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South Sudan vs Sudan statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

South Sudan has a population of 11.9M (ranked 81/197), compared with 50.4M in Sudan (ranked 30/197). South Sudan's land area is 243,990 sq mi versus 721,239 sq mi for Sudan (ranked 41st vs. 15th).

By GDP, South Sudan ranks 149/197 ($12B) and Sudan ranks 94/197 ($49.7B). By GDP per capita, South Sudan ranks 175/197 ($1,080), while Sudan ranks 179/197 ($985).

Main facts and rankings

South Sudan Sudan
Population
12507858
53335233
Population rank 80/197 29/197
GDP
$12B
2015
$49.7B
2024
GDP rank 149/197 94/197
GDP per capita
$1,080
2015
$985
2024
GDP per capita rank 175/197 179/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,155
2015
$2,116
2024
Government debt
$7.04B
2015
$130B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
50.7%
2024
261.4%
2024
Government debt per person
$633
2015
$2,574
2024
Government debt per person rank 158/185 109/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,305
2026
$1,704
2026
Land area 243,990 sq mi 721,239 sq mi
Population density
51 ppl/mi²
2026
73.3 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
3.86
2023
4.32
2023
Median age
19.4 years
2024
19.4 years
2024
Life expectancy
58 years
2026
66.9 years
2026

South Sudan and Sudan: Comparison Charts

South Sudan and Sudan economies compared

GDP
South Sudan

Sudan
1x
Year GDP
South Sudan Sudan
2024 - $49,672,435,513
2023 - $39,898,289,821
2022 - $51,666,875,363
2021 - $34,229,513,775
2020 - $27,034,593,750
2019 - $32,338,079,165
2018 - $32,333,780,383
2017 - $41,283,617,976
2016 - $42,630,376,000
2015 $11,997,800,760 $51,726,758,677
2014 $13,962,212,847 $49,516,748,618
2013 $18,426,469,017 $43,024,018,082
2012 $11,931,472,169 $37,632,919,967
2011 $14,907,308,933 $55,018,567,211
2010 $14,602,072,411 $58,962,978,034
2009 $12,231,264,525 $51,621,044,077
2008 $14,586,253,383 $64,833,083,257
2007 - $59,440,139,775
2006 - $45,263,831,634
2005 - $35,182,711,988
2004 - $26,646,007,251
2003 - $21,355,298,460
2002 - $18,137,128,388
2001 - $15,716,361,792
2000 - $12,257,299,147
1999 - $10,682,028,340
1998 - $11,250,221,537
1997 - $11,681,175,864
1996 - $9,018,300,725
1995 - $13,830,363,900
1994 - $12,793,794,737
1993 - $8,881,005,436
1992 - $7,031,933,492
1991 - $44,171,194,366
1990 - $33,641,222,222
1989 - $21,408,111,111
1988 - $14,372,555,556
1987 - $12,093,333,333
1986 - $10,092,200,000
1985 - $8,075,259,600
1984 - $10,447,615,385
1983 - $8,230,153,846
1982 - $8,732,542,274
1981 - $10,753,888,154
1980 - $8,951,800,000
1979 - $8,418,407,787
1978 - $8,128,719,315
1977 - $7,499,005,639
1976 - $6,013,210,816
1975 - $4,823,090,192
1974 - $3,958,931,660
1973 - $3,077,254,460
1972 - $2,483,055,722
1971 - $2,288,340,041
1970 - $2,100,229,759
1969 - $1,847,501,441
1968 - $1,677,771,401
1967 - $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/facts/south-sudan/sudan | CC BY

