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South Africa vs Sudan statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Africa has a population of 64M (ranked 24/197), compared with 50.4M in Sudan (ranked 30/197). South Africa's land area is 468,377 sq mi versus 721,239 sq mi for Sudan (ranked 24th vs. 15th).

By GDP, South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B) and Sudan ranks 94/197 ($49.7B). By GDP per capita, South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267), while Sudan ranks 179/197 ($985).

Main facts and rankings

South Africa Sudan
Population
65683993
53335233
Population rank 24/197 29/197
GDP
$401B
2024
$49.7B
2024
GDP rank 40/197 94/197
GDP per capita
$6,267
2024
$985
2024
GDP per capita rank 111/197 179/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$15,456
2024
$2,116
2024
Government debt
$305B
2024
$130B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
76%
2024
261.4%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,761
2024
$2,574
2024
Government debt per person rank 83/185 109/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$15,431
2026
$1,704
2026
Land area 468,377 sq mi 721,239 sq mi
Population density
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
73.3 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.22
2023
4.32
2023
Median age
29.5 years
2024
19.4 years
2024
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
66.9 years
2026

South Africa and Sudan: Comparison Charts

South Africa and Sudan economies compared

GDP
South Africa

Sudan
1x
Year GDP
South Africa Sudan
2024 $401,144,998,374 $49,672,435,513
2023 $381,440,724,491 $39,898,289,821
2022 $407,596,043,068 $51,666,875,363
2021 $419,986,284,375 $34,229,513,775
2020 $337,974,655,408 $27,034,593,750
2019 $389,330,032,224 $32,338,079,165
2018 $405,260,723,893 $32,333,780,383
2017 $381,448,814,653 $41,283,617,976
2016 $323,585,509,674 $42,630,376,000
2015 $346,709,790,459 $51,726,758,677
2014 $381,198,869,776 $49,516,748,618
2013 $400,886,013,596 $43,024,018,082
2012 $434,400,545,086 $37,632,919,967
2011 $458,199,494,831 $55,018,567,211
2010 $417,363,822,802 $58,962,978,034
2009 $329,754,060,647 $51,621,044,077
2008 $316,131,258,616 $64,833,083,257
2007 $333,077,117,254 $59,440,139,775
2006 $303,858,675,364 $45,263,831,634
2005 $288,867,217,197 $35,182,711,988
2004 $255,806,908,595 $26,646,007,251
2003 $197,018,965,309 $21,355,298,460
2002 $129,087,556,612 $18,137,128,388
2001 $135,429,905,923 $15,716,361,792
2000 $151,752,757,215 $12,257,299,147
1999 $151,516,957,079 $10,682,028,340
1998 $152,982,984,557 $11,250,221,537
1997 $168,978,057,328 $11,681,175,864
1996 $163,234,925,381 $9,018,300,725
1995 $171,735,933,897 $13,830,363,900
1994 $153,512,712,382 $12,793,794,737
1993 $147,194,747,566 $8,881,005,436
1992 $146,956,150,987 $7,031,933,492
1991 $135,203,698,238 $44,171,194,366
1990 $126,048,140,142 $33,641,222,222
1989 $108,055,624,082 $21,408,111,111
1988 $103,976,831,871 $14,372,555,556
1987 $96,535,763,418 $12,093,333,333
1986 $73,354,771,399 $10,092,200,000
1985 $64,459,376,087 $8,075,259,600
1984 $84,870,163,366 $10,447,615,385
1983 $96,204,110,942 $8,230,153,846
1982 $85,904,057,409 $8,732,542,274
1981 $93,141,472,164 $10,753,888,154
1980 $89,411,864,402 $8,951,800,000
1979 $63,038,658,089 $8,418,407,787
1978 $51,607,412,902 $8,128,719,315
1977 $45,328,411,332 $7,499,005,639
1976 $41,150,460,288 $6,013,210,816
1975 $42,906,905,672 $4,823,090,192
1974 $41,389,186,095 $3,958,931,660
1973 $33,262,772,008 $3,077,254,460
1972 $24,515,919,217 $2,483,055,722
1971 $23,411,076,638 $2,288,340,041
1970 $21,218,391,513 $2,100,229,759
1969 $19,256,992,297 $1,847,501,441
1968 $17,124,793,150 $1,677,771,401
1967 $15,821,393,671 $1,607,409,539
1966 $14,211,394,315 $1,484,491,676
1965 $13,068,994,772 $1,446,869,619
1964 $11,955,995,218 $1,388,282,600
1963 $10,854,195,658 $1,351,234,926
1962 $9,813,996,074 $1,328,259,625
1961 $9,225,996,310 $1,222,860,429
1960 $8,748,596,501 $1,126,364,162

