
2004 56.6 -
2003 58.6 -
2002 61.1 -
2001 60.1 -
2000 60.3 47.2
1999 58.4 39.6
1998 57.3 38.3
1997 56.4 39.9
1996 57 39.2
1995 52.4 39.4

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Mali is 52.1, ranking 150/197, compared to 32.5 for Sudan, ranking 191/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Mali Sudan
Services, % of GDP
36.3%
2024
54.7%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
23.5%
2024
23.2%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
33.3%
2024
22.2%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$25.2B
2024
$35.8B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$3,230
2024
$2,050
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$178M
2017
Total reserves ranking n/a
171/177
2017
Net foreign direct investment
-$673M
2023
-$574M
2022
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$921M
2024
$548M
2023
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$78.1M
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.41%
2024
0.42%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
43.3%
2024
46.5%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
19.5%
2024
2.89%
2024

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/sudan | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2018–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  8. 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.