South Sudan and Sudan economies compared

GDP per capita
South Sudan

Sudan
1x
Year GDP per capita
South Sudan Sudan
2024 - $985
2023 - $797
2022 - $1,046
2021 - $712
2020 - $578
2019 - $710
2018 - $731
2017 - $967
2016 - $1,033
2015 $1,080 $1,292
2014 $1,243 $1,275
2013 $1,650 $1,139
2012 $1,109 $1,019
2011 $1,449 $1,522
2010 $1,498 $1,665
2009 $1,323 $1,493
2008 $1,654 $1,928
2007 - $1,814
2006 - $1,415
2005 - $1,125
2004 - $872
2003 - $714
2002 - $621
2001 - $551
2000 - $441
1999 - $394
1998 - $425
1997 - $453
1996 - $357
1995 - $561
1994 - $532
1993 - $379
1992 - $307
1991 - $1,966
1990 - $1,528
1989 - $992
1988 - $680
1987 - $584
1986 - $497
1985 - $406
1984 - $534
1983 - $431
1982 - $472
1981 - $605
1980 - $525
1979 - $515
1978 - $518
1977 - $497
1976 - $413
1975 - $343
1974 - $291.5
1973 - $235.8
1972 - $198.2
1971 - $189
1970 - $179.6
1969 - $163.5
1968 - $153.7
1967 - $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/facts/south-sudan/sudan | CC BY

South Sudan vs. Sudan life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
South Sudan

Sudan
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
South Sudan Sudan
2026 58 66.9
2025 57.9 66.7
2024 57.7 66.5
2023 57.6 66.3
2022 57.2 65.7
2021 57 64.5
2020 57.6 65.1
2019 58.1 65.8
2018 51.9 65.5
2017 35.4 65.1
2016 36.7 64.7
2015 39.8 64.4
2014 45.6 64
2013 58.3 63.4
2012 58.2 63.4
2011 57.7 63.2
2010 57.5 63
2009 56.8 62.7
2008 56.3 61.3
2007 55.4 61.4
2006 54.7 60.4
2005 54 57.2
2004 53.1 56.8
2003 52.3 58.3
2002 49.4 59.3
2001 48.6 59.3
2000 47.6 58.9
1999 44.5 58.6
1998 19 58.3
1997 33.1 58.1
1996 32.1 57.6
1995 31.5 57.4
1994 44.9 57
1993 22.3 56.1
1992 21.9 56
1991 29.2 55.6
1990 28.6 55.5
1989 28.2 54.9
1988 11 55
1987 20.7 54.7
1986 32.8 54.6
1985 32.4 50
1984 31.8 49.8
1983 34.7 49.6
1982 38.7 54.4
1981 38.3 54.4
1980 38 54.1
1979 37.8 53.4
1978 37.6 53.3
1977 37.4 53.5
1976 37.1 53.3
1975 36.9 53.3
1974 36.6 53.2
1973 36.3 53
1972 31.3 52.8
1971 31 52.5
1970 25.6 52.3
1969 25.4 52
1968 26.1 51.8
1967 25.9 51.5
1966 25.6 51.3
1965 28.8 51
1964 32.5 50.9
1963 28.2 50.8
1962 28.5 50.4
1961 28.3 50
1960 28.1 49.6
1959 27.8 49.2
1958 27.6 48.9
1957 30.9 48.5
1956 31.6 48.1
1955 32 47.7
1954 31.7 47.3
1953 31.4 46.9
1952 31 46.5
1951 30.6 46.2
1950 30.2 45.8

