South Africa vs Sudan: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 86 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 24% more people than Sudan (65.49 million vs 52.88 million). South Africa's economy is 7.0 times the size of Sudan's ($424.75 billion vs $60.88 billion GDP).
Comparing South Africa and Sudan: South Africa leads on Malaria Incidence Rate (0.11 cases per 1,000) against Sudan (98.25 cases per 1,000); South Africa leads on Top Exporting Countries (127.53 billion USD) against Sudan (358.10 million USD); South Africa leads on Mobile Internet Speed (3.12 Mbps) against Sudan (0.06 Mbps). Across 86 compared metrics, South Africa wins on 56 and Sudan wins on 29.
- Communications: 5 metrics compared
- Economy: 16 metrics compared
- Environment: 8 metrics compared
- Geography: 5 metrics compared
- Government: 6 metrics compared
- Health: 12 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 29 metrics compared
- Transportation: 1 metric compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
5 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇩 Sudan | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 3.12 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 0.06 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 56.17 %★ | 18.6 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 72.11 %★ | 26.44 % | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 3.12 Mbps★ | 0.06 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 75.71 points★ | 30.34 points |
Economy
16 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇩 Sudan | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country | 14.21B $★ | 5.50B $ | |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars | 424.75B $★ | 60.88B $ | |
| AI Investment (% of GDP) | 14.07 %★ | 2.89 % | |
| Bank Account Ownership Rate | 70.32 %★ | 15.27 % | |
| Female Labor Force Participation Rate | 52.12 %★ | 14.59 % | |
| Highest GDP per Capita Countries | 13,592.05 USD★ | 1,873.39 USD | |
| Inflation Rate | 7.04 %★ | 138.81 % | |
| R&D Expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.77 %★ | 0.23 % | |
| Robotics Research Funding | 0.77 USD★ | 0.23 USD | |
| Share of population in poverty ($3 a day) | 31.21 | 10.1★ | |
| Tax Burden (% of GDP) | 24.83 % | 7.39 %★ | |
| Tax Revenue (% of GDP) | 24.83 % of GDP★ | 7.39 % of GDP | |
| Top Exporting Countries | 127.53B USD★ | 358.10M USD | |
| Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP) | 1.01 % | 1.37 %★ | |
| Youth Labor Force Participation Rate | 53.5 % | 37.52 %★ | |
| Youth Unemployment Rate | 61.68 % | 12 %★ |
Environment
8 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇩 Sudan | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 3.23M | 79,278★ | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 87,566.02 %★ | -174,139.84 % | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 18.35 °C | 27.76 °C★ | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 652.17 mm★ | 129.81 mm | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 9.88 sq km★ | 2.7 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 9.6 %★ | 2.8 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 4.8 Cubic meters per year★ | 3 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 33 species | 19 species★ |
Geography
5 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇩 Sudan | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 1.94 %★ | 0.63 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 85.66★ | 55.98 | |
| Agricultural land | 963,410 sq. km | 1.13M sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 1.21M | 1.87M★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 379.53 cubic meters per inhabitant |
Government
6 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇩 Sudan | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 61.59 %★ | 1.83 % | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 41 index | 15 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 41 index★ | 15 index | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 10.94★ | -2.43 | |
| Prison Population Rate | 396 per 100,000 | 44 per 100,000★ | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 41 | 15★ |
Health
12 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇩 Sudan | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Change in Measles Immunization Rate | 76 %★ | 46 % | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 7.2 | 19★ | |
| Female Life Expectancy Leaders | 66.31 years | 66.52 years★ | |
| Global Stillbirth Rate Trends | 1.87 per 1,000 births★ | 2.15 per 1,000 births | |
| Health Care Spending per Capita | 1,541.18 USD★ | -73.45 USD | |
| Health Coverage Index Score | 74 score★ | 48 score | |
| Highest Male Life Expectancy | 66.31 years | 66.52 years★ | |
| Hospital Beds per Capita | 2.25 beds per 1,000★ | 0.72 beds per 1,000 | |
| Malaria Incidence Rate | 0.11 cases per 1,000★ | 98.25 cases per 1,000 | |
| Nurses and Midwives Density | 1.2 per 1,000 people★ | 1.08 per 1,000 people | |
| Out-of-Pocket Health Spending | 6.69 %★ | 57.37 % | |
| Total Number of Doctors | 0.78★ | 0.25 |
Military and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇩 Sudan | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 74,000 personnel | 104,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.84 %★ | 0.93 % | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 89,000 | 144,000★ |
People and Society
29 metricsTransportation
1 metric| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇩 Sudan | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0.37★ | 0.07 |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇩 Sudan | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 4.96B USD★ | 1.06B USD |
Frequently Asked Questions About South Africa vs Sudan
Which has a larger population, South Africa or Sudan?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 24% more people than Sudan (65.49 million vs 52.88 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, South Africa or Sudan?▾
South Africa. South Africa's economy is 7.0 times the size of Sudan's ($424.75 billion vs $60.88 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, South Africa or Sudan?▾
South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $1,151 in Sudan (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).