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/sudan | CC BY

South Africa and Sudan economies compared

GDP per capita
South Africa

Sudan
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Africa Sudan
2024 $6,267 $985
2023 $6,034 $797
2022 $6,534 $1,046
2021 $6,829 $712
2020 $5,581 $578
2019 $6,534 $710
2018 $6,914 $731
2017 $6,618 $967
2016 $5,651 $1,033
2015 $6,112 $1,292
2014 $6,857 $1,275
2013 $7,332 $1,139
2012 $8,077 $1,019
2011 $8,646 $1,522
2010 $7,973 $1,665
2009 $6,375 $1,493
2008 $6,185 $1,928
2007 $6,592 $1,814
2006 $6,077 $1,415
2005 $5,837 $1,125
2004 $5,221 $872
2003 $4,062 $714
2002 $2,688 $621
2001 $2,847 $551
2000 $3,218 $441
1999 $3,242 $394
1998 $3,310 $425
1997 $3,700 $453
1996 $3,618 $357
1995 $3,856 $561
1994 $3,489 $532
1993 $3,400 $379
1992 $3,462 $307
1991 $3,243 $1,966
1990 $3,093 $1,528
1989 $2,727 $992
1988 $2,702 $680
1987 $2,586 $584
1986 $2,027 $497
1985 $1,839 $406
1984 $2,504 $534
1983 $2,938 $431
1982 $2,717 $472
1981 $3,050 $605
1980 $3,029 $525
1979 $2,202 $515
1978 $1,852 $518
1977 $1,671 $497
1976 $1,559 $413
1975 $1,670 $343
1974 $1,656 $291.5
1973 $1,369 $235.8
1972 $1,038 $198.2
1971 $1,020 $189
1970 $952 $179.6
1969 $891 $163.5
1968 $817 $153.7
1967 $779 $152.4
1966 $722 $145.6
1965 $685 $146.8
1964 $646 $145.7
1963 $605 $146.6
1962 $563 $148.9
1961 $546 $141.6
1960 $532 $134.7

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/sudan | CC BY

South Africa vs. Sudan life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Africa

Sudan
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Africa Sudan
2026 66.7 66.9
2025 66.5 66.7
2024 66.3 66.5
2023 66.1 66.3
2022 65.5 65.7
2021 62 64.5
2020 65.2 65.1
2019 66.1 65.8
2018 65.7 65.5
2017 65.4 65.1
2016 64.7 64.7
2015 64.1 64.4
2014 63.2 64
2013 62.4 63.4
2012 61.7 63.4
2011 60.6 63.2
2010 58.9 63
2009 57.4 62.7
2008 56 61.3
2007 54.9 61.4
2006 54.2 60.4
2005 53.9 57.2
2004 54 56.8
2003 54.2 58.3
2002 55.6 59.3
2001 57.2 59.3
2000 58.4 58.9
1999 59.2 58.6
1998 59.9 58.3
1997 60.5 58.1
1996 61.1 57.6
1995 61.6 57.4
1994 62.1 57
1993 62.6 56.1
1992 62.8 56
1991 63 55.6
1990 62.9 55.5
1989 63 54.9
1988 62.9 55
1987 62.7 54.7
1986 62.4 54.6
1985 62.2 50
1984 61.8 49.8
1983 61.4 49.6
1982 60.9 54.4
1981 60.4 54.4
1980 60 54.1
1979 59.5 53.4
1978 59 53.3
1977 58.5 53.5
1976 58 53.3
1975 57.6 53.3
1974 57.1 53.2
1973 56.7 53
1972 56.4 52.8
1971 56 52.5
1970 55.7 52.3
1969 55.4 52
1968 55.2 51.8
1967 55 51.5
1966 54.7 51.3
1965 54.4 51
1964 54.2 50.9
1963 53.9 50.8
1962 53.6 50.4
1961 53.1 50
1960 52.6 49.6
1959 51.9 49.2
1958 51.1 48.9
1957 50.2 48.5
1956 49.2 48.1
1955 48.2 47.7
1954 47.1 47.3
1953 46.1 46.9
1952 45 46.5
1951 44.1 46.2
1950 43.1 45.8