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

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

South Sudan and Sudan population clocks and comparison

Population
South Sudan

Sudan
1x
Year Population
South Sudan Sudan
2024 11,943,408 50,448,963
2023 11,483,374 50,042,791
2022 11,021,177 49,383,346
2021 10,865,780 48,066,924
2020 10,698,467 46,789,231
2019 10,423,384 45,548,175
2018 10,122,977 44,230,596
2017 10,259,154 42,714,306
2016 10,830,102 41,259,892
2015 11,107,561 40,024,431
2014 11,235,073 38,823,318
2013 11,166,275 37,785,849
2012 10,756,240 36,923,178
2011 10,288,109 36,140,806
2010 9,745,953 35,414,399
2009 9,243,556 34,569,113
2008 8,817,647 33,623,980
2007 8,388,788 32,764,135
2006 7,976,526 31,992,435
2005 7,590,143 31,262,444
2004 7,233,041 30,556,637
2003 6,903,127 29,896,035
2002 6,596,806 29,228,727
2001 6,308,391 28,516,770
2000 6,032,267 27,816,745
1999 5,771,628 27,130,613
1998 5,620,068 26,458,999
1997 5,509,136 25,799,821
1996 5,356,925 25,231,528
1995 5,225,836 24,672,143
1994 5,071,184 24,043,948
1993 4,956,002 23,445,592
1992 4,909,749 22,927,355
1991 4,836,677 22,470,676
1990 4,737,633 22,021,481
1989 4,713,229 21,578,022
1988 4,848,029 21,138,431
1987 4,962,395 20,704,904
1986 4,921,240 20,288,238
1985 4,834,296 19,905,872
1984 4,750,627 19,546,528
1983 4,661,574 19,109,770
1982 4,557,686 18,486,645
1981 4,447,272 17,780,572
1980 4,339,030 17,058,905
1979 4,232,605 16,355,352
1978 4,127,657 15,695,003
1977 4,024,032 15,086,614
1976 3,921,910 14,569,716
1975 3,821,494 14,064,798
1974 3,723,259 13,580,723
1973 3,627,383 13,049,315
1972 3,542,497 12,527,856
1971 3,468,646 12,105,539
1970 3,409,614 11,695,771
1969 3,365,533 11,298,936
1968 3,321,528 10,917,999
1967 3,277,648 10,550,597
1966 3,236,423 10,197,578
1965 3,189,835 9,858,030
1964 3,129,918 9,531,109
1963 3,072,669 9,218,077
1962 3,024,308 8,919,028
1961 2,976,724 8,634,941
1960 2,931,559 8,364,489

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

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

Fertility rates in South Sudan and Sudan

Fertility rate
South Sudan

Sudan
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Sudan Sudan
2023 3.86 4.32
2022 3.96 4.38
2021 4.05 4.46
2020 4.16 4.54
2019 4.26 4.62
2018 4.37 4.68
2017 4.48 4.76
2016 4.58 4.83
2015 4.7 4.9
2014 4.82 4.91
2013 4.94 4.97
2012 5.06 5.03
2011 5.19 5.09
2010 5.32 5.14
2009 5.45 5.17
2008 5.57 5.21
2007 5.7 5.27
2006 5.85 5.33
2005 6.02 5.4
2004 6.19 5.46
2003 6.35 5.49
2002 6.52 5.53
2001 6.65 5.56
2000 6.8 5.6
1999 6.94 5.62
1998 7.08 5.65
1997 7.2 5.72
1996 7.32 5.79
1995 7.34 5.86
1994 7.35 5.91
1993 7.36 5.97
1992 7.37 6.02
1991 7.38 6.05
1990 7.38 6.07
1989 7.37 6.11
1988 7.38 6.13
1987 7.39 6.18
1986 7.38 6.23
1985 7.36 6.28
1984 7.35 6.34
1983 7.34 6.41
1982 7.34 6.47
1981 7.33 6.53
1980 7.33 6.59
1979 7.32 6.65
1978 7.33 6.72
1977 7.33 6.78
1976 7.33 6.82
1975 7.33 6.87
1974 7.31 6.91
1973 7.31 6.94
1972 7.31 6.98
1971 7.3 7.02
1970 7.29 6.99
1969 7.28 6.97
1968 7.26 6.95
1967 7.26 6.91
1966 7.25 6.88
1965 7.22 6.84
1964 7.22 6.8
1963 7.2 6.76
1962 7.2 6.7
1961 7.18 6.66
1960 7.16 6.66