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/sudan | CC BY

South Africa and Sudan population clocks and comparison

Population
South Africa

Sudan
1x
Year Population
South Africa Sudan
2024 64,007,187 50,448,963
2023 63,212,384 50,042,791
2022 62,378,410 49,383,346
2021 61,502,603 48,066,924
2020 60,562,381 46,789,231
2019 59,587,885 45,548,175
2018 58,613,001 44,230,596
2017 57,635,162 42,714,306
2016 57,259,551 41,259,892
2015 56,723,537 40,024,431
2014 55,594,838 38,823,318
2013 54,678,791 37,785,849
2012 53,782,567 36,923,178
2011 52,995,205 36,140,806
2010 52,344,051 35,414,399
2009 51,728,516 34,569,113
2008 51,114,599 33,623,980
2007 50,528,584 32,764,135
2006 49,998,277 31,992,435
2005 49,490,033 31,262,444
2004 48,991,421 30,556,637
2003 48,500,348 29,896,035
2002 48,019,415 29,228,727
2001 47,566,800 28,516,770
2000 47,159,719 27,816,745
1999 46,730,335 27,130,613
1998 46,223,880 26,458,999
1997 45,666,838 25,799,821
1996 45,123,018 25,231,528
1995 44,541,554 24,672,143
1994 44,004,139 24,043,948
1993 43,297,156 23,445,592
1992 42,443,509 22,927,355
1991 41,687,898 22,470,676
1990 40,746,268 22,021,481
1989 39,628,575 21,578,022
1988 38,480,649 21,138,431
1987 37,326,190 20,704,904
1986 36,180,515 20,288,238
1985 35,042,093 19,905,872
1984 33,892,788 19,546,528
1983 32,739,304 19,109,770
1982 31,615,339 18,486,645
1981 30,541,044 17,780,572
1980 29,518,857 17,058,905
1979 28,634,162 16,355,352
1978 27,869,507 15,695,003
1977 27,118,952 15,086,614
1976 26,395,450 14,569,716
1975 25,690,940 14,064,798
1974 24,989,108 13,580,723
1973 24,294,263 13,049,315
1972 23,609,456 12,527,856
1971 22,942,143 12,105,539
1970 22,279,984 11,695,771
1969 21,614,676 11,298,936
1968 20,957,287 10,917,999
1967 20,314,066 10,550,597
1966 19,690,087 10,197,578
1965 19,089,380 9,858,030
1964 18,511,361 9,531,109
1963 17,954,564 9,218,077
1962 17,418,522 8,919,028
1961 16,908,035 8,634,941
1960 16,440,172 8,364,489

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/sudan | CC BY

Fertility rates in South Africa and Sudan

Fertility rate
South Africa

Sudan
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Africa Sudan
2023 2.22 4.32
2022 2.23 4.38
2021 2.25 4.46
2020 2.26 4.54
2019 2.26 4.62
2018 2.27 4.68
2017 2.28 4.76
2016 2.26 4.83
2015 2.36 4.9
2014 2.42 4.91
2013 2.43 4.97
2012 2.45 5.03
2011 2.44 5.09
2010 2.44 5.14
2009 2.5 5.17
2008 2.68 5.21
2007 2.55 5.27
2006 2.55 5.33
2005 2.51 5.4
2004 2.44 5.46
2003 2.36 5.49
2002 2.32 5.53
2001 2.37 5.56
2000 2.41 5.6
1999 2.56 5.62
1998 2.63 5.65
1997 2.73 5.72
1996 2.99 5.79
1995 3.17 5.86
1994 3.26 5.91
1993 3.37 5.97
1992 3.48 6.02
1991 3.62 6.05
1990 3.72 6.07
1989 3.98 6.11
1988 4.18 6.13
1987 4.35 6.18
1986 4.41 6.23
1985 4.5 6.28
1984 4.57 6.34
1983 4.63 6.41
1982 4.7 6.47
1981 4.71 6.53
1980 4.78 6.59
1979 4.82 6.65
1978 4.85 6.72
1977 4.94 6.78
1976 5.07 6.82
1975 5.19 6.87
1974 5.3 6.91
1973 5.41 6.94
1972 5.49 6.98
1971 5.57 7.02
1970 5.63 6.99
1969 5.72 6.97
1968 5.78 6.95
1967 5.85 6.91
1966 5.91 6.88
1965 5.89 6.84
1964 5.96 6.8
1963 6.01 6.76
1962 6.05 6.7
1961 6.08 6.66
1960 6.11 6.66

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/sudan | CC BY

South Africa and Sudan demographics compared

Median age
South Africa

Sudan
1x
Year Median age, years
South Africa Sudan
2024 29.5 19.4
2023 29.2 19.3
2022 28.9 19.2
2021 28.6 19
2020 28.3 18.9
2019 27.9 18.7
2018 27.5 18.6
2017 27 18.3
2016 26.7 18.1
2015 26.4 17.9
2014 26 17.7
2013 25.7 17.5
2012 25.3 17.5
2011 25 17.4
2010 24.6 17.5
2009 24.3 17.4
2008 24 17.3
2007 23.8 17.3
2006 23.5 17.2
2005 23.3 17.1
2004 23.1 17.1
2003 22.8 17.1
2002 22.4 17
2001 22.2 17
2000 21.9 16.9
1999 21.6 16.9
1998 21.4 16.8
1997 21.2 16.8
1996 21.2 16.8
1995 21.5 16.8
1994 22 16.8
1993 21.9 16.8
1992 21.5 16.8
1991 21.5 16.8
1990 21.3 16.8
1989 21.1 16.8
1988 20.9 16.9
1987 20.7 16.9
1986 20.5 16.8
1985 20.4 16.8
1984 20.2 16.8
1983 20 16.7
1982 19.8 16.7
1981 19.6 16.6
1980 19.4 16.5
1979 19.3 16.4
1978 19.2 16.2
1977 19.1 16.1
1976 19 16
1975 18.9 16
1974 18.9 15.9
1973 18.8 16
1972 18.8 16.1
1971 18.8 16.2
1970 18.8 16.2
1969 18.8 16.3
1968 18.8 16.3
1967 18.8 16.4
1966 18.8 16.4
1965 18.8 16.5
1964 18.9 16.5
1963 18.9 16.6
1962 18.9 16.7
1961 19 16.7
1960 19 16.7

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

GeoRank.org/facts/south-africa/sudan | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Africa Sudan
GNI, Atlas method
$391B
2024
$35.8B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33%
2024
6.39%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.02%
2024
2.02%
2009
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.7%
2024
0.93%
2021
Armed forces personnel
89,000
2020
144,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-5.79%
2024
-3.46%
2024
Unemployment rate
32.3%
2024
7.53%
2022
Services, % of GDP
63%
2024
54.7%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
24.3%
2024
23.2%
2024
Economic freedom index
58.6
2026
32.5
2026
Income share by richest 10%
50.5%
2014
27.8%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
0.9%
2014
3.2%
2014
Number of millionaires
90,595
2025
n/a
Percentage of millionaires
0.22%
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
7
2025
n/a
Percentage of billionaires
0.00002%
2025
n/a
Listed domestic companies
220
2024
n/a
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$986B
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$65.4B
2024
$178M
2017
Personal remittances received
$855M
2024
$900M
2024
International tourist arrivals
3,886,600
2020
836,000
2018
International tourism as share of exports
2.89%
2020
20.9%
2018
Banked people share
81.1%
2024
15.3%
2014

Energy

South Africa Sudan
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,939 kg
2023
412 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$7.84
2023
$8.15
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
440 megatons
2024
21.9 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
6.88 tons
2024
0.43 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
93.3%
2022
30.2%
2022
Renewable energy use share
9.7%
2021
61%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
3.58%
2023
4.99%
2022
Net energy imports use share
-12.5%
2023
18.9%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
3,247 kWh
2023
278.8 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
6.45%
2021
58%
2021
Hydroelectric share
2.91%
2023
71.4%
2022
Nuclear share
3.73%
2023
0%
2021
Electricity access
87.7%
2023
66%
2023

Society

South Africa Sudan
% of world population
0.79%
2024
0.62%
2024
Annual migration change
+146,370
2025
+291,469
2025
Urban population
63.7%
2024
34.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.7:51.3
2024
49.6:50.4
2024
Average male height
5.56 ft
2025
5.65 ft
2025
Average female height
5.2 ft
2025
5.26 ft
2025
Quality of life index
42.1
2026
26.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
41
2025
14
2025
Higher education index
81
2026
45
2026
Homicides per 100K people
45.5
2022
5.1
2008
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
22.2
2019
26.8
2019
Visa free countries
109
2025
51
2025
Adult literacy rate
91.2%
2024
60.7%
2018
English speaking
31%
2023
93.7%
2023
People using the Internet
75.7%
2023
26.4%
2020

Health

South Africa Sudan
Government health expenditure per capita
$537
2023
$21.1
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$35.9
2023
$12.1
2023
Life expectancy
66.7 years
2026
66.9 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
2.06%
2023
16.3%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.79
2022
0.25
2017
Maternal mortality per 100K births
118
2023
256
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
34.7
2023
50.1
2023
Obesity rate
31.4%
2022
17.5%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.2%
2024
19%
2024
Air quality index
39
2026
33
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
20.7%
2022
n/a
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.13 liters
2020
0.01 liters
2020

Territory

South Africa Sudan
% of world land
0.81%
2026
1.25%
2026
Land area per capita
7,318 sq mi
2024
14,296 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
371,975 sq mi
2026
435,002 sq mi
2026
Forest area
65,409 sq mi
2026
68,892 sq mi
2026
Roads length
466,028 mi
2016
19,263 mi
2019

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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