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

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

South Sudan and Sudan demographics compared

Median age
South Sudan

Sudan
1x
Year Median age, years
South Sudan Sudan
2024 19.4 19.4
2023 19 19.3
2022 18.7 19.2
2021 18.4 19
2020 18.2 18.9
2019 17.8 18.7
2018 17.3 18.6
2017 17.4 18.3
2016 18.2 18.1
2015 18.6 17.9
2014 19 17.7
2013 19.3 17.5
2012 19.2 17.5
2011 19 17.4
2010 18.7 17.5
2009 18.4 17.4
2008 18.2 17.3
2007 18 17.3
2006 17.8 17.2
2005 17.6 17.1
2004 17.4 17.1
2003 17.3 17.1
2002 17.3 17
2001 17.3 17
2000 17.2 16.9
1999 17.1 16.9
1998 17 16.8
1997 16.9 16.8
1996 16.9 16.8
1995 16.9 16.8
1994 16.9 16.8
1993 16.9 16.8
1992 17 16.8
1991 17 16.8
1990 17 16.8
1989 17.1 16.8
1988 16.8 16.9
1987 16.5 16.9
1986 16.6 16.8
1985 16.7 16.8
1984 16.8 16.8
1983 16.8 16.7
1982 16.9 16.7
1981 17 16.6
1980 17.1 16.5
1979 17.1 16.4
1978 17.2 16.2
1977 17.2 16.1
1976 17.3 16
1975 17.4 16
1974 17.4 15.9
1973 17.5 16
1972 17.5 16.1
1971 17.6 16.2
1970 17.7 16.2
1969 17.9 16.3
1968 18 16.3
1967 18.2 16.4
1966 18.3 16.4
1965 18.3 16.5
1964 18.4 16.5
1963 18.4 16.6
1962 18.5 16.7
1961 18.5 16.7
1960 18.6 16.7

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

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

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for South Sudan and Sudan.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

South Sudan Sudan
GNI, Atlas method
$11.7B
2015
$35.8B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.1%
2024
6.39%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
1.57%
2016
2.02%
2009
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.96%
2024
0.93%
2021
Armed forces personnel
53,000
2020
144,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+11.7%
2024
-3.46%
2024
Unemployment rate
12.3%
2008
7.53%
2022
Services, % of GDP
56.6%
2015
54.7%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
33.1%
2015
23.2%
2024
Economic freedom index
41
2025
32.5
2026
Income share by richest 10%
33%
2016
27.8%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
1.8%
2016
3.2%
2014
Total reserves including gold
$72.9M
2023
$178M
2017
Personal remittances received
$1.14B
2024
$900M
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
836,000
2018
International tourism as share of exports
0.39%
2018
20.9%
2018
Banked people share
5.83%
2021
15.3%
2014

Energy

South Sudan Sudan
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
69 kg
2022
412 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$15.1
2015
$8.15
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions n/a
21.9 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita n/a
0.43 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
73.4%
2022
30.2%
2022
Renewable energy use share
32.4%
2021
61%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.4%
2022
4.99%
2022
Net energy imports use share
-860%
2022
18.9%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
46.9 kWh
2022
278.8 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
0.34%
2021
58%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0%
2021
71.4%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
5.4%
2023
66%
2023

Society

South Sudan Sudan
% of world population
0.15%
2024
0.62%
2024
Annual migration change
+6,145
2025
+291,469
2025
Urban population
21.4%
2024
34.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.2:50.8
2024
49.6:50.4
2024
Average male height n/a
5.65 ft
2025
Average female height n/a
5.26 ft
2025
Quality of life index
4.76
2026
26.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
9
2025
14
2025
Higher education index
14
2026
45
2026
Homicides per 100K people
14.1
2012
5.1
2008
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
36.7
2019
26.8
2019
Visa free countries
50
2025
51
2025
Adult literacy rate
34.5%
2018
60.7%
2018
English speaking
94%
2023
93.7%
2023
People using the Internet
9.27%
2020
26.4%
2020

Health

South Sudan Sudan
Government health expenditure per capita
$72.8
2023
$21.1
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$19.7
2023
$12.1
2023
Life expectancy
58 years
2026
66.9 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
62.3%
2023
16.3%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.04
2022
0.25
2017
Maternal mortality per 100K births
692
2023
256
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
98.7
2023
50.1
2023
Obesity rate
8.79%
2022
17.5%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
4.6%
2024
19%
2024
Air quality index
22
2026
33
2026
Pure alcohol consumption per capita n/a
0.01 liters
2020

Territory

South Sudan Sudan
% of world land
0.42%
2026
1.25%
2026
Land area per capita
20,429 sq mi
2024
14,296 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
109,449 sq mi
2026
435,002 sq mi
2026
Forest area
27,633 sq mi
2026
68,892 sq mi
2026
Roads length n/a
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 (2015–2024, 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. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
  11. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)

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.